Noodler's Black Fountain Pen Inks : Which Do I Use?

[@animula6908]

I love dark matter as a history buff. I’ve never had a Noodler’s ink that I don’t love. I tried some other brands just to say I did, but I don’t think I will use anything but Noodler’s until I get all the colors. I can add shimmer if I absolutely feel the need, but the shading inks are so great I can’t say enough good things about them, especially for the price.

[@curatedavalon]

👏 The more I use them the more I love their inks! They are just so well thought out and executed!

[@StopFear]

What does “history buff” have to do with it?

[@barryporter6993]

Bad black moccasin. My favorite black fountain pen ink.

[@curatedavalon]

It is a great ink!

[@jimmybritt8405]

I'm just glad people are still using Noodler's Inks after the stand that Goulet Pens and Anderson Pens has taken against Noodler's.

[@curatedavalon]

It has been such an odd development. Living in America, being an American, one has the right to run one's business as one sees fit. I have no interest in interfering with that right just as I would not want someone interfering with one of my pursuits. If an individual is attempting to cause harm or is causing harm then I simply choose to not support that business. Oddly enough, I have seen "hate speech" and "cancel culture" items hit some of the best selling merchandise on the current market. Boasting actual hate speech statements that are absolute. These businesses are not asked to change or shutdown. Many are small businesses. People see these items choose to buy or not and move on. I am most interested in the supposed offense of the label (Bernanke Red) (I say supposed because I have been told by friends that it is not offensive.) because it is a perceived offense. It is a most interesting situation. I am wanting to understand how we are willing to infringe on a freedom (I assume) we would not wish infringed upon? A seeming blow to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Artist interpretation and endeavors should be allowed much room. I cannot make any definitive statements on the actual situation as I am not party to it. This is merely from a customer's point of view and not so well put in a youtube comment! But I will continue to use my favorite inks.

[@peachymanaangel]

I have found they are well behaved and easy to clean out of pens.

[@curatedavalon]

@@peachymanaangel They have been for as well. Gotta love that about an ink!

[@matthewadkins7973]

What happened with noodlers and goulet

[@NuryPPanaligan]

​@@matthewadkins7973Some people think than Nathan Tardiff is Anti-Semitic due to Bernanke inks. Goulet Pens stopped selling Noodler's inks for a moment. Nathan renamed or removed inks that have names related to Indians/Asians/politics. Due to Nathan's actions and apology, Goulet Pens sold Noodler's inks again.

[@richardsimms251]

I really enjoy the blackest of black inks with my work. Noodler’s has GREAT inks and the prices are often much lower than other manufacturers. Aurora Black Ink is REALLY black especially if the pen has a lot of flow. Aurora has a shine too which some may like Nice presentation RS Canada

[@curatedavalon]

🥰

[@QatarVegan]

Interesting about your thoughts on Aurora black, I totally agree that it’s really black, I use it a lot but never seen a shine from it, from my pen/paper usually it’s absolutely matt, which I like.

[@cmw9876]

Flow ..... vital for inks that are trying to write with a solid dense line. Bingo! 👍

[@ichirofakename]

I bought Noodler's Borealis because it was supposed to be quite dark black and very wet. It is. Your swatching perhaps confirms it is the darkest. However now I think I'm better off with dry inks than wet inks. Anybody recommend a nice dark black dry ink? I actually use more grey ink than black, which can look harsh. Noodler's Lexington Gray is a nice grey trending dark, with ideal properties. I also use Herbin Gris Nuage because it is EXTREMELY pale, which is useful to me.

[@curatedavalon]

The Borealis Black compared to the others does seem the deepest black. It has such a nice hue. I'm unfamiliar with drier blacks but will keep a lookout!

[@ichirofakename]

@@curatedavalon Noodler's Bernanke Black is supposed to be fast-drying, maybe that's the same thing as dry. Can't resist a saample from Anderson Pens for 63¢.

[@curatedavalon]

@@ichirofakename I almost said something about that one but since I haven't used it personally I didn't want to recommend. My cousin picked that one, and really loves it. It is very fast drying!

[@BuffaloNickel9]

@@curatedavalon Great Review, clear & concise. Good handwriting as well. Have you tried "Black" by Aurora? Cheers

[@BuffaloNickel9]

Haven't found any darker than Borealis Black, & I've tried several. Borealis Black was actually Noodler's take fully inspired by "Black" from Aurora everyone speaks about being the darkest. I have a bottle arriving tomorrow. Interestingly, Aurora brand ink is not as common on my beloved Amazon Prime when all major brand inks & colors, especially All Noodler's, are widely available on Amazon Prime!

[@destinedthunder]

Love! I may try dark matter now.

[@alohm]

The quote is from the Indian classic: The Bhagavad Gita. Thanks for sharing the blacks. I use Heart of darkness. I did not realize there were such a shade diff - I assumed it was simply qualities that differed?

[@curatedavalon]

That is where the quote is from! The different black inks seem to be formulated for different uses and qualities. I do love trying them!

[@CeruleanCzarina]

Loved this review! I too am a fan of black inks and, if I could only have one, I'd have to pick Noodler's X-Feather. It performs well in any pen-paper combination including on the cheapest, most egregious papers. Second place goes to Monteverde Document Ink black which is my go-to waterproof ink for drawing. It also works well in any pen, unlike my third favorite, Platinum Carbon black, which has thick, dense pigment particles and performs best in the pen that shares its name.

[@curatedavalon]

Thank you! I definitely need to add X-Feather to my list!

[@helenqiu7677]

I picked up Boralis black when I was in college because I really wanted a super black black ink, but I fully admit that it may not have been the greatest choice. It was super messy - very wet, slow to dry, dissolved in water (and sweat). I used it as a daily ink anyways, because that was how much I liked the contrast on the page, but it made for smudges on all my notes and all over my hands.

