Is It Always Possible To Mix Ink?

[consenso]

Hi to all, I'm an italian new user and this is my first post.

 

Recently I discovered passion for fountain pens, so I bought some pens, a Visconti Rembrandt and a Sailor Professional Gear... I bought too some ink bottles, Pelikan, Waterman and Visconti...

 

The question is, can I always mix the inks of the same maker and the same line production? I mean, can I always mix for example Black by Pelikan 4001 with Blu by Pelikan 4001 without any problems? Or do I need to put them in a glass for some days and verify if there are solid parts created? I mixed Red Pelikan 4001 and Black Pleikan 4001 and nothing happened... then I tryied with Blu Pelikan 4001 and Black Pelikan 4001 I notice some little very very little point in the glass but they arent' solid or they don't seem so. If I touch them with the nib they disappear... and I notice them just after I shake a lot the glass... could be them just little coloured air balls?

 

Thanks a lot.

[Trebster]

You'll find 22 pages of ink mixing recipes at the top of this forum, and the topic continues to grow. Given the popularity of mixing, I'd say yes, it's safe to mix. See the first entry for exceptions. (Those exceptions are for a couple inks that are no longer produced but were sold with specific instructions not to mix.)

[Roger W.]

Mixing modern inks may be safe. Sheaffer around 1920 made an ink that worked very well until you put it in pens that had other ink in it as it did chemically disagree with Sheaffer's new formula it was a disaster and Sheaffer recalled all of the new ink they had sold. Some time later Sheaffer brought out Skrip that would work wtih anything.

 

Roger W.

[lapis]

Check out the reports here.

A. Basically, it is always possible to mix any inks from any brands.

B. The only exceptions (IMO) are some inks from Noodler's, especially concerning their Bay State Blue.

Now, whether that also means that Bay State ink itself and/or includes any other Bay States, I don't know for sure.

 

Mike

[consenso]

Thanks to all, so no problems... so I will continue in the main discussion about mixing

[Glenn-SC]

No it is NOT safe to assume you can mix inks.

 

Private Reserve had severe coagulation with some of their inks also.

 

Mix in a glass bottle and watch it for a while to see how it behaves.

[Trebster]

No it is NOT safe to assume you can mix inks.

 

Private Reserve had severe coagulation with some of their inks also.

 

Mix in a glass bottle and watch it for a while to see how it behaves.

 

The Private Reserve inks in question were: Hot Bubble Gum, Candy Apple Red and Tangerine Dream. When they were still manufactured, they were sold with specific instructions not to mix them with each other or with other inks. (People did anyway, apparently.)

 

Many of the recipes listed in the Ink Mixing thread above call for various quantities of this and that from mixed brands. Browsing the topic shows many concoctions but no reports of smoking craters where a mixer once lived.

[Glenn-SC]

Many of the recipes listed in the Ink Mixing thread above call for various quantities of this and that from mixed brands. Browsing the topic shows many concoctions but no reports of smoking craters where a mixer once lived.

And I am assuming that each and every one of those concoctions was tested by someone before posted for others to try.

 

The OP asked "Is it always possible to mix ink?"

 

The answer is "Yes, it is possible to mix them", but "No, it is not always a wise decision to do so!"

[Kabe]

Safe for all Pelikan inks, yes. It seems that´s what you have. As far as I know (and since I have access to mostly Pelikan inks only, I´ve read most posts on it), no problems reported on 4001 mixes.

 

Quite frankly, there are few reported problems. As mentioned by posters above, most of those come with some Private Reserve inks, or vintage inks

[consenso]

Many of the recipes listed in the Ink Mixing thread above call for various quantities of this and that from mixed brands. Browsing the topic shows many concoctions but no reports of smoking craters where a mixer once lived.

And I am assuming that each and every one of those concoctions was tested by someone before posted for others to try.

 

The OP asked "Is it always possible to mix ink?"

 

The answer is "Yes, it is possible to mix them", but "No, it is not always a wise decision to do so!"

Yes the answer was, It is possible to mix them? but for sure I wouldn't like to break my pens with a wrong mix... My question wasn't just for a chemical experiment , it included also the possible damages ink mixed could give to my pens...

[Possum Hill]

Many of the recipes listed in the Ink Mixing thread above call for various quantities of this and that from mixed brands. Browsing the topic shows many concoctions but no reports of smoking craters where a mixer once lived.

And I am assuming that each and every one of those concoctions was tested by someone before posted for others to try.

 

The OP asked "Is it always possible to mix ink?"

 

The answer is "Yes, it is possible to mix them", but "No, it is not always a wise decision to do so!"

Yes the answer was, It is possible to mix them? but for sure I wouldn't like to break my pens with a wrong mix... My question wasn't just for a chemical experiment , it included also the possible damages ink mixed could give to my pens...

Clogging caused by mixing incompatible inks is probably the worst potential problem.

 

If the feed is difficult to remove, it may be very difficult to clean the coagulated ink from its deepest recesses, even with an ultrasonic cleaner.

 

If ink has been leaking into normally dry parts of the pen, past piston seals for example, leakage of the new ink may result in mixing of the two inks and a clog jamming an unreachable part of the mechanism. That would be bad.

