A Quick Fix For Messy Ink

  For the past few hundred years, the dip pen has been a favorite tool of artists, writers, hobbyists, and anyone who doesn't mind spending a couple extra hours just to use a fancy pen. But if you're anything like me, you're not the greatest when it comes to handling the messy and usually hard to control ink which is so vital for the pens performance. 

  After spending a lot of time cleaning up ink spills from my new inkwell, I realized that a simple trick used by my tattoo loving friends would be perfect for keeping my writing ink exactly where it should be. In the well and on the paper, instead of in my clothes and all over my desk.

Step 1 Supplies

  You won't need much for this to work, and you'll more than likely already have a big tub of what you need sitting around your house.

      What you'll need is:
 
                    A messy inkwell you want tamed
                    Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline, or whatever store brand version you have)
                    A few seconds of time


 And that's it. In the end you'll probably have spent more time reading this instructable than it took you to complete it.

Comments

[omen26]

Great tip, anything to minimize the mess of a dip pen will always be appreciated.
I sometimes use a dab of Vaseline rubbed into my hands as a barrier cream for those times you are in the middle of a project but don't want the inevitable ink stained fingers the next day.
Also sticking a blob of blue tack under the inkwell will hold it in place surprisingly well (do this before you before you fill it) and has saved many an illustration from my innate clumsiness!

[0Ihavenousername0]

Thanks, and those are great tips too. I never thought to try any of those before.

If only I had heard about the blue tack trick so many ruined projects ago.

[Phil B]

I sympathize with you in regard to publishing an Instructable that will probably attract only a limited number of viewers. Still, that is hard to predict. I have published some I thought would find a good audience, but did not; and others I thought no one would view, but many people did. Do what satisfies you. There will be some calligraphers who will like it very much.

[0Ihavenousername0]

I understand what mean completely. There's always situations like that, in life and on this website. And it really is good to remember to do what satisfies you, when it comes to if people will look or not.

And as long as one person is truly helped by it, it's worth it in the end. Even if no one else sees.

[Phil B]

I have a number of fountain pens and an Instructable I did on curing fountain pen problems is linked in the Related Instructables on the same page with your Instructable. I also have some steel pen points for dipping, but they seem scratchy to me, although they do flex and are supposed to be very responsive for expressive writing. I just have not worked with them enough. Thank you for your Instructable. I may have opportunity to use it.

[nanosec12]

while I will have to admit that this instructible has a very limited use, it is well written, straight to the point, and has some decent pictures.

Thanks

[0Ihavenousername0]

Thanks. I knew there wouldn't be too many people who could be helped by this, but I hate it when one of those rare problems comes up and you can't find anyone who's been through it before.

I hoped this would help one of those small groups with a problem that's too small to find a solution for.