Pilot Tank ED Fountain Pens

[Jade]

Having just received one of these pens, and being delighted with the way it writes, I have a question for other users...

 

At most, I am only getting about two sides of A4 written before the pen runs out of ink and I wondered if this is usual for other writers?! I'm new to fountain pens so I bow to the more experienced over this.

 

 

 

[Possum Hill]

Having just received one of these pens, and being delighted with the way it writes, I have a question for other users...

 

At most, I am only getting about two sides of A4 written before the pen runs out of ink and I wondered if this is usual for other writers?! I'm new to fountain pens so I bow to the more experienced over this.

Empty the ink and look inside the barrel; there's probably some foam there. Pull it out to make more room for ink.

 

Even with the foam in place it seems like you should be getting more writing. What nib do you have and does it seem to be a particularly wet writer?

[artemedes]

If your referring to a Vanishing Point or Capless pen, you might have just discovered why so many of us have stopped using the converter and have resorted to filling up an old cartridge with an eyedropper or syringe. I still use the converter in one of my VPs but I could never get more than half the converter full of ink by using traditional methods. Even when I use the converter I use an eyedropper to fill it like I do the cartridges. I get much more ink that way.

[ZeissIkon]

That Pilot Tank ought to hold more ink than that; I get several times that much writing from a cartridge, and my piston filling Dollar 717i will run for at least a dozen pages (probably close to two dozen, but I don't let it run all the way down to avoid issues with air expansion causing blobbing).

 

How much ink are you finding it needs to fill? I'd expect that size pen barrel to hold at least 3 ml, possibly as much as 5 ml, which is at least three times the capacity of an international cartridge, and so ought to last 30-40 pages, minimum, even with a wet writer. What you describe is what I'd expect from a small converter, and really only about four times what most pens will hold in the feed gills from a good dip -- which is entirely too little for an ED filler of reasonable size.

[holgalee]

I've always wondered what the foam is for. It makes changing inks a nightmare! And how do dig it out I wonder?

[ConnallMac]

If your referring to a Vanishing Point or Capless pen, you might have just discovered why so many of us have stopped using the converter and have resorted to filling up an old cartridge with an eyedropper or syringe. I still use the converter in one of my VPs but I could never get more than half the converter full of ink by using traditional methods. Even when I use the converter I use an eyedropper to fill it like I do the cartridges. I get much more ink that way.

 

Have you ever tried the squeeze converter with your VP? I had the same problem until I switched. You can usually get them from Jetpens.com for something like $5 or $6 a piece.

[Possum Hill]

I've always wondered what the foam is for. It makes changing inks a nightmare! And how do dig it out I wonder?

I speculate that the foam helps support and retain in place a cartridge if one removes the plastic section-to-barrel seal from the cartridge nipple, and uses cartridges.

 

I expect you can easily remove the foam with a paper clip straightened, then bent to a very short-footed "L". Something similar worked for me.

[graceaj]

You'll need to use the included eyedropper about 3-4 times for a full fill, until the ink in the barrel reaches just below the screw threads in the barrel. If you're measuring with a syringe, it should take 2.5-3ml of ink easily.

 

[Arts11]

You'll need to use the included eyedropper about 3-4 times for a full fill, until the ink in the barrel reaches just below the screw threads in the barrel. If you're measuring with a syringe, it should take 2.5-3ml of ink easily.

Should you remove that foam thing everyone is talking about first? or will the foam soak up the ink?

 

[tankahn]

I found out that I could only put in limited amount of ink when I found there is a foam stuck inside. And yes. They do get soak up with ink. I have more than a dozen of these pens and have since removed all of them. All you need is a tweezer to pull the foam out.

 

Although the pens write well, they have a tendency to dry up if unused for 2 weeks or more. I would put in one or two 4 mm or .158" steel balls and shake it.

 

You'll need to use the included eyedropper about 3-4 times for a full fill, until the ink in the barrel reaches just below the screw threads in the barrel. If you're measuring with a syringe, it should take 2.5-3ml of ink easily.

Should you remove that foam thing everyone is talking about first? or will the foam soak up the ink?

 

[eeepc]

I have a Pilot Tank ED (fine nib), and I would write several pages of A4 size sheets, while the ink level would not drop more than 1/4th. Unfortunately, the flow was too dry, and after soaking it in water and detergent for a few days, I decided to do some "surgery" on it. Unfortunately the patient never recovered fully after the operation(it was very scratchy), and now I am using a Pilot 78G with a medium nib, which is working fine.

[Possum Hill]

I found out that I could only put in limited amount of ink when I found there is a foam stuck inside. And yes. They do get soak up with ink. I have more than a dozen of these pens and have since removed all of them. All you need is a tweezer to pull the foam out.

 

Although the pens write well, they have a tendency to dry up if unused for 2 weeks or more. I would put in one or two 4 mm or .158" steel balls and shake it.

Where do you get 4mm steel balls? If I remember correctly, that's the proper size for resealing Platinum cartridges.

[tankahn]

My local ball bearing dealer. She warned me that they rust. But the pens are cheap anyway.

 

Where do you get 4mm steel balls? If I remember correctly, that's the proper size for resealing Platinum cartridges.

 

[holgalee]

Thanks, Possum Hill! I will do just that.

 

Tankahn, I think you're right about the ink drying up, or at least that's what I've encountered with the foam still in place. I'm not sure how the steel balls will help if evaporation is going to happen though. Can explain more?

 

As for ball bearings, my siblings and I used to cut open the white out bottles to keep the steel balls. Not sure why we found that amusing! They're about 6mm though.

Edited May 29, 2009 by holgalee

[Jade]

Thanks for the tips everyone. It was user error! I was being over cautious with filling it, and haven't yet removed the foam. I can see that being a problem when changing ink colours though, so I may do that next time. At the moment its wonderful to write with and I'm using it more than my other pens.