Getting The Last Drop Of Ink With A Centrifuge Tube?

[andymcc]

I've been looking for a way to use the last drops of ink in bottles but other than a syringe I couldn't think of a way, for cartridge pens a syringe is fine but for piston pens I was stuck. I also wanted a safe way to take small amounts of ink out with me so I could refill if necessary without the hassle of carrying syringes etc.

The other day I was watching a science programme on TV and saw the scientists using a centrifuge and putting little cone shaped tubes in the machine, I wondered if you could buy them and found that you there's loads available on ebay.

 

 

 

 

You can even buy storage boxes for the tubes which hold 100 for under £5

 

 

The shape of the tubes makes me think that a pen nib would fit inside and as the tubes are plastic they shouldn't damage a nib, the only problem I can see is that the cones shaped tubes only seem to be available up to 1.5ml which is probably ok for one fill but ideally a capacity of 5ml would be better, having said that the 1.5ml tubes are so cheap(around £10 per 100) that you could just spread the ink into 3 tubes.

 

 

 

I'm wondering if anyone has tried using centrifuge tubes for their ink?

[Inkysloth]

I think most pens woukd struggle to fit into a 1.5 ml cebtrifuge tube - they really are dinky!

 

5ml sample tubes are probably as small as you want to go, and even they can be a tight fit for some larger sectioned pens.

[andymcc]

Inkysloth: Thanks I've just found a PDF that lists the neck diameter of most 1.5ml tubes as 9.5mm so you're right that most pens would struggle to fit, it's a pity because the shape of the tubes is ideal.

I've seen little sample pots with screw tops on ebay that would probably do the job but like ink bottles they have flat bottoms so there'll always be a little ink that's hard to get.

 

EDIT:

Just found 50ml tubes on ebay that have a neck diameter of 3cm so they'd be big enough for most pens although 12cm might be a little too deep

Edited December 2, 2013 by andymcc

[Inkysloth]

There are 5ml sample vials that have a conical base inside, ringed outside with a flat base such that the vial can stand alone - a couple of members on here sell them, I've bought some from Ebay. They're pretty inexpensive, too.

[andymcc]

I think I know the type you mean, Goulets offer them on their site, similar to these?