Old Winsor & Newton Ink

[Davis19942003]

Last week I found an art supply store near my home and I bought a Tachigawa G nib there. Today, I found that they have Winsor & Newton's drawing ink as well. The shop keeper warned me that the ink(W&N Carmine) is old that may cause problems, I insist to buy it because they offer a huge discount. It costed me $4 HKD( originally the ink cost $18). But when I sit down in front of my desk and have a good look on the ink, it has chunks of solids in it. I guess it's the pigment and this is what the shop keeper was talking about. What should I do to restore the ink? Should I give it a boil or put it in the microwave oven to dissolve the solids? I haven't done anything yet.

I used to make models, the dark area on the left is my stirrer

 

 

 

 

 

You can tell from the packaging that the ink has been stored for ages, even decades. Perhaps it's older than me LOL

 

 

Thank you for all advice.

[Oldane]

Yeah, who knows what that stuff is. I wouldn't use it. Is it solid or slimey?

[Davis19942003]

Yeah, who knows what that stuff is. I wouldn't use it. Is it solid or slimey?

It's solid and it's pretty hard.

[Davis19942003]

I finally got the solid out of the ink bottle. It is sort of like a rubber.

 

 

[Lorna Reed]

I recognise that box - I was selling it back in the 80s! Winsor and Newton drawing inks are not made for use in fountain pens - they are for dip pens, brushes and airbrushes. Even without the gunge, I would not put it in a fountain pen. My advice - throw it out. It's not cheap if it ruins your pen.

[Davis19942003]

I recognise that box - I was selling it back in the 80s! Winsor and Newton drawing inks are not made for use in fountain pens - they are for dip pens, brushes and airbrushes. Even without the gunge, I would not put it in a fountain pen. My advice - throw it out. It's not cheap if it ruins your pen.

I knew it is not for fountain pen, I just wanted to use it for dip pen but it seems the ink is not usable..............

 

 

Edit: typo

Edited October 4, 2014 by Davis19942003

[Orrell Post]

I have several bottles of the ink (8 different colours - the original set) the black Indian ink has a lump in the botton on the bottle. I just tried writing using a dip pen with the ink. It does not write with full colour, it is rather washed out. As the ink is composed of water and shellac it is probably that the shellac has returned to its former state.

 

So ... if the ink gives a strong enough colour to your liking it is usable, just clean the dip pen after use. And... shellac might with some gently heat melt again. Best to try pulling the solid bit out of the bottle into a little metal container then put it into a vessel of hot water ensuring the water does not get into the metal container. Just be in a vetilated space if you try (at your own risk) to melt the shellac. Or leaving the cap off the bottle put the bottle put the bottle into a vessel of hot water, it might need a low heat under it, to see if it melts, again at your own risk. In furniture restoration I have done in the past shellec is used with linseed oil, definitely not good for a pen I suspect.

 

There must be a chemist out there to tell me which tree I am barking up?

Edited October 4, 2014 by Orrell Post

[Davis19942003]

I have several bottles of the ink (8 different colours - the original set) the black Indian ink has a lump in the botton on the bottle. I just tried writing using a dip pen with the ink. It does not write with full colour, it is rather washed out. As the ink is composed of water and shellac it is probably that the shellac has returned to its former state.

 

So ... if the ink gives a strong enough colour to your liking it is usable, just clean the dip pen after use. And... shellac might with some gently heat melt again. Best to try pulling the solid bit out of the bottle into a little metal container then put it into a vessel of hot water ensuring the water does not get into the metal container. Just be in a vetilated space if you try (at your own risk) to melt the shellac. Or leaving the cap of the bottle put the bottle put the bottle into a vessel of hot water, it might need a low heat under it, to see if it melts, again at your own risk. In furniture restoration I have done in the past shellec is used with linseed oil, definitely not good for a pen I suspect.

 

There must be a chemist out there to tell me which tree I am barking up?

Before you comment, I have already put the ink into my microwave oven to try heating the shellac, and it exploded LOL. I guess I can get another bottle of ink in that shop inexpensive enough to try your method. Thanks

[Orrell Post]

Just so glad I don't own a microwave! I recall my mother wrapping a potato in tin foil, popping it in her microwave and getting a similar result.

 

I have also melted glue (animal bone type) using the non microwave method to use it in wood turning before they had all those fabulous chucks.

[Davis19942003]

I mean, the ink spilled just like a volcanic eruption..

 

I thought it's okay to put a glass bottle in the microwave, but..........

Some Taiwanese friends on social media even asked me for photos LOL

 

I guess the shop is closed today, but tomorrow I will get another bottle and give it a go.

Winsor & Newton inks are not common in here.

[Orrell Post]

Getting excited here, do a video next time. Wish I had seen the explosion as I missed my mother's potato exploding.

[Davis19942003]

I won't put it in the microwave again, my mum will surely kill me LOL

But I will try doing a video of cooking the ink.

[Davis19942003]

Fortunate enough, the W&N sunshine yellow I bought this afternoon has no shellac chunk in it and writes very well.

[Orrell Post]

Sunshine yellow, Nice!