I bought a bottle of Noodler’s 54th Massachusetts almost exactly 2 years ago. Since it is a delightful color with admirable qualities, I used it quite a bit (well, quite a bit for me. In about a year of solid use, I managed to write away about a quarter of the bottle). Then I found a thread somewhere about some of the “bulletproof” inks separating. Since I noticed a definite layer of sediment-y stuff with a tendency to cling to the bottom of the bottle for a bit, I decided that the best solution was to shake it vigorously for a bit and attempt to re-integrate the sediment-like layer.
This was clearly not my brightest moment, as the ink subsequently clogged every pen I tried it in. I tried to be as scientific as possible—ensuring that pens were thoroughly flushed and clean before attempting to use the offending bottle, then just as diligently re-flushing and cleaning before trying something else. The “something elses” were either another, newer bottle of 54th Mass, ESSRI, Chrsterfield Archival Vault, or Noodler’s Blue-Black. No problems with any of the pen/ink combinations apart from that one bottle.
Since there were visible particles, I thought I’d try straining the ink through a coffee filter. This made no difference, except that I now had two-thirds of a bottle instead of three-quarters (and some very blue paper filters).
My next step was to add distilled water and shake the ink in an attempt to break up the particles and get them re-integrated. No dice.
I ended up pouring the entire thing down the drain.
I know that some of you will begin with the “that’s why I steer clear of Noodler’s” or “that’s why I don’t buy boutique inks,” line of argumentation.
I don’t care about that, so don’t even say it. I have several bottles of Noodler’s, and while, yes sigh I know that every bottle is different and using it is a crapshoot, this is the only bottle I have had a problem with. I’m less upset about losing a $12 bottle of ink than I am about being unable to positively resolve this situation.
What I do care about is hearing if anyone else has ever had this problem with ANY ink (Noodler’s or other), whether this is a common problem, and what a better course of action might have been.
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