Are The Horror Stories True? Noodler's Baystate Blue Fountain Pen Ink

You know you want to try some.....
Baystate Blue
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Pen used: TWSBI Eco
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Follow video trying to clean out the pen: • Episode 2 - The Final ...
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#ink #fountainpen #doodlebud
0:00 - Intro
3:10 - Writing Samples
6:15 - Capillary Tube Test
7:16 - Ink stain on skin
7:44 - Trying to clean a pen
11:03 - IPA removes the stains
13:47 - Final thoughts

[@alexisn.372]

I don't know why this was recommended to me, but I'm very invested in this. Did not know about an ink that is just so strong that people are scared of using it, but yeah I can completely see why they are. That's a very powerful blue ink.

[@Doodlebud]

Glad the algorithm veered your way 😉

[@adeade3978]

Same, I have no idea about pens or ink but somehow the algorithm decided to impart this video onto me, and these were really good 16 minutes, I learnt something new today lol

[@zybch]

Same here too. Perhaps because I sub to a lot of maker-type content. Very glad though.

[@Cythil]

The algorithm work in mysterious ways. I am also not someone well versed in inks, calligraphy or penmanship. But it is interesting nonetheless. Maybe is just my pickup on my general nerdiness wanting to know more about all manner of stuff.

[@Revolupine]

Also same! It was an enjoyable video nonetheless, and wow that color is really something!

[@j._t.]

The permanent deep blue stains are bad and all, but what really scared me was when I found mold in the ink and had to inspect every one of my inks to make sure that it didn’t spread.

[@juansebasfamv4325]

What? Can that really happen?

[@j._t.]

@@juansebasfamv4325 Yep! It's rare but it can happen if the manufacturing equipment is contaminated or if you're unlucky and a spore happens to make it in when the bottle is open. Spores are everywhere, so most inks contain fungicides to keep mold from growing, but sometimes you're just unlucky.

[@Vermiliontea]

Well, most modern inks can get mold. It's simply an effect of EU rules from a couple of decades back (the general idea seemingly that children should be more safe around the stuff - still seem to be unreasonable to expect). And if you want your ink to sell in retail in Europe... But Noodlers have to my knowledge never been afflicted, their inks being too toxic and not selling in retail in Europe? So this story surprises me somewhat. Has Nathan suddenly gone environmental activist? BSB is also quite alkaline. It will form lumps of solids if contaminated by an acid ink. General advice: Never water the ink in the bottle. Be wary of what you dip into the bottle. Treat your bottles cleanly, don't pump ink in and out, into them when you fill a pen, just draw. Sometimes an ink brand is generally affected. It has happened to J. Herbin and Private Reserve in the past. And that is simply due to that their factories have become contaminated, requiring a shut down and complete sterilization. I think it also happened to a small European ink brand - I won't name them because I absolutely approve, hooray - and they simply went back to clandestinely adding Phenol-something - I can smell it.

[@LifeInPink999]

Mold in the ink? Well now I heard it all. I just wonder how it happened.

[@noeraldinkabam]

Ofcourse it could not be contaminated at home….

[@stellastarfield1111]

When the ink didn't bleed on the paper after you spilled I knew you were in for it 😂

[@VXDGuy]

There's a warning on the ink box/bottle to not mix with other inks. That's no smurfing joke. I accidentally added Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue ink to an eyedropper which had some Baystate Blue and it basically turned into a solid inside the pen. It smurfed up the feed and turned into a glue (reacted due to pH difference?) when it mixed with the Pelikan ink. Saving the pen was a smurfing nightmare. It's a fantastic ink with anazing properties, but treat it with respect. You can get away with a half-smurf cleaning job wiith most inks, but not this one.

[@radiofreealbemuth]

I didn't know that can happen by mixing inks 😳

[@flinx222]

I'll second this. I have both Baystate Blue and Concord Grape. Any other residual ink or mixing will make a sludgy mess. Dedicated pens are the way to go. I have a Lamy Safari and it's never really recovered from the ink, and it certainly stained the body of the pen after a bad leak. I haven't seen much mention, but the inks do have a smell. It's not terrible, and it doesn't linger, but I know I've been using the ink afterwards. All that being said, it's some of the most vibrant and beautiful ink I've used.

[@Vermiliontea]

Mixing an acid (Pelikan 4001) with an alkali (Baystate) usually produces a "salt" of some kind, if I remember chemistry correctly.

[@emmahynes7777]

I feel quite stupid because when you said smurfing I thought that you must have been describing technical issue that happens with certain types of pens. It took me until the end of the video to realise you were just being a polite person and not using expletives 😂

[@leadpaintchips9461]

@@emmahynes7777 And using an appropriate substitute to talk about a vibrant blue no less!

[@bbbdco]

This is the most terrifying ink I have ever owned. But there is nothing else like it. Yes, it will permanently stain any pen that it is used in. May also destroy metal parts. But I love it nonetheless. I have chosen to use it permanently in a platinum Preppy. That pen is permanently devoted to that ink. The Preppy is a clear demonstrator, and it is stained permanently blue with Baystate Blue. Do not EVER spill this ink. It will never come out of anything that it touches.

[@KendallW]

Platinum Preppy is a perfect idea. Thanks!

[@mlsmal]

It comes out of anything that can survive bleach. You touch it with the bleach and it VANISHES.

[@DrinkWater713]

I eyedropper a pen with this ink. I really hope you are wrong and I can clean it, since I used a sample and won't be buying BSB in the near future.

[@uspnut]

It also has dissolved a special calligraphy pen from england...the sections just cracked and disintegrated....

[@DrinkWater713]

@@uspnut Maybe it just cracked. I don't think it's possible for this ink to dissolve a pen. Was it a plastic pen?

[@osirisgolad]

Before you try cleaning it with 10% bleach as recommended, there is another option that may be fun to try. I have a clear Opus 88 Demo that I use as my don't-care-if-it-gets-stained pen, and so it did get stained with various inks from various brands(including Noodler's) over the years. Yellow stains, brown stains, red stains, magenta stains, thick milky pink coatings; you name it. Then one day I bought a bottle of Sailor Jentle Doyou(now part of their smaller-bottled Shikiori ink line) and unsuspectingly put it in there to test the colour. A week later I go to clean the pen, and all the years worth of staining is 100% gone, crystal clear. So I go online and find that other people have had the same experience with this ink, it seems to have magical stain removing properties.

