Increasing Pilot Metropolitan Ink Capacity?

[Alex-Diamine]

Hey guys, I have a Pilot Metropolitan and I love it. The only thing that I HATE about this pen is the limitation of the filling system. I hate the squeeze converter, but I hate that the con-50 has less ink capacity, yet it is the most practical converter. I don't have an ink syringe to re-fill the cartridges, so I'm wondering is there any way to custom make a converter that is a piston filling system? Or even modify a converter to fit the Metro, like a standard international? If any of you have any links on how to make your own filling systems that would be amazing.

[maverink]

i use my dropper to fill the cartidge no need for a syringe

[Giordana]

I agree that using the cartridge will give you more capacity. However, of you need MORE than that, maybe consider turning the cartridge into a bulb filler. I don't own the Metropolitan so I don't know of there's space enough for that. Here's a link of what I'm referring to regarding the bulb filler conversion:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/241399-Squeeze-sac-filler-mod-for-cartridges

[Hooker56]

Alex,

 

Go to the pharmacy. Take your pen and explain what you're trying to do to the pharmacist. I'd bet they'll sell you a syringe and possibly the needle to go with it. If not the needle, then a plastic IV insert that will fit your cartridge hole.

 

Worth a try. Good luck.

[Tberry010]

Most Tractor Supply stores and many farm supply stores carry syringes for animal use which do fine for cartridge refill. Not expensive either. Many pharmacies will sell, or maybe give you, a syringe for insulin. Cost? Maybe a quarter.

[Sasha Royale]

I would advise against modifications. You would be asking for a leak, at the most inopportune time.

Is it so hard to be near a bottle of ink ? Personally, I enjoy the ritual of filling my fountain pen.

 

Believe it or not ? A tractor supply store recently opened near my home. (I can tell that nobody

believes me.) I'm gonna check it out. "Cabe's , I think. " Tractor supply store ?

Edited August 19, 2014 by Sasha Royale

[Hooker56]

Sasha,

 

Go figure...Tractors & fountain pens!

[alc3261]

The UK Metros take Standard International - I've no idea why they are different. I've got UK ones (MR) - standard int, USA ones (Metropolitan) - proprietary Pilot and Japanese ones (Cocoon) - proprietary Pilot. Go figure!!

[Alex-Diamine]

Thanks for the replies here! I'm trying to step away from the bulb refilling system. I am looking for a way to make a larger piston filling system. I want the con-50 for my pen, but I don't want the trade off of lower ink capacity, so I'm wondering if there is some converter besides one that involves a squeeze sac, or any type of squeezing method, even re-filling cartridges, that will allow me to use the Pilot Metropolitan with a piston converter. The con-20 and the cartridges all have about .9 ml of ink capacity, the con-50 has about .7 ml after removing the agitator. It's not a terrible a mount of difference but I'm in college and write a lot. I would like to have about 1.0 ml of ink without using bulb converters. I don't like it because I can't see the ink inside, I don't know where the ink level is at and I just don't like squeezing the tube. Yes I'm being picky because I want to know if it's possible. I switch inks often, and it's easiest to expel all ink from a piston converter and I enjoy using them, I enjoy filling the pen with a piston converter where I can see each filling in how full it is. Refilling cartridges sounds annoying and personally that's what I'm trying to avoid.

[mhosea]

I think you might be surprised how much the Con-50 holds. It has about the same capacity as a standard international converter. The converter itself can only hold about 0.6ml or so, same as a Schmidt standard international, but if I cycle it a few times to saturate the feed, the total amount of ink taken up in my Pilot Celemo is apparently about 0.9ml, which is not bad. A refilled Pilot cartridge can hold about 1ml.

Edited August 22, 2014 by mhosea

[Icywolfe]

Alex,

 

Go to the pharmacy. Take your pen and explain what you're trying to do to the pharmacist. I'd bet they'll sell you a syringe and possibly the needle to go with it. If not the needle, then a plastic IV insert that will fit your cartridge hole.

 

Worth a try. Good luck.

Make sure the security guard or a cop isn't around. I had a cop and the phramaist look at me crazy, before when I tried that.

 

It's better to buy those online.

[donwinn]

Will the Con-70 fit into the Metro? I have a Con-70 in my C742, but don't want to remove and test. Call me lazy and not wanting to risk a mess from playing with ink-filled converters.

[alc3261]

I believe not.

[risingsun]

It has been said already, but your best bet is refilling the cartridge with a syringe (or just buy a bunch of them already filled). It is not as bad as it sounds, and the cartridge capacity really will last quite a while. Furthermore, the Pilot carts are a breeze to clean out compared to other brands.

[flighter51]

Absolutely LOVE mine. Thought it was a great pen and then Danny Harris showed me how easy it was to switch out the nib on a Plumix with the Metrropolitan and voila! The plumix has a fun nib but no clip. The Metropolitan solves that. I think it is great and can see how you want more ink capacity. I use an eyedropper to refil my cartridges.

 

Happy Pen Hunting,

 

Fernando Padilla

Arkansas Pen Club

Treasurer

[sean1e]

A quick search on ebay will get you some ink syringes for less than $5 (i got 5 for £3 here in the UK). Not looked back as the main solution for refilling "awkward" pens using empty cartridges... Best of luck,

[bone215]

I refill the cartridges. Love the pen.

 

Regards,

[ac12]

Carry a second pen, the Metro is inexpensive enough to have 2 of them.

When pen #1 runs dry switch to pen #2.

That is what I did in college, I used 2 Parker 45s.

[Chris Rozon]

Those thin straws you stir coffee with are perfect for moving ink around in.

[etaylor33]

I have several Pilots. I've been refilling the cartridges and that gives me plenty of ink and I can see how much ink I have left. I tried the squeeze converter and it's ok, but never know how much ink you have in it, drove me up a wall. I just got two con-50 converters because I can see how much ink I have, I just got a load of sample inks, so lower capacity is a plus, I can swap out inks faster with the twisty converter than refilling only half a cartridge. If this doesn't work for me, I'll just go the half or quarter fill hassle with the cartridges. Just something new to try in this wonderful hobby. Just satisfied my curiosity regarding difference between 1.1 mm, 1.3 mm and 3.8 mm stubs. Alot of fun.