Chinese Ink Stick

[rick54]

In my investigation of different inks, I came across a Tung Oil Soot Sumi Ink Stick. I also seen a Hallmark interview with Hermann Zapf on YouTube, who endorsed using the Chinese ink stick. In the video he actually painted a little ink onto his nib with a small brush rather than dip it. I haven't seen much said about the ink stick and dip pen combination, so I thought I'd query you folks as to this pairing and how it worked out for those of you who tried it. Herr Zapf stated that the Chinese ink stick produced a very black ink, unlike that of the Japanese ink stick which produced varying shades of gray. Thank you!

[mvarela]

It works well. Apparently, some of the old-time masters (Madarász included) used it, too.

I still prefer IG, but stick ink is nice as well.

[Paddler]

I have used it, off and on, for a long time. I like it because I can tailor its saturation and viscosity to the individual nib I am using, rather than tweaking the nib to work with a bottled ink. I load the nib with the calligraphy brush that came with the suzuri kit I bought. A suzuri doesn't have a well deep enough to provide a good dip with the nib. The inks I use are water resistant and lightfast. I use them in my journals.

[rick54]

Paddler, well your comments sound favorable towards stick ink, and I think I'll give it a try. Thank you

[Inkling13]

You'd better use it in a dip nib though... It does contain gelatin and varnishes that like india ink, can render fountain pen nibs and feeds unusable if left to dry in it.

[rick54]

Intended for my dip pens only. Thanks for the concern.

[Sasha Royale]

I once watched an old woman use an ink stick. (I think.)

She poured an ounce (?) of hot water into a shallow saucer, two inches diameter.

Then, she stirred the water wtih the ink stick, until the solution was jet black.

She wrote with a brush.

 

I wouldn't trust it in a pen.

[FatherofOdin]

A Chinese teacher at school gave me an ink stick to play with. I mixed up the ink in a little ceramic mortar and pestle,then poured the ink into a small glass bottle. This one makes a grey line, similar could to a graphite pencil. An added benefit, it's waterproof too.

 

I use it only with a dip pen.

[txinsk]

The ink sticks do make good ink. I some from ebay that work well. I bought a box of colored ones red, green, blue, yellow and white that all work well and a separate black stick. I like them in that you can pick the consistency of the ink. I usually make a small amount of ink at a time I mix it too thick and then dilute back to a good consistency. If you are going to do this buy a cheap stone to go with it so that the grinding is easier.

 

Rick

[Randal6393]

Ink stones are mostly fairly shallow. Comes from the brush being the instrument of writing instead of a pen with nib. The use of a dip pen is a later development, coming from Europe. The Japanese say that the process of preparing ink for writing aids in relaxing the mind and starting the creative process. Also, the ink is made fresh and discarded at the end of the session.

 

Enjoy,

[FatherofOdin]

I found out today why the ink is discarded after each use. I thought it might have been because people prefer to have the meditative ink mixing at the start of each writing session. That's not it.

 

A week ago I made some ink and left it in a bottle. It was fine for a few days, but today when the ink is a week old it stank so bad it almost knocked me out.

 

Maybe it's fine to keep for a day or two, but not a week if you have a nose.

[Algester]

NIGHTMARES COMING BACK... ok nevermind I was never good with actually chinese brush calligraphy but thats what we used...I once tried to use it in conjuction on a dip style Ahab with a Brause Rose it didnt write so I just threw the ink hahaha it was only a small amount it stained my Brause nib's underside though

Edited June 22, 2014 by Algester

[txinsk]

I found out today why the ink is discarded after each use. I thought it might have been because people prefer to have the meditative ink mixing at the start of each writing session. That's not it.

 

A week ago I made some ink and left it in a bottle. It was fine for a few days, but today when the ink is a week old it stank so bad it almost knocked me out.

 

Maybe it's fine to keep for a day or two, but not a week if you have a nose.

 

Usually the reason listed for fresh ink is that it "breaks", likely that the pigment settles out a bit from the solution. The smell must have another source. Finding the actual ingredients can be nigh on impossible, but mist of the sources I have seen indicate that the binder is hide glue. Letting a solution that is part ground up animal skin sit at room temperature for a few days, um, yeah I imagine it "stank".

 

Rick

[Renzhe]

There are a lot of crappy inksticks out there. I've had the best experience with Cao Sugong's pine soot inkstick. For brush writing; I haven't tried it on nibs.

Edited July 1, 2014 by Renzhe

[Algester]

I found out today why the ink is discarded after each use. I thought it might have been because people prefer to have the meditative ink mixing at the start of each writing session. That's not it.

 

A week ago I made some ink and left it in a bottle. It was fine for a few days, but today when the ink is a week old it stank so bad it almost knocked me out.

 

Maybe it's fine to keep for a day or two, but not a week if you have a nose.

I'm not sure what you mean about dried chinese ink stinking so bad when it fairly has a neutral odor for me... or perhaps its because we have a good quality ink it has that distinct smell like alcohol

Edited July 1, 2014 by Algester

[Randal6393]

Ink sticks have a many different formulations, done for price, quality, to match the stick to a particular use or need. As is the case with most any product. Best quality sticks are made of soot (usually pine gum), gum of arabica (acacia gum), and issenglass (fish glue). The issenglass, if not of a good quality, can deteriorate and stink with the best of smell.

 

Enjoy,

[nojanv]

Would Chinese ink sticks be well suited for pointed pen calligraphy? What are some good ones any of you might recommend?

[Algester]

Would Chinese ink sticks be well suited for pointed pen calligraphy? What are some good ones any of you might recommend?

if you dont mind the staining and a deeper well this is what I use concurrently I did once use ink sticks but mmm...

 

http://i.imgur.com/m5oPlr8l.jpg?1