[@thomasa.243]

I have noticed the same with the Parker Quink Standard Blue. Fill your pen with it two to three times (while using it, i.e. leaving the ink inside until you have emptied it by writing) and your pen is almost clear again.

[@paulherman5822]

​@@thomasa.243 I've seen that from the Solv-X era Parker Quink, as well. Probably not their blue-black from the 1940s (that's iron gall ink), but the rest? Works like a charm.

[@MeriDoug]

That's insane, but really good to know! Witchcraft xD

[@thomasa.243]

@@paulherman5822 I don't know exactly which ingredient in the Quink is causing it but it does clean it out. Not 100% perfect and not immediately but still. My first idea was that there is a small amount of alcohol in the ink (it smells like it) and that helps. Maybe in combination with some other ingredients...

[@paulherman5822]

@@thomasa.243 With the vintage Solv-X, I wondered if it was the phenol that they used for a fungicide (seems like that's also all that "Solv-X" was. Phenol and some surfactant.) But with the modern working, I'm really leaning towards the surfactant. There might be alcohol in it as well. Was how the "51" ink got it's crazy fast dry time. But "51" also eats fountain pens, even the sterling silver breather tubes in the early Parker 51. Why you should avoid getting a full bottle, if it's in a metal box. Those were the 2 ink lines Parker had to quit making very fast. (Might not be John Bosley, but I have done some research into vintage inks.😉 Enough to say that it's alkaline inks that today can harm a vintage pen. They eat the ink sac fairly quickly. No matter the claim of a certain ink maker about "pH neutral.")

[@julierak343]

I will never use this ink, but your video showed that this is a "horror" ink, and that is part of its appeal. People love being scared by it! Nice video, thanks.

[@BType13X2]

Put it in a preppy those things are so cheap you don't care if it gets ruined by it.

[@NGMonocrom]

I mean, when you have hard-core collectors/enthusiasts who advise dedicating one of the fountain pens in your collection to using _only_ this ink in it; that tells you something right there.

[@MarcSaegesser]

This could apocryphal, but I think read somewhere, long ago, that the story behind the really full bottles of Noodler's ink is that it was Nathan trying save some pennies. He found that he could buy smaller glass bottles that were supposed to hold something like 2.5 ounces with a normal fill and then fill them to the brim and get 3 ounces into them. That was cheaper than buying a normal 3 oz bottles and doing a normal fill. I think I'd prefer to pay a bit more and not be scared of opening the bottle the first time.

[@mgscheue]

I've seen that mentioned as well and, given Nathan's, uh, interesting traits, I can easily imagine it's true.

[@Doodlebud]

I'd be curious how much more the 3oz bottle is compared to 2.5oz. It must be fairly significant. If it only cost like $0.50 more I don't think it would be an issue, but maybe if it's $3 or $4 they would make a big difference in purchase decisions

[@marlbboro8091]

There is something oddly satisfying about this full to the brim bottle - but scary

[@namebrandmason]

@@DoodlebudI have no love for Noodlers, but Tardiff is quite frugal and vocal about not being a luxury product. Thus, he buys stock bottles (no fancy packaging) and fills them to the brim. (Btw, the secret to Baystate Blue is most likely watercolor pigment)

[@artyomsherwin648]

​@@Doodlebud50 cents more when a bottle only costs a couple dollars is a lot

[@amberblyledge7859]

I legit have an unknown blue stain on the back of my computer. I have not touched ANYTHING with blue ink/color. It is so potent it has transcended the internet and into the real world.

[@Vermiliontea]

- Of course the horror stories are true! 🤣 It has one, *_ONE_* redeeming feature: The color, when it's new, which is like nothing else! It colors everything blue. It colored my glass pen blue, for Chr***kes! It's also water proof. The lowdown of the blue color is that it goes more muted, and eventually grey, with time and exposure to light. And when it has become grey, it starts to fade. So it's not a particularly lightfast ink. - But, admittedly, it is more lightfast than the inks of similar blue hues, like the various "Sapphire" inks, like J. Herbin and Edelstein. Those are really fugitive. Clown inks. Gone tomorrow. P.S. I have lightfast-tested a bunch of inks again. And this time J. Herbin Eclat Saphir did much better. Much better than Baystate and Edelstein Sapphire. So I apologize for having bad-mouthed it above. It's still not, ...like "durable". But it is sort of average to be fair, and much better than in my old test. So what is different? Given that many inks performed differently this time, I think the test conditions have something to do with it. But of course, J. Herbin may have tweaked the recipe since I acquired my last sample, which was long ago. Anyway, I think the exposure was pretty void of UV-light this time, and also half the intensity and twice the duration (22 days vs 11 days). The paper was also different. Buffered and white this time and it stayed white, didn't yellow. The paper in the older test did yellow, so probably also went a bit acid.

[@MoniTablet-gm8qf]

I wonder, then.. why not just use regular Noodler's Blue which is so similar looking, and save the headaches..? just been wondering for awhile now. Especially if, as has been pointed out, it's not that lightfast, and is only that vibrant blue ".. when it's new.."? Anyone?

[@Vermiliontea]

@@MoniTablet-gm8qf The *_ONLY_* reason to use 'Baystate Blue' is the color. It's unique. No other ink match that pure Ultramarine hue. While it does deteriorate with time, it's good enough for a letter or card. It's also waterproof, but many inks are that. If you want a blue ink that's both waterproof, has good lightfastness and handles well in the pen, then there's Noodler's 'Baltimore Canyon Blue', a brilliant ink. Then there are all the Iroshizuku blue inks. Very good inks. They all have a remarkable degree of lightfastness (which is not the case with all bright blues) and they are "sort of" water resistant. They remain readable at least.

[@thekanthalkid4273]

Organics Studio Nitrogen makes Baystate look like a dry erase ink. I still find little dried inks flakes around my house (yes my house), and those flakes turn into wet ink so easily lol. That stuff is devil dust........and I LOVE IT!

