Vintage Pens And Waterproof Ink

[m2squad120th]

This is my first post on the Network so be easy on me if I mess up. I have been using a Lamy All-Star for a few years now and have decided to "step up" to the world of vintage pens. I have ordered a Shaeffer 440 and am awaiting it's arrival. After my order something occurred to me, how will it (and it's squeeze converter) handle my waterproof ink. I have been bouncing between De Atramentis Document Ink (green) and Noodler's Bad Green Gator. I need waterproof for my job and green is just "my" color. I hope I haven't ordered a great new pen that I can't really use so your comments would be helpful. Also I am always open to suggestions for more good waterproof greens. Thanks for your help and for reading my ramblings.

[Sandy1]

 

Hi,

 

No problem!

 

I found the most important thing about using 'high maintenance' inks is to not let them dry-out or stagnate in a pen. Use the pen on a routine/daily basis, and keep the ink reservoir topped-up. When re-filling the pen, I go through a few fill-flush cycles, which dissolves/dilutes any dry/stale ink, and fills the reservoir with fresh ink. (Use of a small filler bottle will keep the main volume of ink pristine.)

 

Every so often, I flush the pen with plain water, then follow-up with whatever level of chemical clean-up is necessary. I don't let the pen dry-out after flushing - just flick out the excess water, refill with the same ink, and carry on.

 

With the 440 and other c/c pens with inlaid/inset nibs, I have a length of soft [surgical] tubing that I gently slide over the nib so that it forms a seal on the section then backflush to get at any persistent inky bits hiding under the nib. (No clamps or rubber mallets required.)

 

Enjoy!

 

Bye,

S1

Edited July 17, 2015 by Sandy1

[amberleadavis]

Wow, that's a great idea.

[m2squad120th]

Thanks for the welcome and the reply. I'll dig a length of surgical tubing out of the supply cabnet. I am usually pretty funny about keeping my pens topped off so that shouldn't be a big deal of course with no ink window I'll have to guess. This sll takes a load off my mind I was worried since I'm not exactly sure the properties of those inks.

Thanks again and I am happy to be here. Lots of good info.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

If you have access to a fairly accurate postal scale, the volume of ink remaining can be gauged by weighing the pen. The difference in mass between the dry pen an the inked-up pen will give the amount of ink in the pen : ~1g / ml.

 

After a while you'll get a feel for the amount of ink remaining according to the amount that was written since the last top-up, which can be used to set your top-up frequency. As a matter of personal practice, I almost always top-up my daily writer when I come off duty.

 

Sheaffer does make transparent converters, which have good capacity.

 

For a back-up ink supply, Sheaffer cartridges can be refilled with your waterproof ink using a [blunt tip] syringe then sealed with a hot glue gun, a daub of silicone seal, etc. (Try some Sheaffer Turquoise.) Also, a small 5 - 15ml Nalgene bottle can serve as a go anywhere ink supply.

 

Oh, should you choose a Noodler's bulletproof ink, give it an almighty shake prior to splitting the main volume across smaller bottles.

Beware that the Noodler's bottles are filled to the brim, so can be a bit dodgy to open!

 

Bye,

S1

[Buzz_130]

Sandy1 gave you some great advice. I also have some vintage Sheaffers (and I really like the inlaid nibs as they have a very nice feel as the nib touches the paper), and I use a wide range of inks. My recommendation is to order a sample of both from your favorite online retailer and try them out. You'll get 2-3 fills off of the sample, and you'll get to use your normal work routine and paper with your new pen.

 

If you are up for some high maintenance inks and demand a waterproof characteristic, you may look at iron gall inks. KWZI makes four green IG inks and a green-gold.

 

Buzz

[amberleadavis]

Sandy's advice (and she's my hero), made me think about my Sheaffer and showing you the wonders of the cartridge. Someone around here shared the idea with me and I was originally opposed to it, but now, I love it.

 

[amberleadavis]

So, first off, the Sheaffer cartridge holds LOTS of ink which is good when you don't want to worry about ink. Next, you can see how much ink you have left.

 

[amberleadavis]

[amberleadavis]

[Randal6393]

Wow, Amber, that's a great how-to! Guess I may have to change one or two of my Sheaffers back to cartridge.

 

Enjoy,

[amberleadavis]

Wow, Amber, that's a great how-to! Guess I may have to change one or two of my Sheaffers back to cartridge.

 

Enjoy,

 

 

It was the squeeze cartridge converter that converted me back to cartridges.

[m2squad120th]

Thanks, amberleadavis, that is a huge ink cartridge (and a great looking pen). Is it a modern Sheaffer cartridge or a vintage one of some kind? I really may go that direction after a while. I wanted to mess around with the squeeze converter for a little while just for the novelty of it but for serious writing that converter looks like a great way to go. Did you have to do any modification to either the pen or the converter to get everything to work for you?

 

BTW, love the hand written explanation

Edited July 19, 2015 by m2squad120th

[amberleadavis]

[amberleadavis]

[m2squad120th]

Thanks again. I am patiently( well not really) awaiting the arrival of my 440. I'll let you all know how it does when it gets here!

[m2squad120th]

Got it in last night, cleaned it up and am trying it out today. The nib makes a nice thin line that I love smaller than my Lamy EF. The pen feels good in the hand posted and unposted the cap is a little heavy but I kinda like it. It's not "super buttery smooth" on the cheap copy paper we have at work but it definitely feels good to write with. The one very interesting thing I noticed is the nib is nowhere near as creepy with Bad Gator Green as the Lamy. All in all it's a neat little pen and I can't wait to write more with it. Thanks for all the help guys (and gals)

 

On a side note I have a really nice picture with it and the Lamy but I can't figure out how to post pics right now. May give it a shot later.

Edited July 24, 2015 by m2squad120th

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

Many thanks for the update

 

As for the 'back-weighting' when the metal cap is posted, I grasp the pen a bit higher on the section which shifts the center of mass just a bit. That might also have the pen running at a lower angle to the paper, which I find is very comfy with the Waverley-shape nibs.

Oh, try using the nib inverted (feed uppermost) to give a very narrow dry line.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited July 24, 2015 by Sandy1

[m2squad120th]

Still can't get a picture to upload so no pics yet and I can't really seem to figure out how to do one. If there are any suggestions I'll take them.

 

I've been using it for about a week and I really like it. It also has no real nib creep with the BGG ink which is good. but, it seems like the "sweet spot" is small, when I hit it it writes great, if I don't it's a little scratchy. I looked at the tines through a loupe and to my untrained eye they look straight. I'm just going to keep using it and see how it soothes up.

[amberleadavis]

To upload pictures, go to the top of the page and hit the upload button. Once you have it uploaded, then use the little tree button (in the reply to this topic area under the A / Happy Face) and copy the URL of the uploaded photo. If you get really confused, send the photo to me and I'll upload it the first few times.