Converter Question

[LadySeishou]

Just received a new Duke fountain pen (960 series) from Todd Nussbaum at ISellPens. It has a beautiful cloisonne design on the cap of a flying crane and a German iridium medium nib. When I opened the pen to check out the converter I found this:

 

http://i41.tinypic.com/29ctfls.jpg

 

I can't find any reference to it in the pen's papers and suspect that the "spare part" is a mistake but just in case, does anyone know if the loose spring serves some sort of purpose? It does slide freely in the tube. Should I anticipate any problem if I were to leave the spring in there?

[Silvermink]

Might be to break surface tension (so ink doesn't get stuck in the converter), though a little ball is more customary. I can't think of where else in the pen they'd use a tight spring like that, so...

Edited July 4, 2009 by Silvermink

[Possum Hill]

Just received a new Duke fountain pen (960 series) from Todd Nussbaum at ISellPens. It has a beautiful cloisonne design on the cap of a flying crane and a German iridium medium nib. When I opened the pen to check out the converter I found this:

 

http://i41.tinypic.com/29ctfls.jpg

 

I can't find any reference to it in the pen's papers and suspect that the "spare part" is a mistake but just in case, does anyone know if the loose spring serves some sort of purpose? It does slide freely in the tube. Should I anticipate any problem if I were to leave the spring in there?

As Silvermink suggests, it is probably there to disturb the meniscus at the ink to air boundary, so that the ink will behave itself in the converter.

 

I recall a post about someone inserting springs into converters for that purpose. I had the impression that the springs he used were not so tightly coiled as the one shown.

[coldman]

I've seen this in several other Chinese converters, so it's done on purpose.

[FaustianSlip]

Yup, it's deliberate- I just got a Duke pen today (the "Olympic torch" one, if anyone knows it), and it has the same thing going on with the converter. Haven't inked it yet, as I was heading out the door to work when it came in, but I'll try and post about how it works out. I've heard pretty positive stuff about Duke pens here.

[Daosus]

I've seen this in a Parker converter as well. It was from a Vector from a non-US market, which is maybe why not too many people have seen this.

[Pen2009]

So, is the surface tension issue a common problem with a converter unit? I have not heard about that problem with the piston filling mechanism, which shares the same mechanics with the converter unit.

[Paddler]

So, is the surface tension issue a common problem with a converter unit? I have not heard about that problem with the piston filling mechanism, which shares the same mechanics with the converter unit.

 

Yes, it is a very common problem. It is a problem in some cartridges too. The diameter of most cartridges is right on the edge of surface tension hang-up for some inks right from the get-go. Most converters are even smaller and present a larger problem for more inks. A spring or a little ball is inserted into the reservoir to fall through the meniscus and make the ink fall toward the feed when you turn the nib downward to write. This invention is a Band Aid for a poor design.

 

Paddler

 

[Possum Hill]

So, is the surface tension issue a common problem with a converter unit? I have not heard about that problem with the piston filling mechanism, which shares the same mechanics with the converter unit.

The diameter of the ink reservoir in a piston filler would probably be larger than the inside of a converter, so the problem would be less likely to occur.

[LadySeishou]

Thanks to all for the responses! You have given me the confidence to go ahead to try it out. It was surprising to see it as I have not come across this kind of fix before with my Lamy or Pilot converters before. It does put one in mind of a can of spray paint and the little metal ball that is inside that helps mix the paint when you shake the can!

 

Thanks again!

[FaustianSlip]

I've got a Parker converter that's exactly like that, except with a tiny metal ball instead of a spring. It's definitely a bit odd to hear that ball clicking around in there if I shake my pen or move it just the right way. Works just fine, though!

[shahrincamille]

That type of spring is even seen in the converter of my Montblanc 144 Solitaire

 

But I suppose it's good for the pen - my 144 starts immediately even if it's not used at all for weeks, and I've never experienced the 'feed starvation' commonly experienced in other c/c pens, in this 144

 

 

Shahrin