What do you use as an ink blotter?

[pensNpuppers]

I don't know if that's the correct term -- I mean when you fill a pen and want to get rid of the excess ink before writing.

I've been using paper towels, but somehow I think that's not the best idea because of the fibers 😅 Would it be better to use a cotton towel or something else?

[Deb]

I use paper towels. Never had a problem.

[SIR]

toilet paper

[Kaputnik]

Not sure what the "correct" term would be, possibly pen wiper. When I saw the title of your post, I thought of the sort of blotting or blotter paper one uses to get excess ink off of a just written page.

For what you describe, I use paper towel or Kleenex most often. I don't think the fibers are a huge concern. Might use a scrap of cloth such as an old sock with a hole in the toe if that's what happens to be handy.

[Wuddus]

The rag I use with my pens is just a bit of old t-shirt.

[ahall]

I just bought a roll of plain Viva paper towels for this. Jessica Coles was using them for blotting at her table in St. Louis and I had to ask her what they were. They’re soft, absorbent, and quite smooth for a paper towel. I’m happy with them so far, but I haven’t been using them long. Before that I used my kitchen paper towels, and Kleenex in a pinch.

[catbert]

A microfibre lens cloth works well.

[Jon Szanto]

My cat.

[pensNpuppers]

My cat.

Hehehe poor cat! But must be very colorful

[pensNpuppers]

I just bought a roll of plain Viva paper towels for this.

Ah! I’ve used those before, and they are very soft. I’ll have to pick up a roll next time I go grocery shopping.


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[Runnin_Ute]

Paper napkin, paper towel, tissue most of the time.

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[SIR]

I'm not sure where i read the advice, but apparently one should be careful with paper towels and the like, not because of clogging from fibres but risk of scratching nibs... so only 'dab', don't 'scrub'.

[FredRydr]

I use a paper towel. I only wipe ink away, not polish by rubbing the nib (or any other part of the pen when wiping ink).

Most paper is not a good choice for anything that should not be scratched, which is why lenses should never be cleaned with paper towels. Use cotton or towelettes specifically manufactured for that purpose when polishing.

You could always use your shirttail or sleeve.

[Farmboy]

I don't really fill pens that often but IF I am in the presence of Jon, I use his bow tie. If I'm near Fred I use his shirt.

If I'm on my own I use the table cloth.

[Driften]

I use a paper napkin to dab ink away.

[penwash]

Paper towel is close to a perfect ink blotter.

I wish someone still make advertisement ink blotters as they did in the past where pen/ink -related companies print their ad on one side of the ink blotter.

[Nathan Weston]

I use white muslin squares left over from when my kids needed... white muslin squares

[KrazyIvan]

I have a dedicated terry cloth towel for inking pens. I wipe both the bottle and the pen with it.

[calamus]

I usually use Kleenex, and just dab lightly at any droplets on the nib surface, avoiding the slit because that can empty out half a converter in nuthin' flat. Then I very carefully do the end of the section around the base of the nib and the rest of the section if it needs it. I also try to avoid the feed except for the lightest dab on any obvious drops of ink, 'cause otherwise it can empty out the rest of the converter, and then I have to start over. (Why yes, I did usta live in Texas. Why do you ask?)

[Wahl]

Webril Handi-Pads, 100% pure cotton, lint free. Won´t scratch.

Can´t remember where I bought them.