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View Full Version : Clever Ideas For Holding Ink Sample Vials Steady?



zombywoof
May 21st, 2013, 04:40 PM
I'm interested in hearing about simple and effective solutions for holding ink sample vials steady while filling - homemade fixtures, repurposed household items, etc (yes, I just tipped one over on my desk) - what do you use?

gwgtaylor
May 21st, 2013, 05:00 PM
I'm tempted to find someone to drill a hole in a small chunk of wood. Anyone able to help me with that?

Essensia
May 24th, 2013, 08:15 AM
A small plastic storage container filled with sand. I use it for sample vials, ink bottles, pen flush bottles, etc. No drilling necessary. :)

gwgtaylor
May 25th, 2013, 06:32 AM
A small plastic storage container filled with sand. I use it for sample vials, ink bottles, pen flush bottles, etc. No drilling necessary. :)

#smart. Now to figure out where to find a small amount of sand with no pee in it

jacksterp
May 25th, 2013, 06:56 AM
I'm tempted to find someone to drill a hole in a small chunk of wood. Anyone able to help me with that?

Just get a small thick sponge and cut an "X" in the center. Stuff your vial in. Should you still manage to spill it, your clean-up crew will be at your fingertips.

gwgtaylor
May 25th, 2013, 07:26 AM
I'm tempted to find someone to drill a hole in a small chunk of wood. Anyone able to help me with that?

Just get a small thick sponge and cut an "X" in the center. Stuff your vial in. Should you still manage to spill it, your clean-up crew will be at your fingertips.

Also a good idea. I still think I want a hunk of wood for pretty factor but till then a sponge is an excellent idea. Thanks!

tintak
May 25th, 2013, 08:29 AM
A good quality, standard sized, spring-loaded clothes pin can easily be clipped onto the bottom of an ink sample vial.
This provides two handy legs on the bottom of the vial & a handle for you. The vial can still tip to the side, but not if something flat & heavy is placed on the clothes pin grips.

For all inking procedures, I always fill my pens on a stainless steel eating tray, found in Indian kitchen supplies stores.
A tray like this will confine most spills.
Lee Valley Tools sell some excellently designed, durable, hard wood clothes pins, ones made to their exacting specifications.
In our kitchen, many of these are used for closing soft package bags, like chips, cereal, clipping cards together, etc,.....
Hope this helps.

Sailor Kenshin
May 25th, 2013, 09:07 AM
Shot glasses. ^^

alc3261
May 25th, 2013, 10:31 AM
I can testify that a vial of Diamine Bilberry makes a big mess on your mid grey carpet..........

Jon Szanto
May 25th, 2013, 10:46 AM
Similar to the block of wood, but less (initial) mess:

Something got shipped to me that had thick, sturdy foam inside for packing (NOT styrofoam). I trimmed a block that was about 6 inches long by about 4 inches wide; the thickness is about 2=3 inches. I took my drill press and put a wood boring bit in it, probably 3/4". I drilled 3 holes nearly all the way through; if you just go slow, it makes a very neat hold.

Now this block resides in my Big Box o' Inks, and when I mess around with the sample vials I just pop it out, plop it on the desk and drop a couple of the vials in. It holds them almost all the way to their cap, and nothing will tip over. Even if a drop spills, it either wipes off the foam or soaks in a bit, either way not being messy, and it doesn't weigh anything in the box.

KISS philosophy in action.

wastelanded
May 25th, 2013, 08:04 PM
A lump of play-doh, vial pressed into the centre, works in a pinch. If there's play-doh in the house, of course.

GourmetPens
May 25th, 2013, 09:48 PM
A lump of play-doh, vial pressed into the centre, works in a pinch. If there's play-doh in the house, of course.
Great idea. Because I'm inexperienced with play-doh, would it dry out and fall apart? I only ask because if so, I won't go and buy a container of play-doh - as fun as that would be. Perhaps modeling clay or something?

wastelanded
May 25th, 2013, 10:50 PM
Great idea. Because I'm inexperienced with play-doh, would it dry out and fall apart? I only ask because if so, I won't go and buy a container of play-doh - as fun as that would be. Perhaps modeling clay or something?

