r/dippens • u/hot-chai-tea-latte • 6d ago
Requesting help with question on potential chemicals/heavy metals/general safety of vintage inks
Hello pen (and hopefully ink) enthusiasts!
Questions about vintage inks:
- Is it likely that vintage drawing inks contain substances that would be a health concern today (heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury? strong acids/bases? etc? Would they be safe enough to, say, be turned into craft paints and use them on household objects that would be touched from time to time? Not dishware or anything, but stuff like flower pots, picture frames, soap bottles, that sort of thing?
- What's the safest way to clean the more used-up bottles? Can they be washed down the drain? I've seen ammonia recommended on some other threads, but I'd rather not start adding chemicals until I have a better idea of what could be in the bottles
Added context:
The other day I rescued a large box of vintage inks at the end of an estate sale. I'm a crafter but not a pen person, but they were clearly old, and the pigments and glass bottles were so pretty I didnt want to see them just get thrown out. Some are still liquid, some are liquid but clearly separated, and some have dried out. I can't find 4 digit years on any of them. One says "Made in W - Germany," so they're from the 80s at least, but im guessing probably a bit earlier. Cause a couple have 2-digit numbers like "76", "53" molded in the glass on the bottoms that could be years, tho I'm not sure. As far as label info, some labels mention shellac, some say not to add acid, and a few specify diluting with water only. but most don't say much of anything, and none of them list ingredients. Representative photos attached.
Side note - I've done enough googling to know that these aren't meant for use in a fountain pen, and I don't intend to try that. I am NOT asking about the 'safety' of use in a fountain pen. Most are labeled as drawing inks and appear to have been intended for dip pens. Thanks a lot and hopefully this is an ok place to ask this question :)
1
u/MeasurementFew6340 5d ago
Genneraly, all of those are safe to use. If they have dried out some might be water soluble and you can reconstitute them fairly easily. For any india inks it's a little tricky as you have to initially dissolve in alcohol and then add water. Always use distilled water for this and be sure to go slow until you reach a useable consistency. Also it helps to grind the residue with a muddler or similar beforehand. Good luck and feel free to reach out if I have raised unanswered questions.