[@archivist17]

😄

[@Lisatheecologist]

its so pretty that it's worth it

[@TheDevilockedzombie]

​@@LisatheecologistYOURE so pretty its worth it

[@NickyBlue99]

​@@TheDevilockedzombieSIMP

[@bobmahnamahknob]

TOTALLY doesn't reek of unwashed neckbeard desperation. 🙄

[@chrishickman7059]

This is crazy. I didn't know there was a fountain pen community on KZbin. There are enthusiasts for everything.

[@Doodlebud]

OHHHHHHH yes... we are an odd bunch!

[@bigmclargehuge8219]

God, no joke, I am so incredibly envious of like, the knowledge and dedication to a single subject. I really love those pages that are like, a ton of different blues just so you can see them in comparison, i wish i had that kind of dedication to literally anything. Definitely gonna subscribe to see more, what a fascinating subject. Also, that ink is GORGEOUS. Thats possobly my favorite shade of blue I've ever seen on anything.

[@AspasiaB]

Gave you a like for your name alone. Space Mutiny is one of my all-time favorite MST episodes. Got a t-shirt with all of the nicknames Mike and the Bots gave him. I love it.

[@stephen_hynes]

The ink fades with time. Leave a page in the sun and the process is massively accelerated, and the ink does eventually fade to nothing. In a notebook it just loses its brilliance. Which is fitting the things I write. It is easily cleaned with isopropyl, no need for bleach. I have had a couple of feed surfaces seemingly break down, kind of granularize when the ink sat in the pen for a few weeks (or was it months😂). I would avoid using it in pens that are difficult or expensive to fix, but otherwise its a fun ink with a real personality.

[@2degucitas]

So if a shirt or rug gets stained putting it in the sun can make it disappear?

[@stephen_hynes]

@@2degucitas Try isopropyl, should work well. Sun will take a long time

[@MultiKm1]

So you're saying only God can get this stuff out?

[@jayemery]

Thanks for this comment, I was tempted to try this ink for fun but if it has no staying power I’m out.

[@stephen_hynes]

I would not think of it as a permanent ink, although its is very waterproof and will likely last forever in a notebook. Color always shifts an uv slowly erases

[@tomshult3044]

10% bleach is what Noodler's suggests to clean your pen.

[@Doodlebud]

I'll give that a try when I try to clean it a month from now

[@archivist17]

I'm not putting bleach anywhere near any of my pens.

[@MrG0CE]

​@@Doodlebud VIDEO PLEASE, DON'T FORGET ;)

[@Seefood73]

I use it in pens that are not transparent and there's no issue. I just give it a thorough wash before switching to normal inks and back because if bsb meets regular inks it often has odd chemical reactions and you have goo clogging your feed. As long as it's easy to pull out the nib and feed to clean them you are completely fine. I would put it in a Chinese pen or even a fancier pilot or sailor if it's a model that can be taken apart.

[@philnaunton7181]

I use a bleach solution frequently, and I've never had an issue with it. Of course I always rinse or wash with soap immediately after. Back in High School in the early 60's there was a product which claimed to erase permanent black or blue inks. It smelled like bleach, and it worked. But it ruined the paper, and one could never write over it. It would bleed everywhere. That is, no doubt, why it no longer exists.

[@sailcat9]

Yeah, Baystate Blue is a scary ink and I am deathly afraid of it. The sheening corollary to this ink is Organics Studio Nitrogen. It is a really fun ink but it gets a little crusty around the lip of the bottle and if the tiniest crumb lands somewhere and happens to get wet long after the fact, it will reconstitute itself and it turns into a cleanup nightmare. Pretty ink, though, with tons of sheen. I open the bottle like it's radioactive and I have a pen (coincidentally a TWSBI Eco) dedicated to the ink and I treat it with immense respect. Thanks for the video!

[@marmeemarch7080]

What color is the sheen?

[@jilld.268]

This is exactly right! Also, on some paper, Nitrogen seems to never dry. It is pretty but I had to part with it. It sheens red.

[@cav89-]

I never thought I would live to see the gentle version of AvE. Even the “repair” mat matches, but yours is pristine, obviously.

[@chrisdemchalk3491]

I needed to Google just to see if they weren’t distant brothers

[@MannoMax]

Genuinely lol, even some of the se slang

[@wraith313]

Man thank you because I legitimately thought for five minutes or so that ave had another shop with clean stuff and was just pretending for a second channel haha

[@ORflycaster]

I had the exact same thought, and even wondered if AvE had a brother. I wouldn't be AT ALL surprised if he's an AvE subscriber himself. I'm just getting into fountain pens and found this channel. Now I'm waiting for Doodlebud to pick up a pen and ask "will it chooch?" 😄

[@DisasterClean]

I use the heck out of this ink. It is incredible. The color is amazing. I used it before I knew any of this. And it is in several expensive pens. I easily get it off of my fingers with regular 79% rubbing alcohol. And I get it ALL OVER my fingers from time to time! Also, I had a major accident while wearing an Orvis 100% cotton white (with light blue stripes) button down shirt. I put a pen in my pocket & forgot to replace the cap! Imagine putting a posted pen, exposed nib down, in your pocket! Huge spot on the shirt, from inside the pocket. I thought the shirt was ruined. I got the spot wet and attempted to wash out what I could with soap and water. Nothing. I put Arm & Hammer toothpaste (the baking soda & peroxide one), on the wet shirt, on the spot & rubbed it in good & let it sit overnight - assuming I was going to have to throw the shirt away. By the morning, the stain was gone!! All of the the BayState Blue was gone, and the original light blue stripes were in tact! I couldn’t believe my eyes! The shirt was as good as new. I was shocked. Cheers! ALSO, when messing with this, or ANY ink, find a glass, just big enough to place the whole bottle of ink inside, and which is of diameter that will not allow the toppling of the ink bottle! It is also good for capturing the inevitable splatters.

[@yamasail]

Definitely an ink for dedicated blue pens without translucent parts.

