Noodler's Hunter Green "Eternal"

[Inka]

While I'd originally gotten this ink in an attempt to use as part of a blend, to re-create Coral Sea, that attempt has been less than desirable, close but not exact.

Since that blend-attempt didn't turn out as I'd liked, I'm now using Hunter Green Eternal in its' 100% pure form and really loving it just the way it is!

On to the hand-written review...

 

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu56/InkaFX/Noodlers-Hunter-Green-Eter.jpg

 

I haven't done this before but since finding the Noodler's labels to be so unique, I took some macros of all 3 sides.

First, a shot of pen & ink box/bottle; some say they get nib-creep with this ink [as with many Noodler's inks].

I've been writing with the same M800 filled with Noodler's Hunter Green for hours now and not so much as a drop seen on my nib...

 

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu56/InkaFX/HunterGreenM800Gator.jpg

 

Going from left, to front, to the right side.

Left side of label...

 

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu56/InkaFX/HG-LeftSide.jpg

 

Front [pic of a hunter snoozing while the animals all gather 'round, pretty cool!]...

 

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu56/InkaFX/HG-Front.jpg

 

Right side and final shot...

 

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu56/InkaFX/HG-RightSide.jpg

 

As much as I try to be very careful to preserve my Noodler's labels, looks like I did get some ink on it while messing around with ink blending.

Oh well... it's a color swatch I reckon.

 

As for the wash-test, Hunter Green "Eternal" passed just as any "bulletproof" versions of Noodler's I own...

 

http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu56/InkaFX/HunterGreenWashTest.jpg

 

While some ink came off the surface using things like Dawn liquid soap on a cotton swab it didn't remove it.

I got a bit of color bleeding with swabbing techniques, no big deal really and water saturation didn't even phase it a bit.

I've never had such tough results after wash-testing any other green inks, typically they wash out from water droplets.

I'd have no problem trusting Hunter Green on checks, important documents meant to last, signatures, even in journals meant to last a lifetime.

Only time will tell just how long it will last but from what I'm seeing I believe I can trust it to do so.

 

Oh yeah, under UV/black light the green turns into a bright yellow orange color when written with a Fine nib.

An ink swab I did looked like a vibrant florescent green under UV with bright yellow edges around the swabbed area.

All of my other inks, except for Luxury Blue and Blue Ghost, appear as dark black under black light, even my reds and purples look black.

This is a very interesting aspect of Hunter Green, that it's not only a great color under normal lighting but actually changes appearance under Ultra Violet lighting, pretty cool actually!

 

Good stuff, I'm beginning to love this ink!

Costing as much for 1 ounce as the 3 ounce bottles of Noodler's inks it's probably not something I'll be buying all the time.

Who knows, I may get so attatched to Hunter Green I'll find myself buying it regardless, since it's at least available in the U.S. [where I live] so not paying the extra for Coral Sea from Australia.

If I could afford it, I'd stock up on Coral Sea, but it's good to know there are other inks not like it that I find to be almost as alluring and most definitely permanent!

 

EDIT: fixed some type-os, now if I could only learn to type!

Edited July 31, 2009 by Inka

[GardenWeasel]

Absolutely wonderful review! I've been using Hunter Green off and on for quite a while. Whenever my green Esterbrook comes up on rotation - it gets ONLY Hunter Green! Love it!!

[Peter from Sherwood Park]

Thank you for the review -- your scans are spot-on.

 

In addition to regular use, Hunter Green is excellent for writing on wooden plant labels.

[Inka]

Thanks!

I know Swisher gives a slight bulk discount but unlike discounts on 2 or more regular 3oz Noodler's I think it's more like 5 or more, pricey.

If I had an extra $60 or so, I'd probably buy 5+ bottles and get the discount, now that I've tried it, the best green ink I've yet to try.

I'll have to let my wife know about the wooden plant labels and Hunter Green.

She labeled a dozen or so 5 gallon buckets I'd drilled drainage holes into with paper labels and a Sharpie, the first rain washed out all the lettering.

[GreenVelvet]

Great review - and nice gator in the photo.

 

I use this ink all the time - love it on postcards - and on my monitor, that color looks very accurate to what you see in person.

[PJohnP]

Scott :

 

 

Great review !

 

I'm one of those people who finds that many of the permanent/Eternal/Bulletproof/Contract Noodler's inks have nib creep on my Pelikan nibs. I've been wondering if there's something about the effects of altitude - I live at 7,000' plus - on the colligative properties of the ink, i.e., surface tension. Not so sure, but Gulfstream Blue, Coral Sea Blue, Hunter Green, all of these have substantial nib creep on several different M200/250 pens with different kinds of nibs.

 

I do get some shading with this ink in my green M200 with a cursive italic nib. Not a large amount of shading, to be sure, but some gradation on the long swept lines for some letters.

 

The colour's quite nice, however I haven't run any UV fluorescence tests !

 

 

 

John P.

