Best Black Ink?

[dickens]

I am looking for thoughts about which might be the best black ink, overall. I am looking for a deep black that doesn't appear gray. What is your favorite, in terms of appearance, flow, lack of feathering, durability, etc.?

[jdboucher]

I use Noodler's Old Manhattan Black (Fountain Pen Hospital exclusive). Its a good, everyday ink. The only problem I find with it is nib creep in some pens. But its a good, dark black that flows well, doesnt feather and is bulletproof!

[ethernautrix]

I use Noodler's Old Manhattan Black (Fountain Pen Hospital exclusive). Its a good, everyday ink. The only problem I find with it is nib creep in some pens. But its a good, dark black that flows well, doesnt feather and is bulletproof!

+1

 

 

It's my ink of choice.

[sasdrtx]

This topic may have come up before...

[stevlight]

I LOVE Aurora Black and Namiki black. Namiki black is great on Moleskine sketchbook paper where some inks bead up. Namiki smells great too!!!

[misterh]

Another vote for Aurora Black.

[DerMann]

Heart of Darkness.

[ethernautrix]

This topic may have come up before...

Oh, it comes up all the time.

[Pippin60]

Aurora Black, or Pelikan Brilliant Black

[Russ]

I have used both Pelikan black and Aurora black. I found that Pelikan is a tad darker, but that Aurora is definitely smoother.

[cmonkee]

I thought i was a Quink man until this weekend. I got some Noodler's Black from the Fountain Pen Shop and have to say, so far I like it. I've got some nib creep on my Vanishing Point (also got another one this weekend) but will wait until I clean out the pen again and see what happens.

 

The black stays a solid black. I used to use Mont Blanc exclusiveyl but then had better results with Quink. I think the Bulletproof quality of the Noodler's is where it moves it up a notch on my scale.

 

So, for me, it goes in this order (and of course it might change the next time I try another)

 

1. Noodler's

2. Quink (Parker)

3. Mont Blanc

 

good luck, not having exactly what you want is a great excuse to try others

 

C

[Imzadi]

Love my Hearts of Darkness

[Djehuty]

I'm currently testing a bunch of black inks to answer that very question. So far, my first choice is still my top choice: Aurora Black. Sailor Jentle Black is also very good, though not as dark as I'd like. The darkest I've tested is Caran d'Ache Carbon Black, but it's a rather thick and viscous ink which dries slowly and can have minor flow issues.

 

[gigipurple]

Another vote for Aurora Black ink. It's a deep black with no hints of gray, and it flows very well. Gigi

[Calbei]

Noodler's Bulletproof Black and Diamine Quartz Black.

 

I would avoid Quink black like the plague... though I do believe I have a bottle hidden away somewhere.

[PaulT00]

I really like Diamine Quartz Black (although it can look as if it's a very very dark grey...) and I just got a bottle of Sailor Kiwaguro which is wonderful stuff, very free-flowing and smooth, and a very dark black. Quartz black for some reason nib creeps dreadfully in some pens - my Conway Stewart No. 73 always ends up black-nibbed with it, although that may be more to do with the pen than the ink as it also experiences creep with a lot of other inks.

 

However I do harbour some slight misgivings on the Kiwaguro front as it is of course a carbon nanoparticle suspension rather than a dye-based ink, so the potential is there for some nasty clogging if things go pearshaped. So far, though, it seems absolutely fine in my PFM - first sign of problems and it's coming out of there!

[BillTheEditor]

Take your pick of these Noodler Black inks (darkest on the top):

 

Heart of Darkness/Old Manhattan Black (Noodler's)

Borealis (Noodler's -- note that this ink, unlike the other Noodler Blacks, is not pH neutral, and cannot be mixed with other inks -- flush your pen!)

Polar Black

Bulletproof Black

[Ondina]

Aurora Black, Pelikan Black -true is a bit dry- and also Montblanc Black. I have not had the chance to try the Namiki but I've heard is good. One truly outstanding black, but seldom mention here, that has very permanent qualities is Herbin's Perle Noir.

[lapis]

As much as I hear again and again that Aurora's black is "the best" black, I find it still a hint too grey and an a half a hint too brown.

Pelikan's black is also a tick grey but less brown.

Herbin's PERLE NOIR is my best black.

 

Mike

[Strang]

In order of juiciness (YMMV):

J. Herbin Perle Noire

Visconti Black (surprised nobody has mentioned this one yet)

Pelikan Brilliant Black