Resealing cartridges

[Beardy]

So, as of yet in my FP experience, I've never really used cartridges. I've been more of a converter and piston man. However, I have a Lamy Logo coming in the mail, and although I plan on using a converter, I would like the flexibility of bringing a cartridge or two in my bag for the occasional expedition on which I might run out of ink.

 

However, I don't believe any of Lamy's colors possess any sort of water resistance, and that is something I would really like to have in this case. So, what methods of sealing a refilled cartridge (in this case, a Lamy cartridge refilled with Noodler's Black or some other water resistant ink) do you recommend?

 

The two I have come across in searching the forum are: 1) using a rubber band, presumably looped the length of the cartridge, and 2) a dot of hot glue over the opening. I am not sure I understand the rubber band, it seems like it would come off rather easily if not kept stationary. How does this stack with the experience of those who have done so? The hot glue gun seems straightforward, but a little more work, and I am unsure how to then use the cartridge. Does the glue peel off?

 

Any further explanation, demonstration or elucidation of these or any other methods for sealing refilled cartridges would be greatly appreciated. Pictures are always a plus!

 

Thanks.

[Pippin60]

So, as of yet in my FP experience, I've never really used cartridges. I've been more of a converter and piston man. However, I have a Lamy Logo coming in the mail, and although I plan on using a converter, I would like the flexibility of bringing a cartridge or two in my bag for the occasional expedition on which I might run out of ink.

 

However, I don't believe any of Lamy's colors possess any sort of water resistance, and that is something I would really like to have in this case. So, what methods of sealing a refilled cartridge (in this case, a Lamy cartridge refilled with Noodler's Black or some other water resistant ink) do you recommend?

 

The two I have come across in searching the forum are: 1) using a rubber band, presumably looped the length of the cartridge, and 2) a dot of hot glue over the opening. I am not sure I understand the rubber band, it seems like it would come off rather easily if not kept stationary. How does this stack with the experience of those who have done so? The hot glue gun seems straightforward, but a little more work, and I am unsure how to then use the cartridge. Does the glue peel off?

 

Any further explanation, demonstration or elucidation of these or any other methods for sealing refilled cartridges would be greatly appreciated. Pictures are always a plus!

 

Thanks.

 

I've tried all including wax, and none are fool proof, honestly I would spend the 5$ on a Lamy converter I have one for each of my Lamy's. Just my 2c .

 

[Inka]

I use the tiny rubber plugs that came with an old Inkjet Printer Cartridge Refill Kit, then tape the plug, then place the now plugged & taped cartridge/s in a small glass vial/bottle.

Now that's fool-proof; should the tape fail the plug holds, should the plug fail the glass bottle holds, worst to happen is ink leaks from the cartridge into the bottle but so far I've not had that happen.

 

[Inka]

P.S;

The kicker is I don't know where to get the plugs separately, so I reuse the few I have.

I'm looking online now for the plugs by themselves, should I come across them I'll post back with the Link.

[Inka]

The closest thing I could find so far is below, a kit for the kits, replacement plugs, rubber gloves, syringe with blunt needles, tape tabs,...

 

Universal Inkjet Refill Tool Kit ...

 

https://secure.datatekusa.com/product_info....30u5lgehkn8ao23

 

Those little rubber plugs fit most cartridges perfectly, as they're tapered slightly.

The small bottles can be bought from laboratory glass supply places.

Edited September 9, 2009 by Inka

[steveh6883]

The closest thing I could find so far is below, a kit for the kits, replacement plugs, rubber gloves, syringe with blunt needles, tape tabs,...

 

Universal Inkjet Refill Tool Kit ...

 

https://secure.datatekusa.com/product_info....30u5lgehkn8ao23

 

Those little rubber plugs fit most cartridges perfectly, as they're tapered slightly.

The small bottles can be bought from laboratory glass supply places.

 

I regularly re-cap cartridges mid-use & use the cut off bottom end ( about 20-30mm doesn't really matter) of an empty, cleaned cartridge & just push fit it on top of the half used cartridge

Edited September 9, 2009 by steveh6883

[Inka]

I regularly re-cap cartridges mid-use & use the cut off bottom end ( about 20-30mm doesn't really matter) of an empty, cleaned cartridge & just push fit it on top of the half used cartridge

That's one of the best ideas I've ever heard, I'll have to try it.

Thanks.

[Chthulhu]

Hmmm ... I feel an experiment coming on. Cut the *bottom* off an empty, reseat the ball inside the neck, and use the whole thing to cap your refilled carts; they're tapered, so it should fit nicely, with just the bottom part of the refilled cart sticking out.

[Inka]

the only potential I can see as a possible problem is that the OP asked about LAMY Logo cartridges.

I'm not sure about the Logo, but the Safari and Vista use a cartridge that tapers the opposite way of International cartridges.

They look almost like a converter, tapering thinner at the back and look almost like the filler knobs on LAMY piston converters.

