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Noodler's Polar Black


yazeh

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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:D). 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. 

large.reunion_by_yazeh1_dg3mtfl-fullview.jpg.2774d04a40b2d939bc6b594a0525d3e8.jpg

 

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:

large.Chroma1.jpeg.0c1f28500db47c2aec089366cb868fea.jpeg

 

 

 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. 

large.Rhodia-PolarBlack.jpeg.2e4b04410f48ac733cf379b7b503293f.jpeg

large.Midori-PolarBlack.jpeg.c2f15908ec53ada5d18af38464e71102.jpeg

large.TR68gr-PolarBlack.jpeg.d60d81f6f076cc54409e79e655510a37.jpeg

Good old Hammermill

Ironic how longer dry times on this absorbent paper. 

 

large.Hammermill-PolarBlack.jpeg.2d23d4d96d4c35b984daf00dd9117d48.jpeg

large.Hammermill-PolarBlack1.jpeg.671a75d97cc6fddd65bd527549948236.jpeg

Photo:

Maruman Mnemosyne - Osmiroid Copperplate (the red ink, is Noodler's Fox Red)

large.20230729_124811.jpg.8d601eed91f8dfe22bc6d0932af24562.jpg

 

As you can see it's quite black. 

large.Comparaison-PolarBlack.jpeg.a466659cf75bda4e530f715c831ef273.jpeg

Excess ink washes off.

large.Watertest-PolarBlack.jpeg.2d6fb9c214db3c6f3d2fbd499747266b.jpeg

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. 

 

pupa_challenge_30___take_2_by_yazeh1_dg4

 

 

· 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  :smile:

 

 

 

 

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Nice review again. Especially your artwork (as always). Polar Black seems to fit well for that, where other colours -- like yellow -- also come into play.

This black reminds me of my PR's Invincible Black due to the hint of green (which I discern). Never did like that black but the green maybe makes it worthwhile after all.

Life is too short to drink bad wine (Goethe)

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Thank you for the very thorough review, @yazeh!  That's a very black black.  Love the be-scarfed watertest kitty. :)  And that handsome black kitty in the artwork. :D  Don't like the threat of staining, but then, I don't plan to use this ink, so it's all theoretical anyway... :)  But have you tested it at the north or south pole? ;)

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17 minutes ago, lapis said:

Nice review again. Especially your artwork (as always). Polar Black seems to fit well for that, where other colours -- like yellow -- also come into play.

🙏

17 minutes ago, lapis said:

This black reminds me of my PR's Invincible Black due to the hint of green (which I discern). Never did like that black but the green maybe makes it worthwhile after all.

I don't see any green in this one. However, Koh-I Nur's permanent black, is a green black :)

 

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8 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Thank you for the very thorough review, @yazeh

🙏

8 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

That's a very black black. 

Isn't it? :)

 

8 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Love the be-scarfed watertest kitty. :) 

😸

8 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

And that handsome black kitty in the artwork. :D 

 

Maybe it's someone you know ;)

 

8 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Don't like the threat of staining, but then, I don't plan to use this ink, so it's all theoretical anyway... :) 

 

I'm not sure if it'll stain fps, but it's possible in transparents sections. But if you're wearing cotton and you'll get a drop, it'll be eternal there. I have a T-Shirt to attest for that :D

 

 

8 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

But have you tested it at the north or south pole? ;)

Nope. But I think Nathan changed the original formula. So now it'll turn into somes sort of slush. Normally when the weather is that cold a pen is the last thing you can hold with an oversized mitts lmao-haha.gif

 

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50 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Maybe it's someone you know ;)

:D

 

51 minutes ago, yazeh said:

I'm not sure if it'll stain fps, but it's possible in transparents sections. But if you're wearing cotton and you'll get a drop, it'll be eternal there. I have a T-Shirt to attest for that :D

:lol: Yes, always pays to be cautious when inking!

 

51 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Nope. But I think Nathan changed the original formula. So now it'll turn into somes sort of slush. Normally when the weather is that cold a pen is the last thing you can hold with an oversized mitts lmao-haha.gif

:D  Yes, one does wonder just how practical the use case can be when your fingers will fall off before the ink freezes...  (Love that emoji!)

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