• Voltaic Arc
  • Voltaic Arc
  • Voltaic Arc
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Fountain Pen Ink

Voltaic Arc

PN100165

Vessel & Volume
$17
$17
$17
Free shipping offer* $75+

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Orders Ship From Pennsylvania

Voltaic is a vivid dark blue to blue-black that sparks with a rich merlot sheen in saturation for an alternating current of a finish.

*Fountain pen ink sheen properties are best expressed when the ink is saturated on slightly hydrophobic papers like Tomoe River or Rhodia. Get the best results with a wet line. Visible coloring will vary drastically by paper type and saturation.

Part of the Keystone Formula fountain pen ink line, Voltaic Arc is built with traditional water-soluble dye colorants. Our ink color swatch is produced with a cotton swab on Tomoe River paper and writing sample with a German medium nib. The 50mL volume will provide approximately 62 standard converter refills assuming a 0.8mL draw. Glass bottles arrive prepared in our beautifully foiled Birmingham Pen Co. gift box.

Voltaic Arc
Voltaic Arc
Voltaic Arc

Technician Log
  • Colorant Class: Water-soluble dye.
  • Saturation Profile: Rich colorant density.
  • Vehicle Architecture: High-purity aqueous diluent with additives for rheology, hygroscopy, lubrication, surface tension, and biostatic stability.
  • Application Note: Optimal performance achieved with wet or medium+ nib geometry.
  • Maintenance Protocol: Increased pen cleaning frequency recommended.
  • Substrate Interaction: Secondary chromatic "sheen" properties manifest in saturation on coated "fountain-pen-friendly" papers.
  • Molecular Stability: Contains standard fountain pen ink dye. Use environmental hygiene and UV-mitigation typical for fountain pen inks to maintain color persistence on paper.
  • Crystalline Integrity: Surface-level crystalline "sheen" deposits are non-lightfast and prone to photochemical degradation (universal among sheening inks).
  • Sample Recipe: 1 part Gunpowder, 1 part Tesla Coil
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A Chemistry Of Color

How It's Made

Our fountain pen ink formulas are developed in-house using fine colorant and a meticulously tuned vehicle. Every bottle reflects our commitment to performance, value, and creative exploration.

Formula Guide

We've compartmentalized our fountain pen ink recipes into four principal categories characterized by differentiating elements of the colorant component in the formula. A colorant is a dye or pigment that exhibits color. An ink vehicle is a series of chemicals used to transport colorant from storage reservoir to substrate (paper in our case). 

Keystone Formula inks are engineered using water-soluble dyes to produce a broad spectrum of colors with a variety of unique and desirable writing properties. Fitting the bill for a traditional fountain pen ink, this series by far the most popular. 

Delicate Formula inks are constructed with dyes selected for both performance and washability. Colors in this series will clean easily from most fabrics and surfaces with soap and water.

Everlasting Formula inks are compounded with pigmented colorants to produce highly water-resistant and archival properties on most papers.

Twinkle Formula inks are formulated using hybrid dye and pigment combinations to create a unique twinkling luster. 

Sample Recipe

1 Part Gunpowder

1 Part Tesla Coil

Prepared In Pennsylvania

  • From The Maker

    Skip the middleman and get the best experience by purchasing directly from a maker. As a tiny Pennsylvania based manufacturer, we're here to stand behind your purchase with expert guidance and support.

  • Packed With Care

    Glass bottles are cartoned and individually wrapped in repurposable cellulose wadding for added cushioning and protection in transit. Meticulous care is applied to every package to ensure product arrives safely and ready to enjoy.

  • Ships From PA

    All of our packages ship from Pennsylvania within 1-2 business days on average, unless otherwise prominently noted in the product description.

  • Free Freight Offer

    Free shipping offer* active for orders $75+ within the continental USA.

    A flat $9 shipping rate is available for all other orders continental U.S. with calculated rates for Alaska & Hawaii.

    International shipping is not available.
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Quality In The Details

Our fountain pen ink formulas are developed in-house using fine colorant and a meticulously tuned vehicle. Every bottle reflects our commitment to performance, value, and creative exploration.