Standard Converter Dimensions And Pilot Mr

[Bob123]

Hello everyone!

 

As the title suggests I have some difficulty finding the right converter for the pilot mr ( European metropolitan which is supposed to take standard intern. cartridge and converters ). There have been many discussions here in this forum about this pen but none of them ever reached a definite conclusion as to what converter actually fits. Some people recommended the Faber castell, others the Pelikan and so on but equal amount of people said otherwise ...

So, I did something different, I measured the inner diameter of the cartridge that came with the pen and found it to be 2mm, so theoretically we must find a converter with similar inner diameter. And here's my question to the more experienced pen owners of this forum and anyone who has some converter not filled with ink: Can you measure the inner diameter and post here if you find some at 2mm? (also the cartridge that came with the pen is 3,8 cm long and has a tube 7mm thick for reference).

 

And now a little backstory , I recently found out about the wonderful world of pens and since I write a lot on a daily basis I decided to give it a try, so I bought a pen that many recommend for beginners, the pilot mr. I ordered with it a Faber castell converter but the hole of the converter is to narrow to fit the pen's feed tube. ( I think what many refer to as faber castell converter is, in fact, the graf von faber castell converter, but I might be wrong, so maybe that's why it didn't fit my pen ). Now, I modified my converter and managed to get it working but it would be nice to find one that works out of the box...

 

All help is appreciated! Oh this is also my first post so I hope its in the right forum section

[ac12]

I think what you are referring to is the opening in the converter that goes over the nipple.

The problem is that the fit will be in the fraction of a mm. Like 2.05 vs 2.00mm. Even measuring to 0.1mm precision will be difficult and problematic for most of us. Without a caliper, I cannot reliably measure to better than 0.5 mm precision. And to make it even more difficult, even with a caliper, small inside diameters are much more difficult to measure than outside diameters.

 

Yes there is a variability in what is called a "standard international cartridge converter," as well as the pen.

• I have some pens where the section is smaller than others, so some international converters won't even go into the section, and can't even reach the nipple.

• I have some converters where the fit on the nipple is 'loose.' So it would leak ink, and I can't use that pen/converter comb. Maybe the nipple is under-size or the converter opening is over-size.

• I have some converters like yours, where the fit on the nipple is so tight that I cannot use that pen/converter combo, for fear of breaking the nipple. Maybe the nipple is over-size or the converter opening is under-size. I have a Waterman with a broken nipple, which may have been caused by using a converter that was too tight.

IOW the standard international converter is not universally standardized.

 

My only suggestion is to get a few other brands of converters and see if one will fit snugly; Schmidtt, Waterman, Kaweko, etc. Then use that converter. I know that is not what you wanted to hear.

[Panda74]

I have the Diplomat converter in my European Pilot MR2.

I also tried it with a Pelikan converter which was too loose, and the converter that came with the Jinhao 611, which fit, but I prefer twist converters like the Diplomat.

 

Please see here for a picture of my MR2 with the Diplomat converter: https://www.amazon.de/review/RKTYV4OW5R3T/ref=pe_1604851_66412761_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

 

I bought it from here, at 4.50 euro: https://www.mypens.de/index.php/de/Zubehoer-Diplomat/l-KAT57

If you live in the EU, shipping also costs 4.50 euro, but their minimum order is 15 euro.

To reach those 15 euro: they sell Visconti 50ml ink for 10 euro: https://www.mypens.de/index.php/de/Zubehoer-Visconti/l-KAT127

Edited January 18, 2017 by Panda74

[twdpens]

This topic comes up frequently.

 

You can find some useful info here: https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/452119250073317733/

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[twdpens]

I have the Diplomat converter in my European Pilot MR2.

I also tried it with a Pelikan converter which was too loose, and the converter that came with the Jinhao 611, which fit, but I prefer twist converters like the Diplomat.

 

The Diplomat converter is a Schmidt K5. The Pelikan converter is also a Schmidt K5. The reason you found the Pelikan converter loose was probably because it wasn't pushed in far enough (it can be a very tight fit - you have to push quite hard). When it's fully seated, there is 61mm of converter extending out of the grip section (see my link above).

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[twdpens]

I think what many refer to as faber castell converter is, in fact, the graf von faber castell converter, but I might be wrong,

Welcome to FPN. You may find this info useful:

 

Schmidt K2 converter (no front ring, translucent barrel, no step in wide metal band) = Faber Castell converter (also Visconti Rembrandt/van Gogh and others). The boxes that F-C converters come in even have K2 printed on them.

 

Schmidt K5 converter (with front ring, transparent barrel, step in wide metal band) = Graf von Faber Castell converter (also Pelikan, Diplomat and others).

 

Both are so-called standard size converters so will therefore fit pens that take standard cartridges, barrel space permitting. When you see a branded converter, chances are it's a common type like the Schmidt but with a name printed or engraved.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[Panda74]

The reason you found the Pelikan converter loose was probably because it wasn't pushed in far enough (it can be a very tight fit - you have to push quite hard). When it's fully seated, there is 61mm of converter extending out of the grip section (see my link above).

 

Yes, that must have been it, it wasn't loose, I just couldn't push it all the way in and that's why it appeared loose.

 

Of course I bow to your superior knowledge that these converters are created equal.

However - to my untutored eye - the Pelikan converter (left in the picture below) seems to have a smaller opening than the Diplomat converter (right in the picture):

 

 

 

[Bob123]

Thank you all very much for taking the time to reply! Especially Twdpens for all this usefull information, I had no idea that these converters are the same, and Panda74 for the diplomat suggestion ( and the photos ).

Also, Panda74 my faber castell converter was visibly smaller at the opening than the supposedly international standard cartridge that came with the pen, perhaps a manufacturer error? ( Or maybe they are made that way and you have to push them quite hard... )

 

Anyway, I will order one of these ( first the diplomat if I can find one )...