[@gabrielbruce1977]

Man, what is it about warm blue inks? I'm terrified of owning Baystate Blue, because my last experience with a warm blue ink is still haunting me. It was Monteverde USA's Sapphire, a small little glass bottle with a metal cap. At the time, I stored my ink bottles together in a repurposed cardboard box... and then at some point the Sapphire got knocked over and began to leak all over everything. I only noticed because chunks of the box itself were damp and blue and staining my fingers, and Oh Gods It Was Everywhere. Waterproof, to boot. I had to toss the box and replace it with the plastic storage bin I use now. To this day, several years later, some of my bottles still stain my hands that unmistakable sapphire blue...

[@elarr8733]

The white sink warning is very useful. That would be the only nasty surprise for me. What's on the paper makes it worth taking the care. No matter what color you've changed to, if you can see the stain in the pen, you just need to fill your pen.

[@WelziFC7]

I’ve never owned a pen like this in my life. I have never looked up buying one. I didn’t even know there were different types of ink but this kept me invested from start to finish

[@Doodlebud]

Good to hear it was fun to watch 👍

[@MoniTablet-gm8qf]

Never used a Twsbi Eco.? You have been missing out then.. great pen and not expensive. Best beginner pen. Highly addictive, they're that good. And no, they don't have cracking issues. Maybe in the beginning but they must have worked that out. Company stands behind their products. Can't recall hearing anyone say they regretted getting a Twsbi Eco.. unless they were sorry they didn't get 2 Eco's. ;-) You can never have too many of them. Just bought my 5th couple days ago. First one with a stub nib.

[@hermanthedragon3826]

Baystate Blue was the ink I had for my first fountain pen in high school - my hands were constantly stained blue 😂

[@Doodlebud]

It will get ya!

[@neo5kali]

I use a Jinhao fountain pen solely dedicated to Bay State Blue. I also use hair dye remover to clean the ink from my hands and that works well.

[@Barakon]

I’m sold on this ink, just wow. If they made pre-filled pens with this ink I would buy them in a heartbeat, cuz that’s the ink of a water color pen.

[@reasonnottheneed]

That'll probably never happen. One of Nathan Tardif's core principles is not making anything disposable. It's why he made refillable cartridges for the Noodler's pens, and why it's why he removes the cartridge accepting part of the preppy pens that come with some inks: removing the cartridge dock doesn't make the preppy any better of an eyedropper pen, but it does make it so that it can _only_ be eyedropper filled.

[@Barakon]

@@reasonnottheneed so I guess I have to get a refillable ballpoint pen for this.

[@reasonnottheneed]

@@Barakon Depends on your needs, I guess. A lot of disposable rollerball pens can be refilled with a bit of finagling. The Pilot Hi-tecpoint can just straight up use fountain pen cartridges. I got a pack of those a while back intending to use fountain pen ink on them when the original cartridge ran out, but I never used them enough to finish the original cartridges so I can't tell you how well it works. If stain safety is your concern, I think refilling a pilot varsity (or knock-off thereof) is probably your best bet. Since it was not designed with refilling in mind, the seal is really good. It's the only fountain pen I can toss in my pants pocket, go for a run, and be confident that no ink will go anywhere. Refilling is pretty easy: pull the nib out with a pair of pliers. Just make sure you pull straight out, without bending in any direction. The force has to be perfectly parallel to the pen or the feed might snap.

[@karidru5272]

I figure all the nightmare stories are true, and it's up to each individual how much they want to mess with it. I don't care to myself, but have fun. Everybody has been duly warned. HOWEVER, I bought a completely normal (not bulletproof, not glowing, not anything fancy at all) Noodler's ink that was an absolute nightmare and has been haunting one of my pens ever since even though I've scrubbed out everything I can reach and replaced the converter. The entire brand is off the table as far as I'm concerned. There are many beautiful inks so It's just not worth it to me.

[@caomhan84]

Same for me. I mean, back in 2009-10 people were fond of defending Noodlers by saying that no other brand offered what they did, so the staining risks were worth it (even for inks that aren't Baystate or Bulletproof) but can you really say that these days? There were a lot of options back then...there are even MORE options now. I swore off the brand a decade ago after having problems with Noodlers Purple and Navy (just the normal inks, no special properties). There are just too many options to waste time messing with a brand that's prone to problems.

[@PoniekadFilmowyPodcast]

You are absolutely right about their FULL bottles of ink. It’s just silly.

[@philnaunton7181]

The first time I opened a Noodler's bottle it was a really tight cap. A little casual brute force exploded ink far and wide. Lesson learned the worst way possible.

[@idimiditavicorpzone5954]

I find the way they're filled to the brim hugely satisfying. Not only do you get your money's worth, but you also have to be very zen about handling it.

[@clementmanuel1987]

"Baystate Blue was here." Great quote Doodlebud.

[@razrv3lc]

As someone not involved at all with fountain pens, the way people are talking about this ink in the comments is absolutely sending me lmaooooo

[@Doodlebud]

I had to do the video just from all the rumors and discussion about this ink. Really had no desire to get the ink, but from all the noise I just had to see for myself. Hopefully this video will give folks a sneak peek if they feel the same way about the ink. I'll be doing a follow up video to see how well it cleans out of the pen. I have a special trick I came up with I want to try for cleaning it that nobody has mentioned...... 🤓

[@TheALPHA1550]

Sending you where?

[@tangmo956]

This was my second bottled ink. For clean up on hand or desk I have found the alcohol sanitizer works nice to clean.

[@archivist17]

I use hand sanitizer to shift ink stains.

[@MelocheMeriah]

I love this ink. It’s fun. I don’t put non gentle inks in my vintage pens so I don’t have to worry about ink damaging my sack pens. 😊

[@doc_sav]

Yeah, it always blows my mind when people are like, "This stuff is evil! I put it in my grandfather's priceless vintage heirloom piece sight unseen and left it to sit for a couple of months and it was DESTROYED!!!" Sounds like it was just a matter of time, my friend.

[@mannyhoolin4662]

It seems like a very special ink, honestly. It only causes an issue on demonstrators, but it is so pretty and permanent that it's worth a dedicated pen or a non-transparent pen. My only reservation is what it will do to the nibs over time, especially if it's not used regularly.

[@theProf_01]

Thanks for reviewing this ink, especially for those of us who have never used it. 👍

[@Doodlebud]

I had the same questions as you so had to try it

[@MissMeganBeckett]

I really like how it doesn’t bleed even when you spilled a whole glass of water on the paper, that’s my issue with most fountain pen inks they run.

