Lensometer ink

**varmint** · 10-13-2010, 10:04 AM

What does everyone use for marking ink for a lensometer that won't dry up after a day or two?

**Chris Ryser** · 10-13-2010, 10:07 AM

Use an oily and greasy type like the old chequewriter ink, will not dry up in many months.

**braheem24** · 10-13-2010, 10:07 AM

checkwriter ink,

May sound obvious but most inks advertise fast drying.

**varmint** · 10-13-2010, 10:10 AM

So Chris, do you offer any inks in your chemical portfolio? Maybe that would be an excuse for me to call & get the tinting chemicals I need.

**MikeAurelius** · 10-13-2010, 10:14 AM

I've been using a Pitney Bowes postal ink, but I'm going to be heading over to Office Depot here pretty soon to see what they have.

**varmint** · 10-13-2010, 10:21 AM

I bought some stamp pad ink (Higgins) at Staples, but it dries within a day. If you find anything at Office depot let me know, I can order from them online.

**varmint** · 10-13-2010, 10:25 AM

Ya know, I might stop by a place locally here called Cartridge World that refills inkjet cartridges today & see what the might have.

**DragonLensmanWV** · 10-13-2010, 12:33 PM

My favorite ( and I don't think they have it anymore ) is the Topcon lensometer ink. Fill up the sponges, and your ink will last until it's used up with no drying.
PSI has some hydrophobic lensometer ink that does stick to the AR coats, but, alas, it separates after a few days and you get a clear spot with a small ring of pigment.

**obxeyeguy** · 10-13-2010, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by DragonLensmanWV

My favorite ( and I don't think they have it anymore ) is the Topcon lensometer ink. Fill up the sponges, and your ink will last until it's used up with no drying.
PSI has some hydrophobic lensometer ink that does stick to the AR coats, but, alas, it separates after a few days and you get a clear spot with a small ring of pigment.

+1 to that. I boughtup the last 4 bottle a few years ago my supplier had, great stuff.

**uncut** · 10-13-2010, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by DragonLensmanWV

My favorite ( and I don't think they have it anymore ) is the Topcon lensometer ink. Fill up the sponges, and your ink will last until it's used up with no drying.
PSI has some hydrophobic lensometer ink that does stick to the AR coats, but, alas, it separates after a few days and you get a clear spot with a small ring of pigment.

+1again, Still have some and use it faithfully. Has anyone tried to add a drop of mineral oil to their favorite fast-dry or stamp-pad ink?

**fjpod** · 10-13-2010, 09:01 PM

The oily inks do stay wet longer, but they gum up the works. The water soluable ones dry up too quickly...so what we've been doing lately is use the water soluable and instead of adding more ink every other day, we add a little water to the sponge or roller. There's no perfect answer.

**varmint** · 10-14-2010, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by varmint

Ya know, I might stop by a place locally here called Cartridge World that refills inkjet cartridges today & see what the might have.

Cartridge World was no help...

I did find a bottle of topcon red & ordered one to see how it works. I usually used black, but red will work..

**DragonLensmanWV** · 10-14-2010, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by varmint

Cartridge World was no help...

I did find a bottle of topcon red & ordered one to see how it works. I usually used black, but red will work..

We all want to know - where did you find it? I have only two partial bottles left. I also use it on the Speede surface layout marker.

**craigandi** · 10-16-2010, 01:50 PM

try adding some boston conditioning solution to the ink well.

**varmint** · 10-16-2010, 05:52 PM

The place I found it was Amcon...but then they refused to sell it to me because they said I'm not in the optical profession. I told them I only had 35+ years in the field and sent them a link to the AZ State license board to prove I'm a licensed optician, but they did a search & discovered I'm also a licensed general contractor so that disqualified me?????
What a bunch of maroons...
I found some more at a lower price too at Lombart Instruments.

**Geirskogul** · 10-16-2010, 06:02 PM

WE can order ink directly from Hilco, or Vigor (Grobet) sells some too.

**MIOPE** · 10-19-2010, 02:36 PM

We has found that some inks are had or impossible to remove specially from poly. They tint the front surfave hardcoat. For many years we has used the black ink used to refill Canon computer printer cartriges.It is can be removed with water but easier with alchohol. it will dry faster than the oil base ink but i do not care to put a few drops every day.