Ink for Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph

[DigitalAlan]

I know I can't use the Rapidograph Ink in Fountain Pens - But can you use Fountain Pen Ink in the Rapidograph?

 

I am looking at useing Private Reserve Orange Crush or Noodlers Black in them?

 

But didn't want to try this until I asked around first.

 

Thanks for reading and responding.

[rroossinck]

You'll likely be just fine using those inks in a Rapidograph. I did, and liked the result, but just couldn't get used to the scratchy feel of the point. Too much scratch unless I wrote almost vertically.

[captnemo]

Ahh, I was curious about this myself. A Rapidograph works on a very different principal than an FP and I always ran Koh-i-Noor India Ink in Rapidographs.

 

As far as I know, those pens are designed to be held vertically at all times and the idea is to lay down a perfectly constant width line.

[psfred]

You can use anything that's liquid and won't corrode or dissolve something in a Rapidograph. However, they have square, sharp ends on the tube and really only work held vertically. They are designed as defined line width drawing tools, not fountain pens for general writing.

 

You can, however, find Ink-o-graphs of varying age and tip width from time to time on eBay and other places -- they have a rounded tip and work just fine for normal writing, I've found most of them I have so far to be either too fat or have too much wire sticking out so it's annoying to feel the weight thump up and down, but they write nicely. Absolutely no line variation, though.

 

Peter

[rroossinck]

Funny you should mention an Inkograph, Fred. I've got a basketcase of an Inkograph here on my desk that I'm not sure what to do with. Needs to be re-sac'd, and it's got a bit of a curve in the barrel, but that aside, it's probably okay. Might need a new spring and lever. Not sure. I'm thinking it'd make a good project for someone with more experience than I, but on the other hand I'd really like to see how it writes.

 

Decisions, decisions...

[psfred]

You will probably need to heat the barrel to get the section out. I use #16 sacs in them, they will take a #18, but it touches the walls more than I like.

 

Once you get the section out, remove the old sac bits and soak the section and tip in water until the weight comes free if it's stuck, otherwise just re-sac and fill.

 

I think they take a standard J-bar, too if the one in your pen is bad.

 

Peter

[encephalartos]

You can use anything that's liquid and won't corrode or dissolve something in a Rapidograph. However, they have square, sharp ends on the tube and really only work held vertically. They are designed as defined line width drawing tools, not fountain pens for general writing.

 

You can, however, find Ink-o-graphs of varying age and tip width from time to time on eBay and other places -- they have a rounded tip and work just fine for normal writing, I've found most of them I have so far to be either too fat or have too much wire sticking out so it's annoying to feel the weight thump up and down, but they write nicely. Absolutely no line variation, though.

 

Peter

 

The "traditional" black technical pen ink (India-style with lacquer--KEEP OUT of fps) is Higgins Black Magic. It comes in a small

plastic rectangular jar with a very narrow tube on the point. The tube fits into a Rapidograph cart so you can refill the cart

straight from the bottle without using any intermediate syringe too.. You will need to flush and clean your tech pens on some

schedule because the tech pen India ink dries waterproof. There's a cleaner called Rapido-Eze that has some detergent or

surfactant, or there's the ultrasonic cleaner alternative, especially for the very fine nibs.

 

I agree with the comments on holding the pen vertical. Their original purpose was for inking draftings and having a precise

line width. In drafting, line width has a lot of meaning, hence different grades of lead or multiple tech pens with different

"drawing cones". (what I learned in my theatrical drafting and architecture courses)

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I wouldn't recommend fountain pen ink in the rapidograph because, first of all, it is not lubricating enough, and second, I am concerned about corrosion to the inner parts.

 

Dillon

[encephalartos]

I hsve read about an artist who uses liquid arcrylic paint, or acrylic ink in tech pens. What I don\t

know is how soon she needs to flush them with water after she's done working, as the acrylic

ink would only be water soluable while it's wet. After it's dry, it won't move if you wet it.

[psfred]

Fountain pen ink won't corrode anything Higgins won't, they aren't that different. I'd not use iron gall inks in there, but anything else will work fine. Stainless steel and plastic, just like a huge array of modern fountain pens.

 

Peter

[DigitalAlan]

Thanks everyone for the tips - I tried out the Noodler's and it works wonderfully - I love how the lines look and ink with this pen.

 

Thanks so much.