Parker Converters Are The Worst

[shamankl]

I have tried the sliding converters and they leak after a week, moving up I use the piston converters to find them with not enough pressure and bad walls that get ink stuck.For me the only solution in using these terrible piston converters is to twist the top a little every half a page. I have heard that Aurora converters work as well and wondered if anyone has tried them and solved my problems. Thanks ahead of time!

[jar]

I find that Parker converters and the Parker standard for cartridges and converters are the best most reliable of any I have used over the later half century and more.

 

No converter should have any pressure in it above ambient.

 

The Aurora and the old style ST Dupont converters are built to the Parker standard specs.

 

It sounds like you have problems that go far beyond the converters. What pens are you using, how are you filling them, what ink are you using?

[lsmith42]

Agreed about the sliding converters...

 

One solution I've found with a few different converters (Parker and Pilot among them) is to drop in a very small ball bearing... breaks up the surface tension quite effectively.

[shamankl]

I find that Parker converters and the Parker standard for cartridges and converters are the best most reliable of any I have used over the later half century and more.

 

No converter should have any pressure in it above ambient.

 

The Aurora and the old style ST Dupont converters are built to the Parker standard specs.

 

It sounds like you have problems that go far beyond the converters. What pens are you using, how are you filling them, what ink are you using?

 

im using a sonnet and waterman blue black, but you might be right ive been questioning that gold plated fine nib since i got it

I fill by putting the whole nib and a little more in the bottle.

Edited August 31, 2011 by shamankl

[OcalaFlGuy]

Sonnets have plated nibs?

 

I thought all their gold color (2 tone especially) nibs were 18k.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-Learn something everyday I guess

[shamankl]

Sonnets have plated nibs?

 

I thought all their gold color (2 tone especially) nibs were 18k.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-Learn something everyday I guess

 

no the cheaper ones have gold plated nibs which is still gold color i guess if that confused you, i did have a real gold one that writes very well until someone dropped it.

Edited August 31, 2011 by shamankl

[jar]

I find that Parker converters and the Parker standard for cartridges and converters are the best most reliable of any I have used over the later half century and more.

 

No converter should have any pressure in it above ambient.

 

The Aurora and the old style ST Dupont converters are built to the Parker standard specs.

 

It sounds like you have problems that go far beyond the converters. What pens are you using, how are you filling them, what ink are you using?

 

im using a sonnet and waterman blue black, but you might be right ive been questioning that gold plated fine nib since i got it

I fill by putting the whole nib and a little more in the bottle.

 

There are several things I'd suggest you try.

 

First I suggest switching to cartridges for awhile and see if the problem continues.

 

If that solves teh problem, then next do a good flush of the nib, feed and converter using water and a drop or two of liquid dish washing detergent. Then flush but not too completely.

 

Refill with ink and see how it works.

 

Finally, look for a wet ink, one that is very free flowing. My standard fall back for testing is Waterman Blue.

[Russ Prechtl]

I agree with the posters above. I've never had a bit of trouble with my Parker converters. You must have other issues.

[rbadger332]

Agreed about the sliding converters...

 

One solution I've found with a few different converters (Parker and Pilot among them) is to drop in a very small ball bearing... breaks up the surface tension quite effectively.

The converter that came with my Sonnet already HAD a bearing in it. You should go to France and find the guy who stole your idea. But I love that converter. Haven't had a minutes trouble with it or anything else on the pen.

[piembi]

I agree with the posters above. I've never had a bit of trouble with my Parker converters. You must have other issues.

 

If that's the case I have other issues with several Sonnets, Parker 75s, a Parker 100 and the Duofolds - which is pretty much every c/c Parker pen I own.

 

The sliding converter is the worst. The piston converter is slightly better. I have switched to Rohrer & Klingner Royal Blue and J Herbin Bleu Nuit because those are very free flowing inks and the pen works for a while (about first half of the converters ink capacity). But sooner or later I have to twist the converter or the pen stops completely.

 

Sometimes I refill carts. Carts work better than the converters.

