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Alcohol Inks In Fountain Pens

CMaurer

By CMaurer
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CMaurer NOS (New Old Stock)

CMaurer

Posted
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Hello!

Kind of a crazy question here -

Does anyone have any thoughts or experiences of using alcohol inks in fountain pens? In particular, I have in mind the Copic Various ink refills. If it's a possibility, which pens would work best for inks like those?

Thanks!

-Cameron

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Runnin_Ute Museum Piece

Runnin_Ute

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Looking at it, I would say no they are not safe for fountain pens. But if you are going to do it, make sure its a pen you don't care if it is destroyed. Just remember - fountain pen inks are WATER and dye based. Even calligraphy inks which are not fountain pen safe don't contain alcohol.

Brad

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind" - Rudyard Kipling
"None of us can have as many virtues as the fountain-pen, or half its cussedness; but we can try." - Mark Twain

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Corona688 Extremely Rare

Corona688

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Alcohol doesn't have enough surface tension to work in a fountain pen nib. Next to water, alcohol's tension is almost nothing. The only additive with enough tension is water.

Edited by Corona688
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Corona688 Extremely Rare

Corona688

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Not sure whether it was the glycol or the methanol that did it, but whichever it was sure didn't do my pen any good. The plastic was spontaneously cracking.

Edited by Corona688
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BaronWulfraed Collectors Item

BaronWulfraed

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Alcohol dries/hardens rubber (many manuals for typewriters advise one to NOT use alcohol to clean the platen/roller)

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mana Collectors Item

mana

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Also, alcohol and celluloid do not mix. I avoid keeping stiff drinks near my vintage pens for a reason.

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Bibliophage Vintage

Bibliophage

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Not sure whether it was the glycol or the methanol that did it, but whichever it was sure didn't do my pen any good. The plastic was spontaneously cracking.

Some of the marker inks are based on Xylene, which would abuse a lot of plastics and rubber.

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Corona688 Extremely Rare

Corona688

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Some of the marker inks are based on Xylene, which would abuse a lot of plastics and rubber.

 

Nah, this was a custom mix of my own, of glycol and methanol. It keeps Prussian Blue powder in suspension. Needless to say, not fountain pen compatible in the slightest, but I tried it on a throwaway pen anyway.

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txomsy Antique

txomsy

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I find the thought of using an organic dissolvent on a plastic device disturbing. I'd bet that you increase the chances of damaging the material significantly.

If you are to be ephemeral, leave a good scent.

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aurore Vintage

aurore

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A question as an answer: WHY?

Seeking a Parker Duofold Centennial cap top medallion/cover/decal.
My Mosaic Black Centennial MK2 lost it (used to have silver color decal).

Preferably MK2. MK3 or MK1 is also OK as long as it fits.  
Preferably EU.

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ErrantSmudge Collectors Item

ErrantSmudge

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In a world where you can buy a serviceable Chinese-made pen for $1.50 US, why not give it a try? Copic ink comes in lots of really interesting colors.

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txomsy Antique

txomsy

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https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=39.36827900000001%2C-144.84375&spn=51.051464%2C89.121094&z=3&source=embed&mid=1NmIHURilP8pYTY6M-QQj7XClZuE

 

That hopefully should answer the "why not?" question.

 

Actually if there is a major advantage of using an FP over a Bic is not having to throw away more plastic on the contaminating garbage pile of trash.

 

That they are cheap is no excuse to needlessly add more toxic waste to the environment.

If you are to be ephemeral, leave a good scent.

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eharriett Collectors Item

eharriett

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That's a new one to me. Never heard of an alcohol ink. Is there a purpose for it besides potential bonding and, I am assuming, super fast drying?

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aurore Vintage

aurore

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An answer with a question.

 

Why not?

 

Because there are tons of excellent, cheap and 100% FP safe inks made for FP?

Seeking a Parker Duofold Centennial cap top medallion/cover/decal.
My Mosaic Black Centennial MK2 lost it (used to have silver color decal).

Preferably MK2. MK3 or MK1 is also OK as long as it fits.  
Preferably EU.

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