Transferring ink from a can to a tube

by F. Walker

There are a few reasons why one would want to transfer ink from a can to a tube. 

1. The hassle of opening a can and dealing with removing the numerous covers. 
2.  The ink has dried and you have to remove the top layer. 
3.  You can’t find the right colour in a small tube, like ultramarine. 
4.  You want to make your own ink and you need to store it. 
5. The considerable cost savings in buying the larger format. 
6.  The ease in transporting tubes as opposed to cans.
7.  Certain colours are out of stock in the smaller tubes, but available in the can.
8.  You use a lot of certain colours, such as white, black, primary colors and of course the extender.
9.  You want to stock up before the next pandemic in case production comes to a halt again.
10.  Cans are messy.

Here are the tools that you need (Fig. 1). It is really easy and not messy at all. 

1. A glass plate for the mixing
2. A large spatula
3. A rubber spatula
4. A smaller spatula
5. An empty tube (tube sizes are 37 ml and 125 ml. The tubes are available at Select Fine Arts on St Joseph Blvd in Orleans or directly from Kama Pigments in Montreal)
6. A pair of pliers
7. A good blade to clean up

Pull out a good amount of ink from the can onto your glass plate. 

Work the ink with a large spatula to soften it if it is too stiff. 

Loosen the cap to allow the ink to move down the tube more easily.

Turn the tube upside down; take the small spatula and start filling the tube (Fig. 2)

After each fill, tap the tube on the glass plate to help move the ink down the tube.

Continue filling the tube, constantly taping the cap lightly on the glass plate.

Fill the tube until it is about 2/3 full and start checking that you do not overfill (Fig. 3). You need the space towards the end to be able to shut the tube with your pliers.

Slowly start pressing down on the last 1/3 of the tube making sure that the ink doesn’t overflow. 

Take your pliers and squeeze the ends together (Fig. 4)

Fold the ends twice and squeeze tight. 

Take the rubber spatula and clean the inside walls of the can. 

Replace the many covers on the ink in the can.

The contents of the can will fill a large 125 ml tube, with enough left over to fill a 37 ml tube (Fig. 5). 

Identify the colour and clean up! (Fig. 6)