MARKING INKS Marking Inks.—On account of the resistance it offers to acids and other chemicals, carbon, in the form of lampblack, is often used as the basis of marking inks. But carbon cannot be dissolved. Hence it must be held in suspension in some gummy or res inous liquid, and is not suitable for use with ordinary steel pens. Carbon marking inks are usually applied by means of a brush or a marking pen having a special point for this pur pose. To make a carbon marking ink, boil 2 ounces of shellac and 2 ounces of baking soda in 1 quart of soft water until the shellac is dissolved. Stir in fine lampblack to the proper consistency, and thin with water as desired.
Or dissolve 1 ounce of borax and 2 ounces of shellac in 1 quart of water with gentle heat. Add 1 ounce of mucilage, and stir in equal quantities of indigo and lampblack to the right color and consistency.
Or dissolve with gentle heat 25 grains of powdered copal in 3i ounces of oil of lavender. Add Pi grains of lampblack and grain of indigo. Used for marking glass bottles and other vessels containing chemical sub stances of a corrosive nature.
India Ink.—India or China ink is finely divided carbon mixed with a solution of gum arabic or glue, dried in wooden molds, and coated with animal wax. It is applied with a wet brush or by diluting a small quantity in water.
To test India ink, draw a number of lines of different thicknesses on a piece of drawing paper. When bone dry, apply water with a sponge. If the ink runs, it is of poor quality.
To make a substitute for India ink, boil an old kid glove in water until it forms a thick size, which when cool is of a jellylike consistency. Hold a cold plate in the flame, of a candle, and while it is still warm mix the lampblack which adheres to the plate with the size thus obtained. This mix ture has all the qualities of 22 first class India ink. This is a good dye with which to renovate black gloves that have become defaced.
Indelible Ink. — The old-fashioned nitrate-of-silver ink is still commonly used for marking linen and for simi lar purposes. To make an indelible
ink, dissolve 1 ounce of nitrate of sil ver in 2i ounces of liquid ammonia. Dissolve separately with gentle heat 1/ ounces of gum arabic and ounces of carbonate of soda crystals. Mix the two solutions and let stand in a warm place. Add a few drops of solution of magenta.
Or dissolve 1 ounce of nitrate of silver in 4 ounces of distilled water. Add strong liquid ammonia to dis solve the resulting sediment. Stir in ounce of gum arabic and ounce of sap green or powdered indigo.
The most convenient way to apply indelible inks to linen is to have a brass stencil cut with the family name or monogram. Lay this over the linen and with a soft brush apply the ink through the cut-out spaces. A little practice on a piece of old linen will enable anyone to do this work quickly and well. The above inks are ready to be applied.
Or another way of using marking inks is to first dip the linen in a solu tion called the mordant, and after wards apply the ink, which then forms a chemical compound with the fibers of the fabric. To do this, first mois ten the linen with a mordant com posed of 2 ounces of baking soda and 1 ounce of gum arabic dissolved with gentle heat in 8 ounces of water. Dry with a warm flatiron, and apply an ink composed of 1 ounce of nitrate of silver, 14 ounces of distilled water, and 1 ounce of sap green. This must be applied with a quill pen, a gold pen, or a brush, as a steel pen will de compose the ink.
Black Stencil Ink. — Rub to a smooth paste 4 ounces of lampblack and 8 ounces of Prussian blue with a little glycerin. Add 6 ounces of gum arable dissolved with gentle heat in a small amount of water, and thin with glycerin to the right consistency.
Or dissolve 1 ounce of aniline blue in 1 pint of water, and apply with a sponge.
Or dissolve 1 ounce of asphaltum in 4 ounces of turpentine, stir in lampblack to color, and thin with turpentine as required.