Noodler's Ink And Corrosion

[Fuzzy_Bear]

 

Please avoid the temptation to believe that people want to damage the reputation of Noodlers.

 

(1) Several ace repair experts saw enough connection between use of Noodlers and damage that they decided to void their warranty if a customer filled a pen with Noodlers. They see more pens and more inks than we do, and one that I've met is famously honest.

 

(2) Over all, Noodlers seems to have no QA testing. Mr. Noodler boasts of being a one-man operation; therefore, it is probably hard maintain exactly the same recipe in each batch of any single Noodlers ink.

 

(3) Noodlers blue, "plain" blue, is reliable enough that I have bought a third bottle. It seems like a good saturated ink. Not my favorite blue, but not one I would throw out.

(1). Not an actual connection. Just a connection. Try to prove if I used a particular ink in a pen. I've met one as well and see him every year yet he warranties his work, no matter what.

 

 

(2) So you've visited and know there is no QA? Or are you just guessing. Yes, he is a one man operation. That doesn't mean a damn thing. Oh, and each batch is minutely different. On purpose.

 

(3) If I didn't like an ink that much, not my favorite, I wouldn't even buy a second.

 

This post was nothing but a bashing of an ink brand. And some people do want to ruin the reputation of others. It's a fact of life. Is it the case here on FPN, probably not.

 

There are some inks that don't play well with some pens. That's a fact of life when it comes to fountain pens. I've got a P21 that doesn't like Waterman or Quink, but stays loaded with PR, at least before it became a display at my barber shop.

 

I haven't seen a list from any maker that shows the properties of their ink other than Noodlers.

 

I will use any ink in any pen and if a manufacturer wants to limit my choices, then they can go...did you know that car manufacturers can NOT void your warranty just because you don't use their oil, filter, trans fluid, gasoline, etc?

 

Unsubscribing from this topic before the thoughts in my head become spoken.

[effrafax]

Yes, there's been far too much rubbish spoken about, and time wasted debating the merits of one or another ink. As a previous member once wrote, "It's just ink, people."

 

Use it, or not use it, it's your choice. No need to belabour the point.

 

As far as I'm aware, and I'm happy to be corrected, there have not been any scientifically reproducible studies that have confirmed that Noodler's alone has destroyed any part of any pen, despite pictures you may see on FPN or other sites (including Mr Binder's, which I've just revisited, as someone commented that he'd revised his advice on ink usage - there are some inconsistencies in his statements, as much as I have respect for his work and experience, such as stating that BSB has a pH of 4 and a bit. That makes it quite acidic: BSB is an alkaline ink, by all other accounts i.e. pH > 7, which is why it doesn't play well with other inks.)

 

As I've mentioned in the other current thread on this topic, I have nine Safaris/Vistas/AL-stars and three Studios (same feed) that have all had Noodler's in over their long lifetimes, including BSB which is currently in one Safari (for several years) and one Studio *about six months), with not so much as a hint of a problem.

 

Bottom line, "you pays your money and you takes your choice". If you don't like Noodler's or are simply suspicious because of some rumours you've heard, just don't use it.

 

Simple as that.

 

No need to keep going on about it ...

 

[Like I just have!]

[fireant]

I had a noodlers ink that I left in a pen for awhile, it left spots on the rose gold Nib. It appeared to of ate the plating

 

 

Yikes!

[pen2paper]

I had a noodlers ink that I left in a pen for awhile, it left spots on the rose gold Nib. It appeared to of ate the plating

Spots or plating damage would be distressing. Rose gold is a favorite of mine too.

 

Before indicting Noodler's as the cause, are you sure it was not an issue with the plating, storage, or if ink related that other inks left on the surface for awhile wouldn't have caused similar spots or damage? We have seen plating issues related to manufacture, storage, and plastics issues. If manufacturing related (of a going concern), you could be missing an opportunity to have it repaired under warranty, by focusing on ink.

[Intensity]

Spots or plating damage would be distressing. Rose gold is a favorite of mine too.

 

Before indicting Noodler's as the cause, are you sure it was not an issue with the plating, storage, or if ink related that other inks left on the surface for awhile wouldn't have caused similar spots or damage? We have seen plating issues related to manufacture, storage, and plastics issues. If manufacturing related (of a going concern), you could be missing an opportunity to have it repaired under warranty, by focusing on ink.

Without specifically stating which ink was used, there's no way for the reader to know either.

[Arkanabar]

We have a modest array of Noodler's inks; more of them than any other brand. We have Borealis Black, Bad Black Moccasin, Brown, Blue, Midway Blue, Red-Black, Widow Maker, and Rattler Red Eel. I used some Heart of Darkness for a while, too.

 

We let BBM dry out in a Noodler's Nib Creaper, and it's going to take an ultrasonic cleaner to get it all out. Red-Black required dilution to fix some smudging issues, and I continue to get nib creep. Brown may be having issues with drying out, and perhaps would also benefit from dilution. Borealis Black is pretty featherocious, and I dilute it 1:1 to mitigate that.

 

eta: As yet, no corrosion seen with any Noodler's ink. And I am one to write a pen dry, no matter how long it takes.

Edited September 16, 2017 by Arkanabar

[effrafax]

Spots or plating damage would be distressing. Rose gold is a favorite of mine too.

 

Before indicting Noodler's as the cause, are you sure it was not an issue with the plating, storage, or if ink related that other inks left on the surface for awhile wouldn't have caused similar spots or damage? We have seen plating issues related to manufacture, storage, and plastics issues. If manufacturing related (of a going concern), you could be missing an opportunity to have it repaired under warranty, by focusing on ink.

 

Yes, this is entirely the problem: an issue is seen with a pen that has had Noodler's ink in, and jumping on bandwagons and soap boxes, the ink is instantly to blame without considering other factors.

