A messy ink spill at the local library taught me a key lesson about mixing

I was at the downtown branch last month, testing a new mix of a blue black with some red sheen booster. I had my little kit with me, five sample vials and a blunt syringe. I got cocky, tried to mix directly in a cleaned-out ink bottle without a funnel. You can guess what happened. A full 3ml of dark, staining ink went right over the edge of the table and onto the library's old carpet. The panic was real. After the cleanup, the librarian was nice but clear: no more open ink work at the tables. That moment forced me to build a proper portable mixing station with a deep tray to catch spills, something I should have done from the start. What's your go-to method for mixing inks on the go without making a mess?

3 comments

3 Comments

seth_wells492mo ago

Ever try those tiny silicone makeup cups? They're cheap, they don't tip, and you can just wipe them clean. I keep a couple in my kit with a small dropper. After reading what happened to you, and seeing @daniel511's comment, it really hits home that a little prep saves a huge headache. My whole mixing routine got way less stressful once I stopped using the actual ink bottle as a workbench. A deep tray is smart for big jobs, but for quick tests, those little cups are my safety net.

daniel5112mo agoTop Commenter

I used to think mixing right in the bottle was fine, but your story about the deep tray is a game changer. I'm getting one now.

val2231mo ago

Honestly, I still mix in the bottle sometimes.