What Do You Do If The Oblique Pen Holder Doesn't Fit In The Ink Glass?

[Godot11]

I am at the beginning of my calligraphy hobby. I want to learn Copperplate writing, and for that I ordered a cheap oblique pen holder from eBay. The problem is, well, is this:

 

http://i.imgur.com/OZUsNoo.jpg

 

Apart from hacking down a bit from the metal piece (what I'm willing to do if I have to), is there a widely accepted ethical solution for this problem among Elite Calligraphers?

Edited August 17, 2017 by Godot11

[effrafax]

Get yourself some Nalgene 1oz jars, they are ideal for this. Make sure they are jars and not the bottles.

[Godot11]

Get yourself some Nalgene 1oz jars, they are ideal for this. Make sure they are jars and not the bottles.

 

Good idea, I even have some of those tiny jars you get at hotels filled with jam. I'd like to keep the ink in the original glass though, I really like it sacrifices have to be made, I guess

[Mech-for-i]

Calligraphy supply usually sell inkwell that are tailored for dip pen use, but well a simple small wide mouth shooter glass can do the trick

[chaik76]

You can also use a dropper and ink the nib rather than dipping the nib. It's not my preferred method, but I do use it when necessary, and at least one book recommends inking the nib rather than dipping in all cases.

[DipIt]

I've found that I have to transfer to a more convenient container. The little jars that the ink comes in seem often to be too wide in the lip to reach the ink as the level drops. I use the ink miser one shot with some solder wrapped around the pedestal to keep it from getting top heavy. The downside is that there is no cap. Goulet has some sample vials that work well but they are light and need to be anchored while in use. They are ink proof when the cap is on. John Neal Bookseller has some options on their web catalog.

[ac12]

I go to the local art supply store (California Art Supply, formerly FLAX San Mateo), and buy small wide mouth jars.

I transfer ink into these jars.

[PAKMAN]

Had the same issue with my offset nib holder. I got a little pen cup from Pendemonium and I transfer ink to the cup.

[Rednaxela]

Akkerman ink bottles are perfect for this. The neck acts everytime as a newly filled inkwell.

 

Also, Akkerman #10 is excellent dip pen ink, capable of very fine hairlines and thick shades.

 

Hope this helps.

[Pendarion]

I found a dolls' house tea cup yesterday in a charity shop - which I think will be perfect for this! I was in there looking for something else entirely and one of the ladies working in there got chatting - she saw me looking at small, orphaned cups (for this exact purpose) and said "Have you seen this?" Crown Derby, too! It's wider at the top than my ink bottles. But not so deep I'd need to decant loads of ink into it. Might have to get husband to make me a wooden stand for it to keep it stable...

 

Also realised the old ink wells (can be got, also orphaned, so cheap-ish on eBay) from writing slopes might be good because origially they were designed for dip pens - although you need to find one with a wide-ish neck as they'd have been straight pens - and are shallow.

 

I experimented decanting a small Diamine 30ml bottle into my writing slope well, and have nearly half the Diamine still in the original bottle - so their capacity is low but they seem to have been designed not to be such tall bottles, as they were meant for dip pens. If that makes sense?

[DipIt]

Usually, when I "reload" I rotate the holder such that the nib is inverted and side the tip only into the ink at about

45 degrees. I am trying to hang a drop on the underside of the nib near the vent. I try never to dip the holder.

Edited August 20, 2017 by DipIt