[GreenVelvet]

I'm one of those people who finds that many of the permanent/Eternal/Bulletproof/Contract Noodler's inks have nib creep on my Pelikan nibs. I've been wondering if there's something about the effects of altitude -

 

Nope. I live at sea level. Nib creep happens anywhere.

[superbleu]

Same here, also at sea level and get a lot of nib creep with Hunter green.

 

I find it feathers a quite a bit so I don't use the hunter green a whole lot.

 

Greenvelvet and Scott do you notice it's tendency to feather?

 

EDIT: I forgot to say, great review Scott.

Edited August 1, 2009 by superbleu

[GardenWeasel]

I get a gorgeous nib creep that really compliments my green Esterbrook!

[Inka]

I get a gorgeous nib creep that really compliments my green Esterbrook!

I love the way you think!

 

As for altitude effecting nib-creep, +/- either way, I'm at 39 feet ASL [Above Sea Level] and don't get it, but probably more due to the fact I smooth my nib slots.

Whenever there are macro or microscopic grooves in a nib slot, very common after the slots are cut, it will give any ink a path in which to travel via capillary action to the tops of the nibs.

This is especially evident when inks have a very high surfactant level such as often seen with many Noodler's inks.

 

EDIT: Feathering? Hmmm, odd I don't see that either with this ink and so far I've tried it on everything from slick sugarcane bagasse paper to very fibrous Staples 3x5 cards.

I have no idea why I continue to luck out with Noodler's inks, having tried many in different pens without any real issues.

Even my Polar Brown ink flows and behaves extremely well for me, when some say they cannot stand it for different reasons.

Edited August 1, 2009 by Inka

[GreenVelvet]

I find it feathers a quite a bit so I don't use the hunter green a whole lot.

 

Greenvelvet and Scott do you notice it's tendency to feather?

 

Actually, no - I can't think of a time when I've ever seen this ink feather.

 

[tzmcneill]

Inka,

 

What do you use to smooth your nib slots?

 

tom.

[Inka]

Inka,

 

What do you use to smooth your nib slots?

 

tom.

These...

 

http://www.tryphon.it/myl.jpg

 

Nib Smoothing Kit - Std.

Std. Nib Smoothing Kit: US $8

Got them from Tryphon Enterprises several months ago, use the gray sheets first [larger grit], then work down to the finest or the .3 micron.

 

I run the sheet down the nib slot, then work the nibs from breather hole to tip and back and forth several times, often gently rolling the sheets over the edges to knock off any burs.

Just be careful not to fold the sheets over the tips on exiting the slot or you could roll the slot tips over and create a "babies-bottom", where ink won't hit the paper from the nib tips and won't flow as well.

 

http://www.tryphon.it/catalogo.htm

[JDlugosz]

Nib Smoothing Kit - Std.

Std. Nib Smoothing Kit: US $8

Got them from Tryphon Enterprises several months ago, use the gray sheets first [larger grit], then work down to the finest or the .3 micron.

 

I got something from Binder I think, that only has 2 sheets and a bit of brass shim stock for flossing. I have some trouble with it not being flexible, so I tend to make it too flat or faceted. So I use the coraser one (1 micron I think, green) but not the finest (.3). I've tried putting it over a soft surface, but it just doesn't round over. I've tried micromesh too, but have not worked at it enough to know how well it works for me.

 

I think the inexpensive (read: no PGM tip) nibs, like the low-end Heros, simply need a different approach. The maliable, as opposed to super hard, metal will burnish so doesn't need grinding except to remove outright burrs.

 

--John

[AlaskanWriter]

Oooh! I like that.

 

Nice review! and thanks for the label pics, I enjoy seeing all the nifty Noodlers labels when I can.

 

G.

[jazztonight]

I use this ink all the time - love it on postcards....

And coincidentally, I just received your postcard written in Hunter Green, and before I even read it I was struck by the beauty of the ink!

[Inka]

I use this ink all the time - love it on postcards....

And coincidentally, I just received your postcard written in Hunter Green, and before I even read it I was struck by the beauty of the ink!

Sweet!

That's good to hear, as I may switch at least one free eye-dropper pen I have over to Hunter Green Eternal and keep it on-hand for just this purpose.

Thanks!

[GreenVelvet]

I use this ink all the time - love it on postcards....

And coincidentally, I just received your postcard written in Hunter Green, and before I even read it I was struck by the beauty of the ink!

 

Oh lovely, so glad you like. It is one of my very favorite inks for postcard. Hunter Green, Legal Lapis, and Violet Vote get a lot of Postcard Play. (Hooray for Noodler's Bulletproofs on postcards!)

[monjaraz85]

The fastest ink that I own. It dries almost instantaneously, especially on Clairefontaine 90g. Truly excellent. If there is a blue or black out there that dries this fast my search for the ultimate ink will come to an end.

[kathleen]

Noodler's Hunter Green is my favorite ink! A dark green for a Kathleen, it has become my signature color. It is a dark enough green to mean business but there is still something inviting about it! I Love this ink!

It behaves very well in my vintage pens.

 

The only other inks I like nearly as well are the FPN exclusive Van Gogh Starry Night and Noodler's Purple Martin.