Noodler's Bernanke Blue Ink Review

Being a left-handed fountain pen user is tough. I don't know this because I am one, I know this because of the amount of emails and comments I get searching for quick-drying inks that will work for lefties. Noodler's Bernanke Blue is one of those inks.

After receiving a sample vial from my friend @jjlsetter I loaded it up for testing in the TWSBI Mini 1.5 mm stub nib. While I usually prefer blue black inks over traditional blues, this may be one of the best shades I have used. My photography and editing make the blue look almost neon. It is not that bright, but it does pop off the page. The depth and saturation of the color is fantastic, and if you are not a fan of shading inks this has little to none.

The real selling point of the Bernanke series is the quick drying time (be sure to read the story behind the name in the link above.) In my less than scientific testing I find it completely legit. Rhodia paper is known for its long drying times and even with it in play the dry time was almost immediate. You can see the slightest smudge on the five-second mark but that's it. An impressive performance, and the quickest drying ink I have tested.

I have a sample of Bernanke Black that I have yet to test, but I expect the same quick drying performance. So let's hear it in the comments - what is the fastest drying fountain pen ink you use?

Noodler's Apache Sunset Ink Review

Noodler's Apache Sunset fountain pen ink is one of those inks you have to see in person to really appreciate. I was the beneficiary of a sample vial of this wonderful ink from one of my Twitter friends (thanks Anne!), and I have to say it is a real stunner.

I am unintentionally continuing my orange theme from last week but it had to be done. I have been sitting on this review for about a month now and was chomping at the bit to get it out there. What I love the most about this ink is the depth of color. It is so rich, even in the lightest shaded areas. And that shading, wow! It is one of the best I have personally tested, with a wide range of orange, brown, and yellow coming through.

I haven't purchased a bottle yet, but I plan to in the near future. I received a Pilot Falcon last night with an SEF nib that has a little flex. I wanted to load a bright, highly shaded ink into it, but found I was lacking in that category (I already used this sample up.) What inks that fit that criteria do you use in your flex pens? Let me know in the comments.

For more details on Noodler's Apache Sunset check out these great reviews:

Ed Jelley

FPGeeks

The Five Cat PENagerie

Noodler’s Borealis Black Ink Review

I am way too early in my ink exploration so I am hesitant to even say this ... but ... I think I have found my black ink.

While Nathan Tardiff may never say explicitly, the name alone should tell you that Noodler's Borealis Black was created as a response to Aurora Black, which is one of the darkest basic blacks on the market. I haven't tested Aurora Black myself, but I think any black ink will have a hard time matching Borealis Black in pure darkness.

This ink is not without its flaws, which means it is not for everyone. First of all, this is not a bulletproof black ink. According to Noodler's, this ink is moderately waterproof, but can be washed out and is not light resistant. For me, bulletproof is not high on my list of ink priorities.

Secondly, and more importantly to some, Borealis Black takes a long time to dry. In my sample, you can still see some smearing at the 30 second mark. That is forever in dry time. I can't imagine a lefty ever using this ink. For me, it is not an issue. Using the same Rhodia paper in the photo I haven't had any ink transfer to my hand or to another page.

What I do love about this ink is that it writes smoother in my finest tip pens than any other ink I have tried. The review was done with my TWSBI Mini 1.5 mm Stub nib and I was so enamored with the performance and feel I loaded it out in my Pilot Prera F nib pen. The results were fantastic. The flow of the ink from the nib to the page had a different feel - it was highly lubricated and flowed freely.

I have several more black inks to test and as of right now this is the ink that they will all be measured against.