Ink

Fountain pen ink can be diluted. These inks are optimized for fountain pens, but if the ink has become dry, it can be diluted to revive it. Diluted ink dries faster and flows more easily, and is less likely to clog. Only use distilled water, and do not dilute too much, or the ink will be ruined.

You can use fountain pen ink with your dip pen but you have to thicken the ink to work properly. You cannot use dip pen ink with a fountain pen as the ink will clog up the internal channels and dry out, causing permanent damage to your fountain pen.

The question is, which fountain pen ink are you referring to, and what do you mean by expensive? Many reputable ink manufacturers offer a cheaper…

Some inks need to be shaken before being used in a fountain pen. Some thick inks have particulates in them that sink to the bottom of the ink, resulting in an uneven color if the ink is used in this state. Thinner inks are fine for use without shaking. Color inks should always be shaken before use.

It’s not possible to say for sure that all fountain pen ink is vegan as ink manufacturers are not obliged to declare the ingredients. Recipes are trade secrets. From what we know about modern ink ingredients, animal-derived products are unlikely as they are usually unsuitable for fountain pen feeds.

The people of India mean a fountain pen when they say “ink pen”. In other parts of the world, such as the UK and the US, an “ink pen” is any type of pen that uses ink and includes fountain pens, rollerballs, ballpoints, fiber-tip pens, and gel pens. “Ink pen” is a generic term in much of the world.