[Trebster]

What incompatible inks are definitely known, apart from three discontinued Private Reserve inks? I've not seen reports of experiments gone horribly wrong? One would think they'd be up in neon lights.

[consenso]

So for to have more relax.... how can I notice if the ink is coagulated? I mean, how much easy to see is it? That "little very little" points in my mixing glass could be coagulations? Or a coagulation is a real solid ink created? Because as I told maybe those one aren't... how can I be sure if they were coagulation or not? I write this because I tryied for 2 days in my Sailor that Ink... then I removed it... I repeat it was a mix between Black and Blue both Pelikan 4001

[Possum Hill]

So for to have more relax.... how can I notice if the ink is coagulated? I mean, how much easy to see is it? That "little very little" points in my mixing glass could be coagulations? Or a coagulation is a real solid ink created? Because as I told maybe those one aren't... how can I be sure if they were coagulation or not? I write this because I tryied for 2 days in my Sailor that Ink... then I removed it... I repeat it was a mix between Black and Blue both Pelikan 4001

 

Some members have reported rather spectacular sudden coagulation as soon as the inks are mixed, producing sludge. Others recommend mixing a small quantity of the two and letting the mixture sit for a few days. If the appearance of the mixture is stranger in any way than either of the components, I'd be reluctant to use it.

 

However, I don't know all the possible reactions that might occur. Most of the time, nothing bad happens and members have posted quite a few recipes for mixtures, which are good evidence that the inks are compatible.

[dcwaites]

I mix small amounts in a little plastic cup. I then test it with a dip pen. If all seems well, I will then try it in a cheap disposable pen (Platinum Preppy). After a few days with no problems, I will then use it in a more expensive pen.

 

I have not yet had any problems with any of my mixes, but then I avoid the few inks with reported problems. The only one of those inks I own is Baystate Blue, and I don't know how I could improve it by mixing it with anything anyway.

[SamCapote]

Many of the recipes listed in the Ink Mixing thread above call for various quantities of this and that from mixed brands. Browsing the topic shows many concoctions but no reports of smoking craters where a mixer once lived.

And I am assuming that each and every one of those concoctions was tested by someone before posted for others to try.

 

The OP asked "Is it always possible to mix ink?"

 

The answer is "Yes, it is possible to mix them", but "No, it is not always a wise decision to do so!"

 

I agree with Glenn here. Just because people blindly toss various inks together, does not mean it will always work with any ink. In particular, I feel you should be careful with diverse pH extremes. There are some biocides, surfactants, dye molecules, and other chemical components that are added to inks in proprietary recipes. We do know that the three Noodlers Baystate inks (Blue, Cranberry, Concord Grape) can be mixed with each other, but not necessarily other inks. You also do not know if there may be a time dependent change that may not be seen initially with mixing.

[Trebster]

Seeing as Private Reserve sells a mixing kit, it is a safe assumption that mixing current production PR inks with current production PR inks is a very low risk endeavor.

 

Perhaps there are ink mad scientists who know how to create witches cauldron concoctions. Probably the chances of a mixed custom color that spawns a new life form are about on the same order as junior creating a volatile compound from the inert ingredients in a toy chemistry set. I'll grant that there is no harm in observing the results, just in case. But I'm sure we'd all be delighted to hear if anyone can mix Robocop-style toxic sludge on demand.

[hbquikcomjamesl]

In my own experience (as one who uses cheap, low-maintenance ink, and who rarely flushes, much less cleans out, pens), Sheaffer and Pelikan washable blues appear to be safely miscible in all proportions. Although they do have somewhat different character.

 

One of these days, I'm going to run parallel paper chromatograms of Sheaffer blue, Pelikan blue, and that bad batch of Sheaffer blue, and see if I can determine how they differ.

 

And 1970s-era and earlier chemistry sets did contain stuff that could be hazardous if one did something stupid. So do current ones, except that amounts are now typically down in the micro- or semimicro- range.

Edited November 26, 2010 by hbquikcomjamesl

[KCat]

My standard suggestion is always - if you have any doubts, mix a small amount of the inks in question in a small container (vial, glass jar, whatever) and let this mix sit for 2 or 3 days. In general this is sufficient time for any deleterious chemical reactions to occur and reveal themselves (usually as precipitates that might clog).

 

As someone else commented, also in general the most common risk is a clog that requires a little extra work to clean.

 

By the way - the currently produced version of "Tangerine Dream" from Private Reserve is nothing like the now-discontinued version that was very bright and created problems when mixed. I really wish they had not named the new one by the same name. The inks look nothing alike and it creates potential fear and confusion over which ink is safe and which is not. Not sure what they were thinking.

[tanalasta]

Not all inks are compatible and unless expressively stated so anywhere else, are 'at your own risk'.

 

For example, some of the Pilot Inks are mixable within the brand but J'Herbin officially states you shoudln't mix their inks together... that said, others have posted successful experiences. Aurora black and Blue don't mix very well at all and eventually gel together.

 

So if you must mix, mix in fmall quantities and preferably not in an expensive pen that you cannot take apart to clean if things go wrong.

 

Otherwise, there are so many reliable inks and different colors available, I've always just bought another bottle of ink if I like the colour!