How do you refill/check the ink in a Pilot 78G?

[Arts11]

So I got my new Pilot 78G in the mail today and my early impressions have been extremely positive. The only "problem" is the filling mechanism. I am still very new to fountain pens in general, and this is my first converter style pen, so I'm kinda wondering if I'm filling it right. I understand I have to dip the nib into the ink bottle and then press down on that metal bar on the converter, but I never really get the impression that I'm filling up the sac very much (also when I squeeze the sac outside of the ink bottle nothing comes out, is that normal?). Compared to my piston-filler pen, I seem to run out of ink much faster with the 78G. Basically, am I filling it right, and is there anyway to check to see if I'm filling it to capacity?

[Silvermink]

You should squeeze it five or six times, I think (works on mine). If you're not sure if you're doing it right, you can always lift the nib out of the ink and squeeze the converter to see how much comes out.

Edited May 7, 2009 by Silvermink

[rwilsonedn]

Make sure that the pen is submerged in ink clear up onto the section. The whole nib and exposed part of the feed have to be beneath the surface of the ink. Otherwise, the pen will find ways to suck in air instead of ink. It's very clever at that.

ron

[Arts11]

You should squeeze it five or six times, I think (works on mine). If you're not sure if you're doing it right, you can always lift the nib out of the ink and squeeze the converter to see how much comes out.

So some ink should be coming out if I squeeze the converter after filling it?

 

Make sure that the pen is submerged in ink clear up onto the section. The whole nib and exposed part of the feed have to be beneath the surface of the ink. Otherwise, the pen will find ways to suck in air instead of ink. It's very clever at that.

ron

Thanks for the advice, but what is "the section?" Do you mean I should submerge my pen all the way past the beginning of the pen barrel? Oh, and what's that hole under the feed where the whole nib/feed apparatus attaches to the barrel, is it alright if ink gets in there? Edited May 8, 2009 by Arts11

[WendyNC]

The section is the part the nib is connected to and where most of us put our fingers. If you're filling a converter pen, you're unscrewing the barrel (the big part at the top, or the "body") from the section in order to access the converter.

 

So, you're standing there with the cap and barrel off the pen and what's left is the nib, the feed (part of which is inside the section), and then the section, with the converter sticking out of it. Submerge all of the nib and feed and part of the section. Then, with all that stuck in the ink bottle, press the metal bar gently but completely, and then release it. If the metal bar has a tendency to spring back, control its return. Repeat this several times and be sure the metal bar has completely released and the sac filled before you remove any part of the pen from the ink bottle.

 

Hope this helps!

 

 

[Arts11]

The section is the part the nib is connected to and where most of us put our fingers. If you're filling a converter pen, you're unscrewing the barrel (the big part at the top, or the "body") from the section in order to access the converter.

 

So, you're standing there with the cap and barrel off the pen and what's left is the nib, the feed (part of which is inside the section), and then the section, with the converter sticking out of it. Submerge all of the nib and feed and part of the section. Then, with all that stuck in the ink bottle, press the metal bar gently but completely, and then release it. If the metal bar has a tendency to spring back, control its return. Repeat this several times and be sure the metal bar has completely released and the sac filled before you remove any part of the pen from the ink bottle.

 

Hope this helps!

Ohhh. Thank you so much for the how-to (and vocab lesson)! I've only been submerging like half of the nib into the ink bottle, so that's probably why it's been drying out really fast. Also, I've noticed that there's always some leftover ink on my nib that every time I try to wipe off just causes more to spill/stick onto the nib. Is that normal, will that residual ink harm the nib any if I don't clean it completely off?

 

[WendyNC]

The residual ink shouldn't harm the nib, but many of us find it aesthetically unpleasing to view. The reason you're getting more when you wipe it off is because the dry material you're using goes across the breather hole (the round hole at the top of the slit in the nib) and that pulls out more ink.

 

There are two methods for removal which usually work. The first is simply to run cool water briefly over the nib. That takes it off, but then you'll want to write on scrap paper until the residual water is gone. The second is to use a very damp cloth or paper towel and gently touch it to each side of the nib, avoiding the breather hole.

 

Okay, there's a third method as well. Grab a tissue, spit on it, and do the blot thing, but both tissues and spit are frowned upon.

[jimk]

This didn't seem to come across in the replies so far:

 

Keep the full nib submerged in the ink for maybe five seconds after you've let go of the metal bar on the converter. It takes a while for the sac to pull the ink into the converter - this happens after you let go of the metal bar.

