Safest and Best Black Ink?

[Parker51Fan]

While I am a huge fan of Noodler's Heart of Darkness ink, I am worried that I might be damaging my Parker 51s by using it regularly. I guess I have two questions for forum readers:

 

1. Should I be concerned that HoD could damage my pens?

2. If so, can you recommend an outstanding, dark black ink that would be a safer alternative? I've heard great things about Aurora black. Any thoughts would be appreciated, and my apologies if this topic has been covered extensively elsewhere.

 

Mark

[GeeTee]

Best and safest black ink i can think of is J. Herbin's Perle Noir.

[ethernautrix]

I don't know about damage to vintage pens. I found Noodler's Old Manhattan Black to run dry in my P51 so switched to PR Midnight Blues but didn't like that it wasn't water-resistant (and other PR inks I've used have faded), so switched to J. Herbin Perle Noire -- a deep, lush black that flows well in my P51.

[gkterry]

Mark:

 

I, too have been concerned about this of late. While I know many folks use this ink and other Noodler's inks, Richard Binder, our well known repair and nib specialist has an article on his website about inks. He lists Noodler's ink as requiring the most maintenance attention of any brand. He certainly does not promote discontinuation of Noodler's inks but states they will require more maintenance because of their chemical properties. Mr. Binder designated Aurora black as the safest darkest black. Diamine Onyx Black might be another good choice also. Especially for use in vintage pens, I would think it prudent to be cautious about inks.

 

Might I suggest that you order an ink sampler or two from Pear Tree Pens (no affiliation, just a satisfied customer)? They offer a sampler of 4 inks of your choice for $4.99. They have just about any type/ color of ink imaginable. That would give you a good indicator of how they write in your pen.

Edited December 13, 2009 by gkterry

[psfred]

HoD won't bother a "51" at all. I've used Noodler's black and X-feather for months on end in a "51" with no trouble other than a melted diaphragm, which I consider to be another problem, not the ink -- my Sheaffer's with rubber sacs dont' go squishy with the same ink.

 

Noodler's inks are far less corrosive and prone to the formation of insoluble precipitates than Superchrome or "51" inks were back when the pens were new.

 

Peter

[Jimmy James]

If Aurora is a consideration, Noodler's makes an ink that is designed to have similar properties (not permanent and very dark) called Borealis.

 

I would personally reason that since Noodler's Dark Matter is from essentially the same era as the 51, it would work nicely. It satisfies me, but I admit I'm satisfied by Waterman Black.

[encaenmi]

Waterman Black is very good IMO. I suppose most people wouldn't like it, though, because it is grayish and it shades a lot. Richard Binder lists it as the brand that requires the less maintenance, so I think it would do your 51 good.

[Jeff E]

Noodlers HOD should be safe. You might want to flush and fill more frequently if you have any concerns. Both Diamine and Waterman make "safe" black inks. Another excellent choice is Aurora black.

[downwiththepc27]

I don't see any reason why HOD would damage your 51. First off, I've never seen anyone post about it damaging their pen. It's probably pH neutral as most Noodler's inks claim to be. Secondly, 51s were used with Superchrome ink which was highly corrosive and managed to hold up pretty well.

 

I think almost everyone would agree that there's no problem with using HOD, unless you leave it to sit for a long time.

[Possum Hill]

I wouldn't worry about Noodler's ink, unless you have a couple dozen pens inked at once and don't write regularly with each one. That would be a recipe for clogs.

 

On the other hand, there have been some active threads about members searching for the ideal black. There are probably several inks described there that would fit your requirements.

[lapis]

+2 Perle Noire otherwise Aurora.

 

Mike

[DavidR2]

What is wrong with standard Noodler's Bulletproof Black?

[offbase]

As others have said, take your pick between Perle Noire & Aurora Black. The Aurora has an added advantage of lubricating the nib across the page -- a VERY smooth ink. I've used it in dozens of vintage and modern pens over the years, and never a problem.

[ethernautrix]

What is wrong with standard Noodler's Bulletproof Black?