[@golfer1950]

I have had Baystate Blue in a Lamy 2000 for 7 years (a pen I always keep inked) and 2 years In a Monteverde Carbon both with EF nibs. I have had Zero problems with the ink. I used pens that you do not see the ink because it does stain. The pigmented nature of some Noodles inks do stain. I have a red Lamy Vista via Baystate Cape Cod Cranberry. To me Baystate Blue and all the noodles inks I have used area great stable inks with the staining caveat. Also you must shake all Noodler’s inks before filling just like shimmering inks.

[@greengohm]

I cleaned BSB from my WingSung 699, that was there for a year using: firstly something degreasing (e.g. dish washing liquid solution), then weak solution of generic bleach - it came out perfectly.

[@sbornot2b]

It is an unmatched brilliant electric blue. Simply beautiful.

[@meshzzizk]

for my taste/predilections, noodlers inks like this are best paired with inexpensive japanese pens that have extra fine nibs, like the kakuno and the preppy. japanese extra fine nibs ameliorate the tendency of noodlers inks to spread/bleed/feather; and the staining and nib creep give these cheap pens some character as opposed to what would be undesirable “ruining” of a more expensive pen. i take a lot of handwritten reading notes at my job and my go-to workhorse pens over the past few years have been 2-3 kakunos inked with different colors of noodlers permanent ink (right now kung te cheng (which is probably the most water resistant ink i’ve ever used), blue-black (extremely underrated ink imo), and red-black).

[@yankeegonesouth4973]

I second this. Kung te cheng is underrated. Have you compared it to their 54th Massachusetts? Someday I will get that ink and compare it, but for now I can only guess.

[@TONY19021965]

As much as I love Noodler's Baystate Blue, I use it with great caution, and only in 2-3 designated pens. It is an especially good ink to use as an official document (if allowable) and/or check signature pen ink. I also enjoy pen sketching with this ink because it does feather, spread, lattice, and produce nice and distict hue depths when finger smeared, but only while using a glove, of course.😊 Be very careful when using it in either a vacuum filler, eye-dropper, or piston filler pen, because of that air bubble blob that sometimes occurs in those types of pens. I had a couple of disasters that way while journaling. I only use either a recycled cartridge or a designated spring-loaded converter. I never completely fill either, only fill them with enough ink for the task at hand. Then I flush and clean the pen immediately after completing said task with it. And whatever you do, DO NOT LEAVE ANY INK STANDING UNUSED IN A PEN FOR MORE THAN 5 DAYS OR A WEEK AT BEST! This ink is super, super saturated ink. Hence, when it begins to dry out, it will damage the feeds and even the nibs, and left long enough, it will make some plastics brittle. I lost 2 nibs & feeders and one entire pen this way. 😢 It is a bit of a challenge, but with a little effort, using this ink can be very satisfying and rewarding. Another tip: dip your nib in water and give it a quick wipe when you're done using the pen, if your task will last a few days. This prevents premature drying out. Also, even if I'm just writing with this stuff, I wear a nitrile glove. You might consider doing the same. Btw, Lava bar hand soap with pumice helps to remove some, ISP alcohol is good, but the strongest we can get here in the USA is 93%. When I was in the Army, we used 99% ISP to clean data boards. If you can get it, Amodex works really well. So does Goof-Off. But I'm not sure if they're available in Canada. Thank you for another excellent review, Mr. Doodlebud. Sorry, but I don't remember your actual name, if you ever said it. Cheers😁!

[@Doodlebud]

I'm going to leave this in the pen for 1 month and then do a video of me trying to clean it. I've gotten lots of tips so far so we'll see what works and if there's any permanent stains or even damage. Thanks for sharing your experience

[@philippebarillecavalier9275]

​@@Doodlebud Yes! We want to see an experiment to test those wild urban legends: Does it "melt" your pens?

[@johnlopez3996]

Be careful with Goof Off. The stronger versions sold at Home Depot require tons of ventilation.

[@jerrywhitfill2236]

When I had a bottle of Noodlers Saguaro Wine break in shipment, had most of my hands covered during cleanup. I used Lava bar soap and finished with pumice stone women use to smooth their feet to prevent snagging their hosiery. Alternative to soap was Colgate toothpaste that had peroxide and baking soda (& a minty freshness!).

[@remb9614]

I only use this ink. It’s very durable and dries fast, it’s also a beautiful color. It’s great for writing cards and notes for customers which is what I do. Even writing on the outside of packaging it stays intact and looks perfect when the customer receives the order

[@bananaman707]

Just found this guy, love 'em. He's like a stationary focused version of AvE with less cursing

[@InkDiaries]

I love that Noodler’s inks are filled to the brim! I have not been brave enough to try this ink, but I may just have to. That’s a beautiful blue. 😍 I’ll definitely have to dedicate a pen with BSB.

[@animula6908]

I love this color and it’s smooth writing so much that I’m not mad about dedicating my extra fine kakuno to its use.

[@mspooner]

This video has me wanting to try fountain pens for my linework now lol It would definitely be fun to play with the multitude of liquid inks out there

[@PrinceXSuperstar]

Me, Adult College student in NYC putting myself through school, paying rent, food, health, etc., And whose most expensive pen so far is 1 TWSBI Eco T, that I consider my Holy Grail, watching this video as if it were the goriest, bloodiest, most transgressive movie ever! 😂😂😂 That (to me) was the bravest video ever. I looove my Baystate Blue and Baystate Concord Grape, but they both live in a Platinum Prefounte and a clear Kakuno. You're a brave man!🎖️😊☺️😉🤗

[@idimiditavicorpzone5954]

If I remember right, Noodlers recommends 1:10 dilution of household bleach for getting it out of pens and off sinks and such. I have tried this myself and got mixed results - the sink cleaned off nicely, can't see any residual, but the stained plastic demonstrator pen is still a little bit blue from the experience. Baystate blue is also incredibly dilute-able itself as an ink. You can go as high as one part ink to twelve parts water and then it will write great without bleedthrough on crappy cheap paper that it just blasts right through when at full strength.

