My Mini Ink Refill Bottles

[maryannemoll]

I just wanted to share with you what I finished doing recently.

 

I created a mini ink refill hub for myself in the office! I bought plastic bottles from a local store called Beabi, made sure they can take the entire nib and section of all my pens. I also bought several dropper tools to use for transferring the ink from their original bottles into these refill bottles.

 

 

 

The mini bottles are labelled with the ink brand and the ink color, and all twelve bottles fit into this pretty tin canister that a friend of mine gave me from Ikea.

 

 

 

They fit quite well together inside, and for this reason nothing can topple over, and rattling is limited. However, I still do handle this can with care. I never lift it. I just slide it across the table slowly when I need to access it, and slide it back to its place when I'm done.

 

 

For good measure, though, I still put a note for the janitor who cleans up my desk every morning before I get to work.

 

This way, I never run out of ink in the office, and all my original ink bottles are now at home.

Edited January 9, 2013 by maryannemoll

[JonSzanto]

What a super-sweet idea - well done!

 

Since there is still a bit of space in the top of the tin, I might cut a piece of foam rubber for the bottom, and then maybe a couple layers of paper towel. This would serve to make a soft base for the bottles, raise them up a bit (making it easier to grab them) and in the event of a spill, absorb most or all of the ink to make any cleanup a little easier.

 

But no matter, you've done a great little project there. Not to mention that I like a person who sees the value in a lot of colors of ink!

[maryannemoll]

Thanks, JonSzanto. That's a great idea!

 

I actually was thinking about the tissue possibility at the bottom but the wad has to be very level, because sadly, the bottles are not watertight. In my country we have these "magic sponges" that they display and demo in flea markets and bazaars. I could try one of them, and cut them into the exact size circle to fit the bottom of the tin. That could work. And maybe I can line line the lid with a thin but soft material, which must also be very level, so there would be absolutely no rattling.

 

Indeed, I do love my ink colors! When composing my writing on the computer, I of course use only one kind and weight of black font, for readability and to minimize eyestrain, especially when I am working on really long pieces, but when I am writing in longhand, that's when I let the tumbler out.

Edited January 8, 2013 by maryannemoll

[dhaines]

What a novel and cool idea!

[Harlequin]

Just out off curiosity, is there anything you can add to the top of the cap (an adhesive label or or something, so it can be removed if needed) that you could write the color of the ink on, so you can see which one you want without having to lift each bottle? Might make it easier for you in the long run. But in any case, that's a great idea and well executed to boot!

[JonSzanto]

If I had a setup like that, I'd put a round, white, adhesive label on the top of each cap, and then dip a Q-tip in each respective ink and put one drop right in the center. You could easily identify the color you wanted, and the labels would peel off if you changed colors. No need for a lot of verbiage for a quick visual ID of the ink.

[Harlequin]

If I had a setup like that, I'd put a round, white, adhesive label on the top of each cap, and then dip a Q-tip in each respective ink and put one drop right in the center. You could easily identify the color you wanted, and the labels would peel off if you changed colors. No need for a lot of verbiage for a quick visual ID of the ink.

 

I have to say that is a better option than my labels idea. That would definitely help you get the specific color yo have on hand to match your pen!

[maryannemoll]

If I had a setup like that, I'd put a round, white, adhesive label on the top of each cap, and then dip a Q-tip in each respective ink and put one drop right in the center. You could easily identify the color you wanted, and the labels would peel off if you changed colors. No need for a lot of verbiage for a quick visual ID of the ink.

 

I have to say that is a better option than my labels idea. That would definitely help you get the specific color yo have on hand to match your pen!

 

I loooooove this idea! There are small round pre-cut stickers available here, and I could use that. Thanks for this! Now I have a project for Friday evening, before leaving the office to start the weekend.

 

I'm quite excited, and will post photos afterwards. Thank you!