Bril ink Mixing sugessions

[BATPENS]

I want to mix bril royal blue in and bril Turqoise ink, and use it in my Gama Sangam pen. Is it okay?

[mhguda]

I don't see why not. I've mixed Bril with many other inks, usually by different makers even, and never hit a wrong note. And the Gama pens are usually relatively easy to take apart and clean thoroughly, if anything should go wrong... so have at it! and let us know how it worked...

[tommym]

 

It seems that Bril discontinued their Blue/Black ink quite a while ago. That said, my friend told me that in his youth, when Bril Blue/Black ink was readily available, he was taught to mix Bril Blue (I can't remember if it's Royal Blue or Turquoise Blue) and Bril Black to make his own Bril Blue/Black ink. Thus, three ink colors out of two colors. Smart! He's in his eighties now, and still does the same. 

 

Tommy

[BATPENS]

Thank you for your sugession will defenetly update results

 

[bugsydog55]

Ink mixing is pretty simple if you take a few simple precautions.  Since you have a goal in mind, start with a specific amount of a base color, make sure you write this all down because once you get your mix where you want it, then you can increase the amounts to get a greater quantitiy of your target color.  Once you have your base color, then it's a matter of adding a very specific measured amount of the other color.  Write that down, mix, let sit for a bit and then test the color.  Add more of the second co;or and mix as needed, being sure you have made the addition to your recipe.  You can then work out your ratios for a bigger quantity and adjust once you get there.  It's not rocket science but it's fun.

[tommym]

I use a small graduated syringe and start with 10 drops of the lighter color and add one drop of the darker color, so I end up with a 10:1, 10:2, etc. color mixture. But that doesn't always work, as the 10:1 can already look way too dark. In that case, you'll have to bump up the initial amounts of drops of the lighter color. With one of my color mixes. I ended up with a 30:1 mix. Also, the nib and paper should be consistent if you are trying to match an existing color, as they can impact the results. It is hard enough dealing with two colors; three can up the level of frustration.  There was once a site where people would list their custom colors along with the respective ink ratios, but I somehow lost track of it. 

 

Also, note that the age and batch of each ink may not have been consistent throughout the years. My friend has used Bril since the 1950s (IRIS?), and told me to be aware of this. 

 

Tommy