California Live Oak Iron Gall Ink Recipe

[fiberdrunk]

Is there a way to make the ink more glossy? Gum Arabic doesn't seem to do that.... is there another additive?

 

I don't know of any, but then I've always been more interested in permanence. I worry about adding anything beyond the galls, iron sulfate, gum arabic and water because almost everything else can compromise longevity. I wonder, though, if egg white mixed with a tablespoon or so of water, might give some gloss?

[Mickey]

Is there a way to make the ink more glossy? Gum Arabic doesn't seem to do that.... is there another additive?

 

I don't know of any, but then I've always been more interested in permanence. I worry about adding anything beyond the galls, iron sulfate, gum arabic and water because almost everything else can compromise longevity. I wonder, though, if egg white mixed with a tablespoon or so of water, might give some gloss?

 

My idea regarding egg whites was for the removal fine particulates. Hopefully the finest stuff could be filtered out along with the coagulated whites, much as is done by winemakers. I have no idea if it would work in this situation.

[fiberdrunk]

Is there a way to make the ink more glossy? Gum Arabic doesn't seem to do that.... is there another additive?

 

I don't know of any, but then I've always been more interested in permanence. I worry about adding anything beyond the galls, iron sulfate, gum arabic and water because almost everything else can compromise longevity. I wonder, though, if egg white mixed with a tablespoon or so of water, might give some gloss?

 

My idea regarding egg whites was for the removal fine particulates. Hopefully the finest stuff could be filtered out along with the coagulated whites, much as is done by winemakers. I have no idea if it would work in this situation.

 

 

Yeah, I seem to remember calligraphers adding egg white/water (the name escapes me... is it gesso?) to paints to make them glossy. Does anyone know for sure?

Edited April 14, 2013 by fiberdrunk

[gweddig]

I found a little time today to do a quick test. These are all on a Rhodia pad, I did try some 24lb HP paper I had around and it was even darker. This amazingly darkens as one watches, really neat, now I have to go back and figure out why, is it the combination of the iron and oak gall tannins, or are the oak tannins just the initial color so one can see what they are writing. Does the iron sulfate really do most of the work? (Edited to add I found answers here.)

 

This is while I was writing:

This was ten seconds later:

This was after about 15 minutes:

 

Thanks for inspiring me to do this JBB and Fiberdrunk!

Edited April 14, 2013 by gweddig

[fiberdrunk]

I found a little time today to do a quick test. These are all on a Rhodia pad, I did try some 24lb HP paper I had around and it was even darker. This amazingly darkens as one watches, really neat, now I have to go back and figure out why, is it the combination of the iron and oak gall tannins, or are the oak tannins just the initial color so one can see what they are writing. Does the iron sulfate really do most of the work? (Edited to add I found answers here.)

 

This is while I was writing:

This was ten seconds later:

This was after about 15 minutes:

 

Thanks for inspiring me to do this JBB and Fiberdrunk!

 

How cool, that you captured the darkening oxidation phenomenon in pictures! I never thought to try that. It really looks great! Congratulations!

[Stompie]

I dont know if this will work or if it will adversely affect the ink overall.

 

An octogenarian told me how as children they would purify river water. The inner pip in a peach pip would be crushed and then dropped into a barrel or cup (if they wanted to drink immediately) of river water and almost instantly the impurities would sink.

 

The parents, when collecting water in a barrel would do this when they got home. As children they were instructed to always save their peach pips specifically for this purpose.

 

I dont know if this would help your filtering process.

[gweddig]

About 24 hours after on a Rhodia pad:

Dip pen:

 

Fountain Pen:

[Mickey]

I dont know if this will work or if it will adversely affect the ink overall.

 

An octogenarian told me how as children they would purify river water. The inner pip in a peach pip would be crushed and then dropped into a barrel or cup (if they wanted to drink immediately) of river water and almost instantly the impurities would sink.

 

The parents, when collecting water in a barrel would do this when they got home. As children they were instructed to always save their peach pips specifically for this purpose.

