Printer Ink In A Fountain Pen

[hruodger]

Hello everybody. I have a strange question. Can I use printer ink in my FP's?? I would like to use the cyan one, because the color is cool, and perhaps the magenta one for writing something romantic to my girl. Thanks in advance.

[koa]

I assume you mean ink-jet ink, but I have to say given my experience with that ink drying and clogging printer heads, I don't think I would want it in a fountain pen. Maybe someone has more knowledge of the make-up of these inks, and whether they contain substances like are in India ink, things not good for fountain pens. I would wait before trying it!

[Surnia]

erm... there's many cyan shades out there, Pelikan Turquoise, and Caran D'Ache Caribbean Sea spring to mind immediately...

Similar goes for magenta, Diamine has a rather large selection of pink/magentas as well.

 

I'd say bottled ink is far cheaper than printer ink, when a set of cartridges can go for $90; while two bottles of ink go for about $30 (plus shipping and tax).

[corniche]

Greetings Hruodger,

 

A few years ago, there were stories floating around the internet about people using inkjet ink in their fountain pens when they ran out of ink at the office. This is generally not a good practice; however, for several reasons. One, more and more inkjet inks are containing pigmented inks, (or inks that are slightly pigmented), for better water resistance and deeper, richer blacks and colors; pigments are a no-no in fp's because they are a non-miscible solid, i.e., they do not completely dissolve- this will clog your ink channel.

 

Two, ink-jet inks contain different surfactant levels than what fountain formulas do- the surfactant reduces the water tension in the ink and controls the flow. Unfortunately, I no longer recall if inkjet ink has a higher or lower resistance level than fountain ink- but it is different; so one of two things will happen- the ink will either flow slow, (or not at all), or it will turn your pen into a faucet. I know the price of fountain ink lately, coupled with its lack of availability in most areas can make you curious about substitutes- but the bottom-line of it all is: there really aren’t any.

 

I would suggest Waterman Rose and South Seas Blue, (unfortunately, the former is only available in cartridge form from what I’ve been able to see); both of these colors are reasonably priced, available in convenient cartridge form, (if that's your preference), and are designed for fp’s. You may also want to try Diamine, they have an excellent color palette and come in large bottles. If you live in the U.S., check out the swab shop at Goulet Pen Co., if you live in Europe, check out the Colorama section at the Writing Desk, (based in England).

 

I hope this helps.

 

All the best,

 

Sean

Edited December 14, 2010 by S. P. Colfer

[Ipno Tizer]

I've heard it said that printer inks are good with dip pens but that they are too dilute for use in fountain pens. But I don't have that based on any experience of my own.

 

I would have thought that cyan fountain pen ink would be reasonably easy to get hold of. And now that the problem of re sealing international standayd cartridges has been solved, it doesn't matter if you can only get it in bottles.

 

Chris B.

[79spitfire]

DON'T I screwed up a Monteverde pen that way, now it won't feed properly no matter what I do! Inkjet ink isn't suitable for fountain pens. It has a waterproof element that can't be cleaned out if it dries in a pen.

 

It MIGHT be OK with a dip pen, but they can be cleaned with stronger solvents than fountain pens can!

[DonLeone]

On the Waterman site it says there's 50ml bottles of south sea blue available.

Haven't seen them in stores though.

[hruodger]

Ok people, I must confess last night while posting, I did the test with an old Inoxcrom that I had cut for calligraphy purposes. I filled it with the cyan Ink Jet, and after 12 hours it's still writing (no clogging). Its true, as S. P. Colfer says, the surfactant must have some effects in the ink flow. I'll try to document what happens in the next days, and I'll try more pens. Of course I'll do this gradually in price (Sheafer, Parker, Montblanc, Caran D'Ache, etc.), and on those that can be easily disassembled (like Dupont and some Montblanc). Let's see if the ink I bought (HP Deskjet 720 refill, USD$30 a liter) works in fountain pens. By the way, the cyan looks cool from a Fountain Pen!!!

