How to Make Modern Ink

Modern ink can be stored in a jar.

Ink or writing fluid is made by a chemical reaction that darkens at first, but fades over time. Many recipes combine black tea and vinegar for the chemical reaction and add gum as a thickener. Many different cultures used gallotannate ink (also called gall ink) for centuries for their documents and artwork. Hundreds of different recipes to make gall ink are in existence. Spies wrote in invisible ink for espionage purposes, but today children make their own version with lemon juice.

Things You'll Need

• Fine steel wool
• Kerosene
• White vinegar
• Mucilage
• Water
• Several containers
• Egg yolk
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 tsp. gum arabic
• Small bowl
• 1/2 tsp. lamp black
• Small glass jar
• Large black tea bags
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• Lemon
• Paper
• Toothpick
• Candle

Instructions

1. Make a traditional iron gall ink from a chemical reaction. Fill a jar with steel wool cleaned with kerosene. Pour vinegar over the steel wool in the jar and seal; let the jar stand overnight. Brew a strong tea with 4 tea bags and 1/2 cup boiling water. Steep the tea for 15 minutes. Let the tea cool, then mix equal parts tea and vinegar solution together in another container. Add a little mucilage (a thick, sticky sap from plants used as a thickener) to the ink. Use the ink now or save in a glass jar. The ink will darken with age.

2. Make a basic black ink by mixing an egg yolk, honey, gum arabic or acacia powder in a small bowl. Add 1/2 tsp. of lamp black (a coloring pigment used in cements, crayons, printing inks, and other household items) or enough to thicken the liquid. Pour the black ink into a jar, then seal tightly. Add small amounts of water to the ink to dilute it so it flows smoothly. Store the jar in the refrigerator.

3. Make a brown ink by brewing a strong tea from 4 large tea bags with 1/2 cup boiling water. Cool the tea and add 1 tsp. of gum arabic to thicken.

4. Make invisible ink by squeezing a lemon into a small bowl. Write a note on paper with a toothpick dipped into the lemon juice. Let the writing dry. Hold the paper in front of a candle to read the message.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy gum arabic and mucilage online.

• Make the iron gall ink in a well-ventilated room.

References

• Make Ink: Make Ink
• Make Stuff: Formulas Making Your Own Ink

Resources

• The Ink Corrosion Website: How to Make Ink