Traveling Ink Well (?)

[S.Corleone]

So I'm getting ready to go to college and would like to have some sort of traveling ink well. I've only been able to find one, the Visconti Traveling Ink pot. It looks nice, but it's a little bit more than I would like to spend at the moment (around $70). Does anyone know of a cheaper alternative?

 

Any thoughts in general here?

[dzg]

I believe TWSBI is developing one or it is already available (there was a video Speedy posted about an inkwell) you might want to look into that.

Otherwise as far as I am aware there are no other travelling inkwells.

[Leftytoo]

If you want an ink well to use with a dip pen or look good on a desk, I don't know the answer.

 

If you just want to safely carry ink in your luggage, a Nalgene brand wide mouth plastic HDPE bottle, 30 ml capacity, is leak proof and only costs a buck or two. Never had a leak or accident, and is an easy size to fill a fountain pen from. Available at sporting goods stores such as REI. But buy Nalgene brand - others are prone to leaks.

Bob

[fabrimedeiros]

The Visconti Traveling Ink pot is nice, because we can fill almost 100% the revevoir (e.g. Power Filler). However there is a technique to achieve the same result without the Traveling pot. To practicality to fill the pen when we go out, I don't think it's worth around $100. I can reload a pen without any mess with the ordinary ink bottle.

[jbb]

Vintage traveling inkwells sell for a wide range of prices on Ebay but I've never spent more than $30.00 on one -- and have spent less too. Here's one of mine accompanied by my dip pen gnome.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5506862591_eac395a8d8_b.jpg

[S.Corleone]

Thanks! I'll be looking into everything mentioned above.

[sadiemagic]

Another alternative might be to order some samples from goulet pens and after the sample bottles are used up, you could rinse them out and fill them with ink to go with you. They're small enough (lipstick size) to fit in a purse or backpack and might do the trick.

 

No affliliation with goulet pens, but you might check that out. Plus you might discover a new ink that you like.

[Silvermink]

I have a couple Visconti ink pots and like them, but I only paid $30ish for each of them (got lucky with eBay and with a sale here). I wouldn't pay MSRP for them.

[WendyNC]

I have a couple Visconti ink pots and like them, but I only paid $30ish for each of them (got lucky with eBay and with a sale here). I wouldn't pay MSRP for them.

 

Me, too. Probably the same seller during the same time period. Oddly, though, I'm more likely to use them for cleaning than for inking as it can be a real project to clean a saturated ink from them. However, they're great for filling large nibbed pens with Herbin inks.

[sentraser165]

Just get some sample vials. The nalgene bottle idea sounds good also. I always thought visconti's travelling ink well was a big waste of money.

[AlecG]

There are different Visconti Inkwell's, one is full plastic, the other is metal with plastic.

I've had the plastic one for years and until I stood on it, it functioned perfect.

I upgraded to the metal one just because I liked the looks, but both are perfectly functional.

The nalgene HDPE bottles work pretty good as well but don't have the posh filling system,

but who cares if you can buy 25 bottles ranging from 5ml to 500ml for much less than the price of one Visconti travel inkwell?

 

For me one big advantage of the Visconti is that it's about the same size as a fountain pen. That makes it easy to pack it in a leather pen case like this one:

http://www.gfeller.us/images/PC3.2.jpg

http://www.gfeller.us/images/PC3.1.jpg

Edited May 18, 2011 by alecgold

[Sanglant]

if you're half as cheap as me. as long as there full enough, the ink this site sells ink in are easy to fill from, if your pen fits in the neck.(14mm or so, or ~9/16ths of an inch) and 16 bucks will get you 2, shipped.

 

and +1 on the Goulet's vials.

[paperskater]

I'll chime in for the support of just using an ink sample vial. They're cheap and pretty reliable against leaks for the average user. If you plan on wrestling alligators with your ink sample vial in your pocket, I don't have any practical advice for you.

 

For my smaller pens, I like to use a glass vial (these are the ones I have). The mouth is narrower than a plastic sample vial, so it won't work for the fatter pens.

Edited May 19, 2011 by paperskater

[DonLeone]

Another solution would be to bring more pens :embarrassed_smile:

 

I'm staring at my J. Herbin sample vials right now. I get them in sets of 5 with scented ink or calligraphy ink. They hold 10ml and look very strong. Made of glass though. I'd wager they'd survive a pen pouch.

[AlecG]

Another solution would be to bring more pens :embarrassed_smile:

 

That's not that odd, I do that as well. I have my sailor 1911 realo naginata togi but also a regular 1911 classic with a medium point and my Visconti travel inkwell and a Parker jotter with a Schmidt easyflow cartridge inside. Although the jotter is more used for borrowing and signing multiple layers of shipping documents.

[Artbeast]

I have 2 visconti ink pots and like them but lately I find myself just carrying around their plastic ink bottles. The bottles sit in my leather bag sideways and never leak, even when flying.

 

Hope that helps.

[professionaldilettante]

but who cares if you can buy 25 bottles ranging from 5ml to 500ml for much less than the price of one Visconti travel inkwell?

Exactly. If we had that logic, why spend $400 on a pen when $.25 bic sticks get the job done?

[Phormula]

but who cares if you can buy 25 bottles ranging from 5ml to 500ml for much less than the price of one Visconti travel inkwell?

Exactly. If we had that logic, why spend $400 on a pen when $.25 bic sticks get the job done?

 

Actually, why spend money on any pen, when nowadays a person can write for their own lifetime just using free advertising giweaway pens and pencils?

 

We might argue that the Visconti Inkwell is not cheap and IMHO a little ankward to use, but it might well suit the needs of some kind of travelling users.

Personally, I don't have such issue, because I prefer cartridges when travelling, they are easier to carry and to change, but that's just me.

[MarkAL]

Vintage traveling inkwells sell for a wide range of prices on Ebay but I've never spent more than $30.00 on one -- and have spent less too. Here's one of mine accompanied by my dip pen gnome.

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5506862591_eac395a8d8_b.jpg

 

 

That is very cool!

[SnowLeopard]

I think vintage wells and antique pens are great to pack in your saddle bags or in your traveling roll pack behind your saddle. For my uses, I've gotten into carts for my Visconti Eco-roller. Looks like a nice medium fp. No muss no fuss travel mate... it's a no brainer. You can piggy a second international cart in the pen, too.If your trip is an extended holiday... take more carts....in any colors you wish. I take Herbin's carts on extended trips. I did use my Visconti ink pot pre Eco-roller. I have the bone looking V,E-R with Iro's asa-gao in it for tomorrow's trip...to Atlanta. I fill empty carts with a syringe...for the most part. My g-f is taking her new purple Eco with Iro's ajisai. Just a day trip....wish it was longer.No affiliations.

Edited May 20, 2011 by SnowLeopard