Probably a futile question - Ink in tubes

Hello,

I am trying desperately to acquire the basic pantone colors in oil based tubes. I’m sure that Dave is quite busy, as I’ve sent a few emails and I don’t want to keep pestering. Same old argument, blah blah blah - I am just a SMALL home based hobbyist studio, and don’t have the need (or means) to purchase a pound of each.

So… I’m wondering - do any of you out there have new or mostly full tubes of oil based ink in the 15 pantone basics that you’re willing to sell to me? As of now I have no colors, so I’m open to just about anything.

And yes… I’ve already contacted my local Xpedx, Gansink (which happens to be practically in my back yard!), and BCT… I have searched high and low - and no one is offering Pantone oil based inks in anything less than 1lb.

Thanks,
Melissa

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Raven sells ink in tubes on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/trollop?ref=seller_info
I think she may acquire her ink from Dave, but you can always just send her a message through Etsy. Good Luck.

Consider buying a set of 1# cans of Gans Polyacrylic. It’ll run you about $300 which is about twice what you’d pay for the ink in tubes, but you’d get 3-4x as much ink. Polyacrylic won’t skin in the can, and performs like oil on coated stock while staying open on the press like rubber. I use Gans Polyacrylic for my pantone mixing base inks.

take a look at ebay, you can find some ink in tubes, I don’t know if are good quality.
I bought this brand in gold color:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIFESTYLE-CRAFTS-LETTERPRESS-GOLD-INK-NIP-QUICKUTZ-L-LP-INK-04-/120839524955?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2298d25b#ht_3351wt_956

I don’t know because I’ve not tested, yet.

Alan, how long have you had polyacrilyc ink on the shelf?
My guess is that any non-skinning ink, rubber or acrylic or soy, will solidify rather than skin and will have a shorter shelf-life than traditional oil-base inks; I have cans of each type of non oil-base ink that have solidified, where older oil-base inks still have useable ink under the skin, at 20 or even 40 years. The only oil-base ink that has solidified on me is a “no-drier” crayon black stone litho ink. It was nice while it lasted, but of two cans bought I won’t get through the first before it is dead.
I repeat, buy as needed; don’t buy PMS violet or purple or whatever until you need it.. And if you are a small user, ink in tubes is just a 1/4 pound each. Don’t buy more ink than you can actually use and charge off to customers, because otherwise it is legally hazardous waste.

gennebra,

Any luck with the QuickKutz ink?

John Barrett at Letterpressthings.com is selling some of Dave’s ink in tubes. I copied this off John’s website.

” Ink in Tubes Starter Kit: one 4.5+ oz. tube of Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Violet, Brown and Mixing White. $66.00 ($55.00 without the mixing white.)”

John Barrett at Letterpressthings.com is selling some of Dave’s ink in tubes. I copied this off John’s website.

” Ink in Tubes Starter Kit: one 4.5+ oz. tube of Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Violet, Brown and Mixing White. $66.00 ($55.00 without the mixing white.)”

For those needing smaller amounts of ink, a bit of shameless self-promotion:
Time permitting, I do put ink into tubes, and my “quarter pound” tubes usually hold about 5 oz. Anyone interested can e-mail me at “Ink (at) ORCHIDesign.com” for more info, or for my 2012 Oil Base Ink Color List (non-specialty colors, list just now available) but please keep in mind that Ink in Tubes is a tiny hobby operation (really just an excuse to play with handsetting type and printing labels & boxes!) and this time of year I may be slow to reply (and ship) due to helping my wife sell at orchid shows. As mentioned above, both Raven at Trollop Press and John at Letterpress Things carry selected colors of Ink in Tubes and may be able to ship more quickly than I can.

Thanks! Dave Robison, the Ink in Tubes Guy
(who is writing this post at work, don’t tell my boss…)

Has anyone heard from Dave Robison (the Ink in Tubes provider) recently? I placed an order and haven’t heard from him now since March 13th.

I know he does it part-time, and he did warn me he’d be away for one week, but it seems odd that he hasn’t replied to any of my messages since then, especially as I’m only asking for an ETA and not giving him a hard time!

Alternatively, does anyone know an alternative provider of fluoresecent inks in tubes - soy or oil based? I tried Letterpress Things already, they don’t have any stock.

Apologies to anyone waiting to hear from me. Since March 13, my wife and I have spent 14 days (of the 20) selling at three different orchid shows, two of which were several hours away (and where I had no computer even if I’d had time to check e-mail), and all of which required more time than I expected; and in-between there was the day job too… Just took a long lunch from work to get most of the truck unloaded (after getting home about midnight last night), so that means I can get back to Ink in Tubes tonight after work.

Dave