Where's Your Ink Kept?

[amberleadavis]

Wow! Somewhere I saw your collection before, I drooled then and am drooling now. Glad this laptop still has its warranty alive

 

 

You were fast! I just deleted the post because the image keeps shifting sideways. (Sorry). Anyway, with the "Recession" I was able to find that desk for song and dance and it holds my ink perfectly. Well, I had to expand to the second cabinet.

[fountainpenlady]

How do you group them? Do you group them by ink maker? Or do you group them by their ink family color?

[episkey]

episkey, if you have more vials than bottles, have you thought about getting one of those vial racks?

I am developing quite a supply myself.

 

Yes! That's exactly what I've thought of purchasing... Hopefully I'll curb my impulse buys so I won't need them in the near future!

[fountainpenlady]

 

Yes! That's exactly what I've thought of purchasing... Hopefully I'll curb my impulse buys so I won't need them in the near future!

Also, another thought I am keeping is when there is an ink I no longer want or for whatever reason want to share, I can use the vials to keep the samples and ship to someone in to lesson my vial collection. Also, if I ever have reason to carry a small bit of ink around with me. Don't know how often, since I use a syringe and it is already kind of messy in my bathroom right now.

Edited February 10, 2015 by fountainpenlady

[amberleadavis]

How do you group them? Do you group them by ink maker? Or do you group them by their ink family color?

 

 

I group them by how they fit in the cabinets. I try and keep manufacturers together, then I keep lines together. If you see, Noodler's inks are everywhere, MBs are all in one shelf. Akkerman's are wherever they fit best to look pretty.

 

As for the vials, I add a note on the top from whence it came or the manufacturer. I think the best organized are those that do a drop of the color on the top so you know what it is.

 

The vial racks are not too expensive, and when I do a big order from Lake Charles Manufacturing, I add a few extra racks. They are highly useful.

[fountainpenlady]

I get it makes sense. I am going to wait until I get a few more of the sample vials before I invest in the rack. May not have enough now to justify. On second thought, I actually do have enough. Believe I can get one and the TWSBI from the same place.

[inkstainedruth]

Wow! What an impressive sample collection. If I don't watch myself, I could get one going as big.

I'm not at that level -- yet -- but I do have 4 sample vial trays now (two that have 4 rows and two that have 5 rows). I don't have them all filled, but I was reorganizing them last week when the 4th tray finally made it upstairs from the living room, and updating the spreadsheet program -- and all that took a couple of hours.... That's how I know for sure that 4 vial trays fit in the Motorp boxes -- I had three, and just got a fourth one recently.

If they were all completely filled I'd have 180 samples; in one or two instances I have duplicates, or reformulated versions. That is not counting some inks that for one reason or another I wasn't able to sample first, but does include ones that I tried and didn't like enough to get a full bottle.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[whichwatch]

My Civil War era desk has a bookcase top with blind doors that close to hide the clutter. They also keep the ink away from light.

 

After my collection reached about a dozen lifetime's worth, I moved the inks I don't care about any more into a drawer and slimmed down the grouping that stays in this location. So now I'm down to about 10 lifetimes worth.

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B0F0FAD7E-6861-4F53-BCCF-7A05B18E6498%7D/origpict/php0hLePWPM%5B1%5D.jpg

[fountainpenlady]

That's Nice!!! Look at my Iroshizuku. Like soldiers all lined up

[fountainpenlady]

I'm not at that level -- yet -- but I do have 4 sample vial trays now (two that have 4 rows and two that have 5 rows). I don't have them all filled, but I was reorganizing them last week when the 4th tray finally made it upstairs from the living room, and updating the spreadsheet program -- and all that took a couple of hours.... That's how I know for sure that 4 vial trays fit in the Motorp boxes -- I had three, and just got a fourth one recently.

If they were all completely filled I'd have 180 samples; in one or two instances I have duplicates, or reformulated versions. That is not counting some inks that for one reason or another I wasn't able to sample first, but does include ones that I tried and didn't like enough to get a full bottle.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

WoW, 180 samples. I can't even imagine. Thinking about getting my first vial rack in my next order of inks.