[@zathrasnotzathras9435]

I would be interested in seeing you do a test on how Noodlers dissolves latex ink sacks. I have stopped using it because I ruined a couple of pens. And I know others have too.

[@steventrosiek2623]

You're right, and Iroshizuku inks do the same. I'd never use these inks in any bladder filled pens, ever.

[@zathrasnotzathras9435]

@@steventrosiek2623 i’m glad you said something about that other brand because that’s what I’m using now. I’m not using it and any pen that has a bladder at the moment but I was going to. Maybe I’ll have to find a different ink for those pens.

[@mebpratt859]

I used Noodler’s in my two Conklin Mark Twains before I heard it would damage the bladders. Time for new bladders, they are so welded to themselves.😢

[@Nicholas-nc8ru]

I use this ink in my Lamy Safari with a broad nib and I'm really happy with its performance. The pen used to contain Iroshizuku asa-gao and I definitely like the Baystate blue hue better. Yes it does stain your fingers and yes it does stain your converters, but who cares? You can't see it from the outside and it doesn't affect performance. Don't be scared of this ink because of it's permanence, appreciate it instead. Lay down a paper towel and go nuts 😊

[@RealZenno]

I never thought I'd ever watch a 16 minute video of pen ink, but the algorithm recommended this video and my interest was peaked.

[@Doodlebud]

😁

[@NotSoCrazyNinja]

Love that color of blue. No idea why KZbin suggested this to me. My handwriting is garbage, my hands are garbage, I don't write anymore, but that is a pretty ink.

[@petermoore9504]

IPA molecules are smaller than water and can transport chemicals through the skin much more easily than water. An alcohol gel sanitizer is effective at removing bsb from skin with the least amount of ipa. Cheers.

[@Doodlebud]

Getting all molecular on me, good stuff🤓. Thanks for the extra details, sometimes they can make a big difference

[@johnfaustus1]

It's also worth mentioning the connection between BSB and Parker Penman Sapphire (PPS). PPS, in its production run and even more so after its discontinuation, was plagued by rumours as a pen-destroyer; in fact, it was allegedly canned by Parker (even before their demise) because of warranty claims against their own pens as a result of the use of this ink. The original formulation is reputedly lost because of Parker's accounting incompetence and changes in ownership (as is the bill-of-materials by the mixing plant in the UK that produced it from 1992 to 1999). It is generally regarded as, if not the most pleasant and vibrant, the most appealing blue ever available by many pen people. During the early 2000s to about 2015, fountain pens experienced a massive resurgence in popularity (along with other 'beautiful anachronisms' like mechanical watches) - and that led to the 'rediscovery' of PPS. But of course not many of these bottles were to be found (they were so cheap during their run to be thrown out, especially due to their 'pen-destroyer' status). That resulted in a 20 year quest now of finding a close analog to PPS with currently available inks. Noodler's BSB was never the closest, but it was often the 'closest AND most easily acquired' for most North Americans. And, as it turned out, BSB itself was a pen-destroyer :)

[@Doodlebud]

I'm curious now to google PPS to see what it looks like

[@nelsonbrum8496]

I have a blue TWSBI GO that I use exclusively for Baystate Blue. I use it for my timecards, checks, and other documents I don't want the ink to be washed off or removed in any way. I have noticed, on some paper, if you leave it in direct sunlight, it will fade a bit.

[@basta.dotto_]

You are a brave Doooooooooodlebud! I wonder how close Baystate Blue is to Diamine 150th Anniversary Blue Velvet, or to Cornflower or Aster, both in the Diamine Flower Collection? As very vibrant as Baystate Blue is, I'm not going near it - no siree, Bob! 😭💙💙💙

[@janewolfinbarger1216]

I have the Blue Velvet. It doesn't compare with the vibrancy of Baystate Blue.

[@basta.dotto_]

@@janewolfinbarger1216 How about Pilot Iroshizuku Asa-gao? It is very vibrant, but I don't have BSB with which to compare it. Have you ever tried it?

[@janewolfinbarger1216]

@@basta.dotto_ I have not tried it. I may, though, because I love the Iroshizuku inks anyway, and even if the color doesn't compare, I'm bound to like the ink. They are amazing inks.

[@andrewdaydreamer5209]

I am thinking about getting this ink. Someone said it was thicker than some other inks and helped make the nib feel smoother on the paper.

[@animula6908]

I love it. I made my kakuno and an x159 baystate pens. It’s so readable an pretty. I’m going to get the other baystate colors so I can still have variety in those pens without worrying about this stuff

[@ichirofakename]

@@animula6908 Be prepared, the other Baystate inks, while quite rich, are not extra-special rich like the blue.

[@sbornot2b]

More fun to watch than anything on Netflix!!!

[@realtorbydaychefbynight]

Take the pen or anything else that you have stained with BSB, set it out in the bright sunlight. The stain will completely disappear in about a day. Dawn dish soap will take it off of your finger. The hysteria surrounding BSB is so wildly overblown. I use it in everything and have switched other inks into well cleaned pens that have had BSB in them with no issues. Don't use it in demos or vintage pens. I use it in several expensive Pilots and Lamy's... I love this color.

[@barbarahallowell2613]

I've had a bottle of Baystate Blue for over 8 years, I will never run out. For what it is primarily intended for I think its beyond great. I keep a knockoff cheap Chinese Lamy style broad nib filled with it only for document signatures. I just received my new renewal passport and went digging for this seldom used pen and ink. Haven't touched it in maybe 2 years. Quick scrap paper scribble and it was working as if just filled. I like the color for it's just intensely obvious blue signature -ness. I would never think of filling a "good pen" with it. I remember filling the last time during peak COVID and wearing latex gloves, glad I did.😊 *I used to keep that pen in with my notary seal at work, perfect for that situation. I gave up my notary a while ago though.

[@MyView4You]

Nothing terrifying about it. It’s a fantastic ink. To clean it totally off use a diluted bleach solution. Brian Goulet has a great video about cleaning pens used with Baystate Blue. I love it and use it in my Pilot Custom 823. No problems.

[@iterationomega]

1:24 - first contact with Baystate Blue at the right finger.

[@Doodlebud]

That little bubble pop got me at first opening

[@EweChewBrrr01]

I feel like my nurd stats just increased. I now have the urge to wear glasses.