[akrishna59]

sadly i have also had issues with parker converters. as for the balls most converters that i have seen in recent pens have them, some have a spring like thingy.

 

sliding converters are the worst among parker converters. i had once asked a leading authorised retailer / repairer to fit the pen with a piston converter while buying.

 

rgds.

 

krishna.

[encremental]

Does anyone have a micrometer and could they measure the ball bearing size in the slide converter? It would be simple enough to buy a packet of them and put them in all my deluxe converters (I see they disassemble quite easily). Alternatively, I suppose I could buy slide converters and ritually sacrifice them ...

 

You would think that after all these years in the business, a company could get it right.

 

John

[richardandtracy]

I have a Parker Duofold International where the c/c needs to be wound down regularly. It's a 'Banner' feed pen & I gather this is a known fault with them.

 

I have not had the problem with any other Parker c/c.

I have to confess, my preferred c/c is the metal cartridge type with a squeezy window and those are as reliable as anything, but don't fit the latest pens (IM & Urban for certain).

 

The slide convertors are not good. I have rarely had one last more than 6 months of regular use before the seal part of the piston pops off the shaft.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

Edited September 1, 2011 by richardandtracy

[lsmith42]

Agreed about the sliding converters...

 

One solution I've found with a few different converters (Parker and Pilot among them) is to drop in a very small ball bearing... breaks up the surface tension quite effectively.

The converter that came with my Sonnet already HAD a bearing in it. You should go to France and find the guy who stole your idea. But I love that converter. Haven't had a minutes trouble with it or anything else on the pen.

I don't get to claim credit for the idea either. International and Waterman cartridges get this same result by default, and Mont Blanc use tiny springs in their converters. It all works. I think, though, that the bearings being slightly heavier (than the plastic ball that plugs cartridges before use) makes them a bit more active in keeping the ink moving.

 

My totally non-scientific evaluation, of course!

[F for Fountain]

Lamy converters seem to work well for me.

[piembi]

I have to confess, my preferred c/c is the metal cartridge type with a squeezy window and those are as reliable as anything, but don't fit the latest pens (IM & Urban for certain).

 

Are they available as parts anywhere?

So far I have seen only the piston (deluxe) and the slide converter.

[richardandtracy]

They come up as old stock at shows & occasionally on e-Bay. I saw a good number at LWES last year - possibly several hundred at prices ranging from £2.50 to £4.50 each.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Korybas]

I have tried the sliding converters and they leak after a week, moving up I use the piston converters to find them with not enough pressure and bad walls that get ink stuck.For me the only solution in using these terrible piston converters is to twist the top a little every half a page. I have heard that Aurora converters work as well and wondered if anyone has tried them and solved my problems. Thanks ahead of time!

 

 

Alas alas, I had to twist the top a little every half a page too, to get ink flowing, in my Parker Duofold Cent converter (2002 Lapis model)....

It became sooo frustrating that I stopped using my Duofold altogether.... Really a shame, 'cause I liked the pen so much.... did not know that this was a general problem with Parker converters....

[jar]

I have tried the sliding converters and they leak after a week, moving up I use the piston converters to find them with not enough pressure and bad walls that get ink stuck.For me the only solution in using these terrible piston converters is to twist the top a little every half a page. I have heard that Aurora converters work as well and wondered if anyone has tried them and solved my problems. Thanks ahead of time!

 

 

Alas alas, I had to twist the top a little every half a page too, to get ink flowing, in my Parker Duofold Cent converter (2002 Lapis model)....

It became sooo frustrating that I stopped using my Duofold altogether.... Really a shame, 'cause I liked the pen so much.... did not know that this was a general problem with Parker converters....

 

It's not.

[stuartk]

I haven't had any trouble with Parker converters either. I used a squeeze-type in my Parker 75 for a number of years and then switched to a piston converter. I have since used a number of other Parker piston converters and also a slide one and haven't had any issues.

 

I've seen a few converters with ball bearings or springs in them. I should probably see if I can fit all of my piston-fill converters with them.