 

Thanks to everyone.

[dcwaites]

Ok people, I must confess last night while posting, I did the test with an old Inoxcrom that I had cut for calligraphy purposes. I filled it with the cyan Ink Jet, and after 12 hours it's still writing (no clogging). Its true, as S. P. Colfer says, the surfactant must have some effects in the ink flow. I'll try to document what happens in the next days, and I'll try more pens. Of course I'll do this gradually in price (Sheafer, Parker, Montblanc, Caran D'Ache, etc.), and on those that can be easily disassembled (like Dupont and some Montblanc). Let's see if the ink I bought (HP Deskjet 720 refill, USD$30 a liter) works in fountain pens. By the way, the cyan looks cool from a Fountain Pen!!!

 

Thanks to everyone.

 

At $30 a litre, you are not using original HP ink. Your ink will be a cheap 3rd party ink. When I was a HP printer tech, I had a couple of clients whose expensive HP large format printers were destroyed by those inks. I would be very wary of using those inks in anything other than a dip pen or Platinum Preppy.

 

As well, there are many different and beautiful cyan FP inks available out there. I wouldn't risk my pens with a cheap ink of unknown origin.

[hruodger]

Ok people, I must confess last night while posting, I did the test with an old Inoxcrom that I had cut for calligraphy purposes. I filled it with the cyan Ink Jet, and after 12 hours it's still writing (no clogging). Its true, as S. P. Colfer says, the surfactant must have some effects in the ink flow. I'll try to document what happens in the next days, and I'll try more pens. Of course I'll do this gradually in price (Sheafer, Parker, Montblanc, Caran D'Ache, etc.), and on those that can be easily disassembled (like Dupont and some Montblanc). Let's see if the ink I bought (HP Deskjet 720 refill, USD$30 a liter) works in fountain pens. By the way, the cyan looks cool from a Fountain Pen!!!

 

Thanks to everyone.

 

At $30 a litre, you are not using original HP ink. Your ink will be a cheap 3rd party ink. When I was a HP printer tech, I had a couple of clients whose expensive HP large format printers were destroyed by those inks. I would be very wary of using those inks in anything other than a dip pen or Platinum Preppy.

 

As well, there are many different and beautiful cyan FP inks available out there. I wouldn't risk my pens with a cheap ink of unknown origin.

 

 

No no, the cheap one costs USD$12 a liter, and that one doesn't even present a country of origin. However I'll take in consideration your comment for refilling printers. The experience of a Pro, is always wise. Thanks

[hruodger]

Ok Ok, this is a must. I know it's not the topic, nor the forum, nor the place, just maybe the "Jet ink" topic I started. However it should be useful for people like me who also uses rollerball pen's:

 

In my madness, I've "refilled" two rollerballs refills with "Ink Jet" ink (lol) with a syringe, one Montblanc and one Cross. This time I used Epson ink that a friend gave me, some 250ml (he had a bottle, because he is experimenting with "invisible inks" so he takes out the original ink with a syringe and fills the cartridges with his stuff). The conclusion is that both are writing perhaps softer than before, I've saved perhaps $15, and I've had a lot of fun.

 

One last thought: If I use very high quality ink in a rollerball (like Epson ink), and if I use a very high quality acid free paper (like Hahnemuhle, I like it very much), the probabilities that my writings (specially those for my girlfriend) last for at least a millennium are increased dramatically, aren't they?

Greeting to everyone.

[Bo Bo Olson]

There are many warnings....don't.

You knew that.

At least you are using cheap pens.

 

I believe when folks keep saying fire, there may be some smoke.

 

If one's so desperate, one can always use a :embarrassed_smile: a ball point pen to keep making marks on paper.

 

Don't drive against the wall at more than 2 miles an hour...don't.

And folks still do...and use printer ink.

[hruodger]

There are many warnings....don't.

You knew that.

