Noodler's Black Vs Black Eel?

August 26, 2017

Does the eel version have all the other qualities of the regular one? Will both serve as well for pen and ink drawings with a watercolor wash? Or will the paint make it feather or bleed?

Would appreciate your experiences with both.

August 29, 2017

The eel version has added chemicals to help it 'lubricate' piston pens or piston type filling systems. I find the eel series to feather like mad, even on decent types of papers. I only own a couple colors (blue and black).

Regular Noodler's back is a great ink overall, but takes a bit to dry. If you're washing over it, the top layer of ink may smear some I've found. So, unless you'll do your black a few days before and then your wash, maybe avoid it too.

I would suggest Noodler's Heart of Darkness. It's a permanent ink that tries to balance dry time, spreading, and color and all that. I think Noodler's hit the nail on the head with it. I use HoD and Aurora black as my go-to black inks mostly. I would suggest this for your uses.

August 29, 2017

Thanks. What papers you use show feathering or smearing for these inks? 140 lb Watercolor cellulose paper? 140 lb Watercolor 100% cotton paper. Or some other papers?

August 31, 2017

If you are going to use it for drawings, HOD, Black or Polar Black but not eel black. Eel black is perfect for cleaning out pens.

However, samples are your friend. Get a bunch of samples and try them out. Different inks were better with different pens / conditions / papers.

September 2, 2017

Eel has other issues...

Had it "lubricate" some of my pens to the point where pressure fit nibs don't stay pressure fit, or where there is epic drool (think English bulldog levels of drool), or where there is epic leakage.

Amber, how do you keep the "Polar" series from feathering all over the place? Admittedly, my only experience is with Polar Blue, which combines "polar" with "eel." Does that make it "bi-polar"?