Can You Use Fountain Pen Ink With Dip Pens?

There are many things that you need to do when working with both fountain pens and dip pens, all of which cause your ink to constantly run low. Many people that use both pens eventually ask whether or not they can just use fountain pen ink with their dip pen when needed.

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.

There are several reasons that fountain pen ink can be used with a dip pen, and these are the same reasons that you cannot use dip pen ink with fountain pens. Understanding that the inks work differently and that the pens have different requirements will help you to always have the best possible experience.

What Ink Should You Use For Dip Pens?

The ink meant for dip pens is varied by the type of pen you are using and what you are using it for. Dip pen ink is usually much thicker and will be made out of oils, water, or even other types of material, making it naturally thick enough to be dipped onto pens made out of glass.

When buying your dip pen, you will usually have several options to choose from at the shop you are buying from. This means that you can easily get ink that will work on your pen but not on other types of pens, such as fountain pens; we always recommend that you ensure your ink is thick enough.

This is one of the challenges of using fountain ink pens, which will always be based on water to keep it as thin as possible. Many people that use fountain ink pens have thickeners that specifically make the ink thick enough to easily use on almost any dipping pen that you may have.

Can You Use A Dip Pen Nib In A Fountain Pen?

A common thing that people wonder is whether or not the nibs are interchangeable and the ink, with many trying at least once. The simple answer is that you cannot use dip pen nibs on a fountain pen, and you cannot use fountain pen nibs on a dip pen.

The problem is never the fit on the nibs; instead, it is the inherent channels inside each of the nibs to help control the ink as it flows. Dip pens have special channels meant to help the ink stay on the nib as you are using it, helping you create longer strokes without having to dip again.

Fountain pen nibs work oppositely; they specifically have channels to help control ink flow from the internal chamber. This means that the ink needs to be stopped from flowing out all at once, something that a dip pen does not necessarily need t do.

Are Fountain Pens And Dip Pens The Same?

No, dip pens and fountain pens are not the same and have radically different ways of controlling the ink used to write. A dip pen has an inkpot nearby that needs to be used each time the ink runs out, while fountain pens have an internal chamber in which the ink is always kept.

When it comes to writing with both, the technique often differs as well, as dip pens need to be twisted and turned to keep a constant flow of ink on the paper. A fountain pen needs to be kept straight to ensure that the flow of the ink is constant, with as little as possible twisting.

You need to be conscious of this to ensure that you don’t have trails going from the letters and words that you are making. Fountain pens often have special tips that, when pressed hard, will thicken your stroke, something which dips pens can’t easily replicate.

How Can You Use Fountain Pen Ink With A Dip Pen?

To use fountain pen ink in a dip pen, you will first need to empty the canister of ink in your dipping pot, then check if the ink is thick enough. Usually, the ink will not be thick enough for you to use, so you will have to thicken it up with the thickening agents you have.

Most dip pen kits will specifically have a thickening agent to them that can make the ink thicker when used. Dip pens rely on the ink adhering to them when dipped, which means that when the ink is too watery, it will slide off before you can start wiring what you need.

We always recommend that you have something to thicken the fountain ink when using it for a dip pen, ensuring that you won’t have to dip the pen a lot either. Some dipping pens work better with fountain pen ink, as they have a different surface that the ink adheres to better.

Why Is It So Hard To Use Fountain Pen Ink With A Dip Pen?

Fountain pen ink is always water-based, ensuring that the ink does not clog the small channels that exist in a fountain pen. Further, the ink is easy to wash out as well, as the ink will dry inside and on the fountain pen, which means you need to easily wash the pen when needed.

Fountain pen ink is made to flow easily, and when just washed with normal water, the ink will easily evaporate to ensure your pen is always clean. This means that when you dip your pen in ink, the ink will want to flow off the pen, something that dipping pens are not made to handle.

Dipping pens have channels that heavily depend on the surface tension of the ink to adhere to them, which means that when the ink is water-based, it has more trouble staying on the pen. The fountain pen ink can have more surface tension by thickening it to be much more oily.

Conclusion

Fountain pen ink can easily and comfortably be used with your dipping pen if you have done the right preparation. We always recommend that you have the right agents and thickeners to ensure that your fountain pen and dipping pen are thicker in ink.

Whatever you do, please don’t use dipping pen ink in your fountain pen!