 

I never worry about a little ink on the nib after filling. It seems to disappear mostly after I write with the pen a bit.

[Arts11]

The residual ink shouldn't harm the nib, but many of us find it aesthetically unpleasing to view. The reason you're getting more when you wipe it off is because the dry material you're using goes across the breather hole (the round hole at the top of the slit in the nib) and that pulls out more ink.

 

There are two methods for removal which usually work. The first is simply to run cool water briefly over the nib. That takes it off, but then you'll want to write on scrap paper until the residual water is gone. The second is to use a very damp cloth or paper towel and gently touch it to each side of the nib, avoiding the breather hole.

 

Okay, there's a third method as well. Grab a tissue, spit on it, and do the blot thing, but both tissues and spit are frowned upon.

Haha cool. Thanks for the tips! And one more thing, assuming I'm wiping the ink off the section right after I submerge part of it into the ink, it won't get stained or corroded right? I guess I'm just anxious not to accidentally harm any of my pens, being new and all to them.

 

[Arts11]

This didn't seem to come across in the replies so far:

 

Keep the full nib submerged in the ink for maybe five seconds after you've let go of the metal bar on the converter. It takes a while for the sac to pull the ink into the converter - this happens after you let go of the metal bar.

 

I never worry about a little ink on the nib after filling. It seems to disappear mostly after I write with the pen a bit.

Duly noted. Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[Possum Hill]

The converter can also be removed from a Pilot 78G; a good steady pull and maybe a little twist should do it. Then you can use regular Pilot/Namiki cartridges, either new or refilled. The cartridges are translucent so you can see how much ink is in them.

[Arts11]

The converter can also be removed from a Pilot 78G; a good steady pull and maybe a little twist should do it. Then you can use regular Pilot/Namiki cartridges, either new or refilled. The cartridges are translucent so you can see how much ink is in them.

Interesting, thanks for the insight. Is it possible to put in a different, higher capacity converter in a 78G? Does Pilot even make separate converters for the 78G since, at least from my understanding, they don't produce the pens anymore? Is there an immediate successor to the 78G in today's market?

 

[WendyNC]

And one more thing, assuming I'm wiping the ink off the section right after I submerge part of it into the ink, it won't get stained or corroded right? I guess I'm just anxious not to accidentally harm any of my pens, being new and all to them.

 

Nope, it won't get stained or corroded unless you're using something that you shouldn't be putting in the pen in the first place.

 

Pens can be seriously harmed by dropping them onto hard surfaces or by exposing them to really extreme heat or cold, or by some solvents that were never intended for use around pens. Other than that, they're surprisingly study things.

 

It's great that you want to use your pens carefully and care for them properly. At some time in the far distant future, there's a collector of vintage pens who will be glad to be buying yours.

[Balog]

The converter can also be removed from a Pilot 78G; a good steady pull and maybe a little twist should do it. Then you can use regular Pilot/Namiki cartridges, either new or refilled. The cartridges are translucent so you can see how much ink is in them.

Interesting, thanks for the insight. Is it possible to put in a different, higher capacity converter in a 78G? Does Pilot even make separate converters for the 78G since, at least from my understanding, they don't produce the pens anymore? Is there an immediate successor to the 78G in today's market?

 

 

I believe you could convert it to an eye dropper if you need more capacity.

[Possum Hill]

The converter can also be removed from a Pilot 78G; a good steady pull and maybe a little twist should do it. Then you can use regular Pilot/Namiki cartridges, either new or refilled. The cartridges are translucent so you can see how much ink is in them.

Interesting, thanks for the insight. Is it possible to put in a different, higher capacity converter in a 78G? Does Pilot even make separate converters for the 78G since, at least from my understanding, they don't produce the pens anymore? Is there an immediate successor to the 78G in today's market?

 

 

I believe you could convert it to an eye dropper if you need more capacity.

If you're looking for an ED fill pen, the Pilot non-self filling "Tank" apparently uses the same nib as the 78G and has a section to barrel seal so that it's not necessary to mess with silicone grease. I just bought two from FPN member graceaj for $17.50 (U.S.) and that included shipping. See this thread.

[Silvermink]

So some ink should be coming out if I squeeze the converter after filling it?

 

Yep. If it doesn't, there's nothing in there.