I'm looking at one right now, in either blue or blue-black, the nipple end is almost as big as the back end of an International, while the back end is much smaller.

Hmmm...

[Chthulhu]

{Insert facepalm here} Somehow I completely missed the word "Lamy" in this thread ...

[steveh6883]

{Insert facepalm here} Somehow I completely missed the word "Lamy" in this thread ...

 

Yeah, have got Lamy Cartridges too & just use the cut off bottom of international cartridges same as I do with all the others

[Inka]

{Insert facepalm here} Somehow I completely missed the word "Lamy" in this thread ...

I did too the first time I'd scanned though it, only saw "Resealing cartirdges" and my brain wanted to move on.

I like your other idea too, where you'd said

... reseat the ball inside the neck, and use the whole thing to cap your refilled carts; they're tapered, so it should fit nicely, with just the bottom part of the refilled cart sticking out.

I hadn't thought of reusing the "ball", seems like a good possibility and well worth a try, makes sense it could work very well especially in addition to capping with a cut-off cartridge [international, that is].

[Inka]

Yeah, have got Lamy Cartridges too & just use the cut off bottom of international cartridges same as I do with all the others

There ya go, the voice of reason.

Thanks!

[steveh6883]

{Insert facepalm here} Somehow I completely missed the word "Lamy" in this thread ...

I did too the first time I'd scanned though it, only saw "Resealing cartirdges" and my brain wanted to move on.

I like your other idea too, where you'd said

... reseat the ball inside the neck, and use the whole thing to cap your refilled carts; they're tapered, so it should fit nicely, with just the bottom part of the refilled cart sticking out.

I hadn't thought of reusing the "ball", seems like a good possibility and well worth a try, makes sense it could work very well especially in addition to capping with a cut-off cartridge [international, that is].

 

My hands are too big & clumsy to fiddle with the ball!

 

[Possum Hill]

For a Lamy cartridge, a tapered EPDM rubber stopper from McMaster-Carr, their number 6448K87.

 

Another possibility -- their tapered vinyl plug with flange, number 40025K22 or 40025K23.

 

I haven't tried the vinyl plugs yet. I use the rubber ones when I want to remove a partly full cartridge from a pen.

[steveh6883]

Just a thought, haven't needed to do this before myself, but if the bottom of an International Cartridge isn't quite big enough to fit over the top of a proprietory cartridge, then the cut off bottom of a Sheaffer cartridge would probably fit as it's a bit wider

 

[Randal6393]

This subject has several threads already out there. A quick summary of past tips:

 

Use small rubber plugs, can be bought at XXX. Address is available in past threads, time to use the search engine.

 

Use a bit of sticky-tack. That's a compound that molds like modeling clay. Just pinch off a VERY small bit and roll into a ball. Use to stopper the cartridge.

 

Keep the balls that seal the cartridges originally. Poke into a filled cartridge as a new stopper.

 

My personal usage? I use sticky-tack and keep the cartridges in a small plastic vial. Can carry a set of cartridges and a pen or two that use cartridges for travel. Works pretty good for me but YMMV.

 

Enjoy,

[Chthulhu]

My hands are too big & clumsy to fiddle with the ball!

 

Don't even try. Flush the cartridge with a syringe and soapy water before you cut it open. Give it a tap or two with the open end down to get the ball to that end of the cartridge. Cut the bottom off, and use a {insert suitable tool here} to push the ball into place inside the cut-off cartridge.

[Inka]

For a Lamy cartridge, a tapered EPDM rubber stopper from McMaster-Carr, their number 6448K87.

 

Another possibility -- their tapered vinyl plug with flange, number 40025K22 or 40025K23.

 

I haven't tried the vinyl plugs yet. I use the rubber ones when I want to remove a partly full cartridge from a pen.

The tapered ones on the Website look almost identical to the cartridge refill kit plugs I have.

What I don't like about them is they seem not to fit snugly, sometimes work their way back out of the cartridge holes which is why I also tape them.

That's a good resource, the Website for McMaster, have it Bookmarked now, thanks.

On the same page as 6448K87 there are something called Trade-Sized Pharmaceutical-Grade Resilient Rubber but I can't tell by the picture if they're solid plugs or hollow caps...

 

http://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/115/gfx/small/92835kp1s.gif

 

I've used Cap-Plugs in many trades I've worked in, thought that if I could find a cap the right size but in rubber instead of the typical red or blue nylon that too might work.

[Paddler]

The rubber band trick works well if you use wide rubber bands. Cut them off of bicycle inner tubes. If they are the right size, they stretch out and there is no way they will come off by themselves.

 

Another trick is to use the wedge-shaped push-on pencil erasers. These erasers are the ones that go on a wood cased pencil after the built in eraser is worn out. Put a dab of poster putty in the eraser and push it onto the cartridge.

 

Paddler