At least you are using cheap pens.

 

I believe when folks keep saying fire, there may be some smoke.

 

If one's so desperate, one can always use a :embarrassed_smile: a ball point pen to keep making marks on paper.

 

Don't drive against the wall at more than 2 miles an hour...don't.

And folks still do...and use printer ink.

 

I'll take everyone's advice. I mean, this is the idea of a forum: a place where we can hear advices, and share experience. Thanks to everyone!!!

[hbquikcomjamesl]

This whole thread doesn't apply to me: I refuse to own an inkjet. I own two inkjet-killers (an ALPS MicroDry, that still limps along, and a Samsung color laser). And if I want lab-quality photo prints, I go to a camera shop.

[omicron]

I tried that once. Nib started locking up. Rinsed it out asap. Never again. Although the liquid inks in most pens work fine. ( Or havent ruined the pen yet.) I like to live dangerously.

[hruodger]

Ok People, I had an accident. My 149 rolled jumped from the desk, and while moving me in the chair, one of the wheels ran over it. It's broken into several pieces.

This is all the pieces

The cap broken

It seem the nib is ok, nor the body.

The piston seems ok.

I'll start a new thread in Repair area.

[pavel]

Ouch.

$100 will get it taken care of.

[LedZepGirl]

Don't do it. Inkjet ink can even clog the nozzles on the printer's print head. There are also pigment-based inkjet inks (although most are dye-based) and pigment-based inks and fountain pens are no-nos. (This is coming from one who is part of the printing industry).

 

As others have said, there are many inks out there in cyan and magenta colors.

[aliikizkaya]

Hi to everyone !

My name is ALI from south of Turkey, from a very hot little sea side town on summer days. And my possibilities for various colors are near impossible. My only selection is black and dark-blue. In Turkey there is no various ink colors selection for FPs. For that reason since the beginning of 2010, I started my essays for making my own FP ink with inkjet printer inks. I made a several essays and readings and asking chemical eng. help. Now I am using my own formula.

There is no cloging, drying or no damage in my fountain pens. All inkjet inks that I am using in my formulas are water based. I am happy with my inks. Because they are wet and for quick writing. Nibs are dancing on the paper. Smooth impressions while writing.

I am using those inks with my calligraphic fountain pens. No drying. No damage on FPs. If the ambient temp is high the color become 1.5 tone darker. But my home made inks asks a paper heavier than 70g/sqm. Since 10 August of 2010 I am using my home made inks for daily writings.

I am placing below a two scan of my home made inks. I made the following test with ;

Wality 69TL FP, Sheaffer 550, Calligraphic FP, Parker I.M.

 

http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss315/aliikizkaya/Scan20030_aa.jpg

 

 

http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss315/aliikizkaya/Scan20029_aa.jpg

[nedal]

Pleas could you be so kind to share your formulas.

 

Hi to everyone !

My name is ALI from south of Turkey, from a very hot little sea side town on summer days. And my possibilities for various colors are near impossible. My only selection is black and dark-blue. In Turkey there is no various ink colors selection for FPs. For that reason since the beginning of 2010, I started my essays for making my own FP ink with inkjet printer inks. I made a several essays and readings and asking chemical eng. help. Now I am using my own formula.

There is no cloging, drying or no damage in my fountain pens. All inkjet inks that I am using in my formulas are water based. I am happy with my inks. Because they are wet and for quick writing. Nibs are dancing on the paper. Smooth impressions while writing.

I am using those inks with my calligraphic fountain pens. No drying. No damage on FPs. If the ambient temp is high the color become 1.5 tone darker. But my home made inks asks a paper heavier than 70g/sqm. Since 10 August of 2010 I am using my home made inks for daily writings.

I am placing below a two scan of my home made inks. I made the following test with ;

Wality 69TL FP, Sheaffer 550, Calligraphic FP, Parker I.M.

 

Edited June 8, 2011 by nedal