Hi drtownsend,
The following is the result of my research for the length of time
bottled ink for fountain pens will last.
What is the shelf life of ink?
"Rumor says that you should rotate your fountain pen ink every 6
months to 1 year. This is another urban legend, and is completely
false. As long as the bottle stays tightly capped when not in use, the
ink inside can remain usable for a very long time. Months at least.
Probably years. The only enemy to stored ink is evaporation, and a
tightly capped glass bottle prevents that.
Some heavily pigmented inks may look a bit muddy after a time on the
shelf. Gently mix the pigment back into the ink by swirling it around
in the bottle while the bottle is capped. Don't shake it about... it
isn't necessary.
And, Greg Clark (author of "Fountain Pen Inks - A Sampler") adds, "I
would suggest adding (avoiding ñ ed.) sunlight. Don't store bottles of
ink for a long time in bright light or for any time on a sunny window
ledge. The dyes fade - badly in some cases, like with turquoise inks."
If the ink seems a bit thick, use an eyedropper and add a drop of
plain water to the ink. Swish it about, then fill a pen with it and
try it. If it seems ok, you've fixed your problem. It really is that
simple."
Pentrace: FAQs
http://www.pentrace.net/penbase/Data_Returns/full_article.asp?id=232
=============================================
Do I have to throw out my ink after a year?
"This is pretty standard advice from many pen shops; of course, you
have to bear in mind the effects of this practice on the sales of ink
<wink>. Seriously, old bottles of ink are frequently available for
sale among pen collectors and dealers, and many people prefer to use
this older ink exclulsively. There is (or should be) nothing
mysterious and chemical happening to the ink as long as it is kept
tightly capped and stored in normal room conditions and stays
relatively uncontaminated.
Of course, the water can evaporate from ink if it is not kept tightly
capped, leaving behind a thicker concentration of the coloring agents.
This might make the ink flow a bit less readily through the pen than
it would have at full strength (full weakness?), but I've not heard
any problems in this regard."
Rick Conner: Penoply - Questions about ink
http://www.rickconner.net/penoply/ink.html#throwout
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Can I use "vintage" inks?
"I say yes, with some cautions. Although some ink makers claim that
you should throw out bottles more than two years old, many people
(such as myself) own and use inks made as far back as the 1930s (or
even earlier). Plus, doesn't it sound somehow like a conspiracy for an
ink maker to tell you to buy new bottles every two years?
Fountain pen ink is pretty stable, chemically speaking: there should
be no natural process that destroys the ink over time so long as it is
kept clean and tightly capped. What can happen to vintage inks is:
Evaporation of the water, which leaves a higher concentration of dye
and a more viscous (gluey) consistency, which won't flow well in a
pen.
Contamination (usually with mold) which, when you find it, is a good
reason not to use the ink.
If your vintage ink has partially evaporated, you could try thinning
the ink out a bit, but be sure to use distilled water (or else water
that you've boiled and cooled back to room temperature) so that you
don't introduce any contaminants into the ink. Frankly, however, this
seems risky to me, and not much less trouble than simply buying a new
bottle of fresh ink."
Rick Conner: Penspotters - Questions about ink
http://www.rickconner.net/penspotters/inks.html#usevintage
=============================================
Old Inks in Your Pens
"Many people ask us if they should use old ink and we believe this is
another one of those common sense issues! We use 50+ year old ink
frequently in new fountain pens and vintage fountain pens with
excellent results. Before using old inks, you need to take a few
precautions.
Vintage Ink Precautions:
1. Check to make sure there is no sediment, mold or other non-ink
substance floating around or in the bottom of the bottle. Solids don't
flow well, keep them in the bottle and out of your pens.
2. Look at the color of the ink, if it has taken on an odd hue that
just doesn't look right - keep the ink in the bottle.
3. Unscrew the lid and take a little sniff, if you notice any unusual
odor, screw the lid back on and refrain from using the ink."
Pendemonium
http://www.pendemonium.com/bottles.htm
The thread in this forum may interest you:
RSFPC Forums > Conversing Pendom > Fountain Pen Ink
Rambling Snail
http://www.ramblingsnail.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=9
Search criteria:
"fountain pen" bottle ink keep years
"shelf life" bottle ink "fountain pen"
I hope this helps. If you have any questions regarding my answer
please don?t hesitate to ask before rating it.
Best regards,
Rainbow |