[@Pauley_in_GP]

New to the fountain pen hobby - so glad this video popped up. I didn't realize what a large and complex hobby this is. Thanks for your "real world" testing and information.

[@cebukitty]

Yes the horror stories are true. Had a hard time cleaning up the drop of BSB blue that I accidentally dropped on my very white vanity table T_T and it takes ages to clean the stain on your fingers . But there is no ink quite as vibrant blue as BSB. I still use BSB on my sacrifice pen -- a Pen BBS bright aluminum blue, since it won't get any bluer lol.

[@RealMelodyBlue]

If you need an archival ink, this blue is great. I'm a colorist and I use multimedia, so when I use watercolor, I use it and as I use it a lot I usually have a designated pen for the different colors I use most often.

[@Doodlebud]

I've heard people say its very susceptible to UV and will almost fully wash out from a short time in the sunlight. So perhaps a different ink for archival ink, at least that's my thinking. But watercolors for sure! Wont have to worry about it coming off with this ink

[@maddieb.4282]

Are you sure?? It fades so much over time and isn’t light fast…. Isn’t that bad for archival work?

[@Shak-MD]

I don't know bud!! I can not even imagine spilling that on the carpet-----I did that with a Edelstein blue ink, and have been unable to clean it off my tan carpet..... It seems like more trouble that it it is worth--- but damn it looks good :) ;)

[@matildarose]

.... i'm a watercolor artist so I just went 'are we talking pthalo blue strong or is this on a different level', but, now having gotten further, yeah that beats phtalo blue in terms of stain. Watching this video is like peering into a surreal, different world of cleanliness and perfect handwriting. Meanwhile my immediate reaction is 'i wanna do a wash with it', which is what you inadvertently did.

[@JosephDickson]

When I get ink on my hands I'll use a lotion to add oils after a hand-washing. I find it helps wear down the bond a bit. Haven't tested with Bay State Blue. However, it works with Noodler's Black.

[@TSS161]

honestly nothing is more perfect for baystate blue than a white pen, it should be mandatory imo

[@twmass]

Beautiful color; nightmare to clean. I wish I had been warned before I bought it, as it spilled all over my hands AND on my wood floor. A pumice stone scrubbed the skin and fingerprints off of my hands. The blotch on my floor is covered by a chair, but I still attempt to clean it off every now and again.

[@ReticentSparrow]

After this video, I feel like I need to try out Waterman Mysterious Blue and Monteverde Ocean Noir. While not the subject of this video, both caught my eye.

[@alflyover4413]

I like Ocean Noir. Jade Noir too.

[@scarletcloack4853]

I had a bit of an accident with Blue Upon The Plains of Abraham (try saying that ten times fast) and some ink spilled in my penbbs demonstrator and now it's blue forever. That's just how it is with Noodlers ink. Really like this color, might give in and buy it-- looks like I already have a stain designated pen now. I wonder if my cat will dare and smell the ink like she did with Blue Nosed Bear...

[@doggodoggo3000]

I didnt know AvE had such good penmanship.

[@panqueque445]

I love the color. I think it's worth it, but you definitely need a dedicated pen for just this ink.

[@zeus52452]

I wish I had seen this video before I found out about this ink on my own, and all I had was a sample. What I did find out though, I was able to remove it quickly using 75% Ethyl Alcohol followed by immediately flushing with a massive amount of water. I was surprised at how quick the ethyl alcohol worked. I think it's a really vivid blue and would probably be best used in an inexpensive pen like the Jinhao 80 as the designated Bay State ink pen!!

[@randy25rhoads]

I guess I’ve always had a more utilitarian view on fountain pens, but I’ve never been bothered by BSB staining pens. I’ve had pens filled with BSB for over a decade and it’s not eaten one yet. Hell, I’ve had a Waterman 55 filled with it for about two years or so. It’s not hurt the latex sac yet.

[@randy25rhoads]

Also, spot on with the isopropyl alcohol. It’s always worked better for me than ammonia-based flush.

[@ArjanD78]

That ink is not getting near my pens.

[@danielklopp7007]

BSB - love the color, hate the cleanup. I've had luck restoring an acrylic demonstrator to it's original clarity with an over-night soak in 20% chlorine bleach (as noted, NEVER use isopropyl alcohol on acrylic pens).

[@TheRonHockman]

Yeah, alcohol works. I had a pen I thought I ruined, and it was a sentimental pen, but just this year I found out that alcohol will remove BSB. The pen was stained over a decade ago, but the 99% IPA took the stains right off. I was so happy to get that pen clean since it was my first gold nib pen that I purchased back in 2004 when I was poor and in college.

[@michellesmith1719]

Count me among the devotees. I initially dedicated a reused Pilot Varsity but then, wanting a broader line, bought a blue Lamy Safari broad to dedicate to it. It's a great combo. We have a stainless steel sink so if there's every any staining during cleanup, alcohol pads have always done the trick to clean it up. I especially love BSB on original 52gsm Tomoe River. I've not tried it yet on the new Tomoe River or the 68gsm. It looked nice on your Regalia Paper, though!

[@PanFriedWeegee]

Im sorry but the way u wrote diamine with the sargasso sea is so good it could be a company logo

[@shaunhall960]

Beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

[@Doodlebud]

Its a happy balance

[@bobberry5452]

Great test! The real problem I have with Baystate Blue, even though I love the color and the intensity, is that it simply will not work with any paper or journals that I own, and I have many higher quality papers. The ink ALWAYS soaks through. So I rarely use it unless I want to make a mess of the paper, and yes - it is a trouble maker. Also, I decided when I first bought the BSB that I would dedicate a dark blue Jinhao 100 to the ink permanently.

[@TONY19021965]

I had the same problem. I found that "less is more." I started using either a fine or extra fine nib. Ive found that with a finer nib any paper over 70gsm works out fine. Another tip: dip your nib in water and give it a quick wipe when you're done using the pen, if your task will last a few days. This prevents premature drying out. I hope that this helps. Best regards.