 

If I can mention another issue with Richard Binder's page about ink, there are two photos of feeds from Pilot Vanishing points. One clearly has some damage that is attributed to Noodler's ink in the area where the nib would sit. However, if the ink was solely the cause, surely the whole feed would exhibit the problem, since it is all soaking in the ink.

 

Some other factor, or factors, is/are at work here, but from the evidence provided, it is impossible to say what that is. Nor can the problem be directly attributed to the ink alone.

 

[Edit: fix spelling.]

Edited September 17, 2017 by effrafax

[effrafax]

 

Oops, double post. Sorry!

Edited September 17, 2017 by effrafax

[dcwaites]

The only corrosion by any ink of any metal that I have seen myself is Parker Quink eating the gold-plated inkjet vents in HP Deskjet cartridges from the early '90s. But that was using a fountain pen ink in an ink jet cartridge.

 

As for Bulletproof inks, the chemical that results in the cellulose-reactive property does not have anything to do with what is in a pen, unless you have a pen made of wood.

What may cause problems with Bulletproof and Invincible inks is that those inks are generally highly saturated. If the pen doesn't seal properly, then water will evaporate from the ink, making it more concentrated, and more likely to block your pen. This applies to all highly saturated inks, not just the permanent ones.

 

In my experience, too many pens do not seal the cap properly, and so they need to be used at least a few times a week to keep the ink flowing.

[lionheartlee]

Without specifically stating which ink was used, there's no way for the reader to know either.

 

I have a lot of different bottles of noodlers, and should have been more clear. The problem was not with the ink. It was with the user. I had a Al580 that had liberty Elisium in it. Absolutely hated the pen. (Loved the color of the ink). The pen went into a box for well over a year and a half, still filled with ink.. Someone asked to buy it. Had to clean the pen, that's where the plating seemed tarnished. I blame nothing else than the fact I didn't properly store the pen. Didn't even see or think of how that comment came off until just now. LE is a very nice strong ink, that I've had in multiple pens with no issues...when I do my part in cleaning and maitnence.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

All OK here.

 

one thing that 'threatens' pens is overly aggressive/misguided clean-up, such as that proposed (tongue-in-cheek) by Member 79spitfire : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/233669-adhesion-noodlers-benevolent-badger-blue-on-mylar-aluminium-foil/?p=252903

 

Bye,

S1

Edited September 17, 2017 by Sandy1

[Kelly G]

Some years ago I had a sac and diaphragm failure in two pens, both filled with FPN Galileo Manuscript Brown. Of course I suspected the ink, given the hysteria at the time surrounding BSB. To test the ink, I filled a sac with GMB, sealed it, and hung it on my pen cave wall for more than a few months; no problems at all.

I came to believe the sac and diaphragm failures were actually related to my use of non-pure talc (baby powder) on the sacs when I re-sac'd the pens. I've not experienced any more "gooey" sac failures since switching to pure talc. I've also had no further problems with GMB filled pens.

FWIW: Noodler's Dark Matter is my everyday, go-to, black ink; never any problems.

Edited September 17, 2017 by Kelly G

[Dragonmaster Lou]

I just try to play it safe depending on the pen. Maybe I'm being paranoid here, but I'm naturally a bit paranoid.

 

I wouldn't use Noodler's in a vintage pen, but I'm okay with it in a modern pen. Then again, I'd only use a very small selection of inks in a vintage pen anyway to be extra, extra safe. Well, okay, maybe a Parker 51 since I doubt anything made by Noodler's, except for the blue ink that shall not be named, can be as harsh as Superchrome was back in the day.

 

Still, I like Heart of Darkness and Massachusetts 54th and have no qualms about using them in any of my modern pens for the most part.

 

And no matter the ink, regularly flushing and cleaning your pens is a good idea.

[Gloucesterman]

Used Noodler's for many years and with the exception of nib creep (don't recall which ink or pen) perhaps once or twice have not had any problems or difficulties.

[garyMD]

With all this big fuss about Noodler's did anybody actually perform an experiment ala Mythbusters???

[effrafax]

There have been a couple of attempts I vaguely remember from the dim and distant past, but I think people generally lose interest.

 

I think I may have a check round and see if I have enough 'sacrificable' spare parts ...

[effrafax]

Not to mention that this is a very wide field to test: which inks to choose from the several hundred Noodler's varieties, for instance.

 

I will look into testing with BSB and Lamy and Pilot VP feeds. I know I have a spare one of the latter ...

[Sandy1]

With all this big fuss about Noodler's did anybody actually perform an experiment ala Mythbusters???

 

 

Hi,

 

From my point of view there are just too many variables, both in pens them selves and how people treat their pens.

 

For example I use a quite early Waterman's 12 eyedropper up to very recent Platinum Preppy, so I reckon that a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to hold water.

 

We rely on honest anecdotal reports of other Members to guide our adventure.

 

Also I greatly value the observations and advisories of people who repair / restore pens, yet myself personally sometimes take an opposite tack - they have made us aware of the risk, so then it is up to each person to manage and mitigate that risk.

 

=> I've been doing a 'test to destruction' trial of iron gall ink in a Pilot Plumix. Several years on, things are going well. (As a Myth Bustier might say, 'Don't try this at home.)

 

Bye,

S1

Edited September 19, 2017 by Sandy1

[dcwaites]

Myth Bustier - an upper body garment with a neatly trimmed moustache and beard...

 

 

(One is assuming here that Sandy1, who is always meticulous in spelling and grammar, has not made a spelling mistake here)

Edited September 19, 2017 by dcwaites

[Sandy1]

LOL !

 

Imagination at play is a wonderful thing