Sterilizing Ink Bottles

[Arkanabar]

Merry sixth day of Christmas and happy New Year! This appears to me to be the best place to pose this particular question.

I poured a 25ml bottle of Chesterfield Archival Vault into an emptied bottle of Waterman Black. I opened it tonight, and there was some oily-looking particulate scum on top. I poured it out, and I found that all kinds of crud had dropped out of the ink. I scrubbed it as thoroughly as I could, and currently the bottle is filled to the rim with a 40% solution of Clorox concentrate. When I turn it upside down, there is a simgle little bubble in it, about 3mm in diameter.

I want to be sure I have thoroughly sterilized this thing. Is it safe to boil the bottle and lid on the stovetop for tend minutes, or ought I use a double-boiler to ensure I don't stress it into shattering? After all, this isn't the only bottle I feel the need to sterilize. I have a satchet of Blackstone Cashmere Blue to mix up, too.

[Icywolfe]

Dunk them in a bleach solution. Is the best way of disinfecting anything. PHENOL is a good antimicrobial to put in the ink.

[Oranges and Apples]

Bleach does not kill or remove mold or algae.

 

There are not of any mold or algae which I know of which are not labeled extremophiles which can take on boiling water.

 

As you said, glass might crack under such high heat conditions but I guess you could do it. As long as it is not for an extended period or under an sudden change in temperature.

[Icywolfe]

Bleach does not kill or remove mold or algae.

 

There are not of any mold or algae which I know of which are not labeled extremophiles which can take on boiling water.

 

As you said, glass might crack under such high heat conditions but I guess you could do it. As long as it is not for an extended period or under an sudden change in temperature.

I thought bleach killed everything.

 

I wonder if he heats up the glass in the microwave first then pours the boiling water on the glass soon after. I wonder if that till crack the glass.

[Noihvo]

You can sterilise glass bottles for jam making by putting them in a cold oven (with their lids on), and then turn it on, setting the temperature to about 100 °C (212 °F?). Leave them in there for… I don't know, 10-20 minutes. I do not think (grain of salt, though) that the plastic lids vill be harmed.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Noihvo

[Icywolfe]

You can sterilise glass bottles for jam making by putting them in a cold oven (with their lids on), and then turn it on, setting the temperature to about 100 °C (212 °F?). Leave them in there for… I don't know, 10-20 minutes. I do not think (grain of salt, though) that the plastic lids vill be harmed.

Some plastics will melt at that temperature.

[white_lotus]

I would not trust ink bottles with boiling water. When sterilizing jars for jams and jellies one typically uses Mason jars that are designed for that purpose and able to handle the temperature.

 

Dry heat sterilization is not as efficient as wet heat sterilization but it can be done. Google it and you find the temps and hours necessary.

[Barkingpig]

I have reused an old Sheaffer's ink bottle (with the reservoir) by placing it in a saucepan on the stove, covered with water & then bringing it to a boil for a few minutes. (I have also done the same with an empty Noodler's glass bottle I wanted to replace a recently purchased Noodler's plastic bottle.) I grew up watching my Mother sterilise jars used for jams or jellies the same way (many of which were NOT "name brand" jars but merely smallish jars that she chose to use. She used Mason/Ball jars for canning which were processed in the pressure cooker but explained the boiling water should be safe for normal glass jars. Mine survived quite nicely, however your bottle could break & I am sorry if it does. I think it is just the chance we take to reuse & offer "safe passage" to inks we have which are no longer in their "original container."

[Runnin_Ute]

I ran a 62.5 ml Pelikan bottle through the dishwasher and it did the job nicely - I think I ran the cap through too and I haven't had any issues with it. I have Green Cashmere mixed in it.

[dcwaites]

I have been advised by Kevin of Blackstone, which is appropriate given you want to put some Blackstone Cashmere Blue into a bottle, that a simple rinse with alcohol (methylated spirits, Glenfiddich, etc) will do. Swirl a few mls around in the bottle, pour out, and stand to dry upside down.

[rj1167]

Do we have access to an autoclave?

That would surely do it.

In all seriousness, though, alcohol, bleach (must be cleaned thouroughly after to remove traces of bleach I'd think),

or boiling should do nicely.

[Randal6393]

Hi, Arkanabar,

 

Wondering about the mold/algae problem you describe. I've never had any such problems. But I have used several different brands of iron-gall ink. And IG ink drops precipitate (crud) into the bottom of the bottle as it ages, especially if it is on the acidic side, not properly buffered. I have had this problem with Blots Ink and Chesterfield Archival Vault. Could that be what happened with your ink?

 

As far as sterilizing an ink bottle (glass), the dishwasher -- with a steam/sanitize cycle -- should do fine.