[@idimiditavicorpzone5954]

You might want to try diluting the BSB with water, I found this allowed me to use it on all kinds of papers including cheap crappy ones, that it used to bleed through on like crazy. Go boldly to around 1 part ink to 5 parts water and then adjust till it has qualities to your and your paper's liking. It's incredibly diluteable and remains functional on soem absorbant papers even when it's just some BSB leftovers inside a pen + a full load of water.

[@sarahleeann7208]

Even more damaging: acetone (active ingredient in nail polish remover), but so far there hasn't been a stain or residue it couldn't eradicate. What's annoying is that it's absolutely fine in cheaper plastics (old takeout containers, single-use food and drink containers and bottles) but melted the nicer plastic of my otter box case when trying to get the sticky from a pop socket off. But if you ever make a mistake with superglue, acetone will melt it! Figured that out with plant pots that had the saucers glued on. I hate when they do that!

[@rylandavis2976]

Neither isopropyl or acetone are inherently damaging chemicals it all depends on it's individual chemistry, what it reacts with and what it can dissolve. Water is an incredibly powerful solvent, it will dissolve more things than any other chemical known to man Each chemical will dissolve and damage things according to their chemistry. Many things will be completely unreactive and insoluble to one chemical and to another it will be incredibly reactive and a potent solvent check what your pen is made of and if the cleaner you're going to use reacts to or dissolves it.

[@GEV646]

I bought two bottles of Noodler's ink years ago and both caused no end of frustration. One was a blue that faded badly after a couple of weeks, and the other was a green that started to fade almost immediately on writing. I shook each bottle before I used them, and it never made a difference. I tossed both bottles and never looked back.

[@TARS..]

You know its getting serious when doodle pulls out the gloves

[@Doodlebud]

I was scared 😨

[@steindesanstosses4529]

I know exactly the right pen for this ink: It's my blue Platinum Preppy ;-).

[@insomniacg]

The colours might be a bit off due to the camera but to me that looks like a bog standard pthalo blue. Staining, bright, reliable primary blue, one of the easiest colours to find in basically every range of art supply. So if you do want something that colour but a tad more manageable then it'll be super easy to find in ink ranges marketed to artists, many of which are fountain pen friendly and behave like the inks you're used to - just look for something that says 'pthalo/pthalocyanine blue' or has a pigment number of PB15 (you may see a PB15:1, PB15:3, or PB15:6; those denote slightly different tones within the family but not every brand gets that specific)

[@annedymock2850]

On my phone (don't know how true the colour profile is), it doesn't look like pthalo blue. It is more of a warm magneta tinged purplish blue like royal blue or a more saturated version of french ultramarine. I have always found pthalo blue to have a slight yellow green tinge, which makes sense as there is also a pthalo aqua and a pthalo green pigmented paint available. You get a better idea of the colour temperature of pigments when used in acrylic paints when mixed 😢with a brilliant white, like titanium white.

[@unripetheberrby6283]

"Noodler's Baystate Blue" sounds like a university/high school's Mascot's color! 😂😊😊 Well it IS an impressive ink. Nice video too. Tthank you all!

[@jetwrench2854]

Why did I get this interesting feed? This reminds me of when my mother told me that her favorite color ink is Periwinkle. I found some that color at a CNA in South Africa and saved it for her. She was so thrilled when I saw her again and gave her that gift.

[@Deadricklord]

I had a similar problem when it came to cleaning my Pen's cap from some Noodler's Heart of Darkness. It did not come off at all! It was resolved by soaking it in soapy water for a few hours but dang that was a struggle. Will forever still love Noodler's inks though and I plan on picking up a bottle of lightning blue for my first blue ink. Also a sudden and constant increase in viewers ever since you started doing the iconic doodlebud intros again? Coincidence? I think not.

[@Doodlebud]

LOL

[@ichirofakename]

Lightning Blue is in fact gorgeous. Rather pale.

[@Deadricklord]

@@ichirofakename exactly why I wanna get it! I got a bottle of caran d'ache infra red and electric orange for $8 each and they're both extremely vibrant yet a little pale. Absolutely love those inks so I'm sure I'll enjoy lightning blue just as much.

[@christineg8151]

For a video all about the bay state blue, I gotta say, I really want to try that Diamine Sargasso Sea now! Most blues are pretty boring, but I love the slight shading on that one.

[@Doodlebud]

Here's a top 5 blue inks I did a little while back kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIq0e2l9jqZ_hJI

[@MissMarilynDarling]

GASP !!! The only other ink that stains worse than that is Noodlers King Phillip Requiem that one was full on stained no ifs ands or butts no coconuts totally stained my noodlers pen and now I have a pink ish pen :)

[@thespicedune]

Yep, my Narwhal demo is my Baystate Blue holder for all time. Beautiful vibrant blue and treat it as my archive ink.

[@dj405767]

I enjoy your videos, and especially this one. I love Baystate Blue. I’ve enjoyed videos from Goulet where Brian K tells of his big spill, and it’s a cautionary tale😅. I’ve had only a few small mishaps which Dawn Powerwash (spray, liquid not as quickly effective) removed most of the ink after first try. A second spray really cleans it all. The color is like no other, Iroshizuku Asa Gao is closest I’ve come to it’s vibrant blue/purple. I have a number of blue pens that are dedicated to BSB, Twsbi Eco, 580 ALR Navy, Pilot Custom 74 & Decimo, Visconti H S Stones Sapphire and a Pelikan 805. Also, I use the Twsbi Diamond 50 inkwell, which keeps hands spotless when filling the 580, 580 mini and international cartridges. Noodle’s make great inks and gives you a bigger pour than most other inks. Virtually permanent color is a plus to me and I’ll continue use it in many of my pens.

[@Merlin012001]

Such a beautiful blue!! Edit: Clean it in a stainless sink with bleach and barkeeper's friend close by to fix the sink staining

[@kennycarter5682]

That color seems the best on your papers..... so vibrant and powerful.

[@RyanEdwardsVA]

The algorithm absolutely DEMANDS I watch this video on a topic I've ever expressed any interest in, it's been recommended to me every day for weeks. But I'm glad y'all are having fun/horror stories over here in the enthusiast pen ink world!

[@manifunk1]

I have actually dedicated a Twsbi Eco specifically for this ink and I have never cleaned it! I must of inked it a year ago and it’s still working well.