Disposing of Ink

[Djehuty]

Newbie question #437: How do you dispose of ink when emptying and cleaning a pen? Especially waterproof ink? It just occurred to me that it probably wouldn't be the best idea to empty a pen-full of waterproof ink into the sink.

 

[wackyjacky1]

It's down the ol' drain for me.

[Phthalo]

Discard it into an empty bottle, or plastic 35mm film container (they seal well). Over time you end up with a murky coloured ink-soup, which can be handy for dip pens and cheap pens - or you could end up with an interesting and stable colour that you could use in any pen.

 

I also empty the ink back into the original bottle, but some people feel funny about that.

[BillTheEditor]

QUOTE (Djehuty @ Mar 9 2007, 07:56 PM)

Newbie question #437: How do you dispose of ink when emptying and cleaning a pen? Especially waterproof ink? It just occurred to me that it probably wouldn't be the best idea to empty a pen-full of waterproof ink into the sink.

If it's Noodler's, it's water-based ink. No problems here. I dump it down the sink every time I flush pens. When I used to work with india ink, that went down the drain too.

[JohnS-MI]

Noodler's is waterproof by virtue of being a cellulose-reactive dye. If you have a paper sink, you should worry. But it washes off hard surfaces well. At most, wash and wipe down the sink when you are done.

[Djehuty]

Thanks, I didn't realize the ink could be both water-based and water-proof.

 

[kissing]

QUOTE (Djehuty @ Mar 10 2007, 03:24 PM)

Thanks, I didn't realize the ink could be both water-based and water-proof.

It's an advanced chemistry thing. Noodler's waterproof inks ARE water-based, but there is some molecular component that specifically bonds onto cellulose (which is pretty much what paper consists of). I reckon it's brilliant.

 

note: this means that they're only waterproof on paper, and other things that contain cellulose.

 

As with the original question, I just put the ink back into the original bottle. I see nothing wrong with that, and I don't mind the ink becoming darker (due to concentration) over time. I reckon it's a waste of ink to put them down the sink

 

I kinda like Phthalo's idea of accumulating all the drained ink into a single bottle.

 

I think one of the reasons why people don't put 'used' ink back into the bottle is from the fear of contamination by things like fungi? Hasn't happened to be me yet, but if it does, I'll change my ways then

[Col]

QUOTE (kissing @ Mar 10 2007, 04:35 AM)

As with the original question, I just put the ink back into the original bottle. I see nothing wrong with that

Absolutely, neither do I - waste not want not. Mind you, most of the time I'm using the ink until it runs out, so the issue doesn't often arise.

 

QUOTE

I think one of the reasons why people don't put 'used' ink back into the bottle is from the fear of contamination by things like fungi?

Is that right? Some people worry too much.

[Ged]

I use some waterproof inks with my calligraphy nibs, they wash down the drain pretty easily. I just make sure to do it in a metal sink, I don't know if some of the modern surfacing (instead of porcelain) they use on bathroom vanities and such will be stained, and I don't care to find out! These inks I wouldn't ever use in a fountain pen (like Higgins Engrossing). They can leave some discoloration on the dip nibs, but a little ammonia solution takes care of that as well.

 

If I end up with excess ink in a dip nib, or need to clear a converter, back into the bottle it goes. I've never noticed an ink change color or any adverse reaction because of this 'second-hand' ink.

 

My 2c at any rate

[FrankB]

Nearly always, when I fill a pen with ink I use up the ink. When I flush the pen, I flush it over the sink.

 

When filling a pen, whatever the filling mechanism, I have found that I need to make at least two tries to get the pen full. That means putting some of the ink in the pen back into the bottle. I have never worried about contamination.

[Taki]

Well may be I'm too worried but I never put ink back in the original bottle. Your hands are not sterile I've worked in an sterile evnvironment where we mix IV solution, and know how much it takes to make human clean enough to work in there

 

And I know it doesn't make sense because I do fill pens from the bottle and it's already contaminated at that point. But I just can't put ink back in the bottle. I have an ink exchange vial filled with 'dump' ink. Might be interesting to use that color.

Edited March 10, 2007 by Taki

[mr T.]

QUOTE

If it's Noodler's, it's water-based ink. No problems here. I dump it down the sink every time I flush pens. When I used to work with india ink, that went down the drain too.

 

Waterbased ink or not, it's still chemical waste (like almost all inks). Flushing it into the sink means dumping hazardous waste into the environment. So the principles of reduce, re-use and recycle are the better options here. The waste ink (if it's not usable anymore) should be treated and processed as chemical waste. Depending on the place where one lives, there could be environmental friendly facilities for that. (just like the bottles can be used for glass recycling).

 

QUOTE

Discard it into an empty bottle, or plastic 35mm film container (they seal well). Over time you end up with a murky coloured ink-soup, which can be handy for dip pens and cheap pens - or you could end up with an interesting and stable colour that you could use in any pen. I also empty the ink back into the original bottle, but some people feel funny about that.

 

This is in my opinion a much better way to treat the waste ink. There is also nothing wrong with emptying it back into the original bottle because the ink is in most cases usable. One of the attractions of using fp's with bottled ink is the possibility of writing with almost no waste (in comparison with bp's or the use of cartridges).

[ViolinWriter]

I also was concerned about the dyes going into the wastewater stream (as in down the drain), but discovered that the dye used in most FP ink is not quite as harmful as many other inks used in printing. But less is more.

 

So, it's least amount of anything harmful down the drain for me.

 

Now, if I'm changing ink color, I jettison the remainder of what is in the converter back into the bottle. Then, I let the nib rest on a paper towel. I never run the nib over a paper towel as the paper fibers are too harsh for the delicate nib point, or so I was told. That way the celulose reactive dye is fixed in the paper. Then I clean the pen, rinsing and flushing.

 

When refilling a pen with the same ink, I just pop the nib into the same bottle and filler' up. I also clean off the section to prevent introduction of many germs back into the ink bottle, prior to the fill. Pretty much any alcohol based material works, and I'm careful to choose disinfectant carefully so as not to damage delicate pen parts.

 

To avoid cleaning chemicals required for removing ink from clothing I keep some practical information in mind. I am very careful if I'm wearing cotton, rayon or many other natural fibers. Many inks will also permanently stain rayon/silk or other blends of mixed animal fiber/cotton blends, such as those lovely clothes women often wear as "grown up lady" work clothes.

 

Removing inks from clothing can often be helped by "Incredible" which also works well on removing pet stains, odors and other evidence of mishaps that happen to the best of us. No affiliation here, except extreme gratitude for stains well removed. Other ink eradicators may also work, but I've only used Incredible as it is perfectly safe for animals, including my own "herd of cat".

 

However, that too is an unnecessary use of chemicals that a bit of care can prevent.

 

The entire concept of reducing waste is largely a matter of a bit of "careful" so as to better care for our Mother.

 

Earth that is.

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I dilute it and use it to water potted plants.

 

Dillon