[@curatedavalon]

Ah

[@cmw9876]

I'm in Australia. I'm a long way from the US or Europe. Once I've got the ink, I make it work. There's none of this sending it back & trying something else. I had two bottles of Noodler's Black American Eel. It wrote "grey" - all except one pen that was nice & wet and filled after I shook the bottle - nice and solid black writing. Hmm. I adjusted another pen so there was a better gap in the tines and more flow. Shaking the bottle (very fine particulate matter perhaps?) and adjusting the tines makes all the pens write solid black. I use a couple of ink converters in addition to the three pens that are piston fillers. The ink converters now have tiny pieces of irregular stainless floating around in them - you can hear them rattle if you shake the pens. Being irregular and big enough, they help with flow perhaps and maybe break up air locks. There's an ink converter made by a Japanese company that has ball bearings inside the ink converter (Pilot? ... Platinum? ...... ?). Great video. Thanks.

[@curatedavalon]

You're welcome!

[@mellow-jello]

Noodler's Raven Black is my favourite with 4 bottles in my stash, before they discounted it recently. Last chance might come from the Wonder Pens warehouse sale, might get one more if I find one.

[@richardsimms251]

It is too bad that the owner of Noodler’s Inks was accused of “nasty things”, and had to change the humorous, entertaining and historical NAMES of his inks to other names just to be “perfectly correct” RS Canada

[@gfeld]

Should have kept the names as they were

[@BlushnBlue]

I am going to buy Dark Matter now, thank you!!

[@curatedavalon]

I hope you like it! I can't stay away from it! 😄

[@BlushnBlue]

@@curatedavalon Thank you.

[@mellow-jello]

Found that Goulet Pen's Swab Shop has an excellent tool for comparing shades of black. Discovered that among Noodler's, the top darkest inks were Dark Matter, Aurora Borealis, and BBM. Check it out sometime.

[@curatedavalon]

Yes, they are quite handy for samples! I have found those three inks to be the blackest too. Along with Raven Black in fourth.

[@robmc120]

You can't get Noodler's samples anymore on Goulet Pens because pressure from the mob attack, but they're having a fire sale to wash their hands of him at Anderson Pens if you want to get samples cheap while they last. Otherwise, bottles seem to be the only way to get it anymore on other sites. Thanks for showing all of them together, really liked the comparison. God bless!

[@curatedavalon]

It has been such a bizarre development! I had ordered exclusively from Goulet for years, but was unable to purchase my usual Noodler's inks and so had to go exploring for other online shops. I found my "Dark Matter" ink from another shop and was able to order thank goodness!

[@ichirofakename]

What happened? I know nothing.

[@robmc120]

@@curatedavalon fountain pen hospital occasionally has 20% ink deals and Noodlers comes into the rotation, you may want to wait on that if you can for a good deal? God bless!

[@curatedavalon]

@@ichirofakename I'm not 100% sure all of what happend. I recommend checking out Noodler's and Goulet Pen's Instagram pages to learn more. But my understanding is that companies that sold Noodler's inks got together after a reddit group pushed for Noodler's to change their ink labels.

[@robmc120]

@@ichirofakename Best not to go too far into the toxicity of it, but basically people accused him of antisemetic label art on reddit. God bless!

[@matfam744]

I know that's been a while from this video but I suggest you to try aurora black

[@curatedavalon]

Thanks!

[@nateponyboy7201]

are u using a brush to make the splotches ?

[@curatedavalon]

I use Q-Tips and syringes. Brushes work very well too!

[@BoulderJR]

Are you able to clean Noodler’s Bad Black Moccasin and Black ink from your pens. What do you use?

[@curatedavalon]

It cleans out just fine from the pens I have. I use a pen flush and water with a bulb syringe to flush out any leftover ink.

[@BoulderJR]

@@curatedavalon Thank you. Great videos.

[@EricResnick]

Have you tried Hero 9003 Black?

[@curatedavalon]

I haven't!

[@peachymanaangel]

Birmingham Pen Company has a lot of great blacks, they don’t have the resistances of noodler’s.

[@curatedavalon]

I haven't yet tried their inks, but they look beautiful.

[@pookieeart]

Can I use it with dip pen?

[@curatedavalon]

It should work just fine with a dip pen. I use my fountain pens as dip pens often as well as actual dip pens with these inks. They might be more wet than an Ink used specially for dip pens though.

[@pookieeart]

@@curatedavalon thank u so much!

[@richardsimms251]

Does anyone know how to add “shimmer” to an ink ? RS. Canada

[@damutoob]

Pennonia makes a shimmer additive in about 12 colors. Cult Pens out of the UK carries it. Probably someone stateside does also, but the Cult has never failed me on European inks. However they do not carry Noodler’s.

[@richardsimms251]

To damutoob Thank you for that information

[@B463L]

Wearingeul glitter potion. Never used it since shimmer isn't my cup of tea, but it's cool that the stuff exists.

[@ERH1453]

HOD for ever!

[@EarlHebert-c8w]

This was mine. I DO NOT know how it was changed?! I am ERH 1453.

[@quantgenius]

That quote is Oppenheimer quoting the Bhagwad Gita, not Oppenheimer quoting himself.

[@skyerandbuzz8814]

Black bat noodler's

[@StopFear]

Your video is great but you need to get a better microphone so it sounds clear without the acoustics of the room.

[@curatedavalon]

Sound and lighting are the constant battles!

[@randomstuff625]

What's the point of this video when the volium that low

[@curatedavalon]

The stunning visuals and camera work didn't dazzle you? Shucks.😄

[@ERH1453]

It is a shame but Brevity Black & blue is what you get is when drop your principals. Shame.