 

Best of luck,

[white_lotus]

a simple rinse with alcohol (methylated spirits, Glenfiddich, etc) will do. Swirl a few mls around in the bottle, pour out, and stand to dry upside down.

Good gosh man, you recommend Scotch!?! Have you no decency?

 

Now if it was Sheep Dip, it might be another matter altogether.

[dcwaites]

Good gosh man, you recommend Scotch!?! Have you no decency?

 

Now if it was Sheep Dip, it might be another matter altogether.

 

You're right. I should have mentioned Corio instead. (Look it up.) It's not Scotch. Some would say it's not even whisky. Pretty well everyone says it isn't drinkable.

 

Now, you confused me with your reference to Sheep Dip. I presume you meant Sheep Dip, when I thought you meant sheep dip, because if you've got mites and ticks living in your ink, you have real problems.

 

 

http://www.mybottleshop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/sheep-dip-duty-free-mybottleshop.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 2, 2016 by dcwaites

[Arkanabar]

If I'm going to use alcohol for sterilizing, it's probably going to be 70% isopropanol.

 

My mother-in-law does a lot of home canning. She's successfully used old glass mayonnaise jars. Odds are that this is also very similar container glass, and that bringing it to a boil would be safe. I strongly suspect that isopropanol is going to be a lot safer, though, and when I'm ready to put the bottle back to use, that's how I'll prep it.

 

see This Handy Table.

Edited January 2, 2016 by Arkanabar

[Arkanabar]

Hi, Arkanabar,

 

Wondering about the mold/algae problem you describe. I've never had any such problems. But I have used several different brands of iron-gall ink. And IG ink drops precipitate (crud) into the bottom of the bottle as it ages, especially if it is on the acidic side, not properly buffered. I have had this problem with Blots Ink and Chesterfield Archival Vault. Could that be what happened with your ink?

 

As far as sterilizing an ink bottle (glass), the dishwasher -- with a steam/sanitize cycle -- should do fine.

 

Best of luck,

I'm used to the idea that CAV will leave a film of oxide on the side of the container. This was big ol' chunks, which I'd estimate to be at least 10% of the volume. So I'm going to say it was SITB.

[dcwaites]

If I'm going to use alcohol for sterilizing, it's probably going to be 70% isopropanol.

 

My mother-in-law does a lot of home canning. She's successfully used old glass mayonnaise jars. Odds are that this is also very similar container glass, and that bringing it to a boil would be safe. I strongly suspect that isopropanol is going to be a lot safer, though, and when I'm ready to put the bottle back to use, that's how I'll prep it.

 

see This Handy Table.

 

I don't know whether the germs and fungi would care much whether it was methanol, ethanol (plain ol' alcohol), methylated spirits (blend of the first two) or isopropanol, they are all going to die.

 

When I was a large format printer technician, I always had a tub of isopropanol wipes for cleaning printheads and the like. They were also useful for cleaning the odd cut from sharp edges, and stung much less than ordinary medical alcohol wipes.

[amberleadavis]

Oh man, I can safely tell you that with Blue Cashmere, I'd use a mason jar. Boil it and you will have no problems. OR if you have access to a baby bottle steamer and jam jar, that works too. The only inks have had trouble with are when I used jars that I couldn't get properly sterilized, or inks that were near plants.

[white_lotus]

If I'm going to use alcohol for sterilizing, it's probably going to be 70% isopropanol.

 

My mother-in-law does a lot of home canning. She's successfully used old glass mayonnaise jars. Odds are that this is also very similar container glass, and that bringing it to a boil would be safe. I strongly suspect that isopropanol is going to be a lot safer, though, and when I'm ready to put the bottle back to use, that's how I'll prep it.

 

see This Handy Table.

 

Though the chart indicates that alcohol and boiling are not effective for spores (from mold?). At least I presume that is what the minus sign indicates. That being said, I'm sure the mother-in-law's home canned goods are fine to eat and remain shelf-stable.

 

dcwaites, I only suggested Sheep Dip whiskey since it most likely is cheaper than Glenfiddich. But non-beverage alcohols will be cheaper yet.

[dcwaites]

 

Though the chart indicates that alcohol and boiling are not effective for spores (from mold?). At least I presume that is what the minus sign indicates. That being said, I'm sure the mother-in-law's home canned goods are fine to eat and remain shelf-stable.

 

dcwaites, I only suggested Sheep Dip whiskey since it most likely is cheaper than Glenfiddich. But non-beverage alcohols will be cheaper yet.

 

I don't know what the Sheep Dip whiskey is like, but Corio is one that comes to mind as being far better used to sterilise jars, clean carburettors, and the like, rather than drinking.

 

I only mentioned the Glenfiddich to see if anybody actually reads my posts. It seems at least somebody does...