Inking Ahab Or Any Cartridge Convertor When Ink Bottle Is Low?

[NewPenMan]

great when you have that new bottle of ink and no trouble submerging the entire feed and nib, but when the ink gets low, I have found I get a lot of air and never a pen that's good and full.

 

Do people just accept this or resort to alternate means to fill their cartridge converters?

 

thank you!

[TheRealScubaSteve]

The easiest way is to use a blunt tipped syringe. Alternatively you can transfer the ink into a smaller container or sample vial and fill normally. With the syringe there is no need to wipe the nib or section, but you will need to prime it with a twist or two.

[NewPenMan]

so in that case, you simply remove the converter and fill it directly with the syringe?

 

Is there undo wear and tear that shortens the life of the nipple or the part that goes around it?

[Charles Rice]

Most of the time I dump what ever little is left into another nearly empty bottle. OK, colors are not all that great, but at least no PINK!!!

[TheRealScubaSteve]

so in that case, you simply remove the converter and fill it directly with the syringe?

 

Is there undo wear and tear that shortens the life of the nipple or the part that goes around it?

 

Yes and no. You could also pop the nib and feed but it's not worth worrying about.

Edited June 23, 2015 by TheRealScubaSteve

[TheRealScubaSteve]

Most of the time I dump what ever little is left into another nearly empty bottle. OK, colors are not all that great, but at least no PINK!!!

 

So much for dumping it down the drain.

[NewPenMan]

Most of the time I dump what ever little is left into another nearly empty bottle. OK, colors are not all that great, but at least no PINK!!!

 

do you end up with something like mud, or do you dump like into like? Do you use that FrankenInk?

 

If so, any samples you can share?

[Leftytoo]

I suggest you get hold of a syringe with a big diameter needle. I got one from my doctor. I cut off the sharp point for safety. You can use the syringe to fill cartridges. I have heard of people filling CCs by holding the pen pointing upwards, and simultaneously twisting back the piston with one hand and dripping in ink with the other.

 

Cartridges can be reused about a half dozen times, but eventually the nibble gets loose, and you may have an accident.

Bob

[domnortheast]

Decanting into a small sample vial works well (10 or 15ml). Beyond that the last dregs get tipped into my desk ink well for use in the dip pens.

[BookCat]

I put the last of the ink into a cheap eyedropper pen which is filled using a syringe. This usually gets the final few drops used up.

[Charles Rice]

 

do you end up with something like mud, or do you dump like into like? Do you use that FrankenInk?

 

If so, any samples you can share?

Like into like - if I can. My last was red + brown.

[torstar]

It's always about those last precious drops.

 

But nobody asks or talks about the hassle after getting about 1/3 into a Noodler's or Aurora bottle, a level that you cannot dip the nib into the bottle without a big mess...

[Charles Rice]

It's always about those last precious drops.

 

But nobody asks or talks about the hassle after getting about 1/3 into a Noodler's or Aurora bottle, a level that you cannot dip the nib into the bottle without a big mess...

Good idea to find an empty Sheaffer bottle (old style), or some other that works well with low levels of ink.

Edited June 23, 2015 by Charles Rice

[torstar]

Good idea to find an empty Sheaffer bottle (old style), or some other that works well with low levels of ink.

 

Good idea.

 

I have about 40-50 or so Noodler's bottles at various levels, when it gets low I shrug and move on to another bottle that hasn't been 1/3 drained so far...

[Starguard]

I picked up a twsbi ink well to cover situations where I need to get the last bit out of a bottle that's less than ideal once it's emptied. I also have the ink syringes too. No converter is going to last forever, but it's pretty easy to fill it up with the syringe or the twsbi, it's pretty slick how they have that set up.

[NewPenMan]

man these are all great ideas!

 

I wonder if the method used to refill a Pilot Varsity (a length of tubing at the nib/feed end, ink "pushed" in through a syringe, minus the needle) would work for CC pens.

 

I have some interesting experimenting ahead..

[Charles Rice]

man these are all great ideas!

 

I wonder if the method used to refill a Pilot Varsity (a length of tubing at the nib/feed end, ink "pushed" in through a syringe, minus the needle) would work for CC pens.

 

I have some interesting experimenting ahead..

Sure, it would work, but WHY?

 

Sounds like a guy who has a Bic Lighter in his pocket, but starts a fire by rubbing two sticks together.

[NewPenMan]

hah! I spoze it might seem that way. I don't want the mess I can envision from trying to stick an ahab deep down into that big bottle as the ink level gets low.

 

I am also concerned about wear and tear on the plastic parts taking the cc on and off..

 

Now, should I successfully convert these ahabs to eyedropper, be a moot point.

 

at the rate I'm using this ink up, it's going to be a long time before it's an issue..want to have some plan Bs ready beforehand.

[TheRealScubaSteve]

Sounds like tubing would be a lot more messy than filling normally. Plus, you'd need a syringe anyway. Just fill the converter with a syringe - the Ahab does not even have a nipple to wear out. O-rings can be replaced for $1.

[Charles Rice]

All this make me dump the last of my Akkerman Blue/Green into what was left of a bottle of Parker blue. Now I'll use the Akkerman bottle for what I have left of a mix of Noodler's Brown and Noodler's Red.