Baystate Blue from Noodler’s
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2023
- There are very few inks that arouse the kind of extreme passion that Noodler’s in general and Baystate Blue in particular does.
Noodler’s is known (and loved) for a number of reasons. For one, it is all American, like it claims: from cap to glass to ink. It is also ethically priced (from the American socio-economic perspective), concerned as it is that ink should be priced right to give the fountain pen a fair chance in the fight against the use-and-throw pens that we all love to castigate. And thirdly because, and this is my personal view, Noodler’s is never found wanting when arguments break out around it - admittedly often trivial ones. It has been known to shoot from the hip.
I keep receiving requests to show the Baystate Blue and I feel that this video has been long overdue. One, because I had exhausted my bottle and two because it just was not readily available with the dealers. I was finally able to buy one and here it is. Oh, by the way, I could not resist the temptation of buying the Noodler’s Empire as well, but that was just for the label and I guess I will do a detailed video of the ink at a later date.
Now for the ink. It has one of the brightest hues of blue that I have seen and the Baystate Blue reminds me of a clear, cloudless sky on a chilly winter morning as seen from the top of a mountain. The pollution-free sky, just the way Mother Nature, had intended it to look. And talking of nature, let me also point out that the ink is not only water-resistant but also forge-resistant (for the uninitiated, it simply means that these Noodler's fountain pen inks resist all known tools of forgers, including solvents, lasers, and UV lights.)
But before we go on, here is a little word about water resistance. The dye in this ink is so strong that it not only resists water but also has the bad habit of straining most surfaces that it comes in contact with. This is particularly true for those fancy demonstrator pens that you may want to ink-up with the Baystate Blue: beware. The ink also leaves a strain on the nib feeds. Just bear this in mind before being too adventurous. But I guess since Noodler’s is American and after we end up paying the kind of money that we have to shell out to acquire these inks, a stain here, or a demonstrator with coloured innards there, are things that we are ever so willing to take in our stride. I only shudder to think what would have happened had this ink been manufactured by an Indian brand!
Noodler’s for those of you who don’t know already, is a one-man operation run from a shed in Massachusetts. But there is no denying the fact that since its inception not so long ago (it was established in 2004) it has created an enviable reputation for itself worldwide, primarily for its extraordinary range of colours. Apart from an almost endless list of normal, standard inks, Noodler’s also has on offer a larger selection of permanent and specialty inks with useful and exotic properties that are almost impossible to find anywhere else.
In the final analysis then, do I recommend this particular ink? Well, I did buy it, did I not? But hang on. I am a fountain pen and ink freak and my purchase decision are mostly never rational. Before you go out to buy this ink, please note that the price is a huge deterrent and that the stain should be a dampener for any normal person. But that shade of blue. Damn me if I can’t scribble on paper with that!
I have hundreds of bottles of blue ink, and Baystate Blue remains one of my two or three favorites. It is the most vibrant blue ink that I've ever used, and I'm a huge fan of vibrant blue inks. It's also waterproof, which is rare for inks that are this vibrant. As you probably know, it's based off of a vintage ink formula (I believe a Carter's ink).
As you've made clear, it does tend to stain pens. I've heard some people say that it will corrode nibs, but I think that's nonsense and I've never seen it in my many years of using the ink. If you do have stains in a valuable pen from the ink, I've found that a 10% bleach solution will generally remove it without much trouble... but it's a good idea to stick to inexpensive pens with it.
It's also worth mentioning that Baystate Blue is more prone to feathering and bleed-through than standard inks; you really need to use good quality paper with it, or it will make a mess.
In the US, Noodler's inks are generally considered inexpensive for their volume. Here, they cost $14 per bottle (about Rs.1150), while Japanese inks tent to cost $20 or more for 50ml bottles, and 20ml Krishna bottles cost about $8-10.
Thank you for the review! Very informative!
Very nice ink colour. Though very dark and permanent but the hue is very good. But you have to use the same ink after using it once because it can’t be cleaned so easily.
Good video. Keep it up 👍
Beautiful colour. Lovely ink . Sir can you put the link in India for purchasing online. Impressive 👍
The noodlers guy should send you a couple nice American pens , Nate.
