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Thread: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

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    Default Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    I want to buy some ESSRI. Is it a bad idea to buy, say, a year’s worth at a time? I know the cool-and dark bit, I’ve used Diamine Registrars for a few years, but it’s easy to get, so I’ve always just bought one or two at a time, 100ml. I’d like to buy several bottles of ESSRI, but I don’t want it to go bad and throw away good ink money.

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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    It seems to be a pretty small operation - maybe you could just write to the ESSRI people and ask them? I confess that I purchased a bottle years ago but haven't been using it for the last couple of years. I decanted about half into a Montblanc "boot" and it sits on my desk. I'll give it a try and let you know what I find out.
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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    Are they really so different that you would want large stocks of both? I would just carry on buying a couple of bottles at a time of whichever one you prefer to use over a reasonably short period.

    They both eventually change colour when written with because of the IG content, and I can't help but think the IG in the bottle would change over a couple of years.

    I would say, let them maintain their stocks in the very best condition, and buy it as fresh as you can.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    I've had the same bottle for over three years with no untoward effects or deterioration so far. Used it this morning to address some envelopes.

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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    They both eventually change colour when written with because of the IG content, and I can't help but think the IG in the bottle would change over a couple of years.
    Does this affect the viability of the ink? Or just the color?

    Thank you all for your help.

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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    Sealed bottles should be safe, if kept in a dark place.
    It's really a solid product.

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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    I think the ink is generally good, but there is an insoluble precipitate that collects at the bottom of a bottle over time. The advice to decant or otherwise not shake ink before filling a pen is based on the behavior of inks like ESSRI.
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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    When researching historical Iron gall inks, I came upon several recipes and how to keep the homemade inks safe for later use. They recommended to blow in a bottle, before closing it. This way all left in the bottle would be carbon dioxide. I don't know if this is necessary to do with modern Iron galls inks... But it can be a solution

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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    Quote Originally Posted by Yazeh View Post
    When researching historical Iron gall inks, I came upon several recipes and how to keep the homemade inks safe for later use. They recommended to blow in a bottle, before closing it. This way all left in the bottle would be carbon dioxide....
    Less than 5% of exhaled breath is carbon dioxide. There is three times as much oxygen, with rest being nitrogen (with a smidgen made up of several other elements).

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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?


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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    I submit the advice to blow into the bottle to replace oxygen with carbon monoxide is of limited value. I prefer filtering and decanting such goods into a smaller container to limit exposure to air (oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and pollutants).

    I do this all the time with leftovers in the refrigerator (maybe without the filter).

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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    Fred, I was just sharing an information I found interesting concerning historic Iron gall

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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    Sounds more like a job for Bloxygen.
    In the words of Paul Simon, you can call me Al.

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    Default Re: Does ESSRI have a shelf life?

    So treat your ink like a bottle of fine single malt. Decant or use it up quickly.
    "The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here..." -- Abraham Lincoln, 1863

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