Hi.

Trying to find out if by mixing a few not-fancy compounds, a thick ink can be made, like the ones used in ballpoint pens.

 

Remember those high school experiments that produce colored solutions... Can they be made in a viscous form?

How are ballpoint inks made?

I believe a lot of early inks were just different kinds of soot, such as from wood or petroleum, mixed with animal glue (bone-glue, basically gelatin). Maybe soot and gelatin packets would work?

 

I know the other major type of historical ink was iron gall ink - it's corrosive to paper in the long term, so its been a big headache for historical preservationists. I believe its made of iron salts.. not sure of the rest of the ingredients.

 

Okay quick wikipedia check: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_gall_ink

 

Ferrous sulfate (iron salt), plant tannins, and gum arabic as a binder... I wouldn't try this one though.