Home-Made Gel Ink Refills?

[Sailor Kenshin]

Magna Tank Gel Pens. Even though they're cheap and no longer available, I love them, because they are ergonomic perfection for me, and of course, they're...tanks.

 

I reached for my next-to-last blue Magna Tank Gel pen, and noticed the endcap was loose. In fact, it threaded all the way out, exposing the open end of the ink tube. Easy access!

 

That got me wondering whether anyone here has heard of, or developed, a homemade gel ink replacement.

 

A quick innerwebz search didn't reveal much. If you can refill stamp pads and markers with homemade solutions, why can't you refill gel pens?

 

Anyone have an answer?

 

Thanks.

[Algester]

gel is weirdly enough as its a solid at a stable state but liquid when in an agitated state... I'm not sure if gum arabic cuts it as I tried it just makes the ink thick... not solid

[Stephen2020]

You could get some typical disposable gel pens and use the ink from the refills, take the writing tip off and blow through from the other end (stop before the clear stuff)...or use scissors to take that clear part off and blow from the tip end.

[Algester]

ohh yeah you can totally do this refill by desecrating other refills

[Sailor Kenshin]

Thanks...I was more looking for a 'recipe.'

[dcwaites]

It seems to me that you would need to start with a fairly concentrated ink and then add a component that is thixotropic.

I can't think of any household items that are thixotropic, Perhaps dilute gelatine???