Standard International Converters Fit Kaweco Sport (Kinda)

[loganrah]

While cleaning out a spare Baoer standard international converter (twist type) I put it down next to one of my Kaweco sports and realised the amount by which it is too long for the barrel is not very much. Then I thought, what if I cut a little bit off the end of the handle (for lack of a better word, the bit you twist). It would probably fit then.

So I gave it a try and it works!

 

You can't put the converter in the pen with the piston fully retracted so you lose quite a bit of volume. But you end up with almost the same amount as a piston type Kaweco converter but with a much better converter (twist type, so easier to fill, and not so prone to leaking as Kaweco ones seem to be). The converter is still fully functional.

 

Method:

 

1. Estimate how much you will need to cut off the end of the converter by putting it inside the sport and screwing it in so the barrel fits.

 

2. Once you are happy with your estimate mark this point on the handle in some manner (I scored it very lightly with a sharp knife).

 

3. Screw the piston all the way in so that when you cut through the handle you don't also cut through the piston shaft.

 

4. Cut the converter at the appropriate point. I tried with a craft knife but that didn't seem to work. One swift rock cup with a chefs knife did the trick (holding the point on the cutting board and pushing down on the handle).

 

N.B. 1. If you are going to try this use a cheap converter first (this Baoer one came with a Baoer 388, total cost of pen and converter including shipping $3): I found that the plastic was harder than I anticipated and not easy to cut cleanly. I imagine that it might sometimes snap or crack in unpredictable ways. Additionally you might get the length wrong the first time. Neither would be nice with a more expensive converter.

 

N.B. 2. Probably a good idea to dissemble the converter first just to check that it will work. Most important is to make sure the threads on the handle and shaft extend far enough that you can cut off some of the handle without affecting function.

 

Here are some photos:

 

1. The converter with the end of the handle cut off (roughly the maximum length it can remain and fit in the sport). You can see that the piston shaft protrudes from the end a reasonable amount, when we install it in the pen it will not be like that.

 

 

2. Similar.

 

 

3. With the piston depressed all the way, showing it works.

 

 

4. Piston depressed as far as it needs to be. Next to the barrel to show it will fit.

 

 

5. Next to a (filled) Kaweco piston style converter to show the relative ink capacity. This modification holds slightly less, but since these converters have always been reliable for me and much easier to fill I'm willing to take the hit.

 

 

Hope this helps someone.

Edited March 26, 2019 by loganrah

[bmillicent]

Great idea, but one issue: none of my many different Asian converters fit at the collar on any of my sports. How did you get yours to work?

[loganrah]

Great idea, but one issue: none of my many different Asian converters fit at the collar on any of my sports. How did you get yours to work?

 

The Baoer one just plugged straight in. It is a tiny bit looser than I would like, but doesn't seem to be a major issue yet. I haven't got any other standard international converters to check with unfortunately.

[bmillicent]

Looked around on Ebay and found Jinhao branded converters with metal center bands. Most of my Chinese converters are branded Lion or not at all. In addition, these are entirely plastic and lack metal hardware. Sold in 5 packs, I ordered 10 of the Jinhao branded ones. With a bit of luck, they will work for your nifty hack If they don't fit the Sport collar, they can still be used with other pens. Ten bucks (USD) for ten converters isn't bad. Will need to report back with results . . .

[bmillicent]

Well, the Jinhao converters arrived today. Sadly, they don't fit at the collar. I still can't find any suitable ones to use your hack <mutters incoherently> . These sports are such pains to use