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Comparison of 11 Black Inks (*updated*)


MDI

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Here is a comparison of 11 Black Inks:

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_black1.jpg

 

(Updated: images were re-scanned and now include better shadow detail. A new ink was added.)

 

Here are the close-ups:

 

Higgins Eternal Black Calligraphy Ink (do not use in fountain pens)

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_higgins1.jpg

 

Noodler's Heart of Darkness (bulletproof)

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_hod1.jpg

 

Noodler's Bulletproof Black

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_bpblack1.jpg

 

Noodler's Borealis (water resistant)

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_borealis1.jpg

 

Aurora Black

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_aurorablack1.jpg

 

J. Herbin Perle Noire

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_perlenoire1.jpg

 

Pelikan Brilliant Black

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_pelblack1.jpg

 

Sheaffer Skrip Black (new/Slovenian)

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_skripblack1.jpg

 

Montblanc Black

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_mbblack1.jpg

 

Visconti Black

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_viscblack1.jpg

 

Parker Quink Black

 

http://queenmargot.com/inks_quinkblack1.jpg

 

 

--

 

 

Edited by MDI

Collection: Pen Perfect | Ink: The Magic Fountain

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delete. Duplicate.

Edited by Gran

May you have pens you enjoy, with plenty of paper and ink. :)

Please use only my FPN name "Gran" in your posts. Thanks very much!

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Oooh, I do enjoy these ink reviews!

 

I wish the light reflections could go through the monitor. If I look at them individually, I like them all. That Noodlers Bulletproof black kind of hops right out in a friendly way. Isn't it great to have choices?

 

Many thanks for taking the time to do this and post it.

May you have pens you enjoy, with plenty of paper and ink. :)

Please use only my FPN name "Gran" in your posts. Thanks very much!

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Oh! *Clutches heart* That is Beautiful! Thank you for doing this!

 

The Old Manhattan Black would look like the Heart of Darkness, without the feathering. (This was my own experience.)

_________________

etherX in To Miasto

Fleekair <--French accent.

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It is interesting to see here what a warm black Noodler's BP is, in comparison to Borealis, which almost has a greenish tinge to it. Visconti Black is the most washed out black I have ever tried, so the scan here looks pretty accurate. Montblanc (which is also very washed out) has an almost violet tint in real life.

 

I seldom use black, except for mixing, but if I did Borealis would probably be the one.

 

 

 

Edited by QM2
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Oh! *Clutches heart* That is Beautiful! Thank you for doing this!

 

The Old Manhattan Black would look like the Heart of Darkness, without the feathering. (This was my own experience.)

 

eth--you are such a great spokesperson for OMB! Your postcards give clear evidence of its quality. Just wish I didn't have to send away for it.

 

"The surface is all you've got. You can only get beyond the surface by working with the surface." ~Richard Avedon

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I would get the Waterman Black in the future, especially since I am looking for a Gray-Black w/o the MB tint (and don't want to use Visconti Black).

 

And as far as Noodler's OMB, if someone wants to mail me a tiny sample (enough for a q-tip), I shall add it to this comparison.

Edited by MDI

Collection: Pen Perfect | Ink: The Magic Fountain

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And as far as Noodler's OMB, if someone wants to mail me a tiny sample (enough for a q-tip), I shall add it to this comparison.

If that "someone" is me, I would love to send you a sample. PM me your address, and I'll send it along.

_________________

etherX in To Miasto

Fleekair <--French accent.

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I am impressed to see HoD looking even darker and more saturated than Higgin's, although reasonable people can disagree with this assessment.

 

I've just ordered my fifth black (along with a whole mess of purples). As always, FPN shows that none of us are alone in our obsessions for just the right x.

 

Cool scan all around, thanks!

 

 

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Wow, I didn't realize there was such a big difference. I bought the Noodler's The Heart of Darkness and am glad I did, I love it.

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What's not obvious is how much red is inside Visconti Black. I just cleaned out a piston filler that had only ever been filled with V. black, and all that came out were dark burgundy drops....

deirdre.net

"Heck we fed a thousand dollar pen to a chicken because we could." -- FarmBoy, about Pen Posse

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dark burgundy drops....

 

How interesting. I spilled some Visconti Black on the counter and it's now stained yellow (after I, admittedly, let it sit there for a few too many minutes). Perhaps these components show themselves in different circumstances.

 

Collection: Pen Perfect | Ink: The Magic Fountain

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It is interesting to see here what a warm black Noodler's BP is, in comparison to Borealis, which almost has a greenish tinge to it.

I seldom use black, except for mixing, but if I did Borealis would probably be the one.

Borealis does have a distinct (but not marked) greenish tinge and if you do the old paper towel test on it, you can see just the tiniest halo of green around the dense black.

 

I've said it before and will say it again -- except for bulletproof requirements, I think Borealis might be the only black ink I would ever really need. That green hint is probably why I like Zhivago in a fine or fine-medium nib so much. Too bad I've got so many others.

Edited by BillTheEditor
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Very well done review! One question, is the Skrip the new Slovenian or the older ink?

Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

There is no snooze button on a cat wanting breakfast.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/606/letterji9.png

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Very well done review! One question, is the Skrip the new Slovenian or the older ink?

 

The Skrip is the new, Slovenian version.

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