on saleNoodler's Polar Black - Ink Sample

Product Code IS-N19201

In Stock

out of stock

on saleNoodler's Polar Black - Ink Sample

Product Code IS-N19201

In Stock

out of stock

$1.95
Size:
2ml Sample

2ml sample of Noodler's Polar Black fountain pen ink, in a labeled plastic vial.

Condition
New
Brand
Noodler's
Type
Ink Samples
Color
Black
Fast Drying
No
Fluorescent
No
Shimmer

Whether or not the ink contains glittery particles.

No
Freeze Resistant

Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to better withstand freezing temperatures.

Yes
Volume
2ml
Iron Gall

Ink made from iron salts and tannic acids. Though quite permanent and waterproof, these inks are typically known for causing chemical corrosion to metal pen parts (especially the nib) and should be used sparingly or with less-valuable pens.

No
Lubricated

Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to increase flow in your pen.

Yes
Pigmented

Whether or not the ink contains finely-ground solid particles in liquid suspension.

No
Scented
No
Water Resistant

Whether or not the ink, once dried on the paper, will resist being washed away with water.

Yes

Customer Reviews

Based on 24 reviews
63%
(15)
21%
(5)
4%
(1)
8%
(2)
4%
(1)
E
Evan B.
Solid black

it's a good all-around black. Waterproof. Minimal feathering on Rhodia paper. I'd put this in an EDC pen.

N
Norm
Not my favorite black

Compared with other black inks--and I have quite a few--the flow of this ink seems to be more halting. I don't plan to replace it when it's gone, and I may even toss what I have left of it.

R
Rebekah
Disappointing Performance

I've had this ink in my pen for less than 12 hours, and I'm already ready to switch it out for literally any other ink I own. I put it in a Pilot Metropolitan with a F nib, and the line it lays down is so wide, I feel like I'm writing with an M. I've noticed that most black inks I've tried lay down a thicker line than colored inks, but so far this is the worst offender (Noodler's Heart of Darkness also wrote thick--I'm not having much luck with the black Noodler's inks). I saw slight feathering and bleed-through even on nice Rhodia and Maruman paper. The feathering isn't spiderweb intense, but it makes me feel like my eyes are out of focus.When I took the cap off my pen this morning and got a handful of ink for my troubles, I decided it was time to move on to the next ink sample. That's generally more of a pen problem than an ink problem, but it contributed to my disappointment with Polar Black all the same.

Z
Zachary J.
Quality Black, with a deal-breaker.

This ink lays down a beautiful black line. The freeze resistance is fantastic, and has personally worked for me down to -20F. Even though I'm not using it in a permanent-piston pen, the lubricity of the ink is noticeable when writing on CF paper; it's like writing on silk with butter (I'm no poet).My big complaint, though, is the dry time, coupled with the terrible smear resistance. The ink takes *forever* to dry, especially on CF paper, and even after being dry for several days, even weeks, the ink will smear under even light pressure. I don't know if that's caused by the lubricating bits or what, but it's certainly a handicap to the ink.Definitely recommended if you need the freeze-resistance, but be careful about handling your writings later.

J
John B.
Freeze Resistant Black

I tested this with a dip pen and found it to be similar to Black American Eel. The freeze resistant quality would be helpful for pens that I might leave in a vehicle during the winter. I tested the water resistance by spreading a drop of water across the ink with my fingertip. This leaves a grey wash with very distinct black copy remaining. When I run out of American Eel I will probably replace it with Polar Black.

FAQ about Ink Samples

How do I fill my fountain pen from an ink sample vial? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

It depends on the fountain pen's filling mechanism.

Check out our blog post on How to Fill a Fountain Pen from an Ink Sample Vial.

How much writing can I do with 2ml of ink? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

It really depends on how big or small you write, and the nib size you’re using. We find that usually you can get 2 good fills for a typical converter with our Ink samples, or one good fill with a piston-filling pen. How much writing depends on you more than anything else, so we recommend experimenting with different nib sizes to find what works best for you. 

What is shading, sheening, or shimmering ink? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

Shading - A common (and often desired) result of a fountain pen ink pooling in certain parts of a letter when writing, so that the color and saturation of the ink appears different within a single letter or word. This characteristic cannot be achieved with ballpoint or rollerball pens and is a very appealing aspect of fountain pen use for those particularly drawn to all the pretty ink colors.

Sheen - Characteristic of a fountain pen ink where when ink pools another color can be seen on top of the ink, especially when looked at in different light angles using certain paper types. There is no way to guarantee an ink will sheen, but using a larger nib on a pen will help obtain sheening results in your writing.

Shimmering - Fountain pen ink that has small particles of glitter mixed in.

Is shimmering ink safe to use in fountain pens? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

Yes! Shimmering ink is a great way to add some flare to your writing. We have found that a larger nib will showcase more shimmering particles while writing, but you can use any nib size and shimmering ink. All the ink we sell is safe for use in fountain pens.

You can learn more in our blog: How to Write with Shimmering Ink.

What's your return policy for ink samples? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

We do not accept returns for ink that has been used. Otherwise, we accept returns on unused ink products for up to 30 days from purchase. You can read all our Return Policies here.

To initiate a return, please submit a request at the Return Portal. Our Customer Care team might reach out to you for more information.