I Change In My Writing Habits.

[Charles Skinner]

I now have four ink mixtures with which I am happy. Some pour out mixes, of course. Now, for a question ----- When it is time to fill a pen ----- (and I really write a lot) --- I find myself thinking first about one of my mixtures. Have you ever gotten to the point where 98% of your writing is with mixtures you have "created?"

 

C. S.

[Moonshae]

When I first started writing with a fountain pen, I only knew of Levenger, and their inks seem to be entirely bendable, for which I was fortunate, not knowing then that ink could be anything but. So I'd fill the converter with a different color when it was empty but there was still the previous ink in the feed. So my ink would go from pink to purple to blue to teal to green then back through. Maybe that's not 98% blended, since the bulk of the cartridge wrote "pure" but the mix was an integral part of the process.

[Ted A]

I'm too fickle for that, Charles. I have trouble using the same ink for more than a page at a time. However, I do have stretches where I will use an ink that I've mixed a lot. Partly it's that I really like what I've mixed and partly it's that I am really impressed with myself for having mixed it.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

As to your question, 'When is it time to fill a pen?' I'd say daily. I like my pen to be full of fresh ink.

 

And for writing with mixtures / blends : As I've been in the field for quite some time, I'm almost always running a blend of diluted ESSRI+Salix in my rotring 600.

 

Bye,

S1

[Charles Skinner]

About your reply to my "Changing Habit -----," what are (is) ---- blend of deluted ESSRI+Salix ----- rotring 600 --- ?

 

C. S.

[grilledcheese]

So I'd fill the converter with a different color when it was empty but there was still the previous ink in the feed. So my ink would go from pink to purple to blue to teal to green then back through.

 

Yes, I used to do that too, and also didn't know that there'd be any reason not to.

[Sandy1]

About your reply to my "Changing Habit -----," what are (is) ---- blend of deluted ESSRI+Salix ----- rotring 600 --- ?

 

C. S.

 

 

Hi,

 

It varies. It seems that (2 parts D.water + 3 parts ESSRI) + 2 parts Salix is to my liking, but as I am whimsical, that recipe can change faster than I imagine Pony Express riders changed horses. Hang onto your hats boys!

 

See also : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/205705-ecclesiastical-stationery-supplies-registrars-ink/?p=3846004 , links within and onward.

 

My field-use r600 has a steel F nib. Absolutely reliable and no fuss.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited May 17, 2017 by Sandy1

[AubreyFhia]

I've wanted to mix inks together and try to make the perfect ink which has the perfect shading and minimal feathering but have always been put off with horror stories of reactions and the possibility of damaging the pen. I did buy the whole selection of Platinum mixabke inks which are ok but not great and never really got into it.

I have a whole cupboard full of a range of inks by different manufacturers so maybe I will give it a go.

Anything I really need to know before I get started?

[Charles Skinner]

Can any of you give me some advice, and knowledge about mixed inks that could cause damage to a pen? So far, I believe that my mixtures have not hurt any of my pens. Thanks. C. S.

[inkstainedruth]

Can any of you give me some advice, and knowledge about mixed inks that could cause damage to a pen? So far, I believe that my mixtures have not hurt any of my pens. Thanks. C. S.

 

Don't mix Noodler's Bay State inks with anything except themselves. There's a thread from a couple of years ago when someone decided to make her "perfect" blue-black concoction and mixed Bay State Blue with Noodler's Black: the results weren't pretty (I saw the photos -- the ink came out of the pen in chunks... ). I suspect that mixing any very alkaline -- i.e., high pH -- inks with iron gall inks (which are fairly acidic, i.e., low pH) would be equally bad juju.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Sandy1]

Can any of you give me some advice, and knowledge about mixed inks that could cause damage to a pen? So far, I believe that my mixtures have not hurt any of my pens. Thanks. C. S.

 

 

Hi,

 

While there are some known no-noes, my method for evaluating 'safety' of a recipe is outlined under the 'Stability' heading : https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/234049-noodlers-lexington-gray-galileo-manuscript-brown/

 

I like the Platinum Preppy as a test bed. Due to its many-finned collector and transparent section one can see what's going on much better than say inkstainedruth's P51 Plum.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited June 2, 2017 by Sandy1