Piston-Fill When Ink Bottle's Low?

[NewPenMan]

I have a Waterman Phileas, piston-fill (think this is the right term..built-in reservoir with a screw/plunger to draw ink up into reservoir).

 

I'm still on my first bottle of ink, but the level of fluid is low, about halfway down to the bottom of the bottle. Since filling this pen requires the tip to be submerged while turning the screw (and drawing ink upward) what happens when the ink is so low that you can't submerge the tip?

 

My next bottle is a different color, and I thought that maybe people simply begin using the new bottle, and dump the half-empty bottle into the new bottle when THAT bottle gets low, repeating bottle after bottle.

 

I'd rather not mix the colors..is there another way?

 

thanks for any advice!

 

pen

[dali3464]

The Waterman Phileas is a cartridge/converter pen isn't it? If you're required to unscrew the barrel in order to access the filling mechanism to fill the pen, then it's most definitely a c-c. A piston filler generally requires no disassembly; you instead fill the pen by turning a knob that's integrated into the end of the pen's barrel.

 

As for filling when the ink bottle is low, there are various ways. Some ink bottles (such as Waterman) are multi-faceted and you can stand them on the side (and various other angles) to help pool the ink together. Of course then you have ink bottles used by manufacturers such as J. Herbin that are notoriously difficult to fill because they're just plain bottles. In this case, you can either (1) pour a small amount of the ink into a vial (look at the vials that come with the InkDrop sample service offered by Goulet Pens); or (2) use a small object to tilt the bottle so you can pool the ink together and increase the depth.

[amberleadavis]

Perhaps use an eye dropper and decant the ink into a smaller vial like the ink sampler vials. Then fill from the vial.

[NewPenMan]

Perhaps use an eye dropper and decant the ink into a smaller vial like the ink sampler vials. Then fill from the vial.

 

are you suggesting at some point that I remove the reservoir portion and fill that directly? Tilting the bottle, I understand, but can still envision a time when there's so little ink that no amount of tilting will get it to the part that draws the ink upwards...

 

when I got the pen, it came with 1 disposible cartridge, and this piston/screw filled reservoir...which I had to put on, suggesting it can be taken off, but I am not seeing a way to do that without getting ink *everywhere*

 

am I mis-interpreting the suggestions made here?

 

thank you!

[Sasha Royale]

Looking at my Waterman Phileas, I see that it is not really a "piston filler" pen.

It is, in fact, a cartridge pen. You have a piston-mechanism converter installed

in place of the cartridge.

 

If tipping the partial bottle doesn't work, and decanting into a smaller bottle

is not an option, try this :

 

Remove the converter. (Don't twist the nob. Grasp the body and pull.)

Fill the converter directly from the bottle.

Wipe clean, and re-install the converter.

Write a letter to your friend.

Edited September 30, 2012 by Sasha Royale

[dali3464]

are you suggesting at some point that I remove the reservoir portion and fill that directly? Tilting the bottle, I understand, but can still envision a time when there's so little ink that no amount of tilting will get it to the part that draws the ink upwards...

 

when I got the pen, it came with 1 disposible cartridge, and this piston/screw filled reservoir...which I had to put on, suggesting it can be taken off, but I am not seeing a way to do that without getting ink *everywhere*

 

am I mis-interpreting the suggestions made here?

 

thank you!

 

Amber and I meant something like this:

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8156/7465114434_0208f8ecc7_n.jpg

 

They hold approximately 2-3 ml (that's about twice the capacity of a standard converter that you have installed in your fountain pen). Using an eyedropper or syringe, you can put enough ink there which will allow the entire nib to be submerged.

 

Also if you take the converter out of the pen whilst it's still filled with ink, the ink won't spill out: the surface tension of the ink at the opening is sufficient to prevent spillage.

 

Similarly, like Sasha mentioned, you can opt to remove the converter and fill it directly by submerging the opening in the ink. Again no spillage because of the ink's surface tension. Simply pop it back into the pen and it'll work (might want to give the converter a turn or two to ensure the ink fills the feed first).

[NewPenMan]

Remove the converter. (Don't twist the nob. Grasp the body and pull.)

Fill the converter directly from the bottle.

Wipe clean, and re-install the converter.

Write a letter to your friend.

 

ok, and what tool/object do you suggest to ensure the ink goes into the reservoir and not spill? the opening is fairly small..would it be a leetle teensie funnel?

 

;-)

 

 

penman

[betsypreston]

If you reeeeaaaaallly wanna get every drop, you can buy a blunt-tip syringe for a few bucks (check ebay - they sell them for refilling toner cartridges, or see if you can get a pharmacy to sell you one an blunt the tip on a file).

 

Use the syringe to suck up the ink, remove the converter (the piston-screw thingee) and fill it with the syringe.

[betsypreston]

Syringes are useful for squirting water up into cartridges to clean them, then re-fill them from your favorite bottle ink. That's how I got into syringes - there were some interesting pens that were cart-only (no converters) and I refused to buy more carts.

 

I like them to clean out some of my pens like esties which I can never seem to get clean with just that little lever. I unscrew the nib and squirt water up into the sac. It was the only way I could get my noodler's pen clean.

[dali3464]

ok, and what tool/object do you suggest to ensure the ink goes into the reservoir and not spill? the opening is fairly small..would it be a leetle teensie funnel?