[tawanda]

As a general rule I agree with jimk, leave the pen in the ink for a few seconds after the last squeeze and your ink capacity will be much better. The only time I don't do this is if I want to change ink colours in my pen more often.

Also you do know about rinsing pens throroughly between fills, right? Very important for longevity of both nib and rubber ink sac.

Don't be afraid ot ask, its what we're here for...

 

Cheers

T

[Arts11]

As a general rule I agree with jimk, leave the pen in the ink for a few seconds after the last squeeze and your ink capacity will be much better. The only time I don't do this is if I want to change ink colours in my pen more often.

Also you do know about rinsing pens throroughly between fills, right? Very important for longevity of both nib and rubber ink sac.

Don't be afraid ot ask, its what we're here for...

 

Cheers

T

Thanks for the advice! And what do you mean by rinsing? Like I drew in some water into the sac and squeezed it back out a couple times to clean it, but I only did that when I first got my pen. How often should I be rinsing?

 

And to everyone else who's responded, Thanks for all of your help! I didn't know where this thread had gone b/c I originally posted it in the main writing instruments section.

 

[jimk]

And what do you mean by rinsing? Like I drew in some water into the sac and squeezed it back out a couple times to clean it, but I only did that when I first got my pen. How often should I be rinsing?

 

Rinsing like that is good when you want to switch inks. It is essential when you are putting the pen aside for more than a few weeks. Some pens get grumpy after just a few days, other pens will be patient with ink for even a couple months. I am not sure about the 78G - I just started using a Pilot Tank, the eyedropper version of pretty the same pen I think... so far it seems very happy after a few days of sitting idle. Anyway, you don't want ink to dry out and clog the pen! So if you aren't going to use it for more than a few weeks, you need to empty any remaining ink and rinse/flush the pen well. After rinsing I hold a paper towel against the slit and pull remaining water out of the feed so as little gunk dries in there as possible.

 

If you keep using a pen regularly, it's still a good idea to rinse it out occasionally... maybe once or twice a year or so. I tend to rotate through pens often enough that I rarely worry about that.

 

To rinse the pen, you can also pull the converter off and rinse that separately and run water through the nib/feed/section... I have a rubber squeeze ball I got from a pharmacy, sold to be used to rinse out the ears of babies! - I cut off the tip of the rubber bulb so a nib can fit in there, then I can fill the bulb with water and squeeze it through in either direction - alternate a couple times, that cleans things out good!

 

In ancient times, i.e. the mid-1970s, I used to work a lot with CalComp plotters that would be hooked to a big old mainframe computer - this is the era of punched cards. I drew lots of graphs that way - what I did as a job during college. I needed to keep the plotter's pens very clean, or they would skip and I'd have to re-do the plot.

 

[Arts11]

And what do you mean by rinsing? Like I drew in some water into the sac and squeezed it back out a couple times to clean it, but I only did that when I first got my pen. How often should I be rinsing?

 

Rinsing like that is good when you want to switch inks. It is essential when you are putting the pen aside for more than a few weeks. Some pens get grumpy after just a few days, other pens will be patient with ink for even a couple months. I am not sure about the 78G - I just started using a Pilot Tank, the eyedropper version of pretty the same pen I think... so far it seems very happy after a few days of sitting idle. Anyway, you don't want ink to dry out and clog the pen! So if you aren't going to use it for more than a few weeks, you need to empty any remaining ink and rinse/flush the pen well. After rinsing I hold a paper towel against the slit and pull remaining water out of the feed so as little gunk dries in there as possible.

 

If you keep using a pen regularly, it's still a good idea to rinse it out occasionally... maybe once or twice a year or so. I tend to rotate through pens often enough that I rarely worry about that.

 

To rinse the pen, you can also pull the converter off and rinse that separately and run water through the nib/feed/section... I have a rubber squeeze ball I got from a pharmacy, sold to be used to rinse out the ears of babies! - I cut off the tip of the rubber bulb so a nib can fit in there, then I can fill the bulb with water and squeeze it through in either direction - alternate a couple times, that cleans things out good!

 

In ancient times, i.e. the mid-1970s, I used to work a lot with CalComp plotters that would be hooked to a big old mainframe computer - this is the era of punched cards. I drew lots of graphs that way - what I did as a job during college. I needed to keep the plotter's pens very clean, or they would skip and I'd have to re-do the plot.

Cool, very informative. Thanks for the tips! I'll definitely have to check out getting one of those squeeze ball thingies.