Would You Use "no-Name" Cartridges?

[CountryDoc]

Has anyone here tried the no-name ink cartridges sold on the online auction site in packs of 40 to 100? The price makes them attractive, but I'm a little reluctant to risk ruining a pen.

[Joe in Seattle]

No.

 

My reasoning is like this: I'd use regular cartridges, then buy a bottle of the good ink for several reasons, the first being I'd know how it works and be able to repeat the experience thus using the best ink for the pen and avoiding the worst. It would be pretty cheap is I refilled cartridges from the bottle (I regularly did this in college when I was p0or and ink cost $2 a bottle). Secondly, the danger of who the heck knows what in the mystery cartridges.

 

The only reason FOR it I can think of is cheap.

[ajoe]

...but I'm a little reluctant to risk ruining a pen.

 

+1

[rockydoggy]

I've used cheap, generic ink carts from a range of sources over the years without any problems. I've bought them through eBay vendors and also in stationary and department stores in Europe (eg, Ryman, W H Smith, HEMA) during trips. I don't know if it's still the case, but in the past you could get them all over the place overseas and they were very inexpensive. My strong preference is to use bottled ink, but I'm on the road a lot and I like to carry spare cartridges with me. Also, I sometimes give away starter pens to folks interested in getting into the hobby and I usually toss in a handful of these cheap carts to get them going.

[DonLeone]

I only use them in cheap pens I don't have a converter for and then I only use em up to salvage the little ball. I then put the little ball in my converters so the ink doesn't stick to non-writing end.

 

On the one hand, I guess they won't ruin your pen, on the other hand... you usually get what you pay for...

[IWantThat]

No, I only use inks that are known to be safe.

[Uncle Red]

I tried one that came with a pen and it wrote fine but was not a nice blue. Most of these carts are made in the same place other carts are made, Slovenia.

[Chettiar]

I am using a supermarket box of carts (the first I bought before knowing the diamines and PRs of this world) of black ones. They are used in a lexington (Cross sold under a different name) and surprisingly they are very good quality - no nib creeping, no feathering on cheeeep paper and crisp black .. But.. the length is 48 mm and not 38 mm.. costed a pound for 25 cartridges. But would I do that again? No.. 'Cos, I got the syringe, I got the ink bottles and I have enough empty cartridges too! Waiting for that stash to finish..

[mirosc]

Yes, I do and I can't tell anything negative at all.

They have a decent quality and haven't ruined my pens in the last decades. You get 100 for less than €2, labelled by Pelikan (usually Royal Blue), they are really low maintenance, no clogging, no need for flushing.

I have them in some pens that lie around in the house for occasional notes, always inked up. So it doesn't matter if they go dry and the water evaporates, just reload with another cheap one and write on (I would go mad if that happened with Iroshizuku ink). If you have cheap Chinese pen lying at your bedside for some nightly notes, why not put in such a cartridge?

Edited February 8, 2012 by mirosc

[Nonsensical]

I used cheap cartridges in my Pelikan and Inoxcrom fountain pens (without flushing, ever) for 4 years. The pens still write well, and I had very few problems with feathering and bleedthrough. The cartridges were no-name ones purchased in Germany and France, though.

[uojfe]

Yes, I tend to use them while traveling. No ill effects whatsoever. The ink is not exactly 'saturated' which is why it's cheap.

[Phormula]

I have a Schneider Base that is running on "no name" cartridges, bougt in German convenience stores, for a couple Euros one hundred, jar included. The pen is in use since 2000 and has never been flushed, maximum was a rinse to the exterior of the nib when I get back from vacations. Absolutely no problem, sometimes I have noticed that ink from no name cartridges is a little weaker than regular, brand name, one. But in most cases I have found no difference between those cartridges and the standard Royal Blue from brand name companies, except that I can buy 100 cartridges for the price of 1-2 6 pieces box. Actually I have found the same no name package sold rebranded with a major name for 4 times the price.

 

This is my everyday ink source

Edited February 9, 2012 by Phormula

[Ipno Tizer]

I've never had any problems with the generic ink cartridges as far as clogging or soiling is concerned. But I did have some that came with some Reynolds cartridge pens that was a beautiful dark blue - about the best dark blue I had ever come across. Bit it faded within as little a three or four days.

 

Other than that the colours on genetic cartridges can be a bit bland.

 

In fact the only cartridges I've has clog a pen were Vivapen black and even then the pens cleaned up with only water. Vivapen blue is excellent though.

 

Chris B.