Ink Ball

[Melnicki]

So... I found a few posts on the web about converting a Kaweco Sport Ink Ball from a cartridge-rollerball to an eyedropper-rollerball, (put wax or grease on the inside threads). When full, it will (supposedly) hold an incredible amount of ink (and it's a very small pen), and to boot: the pen will have the best ink use efficiency (Nathan Noodler has done some word-counting, says it's more efficient than the most efficient FP's -- though won't the nib make all the difference?)

 

So, I got one (two! they're cheap! cheap plastic, no kidding. it squeaks at the threads)... I plugged in the ink cartridgethat came with it (a blue, no idea what brand). I figured I would just see what it does on its own, before I fill it up with (a lot of) my precious Noodler's... The result was a pen that leaves an incredibly fat, wet line. There was no possible way this pen could conserve ink usage...

 

So I switched cartridges to another cheapo I had in another pen... It performed slightly better (but still difficult to resolve small lettering)... So I started to suspect it was the cheapo ink...

 

I took an empty cartridge and put some Noodler's (golden brown) in it. Suddenly, the pen performs a believable thin line. But if you have used Golden Brown before, you know that it is not very dark (I had forgotten).. this ink performs best with a fatter line (so use a wet writer or a broader nib)... So now I'm curious to try my other Noodler's... but I've got to either clean out a new cartridge, or use up the whole one with Golden Brown in it (which might take a while, if Nathan is correct)... I believe Nathan did his research with Noodler's Black in it. I don't have that ink. I have (Sequoia, Antietam, Legal Lapis, Iraqi Indigo, Eternal Brown, Golden Brown, and Beaver)... Which of these do you think will go well in it (which has flow characteristics similar to Noodler's Black? Or which has a flow slightly better than Golden Brown? I might try the Sequoia next, just because it's the darkest I own (I hate it, by the way... I can't see ANY green in it!!!)

 

I'll try to remember to take some personal pictures (and scans of the writing) later on)...

 

Cheers,

MM.