Modelling clay would work just as well. I guess either would dry out eventually, but stored in a ziplock bag it should last a while.

gwgtaylor
May 26th, 2013, 05:30 AM
Ooh, that clay you can bake--Fimo. I found a local friend with a drill this weekend and will have my hunk of wood on Monday hopefully.

tintak
May 27th, 2013, 04:21 PM
3061This is my nib-set drier, made out of a walnut turning blank.
The four small holes (to hold nib-sets & converters) are drilled through for better air circulation.
The flat bottomed center hole is sized for either a pen cap or an ink sample vial.
Please excuse my photo.

tintak
May 27th, 2013, 04:27 PM
Oh,...that's a sample of "Standardgraph Kaffeebraun".
Next in line for a Sailor.
Thanks, Wastelanded!
Tintak

wastelanded
May 27th, 2013, 04:48 PM
This is my nib-set drier, made out of a walnut turning blank.
The four small holes (to hold nib-sets & converters) are drilled through for better air circulation.
The flat bottomed center hole is sized for either a pen cap or an ink sample vial.
Please excuse my photo.

That's a great idea, and serves more than one purpose! I have a piece of 3/4" hardwood I've been thinking about doubling up and making a sample rack out of, but this is a much better idea. There's a lumber company across the street from work, I'll go see what scraps they have. What did you use to finish it?

By the way, the photo is excellent! And thank you as well, the Sailor Blue is lovely and the Yama-guri is in the Dia now, making me want to write something epic.

tintak
May 27th, 2013, 06:56 PM
Walnut oil,....three slooooow drying coats .
Took all of a Winter to complete.
Cheers:
Tintak

Larry Barrieau
February 17th, 2014, 09:01 AM
I know this is an old thread. but I am new at the game. I like samples but they were bothersome on the tabletop so I made this carousel. The advantage over the kind that Goulet and others sell is that the labels for each sample can be read without having to pick one up, put it back in, pick another one up, etc. Just turn the carousel and there they are! This one is only 9 in. in diameter and has room for 23 vials and the center can hold a few ink bottles. It spins on a $5 lazy susan bearing. I made the small 3 vial triangular holder for holding vials while inking or transferring inks into other vials. I was going to paint it but I decided that the ink splotches (which will happen) over the years will make it look cool.

inlovewithjournals
February 17th, 2014, 09:39 AM
Super cool Larry Barrieau! You could sell those. :)

Larry Barrieau
February 17th, 2014, 10:11 AM
Thanks! That's something to think about.

Scrawler
February 17th, 2014, 10:22 AM
Is there anyway I can shrink that picture so I can see it?

imaginerhetoric
February 17th, 2014, 10:38 AM
Is there anyway I can shrink that picture so I can see it?

If you are working on a MAC press "command" and "-" to zoom out and see the entire image (& "command" and "+" to return to normal)

ChrisC
February 17th, 2014, 10:39 AM
scotch tape. my Turquoise ink review has a picture at the bottom.

Scrawler
February 17th, 2014, 10:58 AM
Is there anyway I can shrink that picture so I can see it?

If you are working on a MAC press "command" and "-" to zoom out and see the entire image (& "command" and "+" to return to normal)

I am on a PC. Normally on here it shows pictures at a reasonable size that fits in the frame, but for some reason with this one I have sliders around it to move around the picture, but am only seeing a fraction of the total picture at a time.

Edit:
Just tried CTRL- 7 times, shrinks it to fit so I can see it, but the rest of the forum is then too small to see.

Scrawler
February 17th, 2014, 11:03 AM
BTW that is a brilliant idea for people who have to handle a lot of samples.

imaginerhetoric
February 17th, 2014, 11:19 AM
Edit:
Just tried CTRL- 7 times, shrinks it to fit so I can see it, but the rest of the forum is then too small to see.

Same here, but I zoom back in after I see the picture.

ac12
February 19th, 2014, 03:01 PM
Couple tips, after knocking over a vial that was in a small ramikin and getting totally ticked off at myself for doing it.
- heavy WIDE base. The width makes it harder to tip over and the weight keeps it down, also making it harder tip over.
- put it inside a wide tray, like a cookie tray, so if it does get knocked over, the tray keeps the ink from flowing all over the table and onto the floor. And line the tray with a couple sheets of paper towel to absorb any spills.

Larry Barrieau
February 20th, 2014, 12:40 PM
That little triangle of wood is pretty steady. I had a vial in it and hit it with my cuff when reaching for another sample. It just slid away without tipping.

Kaputnik
February 22nd, 2014, 01:26 PM
Depends on what you have lying around the house. For example, I had a number of unused rubber crutch tips. They are a very loose fit, but will keep the vial upright.

fountainpagan
July 16th, 2015, 08:11 AM
I have just found this - sorry, I could not find it in english - Free shipping. Quite cheap
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/251564714614?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/661/8Tco6n.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/id8Tco6nj)

And this is where I keep my samples being tested, or not tested yet
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/673/ed9LGc.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/iped9LGcj)

Hawk
July 16th, 2015, 12:37 PM
I refill my pens from the sample vials at the sink counter in case I spill. Since I read the many good suggestions, I will have to implement one of them. You guys jinxed me. The next time I will spill the ink if I dont make a holder for the samples.

FredRydr
July 16th, 2015, 03:33 PM
I was in Cabela's outdoor store along I-78 yesterday. Those people are gun-mad! Anyway, one display had hundreds of plastic boxes with hinged lids averaging about the size of two regular iPhone 6s laid next to each other (no metric conversions there! :) ), with a grid on the bottom that I assume is for bullets. There were different sizes.

When I saw this topic, my mind went to those boxes. Actually, they would be a fantastic choice to hold many ampules, and snap the lid shut. Alas, I did not have a sample bottle to test it.

Let's see if I can find a photo of one on the internet....

Fred

Okay, for photos, see this range of the boxes, called "ammo boxes" (guess that makes sense). http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search/?N=10000047&Ne=10000047&Ntk=AllProducts&Ntt=ammo+boxes&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products&WTz_st=SearchRefinements&form_state=searchForm&search=ammo+boxes&searchTypeByFilter=AllProducts&x=10&y=6

sgtstretch
July 16th, 2015, 04:45 PM
I was in Cabela's outdoor store along I-78 yesterday. Those people are gun-mad! Anyway, one display had hundreds of plastic boxes with hinged lids averaging about the size of two regular iPhone 8s laid next to each other (no metric conversions there! :) ), with a grid on the bottom that I assume is for bullets. There were different sizes.

When I saw this topic, my mind went to those boxes. Actually, they would be a fantastic choice to hold many ampules, and snap the lid shut. Alas, I did not have a sample bottle to test it.

Let's see if I can find a photo of one on the internet....

Fred

Okay, for photos, see this range of the boxes, called "ammo boxes" (guess that makes sense). http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search/?N=10000047&Ne=10000047&Ntk=AllProducts&Ntt=ammo+boxes&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products&WTz_st=SearchRefinements&form_state=searchForm&search=ammo+boxes&searchTypeByFilter=AllProducts&x=10&y=6

Yes, you'll be best off with boxes for shotgun shells, 20g and 410 are the preferred size for sample vials.

Jon Szanto
July 16th, 2015, 05:01 PM
Yes, they work perfectly, as seen below:

http://i.imgur.com/dpt9yef.jpg

MY63
July 20th, 2015, 03:40 AM
Here is mine I cheated and bought a pre made box from that auction site veneered the lid stained the rest, and fitted out the interior to suit the size of the ink vials

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/9683166501_d46a939203_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/fKEL3z)IMG_4818_1 (https://flic.kr/p/fKEL3z) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3816/9683170713_60fdb5c928_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/fKEMic)IMG_4823_1 (https://flic.kr/p/fKEMic) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Empty_of_Clouds
July 20th, 2015, 04:58 AM
Gosh, why is everyone so darned inventive?

Anyway, after all the wonderful ideas and inventions I thought it might be time to give everybody a good laugh. This represents the very heights of my skills in making things (other than in making messes and enemies - World Champeen at those).

I present <stop laughing> THE RACK

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/349/19666771360_f7c9f1889b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/vXTkWQ)


I shall go and hang my head in shame...

Crazyorange
July 20th, 2015, 05:50 AM
Gosh, why is everyone so darned inventive?

Anyway, after all the wonderful ideas and inventions I thought it might be time to give everybody a good laugh. This represents the very heights of my skills in making things (other than in making messes and enemies - World Champeen at those).

