I have used ink cartridges for years. However, within the last 2 years I am moving more to using ink bottles, more variety in colors.

I have noticed that the ink converters are not that consistent, or could it be me.

With some converters I have to attempt to draw in ink 2 or 3 times before the ink finally starts to flow. In addition, I get a lot of air bubbles. I do feel that I have the converter in securely. Also, should I flush water thru the pen and converter on a timely basis to keep clean?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Well, you don't need to clean your pen at all unless you leave it filled and then don't use it for months.
As to any bubbles (which I find conspicuous) all you need to do is invert the pen after filling (i.e. with the nib pointing upwards) and then expire carefully any air until the first drop of ink starts to land on your fingrs. No joke.

Mike

framos917...
Great question on the converters. There can be differences among brand of converters and within even variation within the same brand of converter.
You might also want to check that the converter is properly installed and forming a tight seal with the nib feeder. Once you have checked that, make
sure the nib is fully submerged in the ink throughout the entire filling process.

These are obviously general comments at this point. If you can provide some additional details I may be able to be of more assistance to you. I hope
this helps. Enjoy your pens.

Regards,
Vintner

try filling and refilling with the section touching or slightly under the ink surface. This should allow enough ink to be pulled up into the converter.

Kurt

It can also depend on the pen you've got. There's a collector-like object inside the section of a Waterman Phileas, for example, that steals some volume from the initial draw on a converter, and the only answer it to run the piston down when you finally see ink entering the chamber and start again. Kurt's suggestion is also very good-- if the ink level isn't above the leading edge of the section, air ingestion is possible.



YES. A pen will eventually strangle on residues in the feed otherwise. That is the voice of earlier, less informed experience.

Thanks for all the great advice. After more trial and errors, it seems I have problems only with my Lamy Safaris. I have tried 2 different Lamy converters with same results. My Duke Germany, MB, and Acme pens are all filling just fine. I will have to check to see what the specific issue is with my Lamy pens.

Thanks again

From my personal perspective, I have avoided all the mess of attempting to fill a converter through the nib unit. I take a syringe and fill the converter with ink then mount it to the nib section. Yes, it takes a bit to get the ink to flow and then you are left with a little less ink in the converter, but that is easily solved by removing the converter and squirting in a little more ink. This has worked very well for me and it keeps the nib section a bit cleaner. It also limits the amount of ink I get on myself. I, also, follow the same process for reusing empty ink cartidges. Often times I have found that a resued ink cartridge creates a better seal with the nib unit that some converters do. (This is very definately the case with most of my Pilot VP's.)

Good luck,

Me too... I thought I was the only one doing this. Kinda defeats the purpose of a converter, but it is much neater.

But at the same time you do not get the added bonus of having the feed flushed out. So there is a benefit in filling throught the nib unit.
K

You're welcome. Good luck.

I keep reading about the use of syringes in ink filling. I have not attempted that before, willing to try. Do you just get a regular syringe at the drug stores? Pardon my ignorance here; I used to give our dog allergy shots. Is this the same type of syringe that you use?

Thanks

They work fine. My daughter works in a vet's office, so this is where I get them. Just be sure not to stab yourself with a syringe full of ink. It couldn't possibly be good for you. A blunt needle would probably be best.

I use this technique for both cartridges and converters. No muss, no fuss.

Disposable syringes are pretty much all the same, regardless of their purpose. Those sold for dispensing glue and similar uses probably should not be assumed to be sterile, though.

framous917, I usually have to empty and refill converters two and three times to get them completely full, no matter what the converter's make. This has been the case for decades. What you are describing I would call normal and a simple fact of life.

How do you avoid the converter's losing its tight seal to the nib unit over many repetitions of taking-off-and-replacing-when-filled?