Noodlers Polar Green

[MacTech]

I'm now on my second load of Polar Green in my L2K, and overal I like it,, it has it's good points and it's bad points, but overall, a decent ink

 

Good points;

it comes out of the L2k a wet, vivid emerald green

the piston seems to run smoother than with Bulletproof Black

the ink flows freely on average paper

It's bulletproof, and freeze resistant

it doesn't feather on average paper

 

Bad points;

It has an extremely long dry time and can easily be smudged if you're not paying attention

it feathers *slightly* on Clairfontaine paper (not sure why)

it seems to increase line width slightly, my Fine nib L2K with NBB writes a slightly thinner line than with NPG

It dries to a slightly less vivid green

 

overall verdict:

a decent green ink, I'll probably reorder when I run out

 

i'll put some writing samples up a bit later

[A Smug Dill]

it comes out of the L2k a wet, vivid emerald green

...‹snip›...

it doesn't feather on average paper

...‹snip›...

It dries to a slightly less vivid green

Noodler's Polar Green feathered on every type of paper I used. It also looked dull — and not in an attractive 'murky green' kinda way that some folks here seem to like — even while it's drying on the page, and more so once it's dried.

 

It was one of those bottles that I eventually gave away while it was still 90% full. I was initially attracted to it — enough to order a bottle from overseas — because of its (undoubted) water resistance and 'bulletproof-ness' as advertised on the Noodler's web site, so I agree it isn't without its good points, but I just cannot bring myself to use it. Noodler's Green Marine, which I still have, may not be as 'bulletproof', but it's water-resistant enough and a much better-looking green in my opinion.

[Mechayoshi]

To the reviewer: If it makes a pen write wider doesn't that mean it is feathering?

 

Noodler's Polar Green feathered on every type of paper I used. It also looked dull — and not in an attractive 'murky green' kinda way that some folks here seem to like — even while it's drying on the page, and more so once it's dried.It was one of those bottles that I eventually gave away while it was still 90% full. I was initially attracted to it — enough to order a bottle from overseas — because of its (undoubted) water resistance and 'bulletproof-ness' as advertised on the Noodler's web site, so I agree it isn't without its good points, but I just cannot bring myself to use it. Noodler's Green Marine, which I still have, may not be as 'bulletproof', but it's water-resistant enough and a much better-looking green in my opinion.

I must agree to this. My sample feathers terribly and looks dull, though I have not attempted to dilute yet.

 

A comparable ink minus the freeze proof would be De Atramentis document dark green that was a simular shade but better behaved.

[Honeybadgers]

Noodler's Polar Green feathered on every type of paper I used. It also looked dull — and not in an attractive 'murky green' kinda way that some folks here seem to like — even while it's drying on the page, and more so once it's dried.

 

It was one of those bottles that I eventually gave away while it was still 90% full. I was initially attracted to it — enough to order a bottle from overseas — because of its (undoubted) water resistance and 'bulletproof-ness' as advertised on the Noodler's web site, so I agree it isn't without its good points, but I just cannot bring myself to use it. Noodler's Green Marine, which I still have, may not be as 'bulletproof', but it's water-resistant enough and a much better-looking green in my opinion.

 

I agree with 100% of this post.

 

 

Polar blue was exactly the same. unusable because of the nightmare feathering. Very specifically an ink made for people who work in the arctic. It's also lubricated.

 

I actually like the "slate" look of the flat color. It's kind of unique and I dig it. But again, the horrid feathering.

 

Wancher matcha green is even worse, believe it or not.

Edited March 21, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[inkstainedruth]

To the reviewer: If it makes a pen write wider doesn't that mean it is feathering?

 

Not necessarily.

You can have ink spread, depending on the paper and the nib you're using, where it just puts down a wider line on the page; it could just be that the nib is wetter, or that the ink itself is wetter and/or more lubricated and just flows more.

Feathering is really distinctive -- it's got little uneven tongues coming out from the pen stroke edges.

When I'm more awake, I'll try to scan in examples of ink that spreads vs. actual feathering.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[amberleadavis]

Ruth, when you get that scan, I'll add that to the Topics of the Day.

[Mechayoshi]

Not necessarily.

You can have ink spread, depending on the paper and the nib you're using, where it just puts down a wider line on the page; it could just be that the nib is wetter, or that the ink itself is wetter and/or more lubricated and just flows more.

Feathering is really distinctive -- it's got little uneven tongues coming out from the pen stroke edges.

When I'm more awake, I'll try to scan in examples of ink that spreads vs. actual feathering.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

If you’re able to thanks, because I get confused sometimes with that.

[MacTech]

I've spent some time with NPG in the "real world', on papers not as nice as my Clairfontaine or even the cheap drugstore notebook, and i'm going to have to change my verdict....

 

in controlled environments, on good paper, it's a decent ink, the only two downsides are the exceptionally long dry time, and very slight feathering on CFT paper, otherwise, its a nice, somewhat muted green

 

on anything *NOT* CFT or CDN, it's horrible, it grows an entire nib to nib and a half in width, has heavy show thru on the opposite side, and can bleed thru if i write slowly, it's also extremely wet (almost gushing)

 

on 20lb Copier Bond paper, its a blobby mess, as I write small

 

my only real complaint w/ Noodlers basic Bulletproof Black is that the batch I have tends to dry to a Slightly Lighter Black (Phrasing, Boom! ) tint on CFT and CDN paper, but its Slightly Darker Black on all other paper like copier bond, NBB also lays down an exceptionally fine line in my Fine L2K, wheras NPG writes one nib size up

 

Note to self, next time you try another ink color, buy samplers first, this spending money on full size bottles of a color I end up disliking can get expensive

 

one last question, how does NBB compare to Old Manhattan Black in behavior, feathering, show through, bleed through, line width from a L2K?

 

Polar Green is still a good mixing ink, adding in a little BB to it seems to tame down the feathering and bleed/show through, but doesn't affect dry time or line width...