I just found a forgotten bottle of Pelikan Brilliant Black in a drawer. The bottle is at least 15 years old, maybe more, and it's about half full. Is this still safe to use?

Thanks.

As long as it does not smell odd or have stuff floating in it, it should be fine. Also, check that it is not too viscous. If the cap was not tight enough, some of the water may have evaporated. If it is, add distilled or otherwise filtered water to it to make it the right cosistency.

-Nkk

For $7 a bottle, I'd buy a new one, and forgo the risks of using an ink that old.

+1


MrR

Please, don´t drink it...

For fountain pen purposes it should be fine. But you should find it more dry than normal.

Regards,

Jorge

Because it had been opened, I agree with the recommendation to toss it. I did use an unopened bottle of 10 yr. old Pelikan Blue Black that I found in a drawer without any problems at all.

I have a number of inks around the house that are 10+ years old and I do not hesitate to use them. As nkk said, I sniff them for odd odors, hold them up to natural light to check for residue in the bottom of the bottle, and I have added some water to a couple of them, but they are okay. I should think your Pel ink would be fine to use if you take precautions.

a couple of my bottles of ink are approaching that vintage - Sheaffer, Parker. I've never had a problem except with the Parker Penman which is no longer produced.

I've got 50 year old ink. It's still as great as it was when it was made.

I've got 50 year old ink that has turned to a paint with the inexplicable ability to stain even Pyrex lab glass.

Luckily, it's easy as all get out to tell the difference- one looks like paint, the other looks like ink. One has chunks and does not have the viscosity of ink or water- and that's the one you don't wanna use.

I've had no trouble with the Pelikan Brilliant Green I bought at an antique store. Even smells like modern Pelikan inks, perhaps they haven't changed the formula much in 40 years.

Don't use it if there are little chunks or particles floating or settled at the bottom of the bottle. Put a single drop of water into it- in some of the bad old inks I've found, the new water can cause the solute to come out of supersuspension. Not foolproof, but if you're actively worried it doesn't hurt.

For that matter, if you are fretting about this, don't worry. Buy another one, it is just $7. But for some of us, $7 is still none worth saving if it makes sense. If you're willing to use your head a bit, then you're fine using it.

Sorry, that was a bit rambling. Moving on...

Think about it... how long does an opened bottle of whisky keep? Or - perhaps more to the point - an opened bottle of vinegar?

PH-neutral inks are perhaps more suseptible to gunk growing, but Pelikan is a traditional ink.

As others have said, you will know if it is not usable.

Comparing inks and alcohol isn't one to one. Just toss the old bottle.

I'll chime in here and say that I've used inks that old and there's been no problem, of course the other precautions already mentioned should be adhered to.

Or if you can afford it and don't care for the adventure of using an older ink you could just dump the ink, clean out the bottle and have a nice bottle for your next mixture or whatever.

I found in a drawer a bottle of Waterman brown tha most be at least 20 years old and probably more than 30. It does just mention brown and no Havana. I use it without any problem. After all, I'm more than 30 and still in very good condition too
I have also an old bottle of a Grinborn blue or blueblack that most even be older and that I have yet to try.

Keep the bottle if you like it. If you want to try the ink to see if it works, make sure there's no mold in it I guess. I highly suggest just getting some other ink though - better to be safe.

Ok. But vinegar is as close as anything. Just use the ink.

I remember when I could say that.

Sounds like a nice ink.


As long as nothing's living in it it ought to be all right. Sounds like a good ink too.