Inkwells, and suitable dipping dishes

[Gran]

In my ink experiments, I've gathered up the smallest glass vessels in my abode. All tiny jars are now designated research instruments. Antique shot glasses no longer hold toothpicks or Q-tips. Salt cellars are in danger.

 

I can see more trips to church thrift shops, Goodwill, garage sales...for ink vessels!

 

What do you use?

[jbb]

In my ink experiments, I've gathered up the smallest glass vessels in my abode. All tiny jars are now designated research instruments. Antique shot glasses no longer hold toothpicks or Q-tips. Salt cellars are in danger.

 

I can see more trips to church thrift shops, Goodwill, garage sales...for ink vessels!

 

What do you use?

Funny you should mention this as I spent Sunday afternoon searching for just the right nut dish or salt cellar myself. I ended up finding a couple of nice old glass ashtrays that were perfect for the metallic dip pen inks I'm using. I also have a few antique inkwells and loads of empty ink bottles collected over years of using fountain pens.

 

Metallic dip pen ink: Craft stores sell little jars of fine metallic powders in a wide range of beautiful colors. I mix these powders with a pinch of gum Arabic and water (or a touch of ink) to make the best metallic dipping pen inks I've used so far.

Edited December 30, 2008 by jbb

[inkyfingr]

I use little glass vials with screw caps from my laboratory. They are called glass scintillation vials. They're grrrreat!

 

The only problem is you have to get them in rather large quantity...

[Paddler]

A large ceramic or plastic thimble makes an excellent inkwell for dip pens. You just need a piece of wood with a hole in it to hold the thimble upright. You can turn a fancy holder if you have a wood lathe. Some Victorian inkwells had thimble-like liners in them. Of course, you have to return the remaining ink to the bottle after you are finished writing.

 

I use one of these all the time. The size of the thimble limits the depth of the dip so you don't get ink on the nib holder (and then on your fingers).

 

Paddler

 

[jbb]

A large ceramic or plastic thimble makes an excellent inkwell for dip pens. You just need a piece of wood with a hole in it to hold the thimble upright. You can turn a fancy holder if you have a wood lathe. Some Victorian inkwells had thimble-like liners in them. Of course, you have to return the remaining ink to the bottle after you are finished writing.

 

I use one of these all the time. The size of the thimble limits the depth of the dip so you don't get ink on the nib holder (and then on your fingers).

 

Paddler

For dip pen use I just add more water to ink that dries out -- instead of returning the ink to the jar.

[Rena]

A large ceramic or plastic thimble makes an excellent inkwell for dip pens. You just need a piece of wood with a hole in it to hold the thimble upright. You can turn a fancy holder if you have a wood lathe. Some Victorian inkwells had thimble-like liners in them. Of course, you have to return the remaining ink to the bottle after you are finished writing.

 

I use one of these all the time. The size of the thimble limits the depth of the dip so you don't get ink on the nib holder (and then on your fingers).

 

Paddler

For dip pen use I just add more water to ink that dries out -- instead of returning the ink to the jar.

 

Hi JBB

 

What do you do with the ink in these uncovered vessels when you are done writing for the day? Let's say you had a lovely metallic ink you'd mixed inside a cut crystal nut bowl, and another inside an etched glass thimble — you know you want to write with these inks again, but maybe won't be able to for several days. How do you safely preserve the ink?

 

 

[jbb]

Hi JBB

 

What do you do with the ink in these uncovered vessels when you are done writing for the day? Let's say you had a lovely metallic ink you'd mixed inside a cut crystal nut bowl, and another inside an etched glass thimble — you know you want to write with these inks again, but maybe won't be able to for several days. How do you safely preserve the ink?

Hi Rena,

 

I do nothing but add water. Right now I have three little ashtray-like dishes of metallic inks on my desk. All will have evaporated since yesterday. My gold metallic ink (which I haven't used for a week is a hard cake), the other two metallics (scarab: a wonderful green-red mix, and this blue/purple concoction I made) are a thick pastes but they will all write fine once I add the water. I have been using the gold ink (the others are new) for a couple of months now and I never cover my dish at night. I have added extra metallic powder and Gum Arabic powder to the dish once or twice to replenish my ink but that's all.

 

 

P.S. - I just loved the envelope art and calligraphy you did on your last snail. It was beautiful.

 

[Rena]

Hi Rena,

 

I do nothing but add water. Right now I have three little ashtray-like dishes of metallic inks on my desk. All will have evaporated since yesterday. My gold metallic ink (which I haven't used for a week is a hard cake), the other two metallics (scarab: a wonderful green-red mix, and this blue/purple concoction I made) are a thick pastes but they will all write fine once I add the water. I have been using the gold ink (the others are new) for a couple of months now and I never cover my dish at night. I have added extra metallic powder and Gum Arabic powder to the dish once or twice to replenish my ink but that's all.

 

 

P.S. - I just loved the envelope art and calligraphy you did on your last snail. It was beautiful.

 

That's good to know — more carefree like that makes it easier to play pens and inks! I liked this topic about using interesting vessels for dip pen ink as I'd never thought of this before and probably would have hesitated to use something fancy if I HAD thought of it, thinking there'd be no way to preserve the ink. Thanks Everyone!

 

(JBB, You are too kind!!! That's a new script for me and I need lots more practice, lots and lots more!!! LOL!)

 

 

 

[liapuyat]

I've used a ceramic egg cup. Also one of those UK branded tiny 2" high jam jars with a screw cap you get in a sampler set of two (mine says strawberry! The other was orange marmalade).

 

My current favorite is the little rubber or silicon-stoppered glass vial where you get your prescription contact lenses floating in a sterile saline solution. Clear glass, flat bottomed, rubber seal (just not airtight, so no tipping over please).

 

Am also looking at those bottles from the lab glass supply store that you can put 20ml of massage oil in. The massage oil bottles are brown, but surely there must be clear glass bottles...

 

I got a cheap salt and pepper shaker set. Now I want to seal the holes but am not sure how. Was thinking of using a glue gun or something like that...