 

This is one of my favorite inks! I found the Noodler's Old Manhattan Black to run dry in my P51, but I've used that and Noodler's Black (bulletproof) in many pens (trying to think what's vintage that I've had in rotation recently). (I don't have many vintage pens.) I don't have concerns about using Noodler's black inks in any of my pens.

[Eternally Noodling]

The safest ink is not an ink at all. It's called a dilute mix of distilled water and the weakest food coloring money can buy. What would be the point? Why use a pen at all? Inks that pathetically rinse off the page because of a rain drop or fade before a ray of light can be made from grape juice - or bottled in a SMALL elaborate container and given extra flashy packaging and a certain empty and meaningless elite/snob appeal for the pleasure. Snobbery and elitism are enemies of the fountain pen: they imply higher costs and a certain archaic quality to the instrument that hinder the fountain pens full utilization by the most people who may find it not only enjoyable - but a practical writing instrument!

 

Heart of Darkness is both pH neutral and rinses off plastics with tap water (numerous plastics, every one that could be found for testing - though I strongly suggest not letting any water touch casein plastics - or any water based inks by any manufacturer...as casein swells when exposed to water). You can take the other so-called "safe" inks and leave them in thin metal foil chambers made of your typical plated pen trim base metals: aluminum, brass, copper, 8 alloy steel, and bronze. See which ink is safer - the Heart of Darkness or the inks recommended by the purveyors of fear concerning the practical use of the fountain pen. Luddites would have the fountain pen classed as a relic - whereas the fountain pen in reality is the most capable and practical of all the writing instruments available today. The Parker 51 is in the test pen lineup at Noodler's, which consists almost entirely of vintage pens. Heart of Darkness has a pen provided with every 4.5 oz bottle...just to show how modern pen manufacturing is more than capable of making a pen with a large capacity and smooth/dark/deep line - at a more than affordable price that far exceeds the value of the disposable pens one might consider at any "big box" store when accounting for ink volume/weight/line rate/smoothness/properties/durability (it requires no pressure and can write on the end of a sheet of paper extended into thin air). Compare its capacity to that of pens costing over $200...and compare the writing ability - it's very amusing (and rather upsetting to certain people)!

 

Whenever somebody mocks a fountain pen and claims you should just get a "more modern ball point" - ask them how their ball pen holds up to simple rubbing alcohol or acetone next time they have an important document to sign. The ball point is inferior vrs. UV light, solvents, & line pressure and should be considered a dated technology (it is outright dangerous to write a check with a ball point pen - as it is the preferred pen ink for "check washing" by criminals). The fountain pen is far more capable - and has better inks!

[Eternally Noodling]

The more costly black inks per oz... Blind label testing has been VERY amusing with inks such as certain Italian and French brands vrs. Dark Matter, Borealis Black, Anti-Feather Black, etc....

 

When the labels are visible the brand loyalty always carries through...but when the inks are in identical bottles...wow....!! ;-)

[hookem11]

When I want a black in my 51 I use Aurora. Smooth and safe

[MVice78]

I know this is a modern pen but... the results were very good. I inked my Sailor Sapporo fine nib with Noodlers black and forgot about it for a month or so. When I came across the pen hiding someplace I started to write with it and it worked! I'm sure anyone who has used a Sailor F or EF nib know you can use these to draw a bullseye on the side of a gnat! No clogging with regular Noodler's black. Now as far as corosion or anything of that sort? I saw nothing wrong anywhere with the pen where I could look and the pen still writes. I have Aurora Black and have sampled Perle Noir. They are also blacks I would use without question in my pens.

 

Mike

[bluemagister]

If Noodler's inks are custom made by a fountain pen enthusiast for the sole purpose of being safe to use in fountain pens, then the ink is probably safe to use in fountain pens. Other inks that are "safe" might just be cheap dye in water, making them useless for business or archiving. In that case, I'd recommend using Waterman black or Aurora for everyday writing and gel pens for serious writing because you'll need Noodler's when it comes down to bulletproofing a fountain pen, I think.

[junoro]

I have used HoD as my primary black and have had no problems with it. A Snorkel guy recommended Noodler's as a safe ink to me. The primary issue seems to me to be how you store pens with ink in them. I have been told to make sure nib is up always when not in use.