Putting Vodka In Ink...

[PolarMoonman]

It has been awhile and so I thought I'd do another ink experiment... Some time ago I tried mixing ink with wine, I got a pleasant result and so I thought I'd try another spirit: Vodka. But before I proceed with the experiment I must state this disclaimer....

DISCLAIMER: I performed this experiment in a cheap pen and strongly advise anyone else who performs this NOT to do it in any pen of great value or any vintage pen. I also have not observed the long terms effects of the ink mixture. I do not keep the mixture in my pens anymore than 72 hours. Perform this experiment at your own risk...

first some pics....

SPECIFICS:

Ink: Parker Quink Blue-Black

Vodka: Russian Standard Vodka

Ratio: 2:1 (1 mL ink to 0.5 mL vodka)

Pen: Nemosine Singularity (medium nib)

Paper: Rhodia 5" x 5"

OBJECTIVE:

To see how Vodka affects, wetness, lubrication, dry time

and water resistance of the ink.

TESTS:

Dip Test

Smear Test

Dry Time Test

SMEAR & DIP TEST CONCLUSION:

The alcohol in the Vodka severely reduced the water resistance of the ink.

Maybe the Vodka negates whatever chemicals there are in the ink to add water

resistance, or maybe the ratio was too high, either way the water resistance

was mitigated to nothing.

I didn't try any other liquids like Bleach or Ammonia, if water had that great

of an effect on the ink I don't have to try any other solvents to know it would

not hold up well.

DRY TIME TEST CONCLUSION:

I didn't upload a photo as I simply didn't think it was necessary.

The regular ink took 9 seconds to dry on the Rhodia and when alcohol

was added it only took 7 seconds to dry. Alcohol shortened the dry time.

INK BEHAVIOR:

I noticed that after adding the vodka, the ink was better lubricated and dried

quicker. There was no feathering or bleedthrough. The ink did feel wetter and

definitely thinner, it also had more of sheen to it, though there was less shading.

CONCLUSION:

Vodka is not a very exciting additive, aethetically it's as dull as dirt. It really

doesn't influence the color any more than water would, it doesn't provide a pleasant

aroma and it doesn't increase shading or intensify the hue of the ink.

BUT

Vodka is actually quite a useful thing, it can be used to clean windows jewelry,

and remove adhesives left behind by stickers or labels. So I'm pondering the potential

practical benefits that could be gained. It lowers dry time, so it might be handy for

left handed people like me or for those who use inks that tend to dry slower than

desired. It also increases lubrication so it could be used to help with dry inks. Another

possibility is that since it thins the ink it could increase flow and make inks that tend

to be slow or hard starters more reliable. So I think it could potentially be a useful additive

and I will probably do further testing with it...

=====================================================================

Hope you all enjoyed my latest experiment =)

P&P

[lapis]

Vodka will increase the drying time and decrease feathering, just like water but I wouldn't rely on it. Enjoy both the ink and the drink separately...

[ethernautrix]

Er... my vodka test would be conducted a bit differently, with the emphasis's being on the handwriting, if not the content.

[Freddy]

Aaron..long time no see..keep up the good work.............

 

 

Fred

 

Choresspondence, n..Mail you don't want to deal with.............

...Lizzie Skurnick...

[nigelg]

......and don't forget to "ink" responsibly, as it might say on the label.

[FatherofOdin]

It ok as long as you are adding vodka to the ink and not ink to the vodka.

[PrintersDevil]

I always put the vodka in me!

[raging.dragon]

Alcohol is likely to damage celluloid and some other plastics. It's probably best dilute your ink with distilled water, and drink the Vodka.

[Mcicool]

As a russian i cant stand this waste of vodka! Vodka is only good not for filling the pen but for filling the company with a good mood

[piter22]

Maybe you have to try adding flavored alcohols to ink. Vodka is too clear and really can cause serious damage. Few months ago I've put an old Pelikan's pistion to 'denaturat' (it's Polish name for contaminated alcohol ~85%) and I got a black piece of elastic... something. Don't try this at home, really.

[PolarMoonman]

As a russian i cant stand this waste of vodka! Vodka is only good not for filling the pen but for filling the company with a good mood

 

-sigh- I know and Rusky Standart is a nice Vodka too... but it's all I had and I wasn't going to go buy a crappy bottle of vodka just for this experiment. I only used a mL so the loss wasn't too great...

[PolarMoonman]

Maybe you have to try adding flavored alcohols to ink.

 

I thought about that, but didn't want any weird flavoring oils or other stuff like that to get into my pen. Vodka is a very clean spirit which is one of the reasons I chose it...

[Ego Id Veto]

Never tested adding vodka or any other spirit to my ink, but I have tested out my calligraphy skills with a Creaper filled with De Atramentis Scottish Whiskey and a belly full of Jack Daniels!

 

I was pleasantly surprised that whilst my other more basic skills (such as walking) were affected, my finer, more delicate skill of calligraphy was barely affected!

[bogiesan]

OT:America's Test Kitchens perfected an awesomely lusciously flaky pasty recipe using vodka to replace the several tablespoons of water in the traditional recipe. There is water in the butter, too. The water can be worked too hard by inexperienced pastry makers. It combines easily with the protein in the wheat flour to form gluten which produces a chewy pastry instead of light and flaky. The vodka provides the moisture needed to work the butter into the flour but it provides no water to form gluten and it promptly evaporates off during baking. I've tried it, it's awesome and foolproof.

[kulindi]

Anyone for a Vodka & Quink.....

[lahlahlaw]

......and don't forget to "ink" responsibly, as it might say on the label.

Very funny!!

[SeeksAdvice]

Maybe you have to try adding flavored alcohols to ink. Vodka is too clear and really can cause serious damage. Few months ago I've put an old Pelikan's pistion to 'denaturat' (it's Polish name for contaminated alcohol ~85%) and I got a black piece of elastic... something. Don't try this at home, really.

Denatured alcohol contains other types of alcohols including methanol. Betting it's the non-ethanol additives that did that to the plastic. Of course, why one would put plastic parts in alcohol ... scratches head.

[Sasha Royale]

I enjoy your reports on these experiments. You wisely use "cheap" pens. (Alcohol can be quite corrosive.)

Would you achieve a similar result with water ? Is not vodka mostly water ?

 

Did you use the "twelve-step" program to clean you pen ?

Thanks again.

[The Blue Knight]

Really cool test!

[raging.dragon]

Denatured alcohol contains other types of alcohols including methanol. Betting it's the non-ethanol additives that did that to the plastic. Of course, why one would put plastic parts in alcohol ... scratches head.

 

More likely isopropinol or gasoline (the latter if the denatured alcohol is going to be used for fuel). I doubt methanol would be commonly used, as it's highly toxic and apparently not vile tasting/smelling enough to prevent people from drinking it (as evidenced by numerous cases of people arournd the world poisoned by "unlicensed" liquour laced with methanol due to improper fermentation and/or distillation).