Polar Brown is one of my favorite inks. Ironically, I’m not a fan of the color. It’s somehow bland. It can be a frustrating and finnicky ink, depending the pen used. But in this day age, where the veil on life’s non-permanence and uncertainty has been torn to bits, an ink, as permanent as the paper it bonds with is a source of comfort.
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When I first got into inks, being too lazy, I ordered a bunch of mystery samples. There were two Polar Browns. When I inked my pen, I told myself, what have I done to deserve such an ink in double amounts.
But it grew on me, to the point that I bought a bottle, and I always have a couple of pens inked up, just in case, I have to jot down some important information, words of wisdom, sign a check or write a shopping list. Not a pleasant feeling when your painstakingly craft list melts after an impromptu drizzle or stray snowflake……
It dries in less than 10 seconds with a wet medium nib, and 3 with a fine on Rhodia dotpad.
On copy paper it’s instantaneous.
However, it takes forever to dry on Tomoe River with a wet nib, but it shades. With a fine nib, 45 seconds, until smudge free…
It is also one of the easiest inks to clean out of a fountain pen. I’ve tried it even in a vintage Waterman and cleaning was a breeze.
Personally, this is one of those rare inks that I would not use with a stub/ oblique nib/ fude.
With a wet/ wide combo it would ghost and bleed through unabashedly. Though sometimes I prefer that dark rich brown, haunting the paper, than the mild muted brown it usually is.
I’m not sure if it would be happy in a dry pen.
I have had it in a Jinhao 992 for a year with no problem. In a Jinhao 450 with a fude nib, it had flow issues but when I changed the nib to a medium it was much better. When it flows, it’s a joy to write with. And unsurprisingly Polar Brown, loves Noodler’s nib creeper.
On Rhodia dot pad
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Rhodia Back
PBr - Rhodia-back.jpg
Tomoe River with shading
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Tomoe River back
PB TM River - Back.jpg
Amazon copy paper (front)
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Amazon copy paper (back)
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On Hilory Notebook where even pens ghost (front)
PB- Hilroy fr.jpg
Hilory (back)
PB- Hilroy fr back 1.jpg
Swab comparison
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