[inkstainedruth]

WoW, 180 samples. I can't even imagine. Thinking about getting my first vial rack in my next order of inks.

It's scary how quickly they can add up. Especially when you read ink reviews and suddenly you're going "Ooooh! WAAANT...."

​Fortunately, occasionally an ink will disappoint -- $1.25 for a sample sure beats the cost of a full bottle.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos

Edited February 11, 2015 by inkstainedruth

[fountainpenlady]

I agree with you. The Iroshizuku inks cost $2.50 so it requires more of an investment. Recently, purchased a sample of Diamine Ancient Copper. Found the color on the edge of red, or rather the impression from seeing it reviewed made me think so before purchase. I am so glad I purchased a sample of it and not a bottle. It was not to my taste and not what I expected, but with simply having spent $1.25 and filled on pen to use it, it did not feel so bad.

[Barkingpig]

I think Miss Amber has the ultimate setup: GOBS of inks @ eye levels, no real worry about organization (" notice the Noodlers are EVERYWHERE!") & an eye for display so they "look pretty!" I think the solution you "settle" on is the right one! I have used old wooden cabinets (similar to old medicine cabinets) with narrow shelves for the light protection & wooden boxes that are deep enough to hold vial racks & other that are deep enough for ink bottles. And yet there are now 2 bookcases needed to hold the wooden boxes & I have NO IDEA which box holds what! BUT you know I always seem to find what I need & as I am poking about I have a chance to "visit" with my older friends which I haven't used lately. "Sickness".........I say.............AND yet this is sure FUN!

 

And Miss Fountain Pen Lady have you tried the new Noodler's Park Red? And do you like it?

[BetwixtTheLines]

I am drooling at your collections!
I've got a little storage bin from the dollar store next to me with 4 inks sitting in it.

[fountainpenlady]

I think Miss Amber has the ultimate setup: GOBS of inks @ eye levels, no real worry about organization (" notice the Noodlers are EVERYWHERE!") & an eye for display so they "look pretty!" I think the solution you "settle" on is the right one! I have used old wooden cabinets (similar to old medicine cabinets) with narrow shelves for the light protection & wooden boxes that are deep enough to hold vial racks & other that are deep enough for ink bottles. And yet there are now 2 bookcases needed to hold the wooden boxes & I have NO IDEA which box holds what! BUT you know I always seem to find what I need & as I am poking about I have a chance to "visit" with my older friends which I haven't used lately. "Sickness".........I say.............AND yet this is sure FUN!

 

And Miss Fountain Pen Lady have you tried the new Noodler's Park Red? And do you like it?

On my list indeed, Noodler's Park Red. I have not tried any of the Noodler's line at all yet. I have just begun to dabble in Diamine. I am enchanted with Iroshizuku. So many inks, so little time.

[fountainpenlady]

I am drooling at your collections!

I've got a little storage bin from the dollar store next to me with 4 inks sitting in it.

I can read ink envy trouble lurking amidst us. Continue to stay out of trouble, you will be tempted quite enough coming up to fill that bin and several dozen more.

Edited February 11, 2015 by fountainpenlady

[BetwixtTheLines]

I've got a few inks on the way... :x and a pen show to attend this weekend. I'm in trouble!

[dornblaser]

My growing paper and ink supplies are in the top drawers of cabinet/file cabinet in my home office. They are out of sight. My wife has 4 - 5 bottles on a bookshelf next to her secretary in her home office/sewing room.

[amberleadavis]

BarkingPig, if you ever make it to Las Vegas, come visit. I think we would get along great!

[inkstainedruth]

I went antiquing this afternoon. I now have several more bottles of vintage Quink ink: a half full 2 oz. bottle of Permanent Blue Black, and three full bottles (a 4 oz. bottle of Microfilm Black, and 2 oz. bottles of Permanent Brown and -- IIRC -- Permanent Royal Blue).

Looked at a number of pens in another place, which also had some bottles of vintage Quink, but I didn't check the ink out in that place.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth