The Mess in the Kitchen- Part I

So I've been dying to try this--to make a couple versions of Iron Gall Ink. There are several versions available to try, so I started two batches:

The Newton Batch: Sir Isaac left us his lab notebooks which contain directions "To Make Excellent Ink"

Here it is written in his notebook using the very ink!:

http://fedora.dlib.indiana.edu/fedor...:693031/SCREEN

The Stark Batch: Dr. Jim Stark studied Iron Gall inks in the 1800's.

The Newton Batch is in the jar on the left, and is made with the Guinness. The Stark batch will use water added to the jar on the right. In the foreground is a California Live Oak Gall purchased from JBB's Etsy shop. The inspiration is from Fiberdrunk of FPN.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../NewtonInk.jpg

Results to follow in one and two months, depending on the recipe.

Raising the rest of the glass of beer to Isaac and Jim!

Well thats just AWESOME !

And thanks for sharing the info to go with the pic.

While I will now have to try this I can't wait to see your results.

Mmmmmm Guinness.

Do share the results. I was very pleased with my Valley Oak IG ink. Still have half-a-gallon of it.

Just started a batch of acorn ink.

--greg

Nice, looking forward to the results.

Good for you! This is fantastic. I assume these would be for dip pens. Are you going to test them in a fountain pen?

I'll test them first in a dip pen--have to see how well the inks turn out and how well I can filter them first!

FWIW, I would think if it is an excellent ink for dip pens, it should be a rather poor ink for fountain pens. I suppose you could dilute it and add a surfactant, but he's also essentially recommending ethyl alcohol as a preservative, which is ill-advised for use in fountain pens. Seems to me that a reasonable FP formulation would add an ethyl alcohol removal step, replace the ethyl alcohol with a safe preservative for FPs (e.g. phenol), adjust the concentration with water, and add a surfactant for flow.

Dr Streck [ the formula I used for the second batch] uses whole cloves as his preservative, once the infusion weeks are done....just a point of interest. :)

What a cool experiment!

My husband is actually relieved that this year it's only jars of ink in his kitchen. Last year it was several bowls of ornamental freshwater shrimp under a steam punk lighting setup I was working on.....

:crazy_pilot:

Oh that sounds interesting.

Whoa. The Newton recipe with the beer suddenly spewed out of the jar! It actually stained the formica counter top. This is gonna be some bulletproof ink! Got a bigger jar and more beer....

Fermenting ink. Maybe you can drink it while you write! It might be a good idea to get some of the pressure release caps for wine making to preserve your furniture.

Cracking the top every so often. The beer is officially flat now....

Tomorrow is Ink Brewing Day. I have 911 on speed dial.

Oh, goody (not the 911 part, but the brewing part). :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by VertOlive

Cracking the top every so often. The beer is officially flat now....

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Back when we had enough dandelions for me to make dandelion wine, I 'capped' my bottles with a balloon.

Today is Ink Brewing Day, first results are in:

The Mess:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...we/Brewing.jpg


First Dip Stark Note: The Stark Recipe ink has dried here, the Newton Recipe ink has just been laid down. Both look like dirty water at first, then they darken as they dry:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...rrowe/Pale.jpg

Newton Recipe After Drying:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../NewtonDip.jpg


Final Draft:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...rowe/Final.jpg

All the inks are hot off the stove! I used a dip pen, of course. Copperas and Gum Arabic also purchased from JBB's Etsy shop.

That's looking great Vert Olive!!!! Why does everyone's iron gall ink turn out darker than mine?????????