Ink Vials for fountain pen inks

Ink vials are part and parcel of fountain pen users, collectors and researchers. They are used to keep ink samples, different ink mixtures or simply as a ink well. But how many types can there be? Well, depending on the situation, more than what you expected.

I wanted to say type 1 and type 2 are quite the common sight, until i realize almost no one uses them except me. I am the weird one, or I have given too much thought into this as well. 

Type 1 : Basic ink-well/ink samples vials

This is the most basic that I am using. The size is about 3 standard cartridge, it is very water proof, air tight and sturdy. It comes with a screw cap and I have not seen one broke before. Although it is plastic in nature, the material doesn't allow the ink to evaporate that easily.

I use it to keep inks taken from larger bottles for testing pens or as an ink well on the go. It is also used to keep inks left from fountain pens.

Type 2 :Desk-Type Ink Vials/Ink-wells.

I basically use this ink vials when much more volume is required. Bottom heavy as you can see, it doesn't topple when i use it to refill the pens. It comes with an air tight snap on cap which is very convenient. It is a plastic material.

Type 3: Glass bottle ink vial : single seal cap.

I will use this vial when more volume is required and that the ink is somewhat expensive. Very air tight and water proof and being glass in nature, I will also use this ink vial when the ink is questionably reactive. In any case, this is a desk bound vial.

Type 4 : Eyedropper Glass bottle ink vial 

Other than the disadvantages of being bulky and easy to break, these vials are actually very useful to eyedropper pens and experiments as a whole. One syringe to fill a pen. Or a drop here and a drop there to look for chemical reaction between the inks. The bottle is made in glass and so is the syringe.

Type 5 : Specialized anti-ultra-violet glass vials : Duo seal cap
Some inks are very sensitive to light, for example the yellow or orange inks for some brands. These specialized bottles are used to keep them if required, but that is not the main use of it. A branch of inks are very sensitive to the container's material, the light that falls on it and the air it is in contact with. It requires this type of bottle. These bottles comes expensive, but the manufacturing of those inks too comes not cheap.

It is a duo seal glass bottle. As shown, there is a rubber seal first before the air-proof plastic cap.

One example of those inks is the glow-in-the-dark ink. Yes, it exists. Just that it is expensive and very particular.

Type 6 : General glass bottles 
 
These glass bottles are just simple used baking color bottles. While they aren't air proof, they are very good bottles to keep those soapy solutions that can be used to clean pen stains or to soak the jammed feed. Their huge volume and glass materials makes them a good choice. Of course, other glass bottles are equally good.