Special Ink Caps for Vintage Ink Wells

[amberleadavis]

So, you know those square ink wells that you can find in antique stores that are cool looking, but capless?

 

Well, I have been looking for an airtight cap.

 

 

 

Recently, I found one. It is made for wine bottles and is called the Capabunga.

 

I thought it could be repurposed for our inky needs.

 

 

And now, I have tested it in the office - yes, I cleaned the mess.

 

 

You can buy them here for now: https://capabunga.com/

 

Maybe we will have a special group buy.

[Ethelios]

That's a cool idea to restore inkwells. The capabungas look fancy, what are the differences from regular silicone bottle stoppers?

 

Not my forte, but it seems you can't 3d print silicone yet. Molds for casting your own caps are ok for a workaround. Now I want to thrift shop, thanks for the heads up ☺️

[amberleadavis]

HMMM>>>>> I've never seen silicone bottle stoppers like this, but then I've never looked.  I'll have to start looking.

[KillahBee]

 OH MYLANTA. I like the cut of your gibb, amberleadavis. I'm now officially on the hunt.

[webgeckos]

On 5/8/2022 at 2:26 AM, Ethelios said:

 

 

Not my forte, but it seems you can't 3d print silicone yet. Molds for casting your own caps are ok for a workaround. Now I want to thrift shop, thanks for the heads up ☺️

while you wouldn’t print this in PLA, PLA+ or ABS filament, you could print the inner stopper with TPU. And print the top of the cap in PLA+ for durability after you anneal it.

[amberleadavis]

On 12/16/2022 at 12:28 PM, KillahBee said:

 OH MYLANTA. I like the cut of your gibb, amberleadavis. I'm now officially on the hunt.

 

What's the status of the hunt?

 

On 12/21/2022 at 11:59 PM, webgeckos said:

while you wouldn’t print this in PLA, PLA+ or ABS filament, you could print the inner stopper with TPU. And print the top of the cap in PLA+ for durability after you anneal it.

 

HMM>......  @essayfaire might consider this.

 

On 5/7/2022 at 10:26 PM, Ethelios said:

That's a cool idea to restore inkwells. The capabungas look fancy, what are the differences from regular silicone bottle stoppers?

 

Not my forte, but it seems you can't 3d print silicone yet. Molds for casting your own caps are ok for a workaround. Now I want to thrift shop, thanks for the heads up ☺️

 

Did you find any caps for molding?

[essayfaire]

What do you need, the stopper? My printer is a pretty basic model but maybe...

[amberleadavis]

I don't use the ink wells for ink because the ink dries out, but most of the antique wells have lost their caps anyway.  When I get back to town, I'll look to see if I can find a well for you to play with.

[essayfaire]

1 hour ago, amberleadavis said:

I don't use the ink wells for ink because the ink dries out, but most of the antique wells have lost their caps anyway.  When I get back to town, I'll look to see if I can find a well for you to play with.

Happy to, for my favorite fellow addict dealer enabler hobbyist.

 

And, in the KISS mode, have you tried a piece of cork? There's a reason it's used in wine bottles.

 

 

Edited January 27, 2023 by essayfaire
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[Graywolf503]

Where can you buy cork stoppers?

[InkyColors]

22 minutes ago, Graywolf503 said:

Where can you buy cork stoppers?

You could try widgetco.com. I’m not sure about what sizes they carry. Also, it seems like they wouldn’t be very airtight. 

[essayfaire]

I bet places that sell home brewing and wine making supplies would have them.

[kestrel]

On 1/26/2023 at 9:57 PM, Graywolf503 said:

Where can you buy cork stoppers?

One source:  https://www.carolina.com/browse/product-search-results?Ntt=stoppers&Nr=OR(product.type%3AProduct)&tab=p&question=stoppers&searchExecByFormSubmit=true

 

And another: https://www.wardsci.com/store/product?keyword=stoppers

 

And still another:  https://www.fishersci.com/us/en/browse/90094244/Stoppers?searchHijack=true

 

In my previous life as a science teacher I dealt with all three and can recommend them.    I have used the rubber stoppers (the ones without the hole(s) in some of my vintage ink bottles.  Happy hunting.

[Graywolf503]

Great information, thanks!

[amberleadavis]

Thank you,  @kestrel.