Thanks for this video, but I'm surprised at how messed up the outside of your pen (as well as your fingers) got. Since I was born in the "Bay State" (Massachusetts), I just had to have it in my collection.
For those that may have found this video doing research, here are three tips that will make using Baystate Blue a more enjoyable experience: 1) A dedicated pen and converter is a must; 2) No matter what the color ink, I've learned to wear gloves whenever I'm going to touch a converter, a nib, or open a bottle of ink; 3) I use a syringe for filling converters - much cleaner way to do it.
thank you. points taken :)
What is the orange ink with union jack label
Sir, that is the Empire
Hello Sir. Please rub the surface of the pen and the ink on your hands with Isopropyl Alcohol. The ink should go depending of course on the polymer used in making the pen. In fact the real issue is that the channel(s) in the feed, whether hard rubber or polymer, get clogged so one ends up spending more time in cleaning the nib and feed than in writing. There are cases when the polymer feed is eaten away when it is in contact with this ink for a long time. While the ink is in a class of its own, using it is more trouble than the fun and pleasure one derives out of using it.
Purchase link sir
Ink is good but the pen looks quite vintage. I too have this pen with flex nib. Since I brought it i treat it like my love !😊❤
I watched this video because I just ordered a bottle of Bay State Blue. I ordered it because I’ve heard that it’s a very vibrant and highly saturated blue color. It’s also a permanent ink and I need a permanent ink for documents. I intend to have a single pen dedicated for this ink. So……… Let the stains begin!!
What paper are you using with it?
@@cg.maniac I use it on Leuchtturm1917, Rhodia and cheap copy paper. It does feather on cheap copy paper a little bit.
I just got this ink as a gift. Which brand paper do you recommend? I have tried Rhodia 80GSM, Fabriano Ecoqua 90GSM, JK Cedar 100GSM, Paper One 100GSM and it either feathers or ghosts or does both on all of these papers.
Any other recommendations?
a nice review specially the last part, You may have added the waterproof nature and also may have given some comparison and alternatives, that would have made the review more interesting
Review swahi brand inks, I believe they are indian made. A good perspective on how our local inks hold up against foreign ones is needed.
ok sir. good idea :)
Thanks for your review and sacrificing a beautiful white pen. The ink is beautiful but there are ample reasons to avoid it.
In my opinion if an ink is not waterproof whats the point. Most of the inks get washed away and smudged easily. If we need to use our fountain pens regularly then waterproof properties are a must. Otherwise a Rs 10 ballpoint will continue to be a more practical option for the masses.
You missed the opportunity to demonstrate why many of us are willing to sacrifice a pen to dedicate it to Baystate blue ink. You should’ve done your demonstration on a loose sheet of paper, and walked directly to a sink and held it under the tap. Baystate blue will not budge! You don’t have to wait for it to dry, you can walk directly to a sink and run tapwater full force and that ink stays put. It is the perfect link to address envelopes. Period.
you are absolutely right. i did miss pointing out just how indestructible the ink is... thank you for pointing out :)
dada, how much is this ink? WHY ARE IMPorted inks so coSTLY? is it only because of freight and taxes? or is it that they use dyes and chemicals that are superior? do you belive that imported inks are better than the ones that are made in india? ARE OUR INKS INFERIOR TO THOSE MADE ABROAD? WHY DO so many people buy imported inks then? i shall remain ever grateful if you throw some light on these burning issues. there seem to be no concensus on the matter and i want to know before investing in imported inks. this one looks like a killer but may end up acting like a pen killer. what is your straight answer on the matter? please be specific.
Freeze use karke dekho fir bat Karo.
you forgot to mention branding and packaging costs. point is, i am naturally inclined to all things Indian though i do extensively use imported pens and inks as well. That said, i feel that it is not right to belittle any product, where ever it may originate from, as a class. it is better to individually look for positives and negatives. at the end of the day, please remember the consumer is the king, he/ she knows all and is the best judge though they themselves may have very strong individual likes and dislikes.
@@beng8502 good idea bhai :)
Why should we buy such ink? I will not buy it, at least.
Nonsense ink
Respected Sir plz Make a video on..
INDIAN makers budget Fountain Pens...
New INDIAN genration can atract towards INDIAN Fountain pen brands 🙏