Mixing your own inks. - Reference

[Bisquitlips]

Thought I would start a thread on mixing your own inks.

Here is a good start. It can grow from here if anyone is interested.

http://www.marcuslink.com/pens/ink/platinum.htm

[vman]

Nice! I was just thinking of this. I love my Apache Sunset, but it is a bit too light for taking notes... Time to mix it up!

[Bisquitlips]

I use my Apache Sunset Noodlers for highlighting. Works well.

[Formulansx]

Awesome thread! Going by smell alone, Diamine Sargasso Sea has a very distinct alkaline smell that none of my other inks have. I'm assuming this means I should not be mixing it with them.

[Rafael M]

Before my interest in watches, my main collecting interest was fountain pens, specifically German PELIKAN 100N from the 30's-60's. My experience has been, in general, never mix inks.
Why?
Some inks dry a lot faster than others. Some have modern Gal mixtures for permanence added, ( called "bulletproof inks"). Non "bullet proof "inks don't blend well with the former.
When you start mixing, you imbalance (often), the blend. The results are unpredictable.
Now, sometimes, you can end with a blend that is exactly what you want, and then blending is worthwhile. I would highly recommend visiting the FPN site which has tons of reference/experiences to research
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/fo...-inky-recipes/
Good Luck !
Ralph

[Bisquitlips]

Wisdom!

Just to add to what Rafael said, make sure that when you mix up an ink; do not let it dry out in your pen. Use it and then flush the pen thoroughly when finished with the pen in your rotation..... which is a great idea whether you are using a recipe or not.

The reasons should be obvious when it comes to drying times and so forth.

I have mixed inks for years with no issues. Just use common sense, do your research before mixing, ask questions, and you should be fine.

Originally Posted by Rafael M

Before my interest in watches, my main collecting interest was fountain pens, specifically German PELIKAN 100N from the 30's-60's. My experience has been, in general, never mix inks.
Why?
Some inks dry a lot faster than others. Some have modern Gal mixtures for permanence added, ( called "bulletproof inks"). Non "bullet proof "inks don't blend well with the former.
When you start mixing, you imbalance (often), the blend. The results are unpredictable.
Now, sometimes, you can end with a blend that is exactly what you want, and then blending is worthwhile. I would highly recommend visiting the FPN site which has tons of reference/experiences to research
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/fo...-inky-recipes/
Good Luck !
Ralph

[Rafael M]

Another "mixing" trick I sometimes did was add a drop or two of pure 99% isopropyl alcohol to a bottle of ink to make is more faster drying.
And quickly why bulletproof/non bulletproof? ... in general.
Bulletproof is permanent ........ the downside is sometimes it more easily stains the inside wall of a see thru ink tank. Not good.
Washable inks, shade better, IMHO, and the ink tanks stay clear. A good thing.
I had been using a washable ink, but changed over to a permanent ink after a checkbook ledger of mine got soaked and a half a year's of entries washed off, (just before tax time!) ,because the entries were written with a washable (non-bulletproof ink).
I then changed back after a year or so. I did not like the strength of the permanent ink. When using it on a 50 year old expensive pen.
ps.
I always found inks to be a far more complicated area for discussion of pen collecting than the pens themselves.
ralph