 

I dont know if this would help your filtering process.

 

Nothing like throwing a little cyanide in your ink. (A very little amount, but cyanide none the less.) I had another candidate as a clarifying agent, isenglass. Does anyone know how it functions as a clarifying agent? (Egg whites and Irish moss grab on to proteins.)

[fiberdrunk]

About 24 hours after on a Rhodia pad:

Dip pen:

 

Fountain Pen:

 

 

So beautifully dark!

[jbb]

I just opened up a container of crushed oak galls and water that I'd stashed under the sink back in May. It greeted me with one of the most vile smells I have ever smelled. I've gotten rid of the solid moldy parts and most of the smell but this is pretty stinky ink so far. Will it improve?

 

A bit later... it's already better.

Edited October 29, 2013 by jbb

[fiberdrunk]

I just opened up a container of crushed oak galls and water that I'd stashed under the sink back in May. It greeted me with one of the most vile smells I have ever smelled. I've gotten rid of the solid moldy parts and most of the smell but this is pretty stinky ink so far. Will it improve?

 

A bit later... it's already better.

 

Put a lot of whole cloves in there. That will help, too.

[jbb]

 

Put a lot of whole cloves in there. That will help, too.

I put in a ton of cloves!!!!!! I had my mixture stored in an old tupperware container that may never be smell-free again. What a stench!!!!!

[fiberdrunk]

I put in a ton of cloves!!!!!! I had my mixture stored in an old tupperware container that may never be smell-free again. What a stench!!!!!

 

What we won't do for ink!

 

By the way, with such an extended fermentation time, was your ink even darker than your other batches?

Edited October 29, 2013 by fiberdrunk

[Dillo]

Wow!! So fascinating. Maybe I'll try one day.

 

Dillon

[fiberdrunk]

I made a chart for this ink, so those who want to make smaller quantities can do so:

 

Recipe is posted here on my Flickr account, and also on the Open Ink wiki, too.

 

Here's how this ink compares with other iron gall inks:

Edited May 31, 2014 by fiberdrunk

[Imre_Zsolt]

Hi! I started to make iron gall ink. I use hungarian oak gall apple. Large enough, about 4 or 4.5 cm

http://kepkuldes.com/images/a531bc7d4552f84c69bafd1300b90b11.jpg

 

crushed gall

 

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2018/05/23/9511_2_.jpg

 

I started the fermentation, i do it for 2 months. Otherwise i use wine. I just fermenting 1 day, and very dark.

 

http://www.kepfeltoltes.eu/images/hdd1/2018/05/23/1871_3_.jpg[/url]

Edited May 23, 2018 by Imre_Zsolt

[fiberdrunk]

Looking good! I hope you'll post samples of the finished ink when it's ready!

 

I'm attempting to make iron gall ink from the roots of wild geraniums (aka Cranesbill, or Geranium macalatum). They, too, have quite a bit of tannic acid; almost as much as a pomegranate. Best time to harvest it is just before bloom time. That's when the tannic acid content is highest. I don't expect spectacular results, especially compared with galls, but they grow like crazy around here, so I figured, why not try?

Edited May 23, 2018 by fiberdrunk

[Imre_Zsolt]

Hello fiberd. I don t speak english just a little:) I'm just trying to talk. Two months later I show pictures the ink. I do not write more. So everyone is better

Edited May 24, 2018 by Imre_Zsolt

[Imre_Zsolt]

How do I disinfect the ink? Mold is on it.

[fiberdrunk]

How do I disinfect the ink? Mold is on it.

 

Mold is a good sign when first making your ink (during fermentation phase only)... that is what is helping to convert the tannic acid to gallotannic acid. But once you're past the fermentation phase, you'll want to strain all the solids out and then boil for 5 minutes (see the beginning of this thread). That will stop all the biologic activity in the ink. To prevent further mold in the future, add a few whole cloves to your ink and leave them in the bottle.

Edited July 23, 2018 by fiberdrunk