Cochineal Ink - homemade dip pen ink - inks made of natural ingredients

[jbb]

I've made this dip pen ink out of crushed cochineal (beetles), gum Arabic, alum, dextrose (for gloss), vinegar and water. I've done all this cold, no heating. Has anyone else tried it? Has anyone made other inks out of natural ingredients? When I use a steel dip nib the color becomes more purple whereas a 14k gold nib produces a much redder color.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1720/25928601853_c43a5404ea_b.jpg

[Paddler]

The ink is probably reacting with the iron in the nib to make the change in color. Keep watch to see if the nib point wears out faster.

I make inks with walnut and butternut husks. They wear steel nibs rather quickly, so I have to use gold with them. Steel nibs don't make a detectable color change in the time they are exposed to the ink, but after about 10 pages or so I have to regrind. Steel wool will quickly turn the normally brown inks black.

Does the cochineal smell bad? I have heard that it reeks out loud.

[jbb]

Does the cochineal smell bad? I have heard that it reeks out loud.

Not yet. All I can smell is the vinegar I added.

[gweddig]

Hi jbb,
Cool, does it darken over time like IG inks do? I would try this but I have a hard time catching enough of the dang beetles. :-)

--gweddig

[jbb]

Cool, does it darken over time like IG inks do? I would try this but I have a hard time catching enough of the dang beetles. :-) --gweddig
I don't know yet about darkening with time....it darkens on certain paper rather quickly....other papers not so much. I'm going to try an iron gall/cochineal mix too. The iron gall ink I make never gets as dark as other people's (?????).... but that's a whole 'nother story.... anyway for that reason it might make a good black/red mix.

Here is where I got my cochineal... it seems like a good price compared to others I saw:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jacquard-Cochineal-Natural-Dye-1oz-743772028956/182094154738?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D36471%26meid%3D85ae5ced5877419d902d9a2295ca efb2%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D3715 90421224

[Scrawler]

Very nice and creative. Well done.

[VertOlive]

Oh that is very nice! Does the amount of cochineal used alter the shade? Is it actual smushed up bugs or an extract of some sort?

Wait!--wasn't that the dye Starbucks was using? :blink:

[jbb]

Oh that is very nice! Does the amount of cochineal used alter the shade? Is it actual smushed up bugs or an extract of some sort?

Wait!--wasn't that the dye Starbucks was using? :blink:
I can't really tell... not enough time experimenting yet. Yes, you get dried gray beetles that crush to red. And YES, in Starbucks.... but I try to focus on the caffeine instead. :)

[KKay]

That is pretty alright!

[Biber]

Does the cochineal smell bad? I have heard that it reeks out loud.

Not yet. All I can smell is the vinegar I added.


Don't some use Vodka in place of vinegar?

[jbb]

Don't some use Vodka in place of vinegar?

I made some with Brandy too. It's seemed a tiny bit more orange but not much. I've read you can switch the acids and the salts to get varied shades of color.

[FredRydr]

Half my cochineal beetles are still in larvae stage, and I can't feed the mature ones fast enough. And how do you keep them from climbing out of the mortar and pestle?

Itching all over,

Fred

[fountainpagan]

Does the cochineal smell bad? I have heard that it reeks out loud.

Not yet. All I can smell is the vinegar I added.

That ink looks very nice.

Could you give us the proportions of each product you used, please?

For the smell, and to prevent mold use cloves.

[jbb]

Could you give us the proportions of each product you used, please?

I really didn't measure but I'd say approximately 5 parts crushed cochineal to one part each of powdered gum Arabic, alum and dextrose.... and then a squirt of vinegar (mine is in a squirt bottle) and water until you like the consistency for writing.

[fountainpagan]

Thank you:)