I present <stop laughing> THE RACK

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/349/19666771360_f7c9f1889b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/vXTkWQ)


I shall go and hang my head in shame...

I like it. Right up my alley. Simple. Easy. And when your finished with it - recycle it. Thanks for the idea.

Scrawler
July 20th, 2015, 06:15 AM
Gosh, why is everyone so darned inventive?

Anyway, after all the wonderful ideas and inventions I thought it might be time to give everybody a good laugh. This represents the very heights of my skills in making things (other than in making messes and enemies - World Champeen at those).

I present <stop laughing> THE RACK

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/349/19666771360_f7c9f1889b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/vXTkWQ)


I shall go and hang my head in shame...
This is in fact inventive and clever. It serves the intended purpose. The only difference between this and other solutions is its temporary nature.

Laura N
July 20th, 2015, 07:38 AM
I present <stop laughing> THE RACK


Awesome! I can now be the first woman ever to congratulate a man for having a nice rack. :bounce:

naimitsu
July 20th, 2015, 09:07 AM
I present <stop laughing> THE RACK


Awesome! I can now be the first woman ever to congratulate a man for having a nice rack. :bounce:

LoL
What Laura said!

Empty_of_Clouds
July 20th, 2015, 01:04 PM
I present <stop laughing> THE RACK


Awesome! I can now be the first woman ever to congratulate a man for having a nice rack. :bounce:


:pound::pound::pound::pound:


I'll set 'em up. You knock 'em outta the park!

fountainpagan
July 21st, 2015, 06:21 AM
:pound::pound: Juicy!!

Tracy Lee
July 21st, 2015, 03:44 PM
I don't know, my method seemed pretty good until Saturday . . .
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/21/6e27b7c5a4921fdbd923cfb62456043d.jpg
So I will be taking some of ya'lls advice soon. Note how neatly it spilled completely away from the paper towel.

FredRydr
July 21st, 2015, 04:10 PM
Put your pen's feed on it, and draw it in! Quick!

Fred

Scrawler
July 21st, 2015, 08:01 PM
I have been obliged to resort to the use of a hypodermic syringe to fix situations like this.

Tracy Lee
July 22nd, 2015, 05:41 AM
I have been obliged to resort to the use of a hypodermic syringe to fix situations like this.
I was using a syringe. [emoji12]

Scrawler
July 22nd, 2015, 06:22 AM
I have been obliged to resort to the use of a hypodermic syringe to fix situations like this.
I was using a syringe. [emoji12]

I mean to suck the ink back up off the table.

Tracy Lee
July 22nd, 2015, 06:33 AM
I have been obliged to resort to the use of a hypodermic syringe to fix situations like this.
I was using a syringe. [emoji12]

I mean to suck the ink back up off the table.
LOL, yes, I did that and managed to recover a bit.

FredRydr
July 22nd, 2015, 07:42 AM
I have been obliged to resort to the use of a hypodermic syringe to fix situations like this.
I was using a syringe. [emoji12]

I mean to suck the ink back up off the table.
LOL, yes, I did that and managed to recover a bit.
Recover from dizziness?

Fred

ac12
July 22nd, 2015, 11:33 PM
Here are 2 of my vial holders.

I also made a LARGE holder to hold the Noodler's bottle steady. Because that bottle is just as likely to be knocked over, and it has a LOT more ink that a vial.

Empty_of_Clouds
July 22nd, 2015, 11:47 PM
It's got Lego in it so it must be good. Kind of a default thing, yes? <I love Lego!>

writingrav
July 23rd, 2015, 08:06 AM
Here are 2 of my vial holders.

I also made a LARGE holder to hold the Noodler's bottle steady. Because that bottle is just as likely to be knocked over, and it has a LOT more ink that a vial.

This is one I'm capable of constructing and will try. Thanks!

Neo
July 23rd, 2015, 01:31 PM
:cool:

Lancaster
July 24th, 2015, 06:45 AM
I use an old candle holder for a single vial, they are meant for tall skinny candles and are very stout. It works very well.

FredRydr
August 1st, 2015, 06:03 AM
Check out Dreck's solution in this thread in the Lounge subform: http://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/10406-Real-Life-Me-a-place-to-introduce-yourself-and-share-your-days?p=140284&viewfull=1#post140284

Fred