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Noodler’s Polar Black While Polar inks seem not very user friendly, (they tend to stain and will be stubborn with flow unless your pen is well sealed, and should be used in pens that can be dismantled) they are quite good for permanent inks. This doesn't mean that their difficult to clean. I have two pen permanently filled with Polar Brown and Green. I had no problems cleaning the green one after two year. I thought if Polar Black behaves like the rest of the gang, I’ll have a winner, as this ink is black as tar and a 1/3 cheaper than the ultra black Platinum Chou Kuro. Now first the famous five of the Polar series: 1) Purple/Blue: very wet, muted (or chalky if you prefer 😛), ultra fast drying times. 2) Green/Brown, very fast dry times. Stain transparent feeds /sections but can be easily cleaned by Doyou or Eel Red Rattler’s. Green and Black share the same viscosity. But Black is the sheep here (Sorry of the pun). it has long dry times and the tendency to smudge. Let me explain. This was part of an artwork I did. The ink was let to dry on Canson Mixed media paper for more than 24 hours. However, when I used a wet brush to dilute the Polar Green I was about to apply, you can see the black smudges. It's not a deal breaker but this ink is limited in scope, for use. I would say EF/F nib on Rhodia or a thick absorbent paper and is not recommend for artists. Lets start with the Chroma: Writing samples: Paradoxically, the Ef line looks wider than the fine. I tried finding Inuit quotes, (as it's a Polar ink) this is what I came up with. Good old Hammermill Ironic how longer dry times on this absorbent paper. Photo: Maruman Mnemosyne - Osmiroid Copperplate (the red ink, is Noodler's Fox Red) As you can see it's quite black. Excess ink washes off. As per usual a little artwork, (mixed media (watercolour and ink). Hope it brings a smile to your face. The cat is in Polar Black, his tie and the rose with Noodler's Fox Red, the green is Noodler's Polar Green and the blue butterfly is Noodler's Canyon Blue. And the ladies shirt is FWP Stored Blue. The background is watercolour, so is the black tracings on her dress. · Pens used: Pilot Kakuna Ef, Lamy Safari (EF/F/M/B), Osimiroid Copperplate, Jinhao fude · What I liked: Nice viscous black. Very black. Very agreeable with Ef nibs. · What I did not like: Smudging, long daytimes. · What some might not like: It ghosts on cheap paper. It’s a Polar ink, it might stain, long dry times. · Shading: Why do you want a black in to shade? · Ghosting: Yes on cheap paper. · Bleed through: Yes on cheap paper if you use wide nibs. · Flow Rate: Wettish. · Lubrication: Excellent · Nib Dry-out: None. Though it didn't like Kakuna or Jinhao. But it loved Lamy Safari. · Start-up: None. This ink works well in well sealed pens. · Saturation: Very Saturated · Shading Potential: None · Sheen: None · Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: No · Nib Creep / “Crud”: No. · Staining (pen): No · Clogging: No. · Cleaning: Surprisingly easy. · Water resistance: The excess ink will be removed. · Availability: 3 oz (90ml) Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples or any other comments. The more the merrier