Old rubber-base ink

zbang
on 24 Nov 22 (00:58)

I have several cans of VanSon rubber base ink that must be 20+years old. They all have the plastic cover inside the lid but some are a good bit stiffer than others or than I expect. Are those just setting up in the can? I thought that rubber-base inks don’t do that.

Or, are some just naturally stiffer than others? I’m talking the difference between a sort of thick goopy syrup and cold margarine. (Haven’t had a chance to roll out some of the stiffer ones.)

Would a tiny bit of mineral spirits or the like thin them out? I hate to toss nearly full cans if they might be usable.

thanks.

Sharecropper Press
on 24 Nov 22 (13:04)

Updated 24 Nov 22 (14:53)

Boiled linseed oil, if the ink isn’t too far gone. Here’s an earlier discussion.
http://briarpress.org/31698

zbang
on 24 Nov 22 (15:16)

Ah, thanks for that. Turns out I have both boiled linseed oil and, I think, some of the Sterling varnish.