A quick question.

[ainterne]

Is it ok to mix inks if they are the same brand? I saw a Red I really liked and have been trying to get something similar. I bought some momiji iroshizuku and even some Red Dragon Diamine, but don't like either on paper. In fact the Red Dragon is like a brown to me, and the momiji is to light.

Can I darken the momiji perhaps? Is it considered ok to do that? I mean my inks never last long in my pens because I have mostly flex nibs that are used. So it's not like I would leave an ink in a pen for more than a week.

Any hints on the best way to do it if it's ok and any gotcha's I should look out for? Other than the obvious.

Thanks for any help.

[mhosea]

It's unclear what will happen, even if you mix inks of the same brand unless the inks are advertised to be mixable (e.g. Platinum "mix-free"). It often works just fine, however. I have a stable 2:1 mix of Pilot/Namiki Blue and Noodler's Midway Blue that I made quite a long time ago and bottled. Standard advice, however, is to mix small quantities in a sample vial (or any other vial, of course). Wait 24 hours to see what happens. If it bubbles and/or drops a precipitate, then don't use the mix. If it seems stable, then mix and use as you see fit.

[Laura N]

Sure but it's probably a good idea to let the mixture sit for a little before putting it into a pen.

I tend to mix the inks in a sample vial, then experiment with the proportions by testing with a dip pen. Then I leave it in the capped vial for a day or two to make sure it's stable. Some inks don't mix well with others. Just keep notes so you remember the proportions.

[tandaina]

Yup, I mix in a sample vial and let it sit. If it still looks like ink the next day then I'll try it in a pen. I've mixed various of the Iroshizuki inks together with no ill effects and some very nice colors as a result. Have not tried mixing Diamine. (I do test the colors as I mix with a dip pen so I can see how it is progressing. Then do the let it sit once I'm happy with the color.)

Mixing is fun, messy and a touch of mad scientist, but fun!

[ainterne]

Thanks everyone.... I will try.... I am going to use the same brands and see how I get on with that. I can put in my Ackerman to start, can put paint in that and it will write :-)

Thanks Phil.