 

;-)

penman

 

No need to get testy. I think there's a degree of misunderstanding here! You can literally remove the converter, submerge the opening directly into the bottle of ink, twist the knob at the end and it'll draw up the ink. The ink will not spill out, there's sufficient surface tension at the opening of the converter so that the ink won't blob out (imagine that irritating droplet of water hanging off the faucet that won't fall). Of course if you shake the converter/toss it at the wall, the ink will get knocked out.

[mrcharlie]

are you suggesting at some point that I remove the reservoir portion and fill that directly?

I'm not sure if anyone suggested that; what amberlea and at least one other person were saying was to get a relatively thin vial such as what people use to trade ink samples via mail; basically a short plastic test tube. Put a handful of cc in that via an eyedropper or pipette or transfer syringe once you can no longer fill directly from the bottle, and you will be able to submerge the nib/feed enough to fill. You will still not be able to get the last couple cc since the Phileas has a fairly sizable/long nib and feed.

 

However, the "reservoir portion" is commonly called the "converter" or "convertor". You certainly can remove it, fill that directly from the bottle or a smaller vial, and reinstall, and thereby use almost all the ink.

 

[snip]

this piston/screw filled reservoir...which I had to put on, suggesting it can be taken off, but I am not seeing a way to do that without getting ink *everywhere*

 

It is pretty easy. When your pen stops writing, or the flow gets bad because it is almost empty, you unscrew the section from the barrel. You get a tissue (one without lotion impregnated into it) or paper towel or a napkin that is not flimsy (fast food napkins are good). Paper that easily crumbles and disintegrates when wet, such as most bathroom tissue, is to be avoided.

 

You hold the nib pointing at the sky, and pull the convertor down, off/out of the section. There should be little if any ink in it at this point, but even if there is you are holding it with the open end up. Put the section down where it won't roll away. Even if there is ink in the convertor, there is no way for air to get in to displace the ink when you point the opening of it down; it is like a straw full of water with your finger over the top opening. If there is any ink in the opening or on the outside of the end of the convertor, wipe it/dab it off with the paper towel.

 

So now you can dip just the end of the converter into the ink bottle, operate the twist nob to make the piston go down, and then back up drawing in ink. Pull the convertor out of the bottle, and hold it over the bottle, or some washable surface or paper towel, and then wrap the towel around the barrel of the convertor, and then turn it opening facing up. Any drops of ink should run down onto the towel at this point; now use it to further wipe the outside end free from ink. Pick up the section and push the convertor back into it, onto the feed nipple. Done.

 

I'm sorry if these instructions are muddled/not clear. It will probably become clear once you try it.

 

I think you could probably do this even when the pen is not empty/close to empty. You would probably want to wrap the towel around the convertor/section as you pull the convertor off the section to avoid any small amount of splatter, but as long as you point the nib/convertor up as you remove it, you should be fine.

Edited September 30, 2012 by mrcharlie

[NewPenMan]

ok, and what tool/object do you suggest to ensure the ink goes into the reservoir and not spill? the opening is fairly small..would it be a leetle teensie funnel?

 

;-)

penman

 

No need to get testy. I think there's a degree of misunderstanding here! You can literally remove the converter, submerge the opening directly into the bottle of ink, twist the knob at the end and it'll draw up the ink. The ink will not spill out, there's sufficient surface tension at the opening of the converter so that the ink won't blob out (imagine that irritating droplet of water hanging off the faucet that won't fall). Of course if you shake the converter/toss it at the wall, the ink will get knocked out.

 

 

not testy at all! I'm sincere in wondering whether some tiny tools are needed. I apologize if my humor appears to be testiness.

 

thank you for the hint of removing the reservoir and dipping ITS end into the ink. I hadn't thought of that and am glad to know that the viscosity of the ink lends itself to such a procedure.

 

I am always pretty careful filling this pen: usually near a sink, always with a dish underneath the ink bottle and plenty of rags handy. I have a healthy respect for what ink is.

 

;-)

 

penman

Edited September 30, 2012 by NewPenMan

[NewPenMan]

It is pretty easy. When your pen stops writing, or the flow gets bad because it is almost empty, you unscrew the section from the barrel. You get a tissue (one without lotion impregnated into it) or paper towel or a napkin that is not flimsy (fast food napkins are good). Paper that easily crumbles and disintegrates when wet, such as most bathroom tissue, is to be avoided.

 

You hold the nib pointing at the sky, and pull the convertor down, off/out of the section. There should be little if any ink in it at this point, but even if there is you are holding it with the open end up. Put the section down where it won't roll away. Even if there is ink in the convertor, there is no way for air to get in to displace the ink when you point the opening of it down; it is like a straw full of water with your finger over the top opening. If there is any ink in the opening or on the outside of the end of the convertor, wipe it/dab it off with the paper towel.

 

So now you can dip just the end of the converter into the ink bottle, operate the twist nob to make the piston go down, and then back up drawing in ink. Pull the convertor out of the bottle, and hold it over the bottle, or some washable surface or paper towel, and then wrap the towel around the barrel of the convertor, and then turn it opening facing up. Any drops of ink should run down onto the towel at this point; now use it to further wipe the outside end free from ink. Pick up the section and push the convertor back into it, onto the feed nipple. Done.

 

I'm sorry if these instructions are muddled/not clear. It will probably become clear once you try it.

 

I think you could probably do this even when the pen is not empty/close to empty. You would probably want to wrap the towel around the convertor/section as you pull the convertor off the section to avoid any small amount of splatter, but as long as you point the nib/convertor up as you remove it, you should be fine.

 

 

no, this and the Dali's similar idea are both very clear...good to know that others have done this and can vouch for the relative ease in avoiding ink mess. I will also make sure to have cloth rag or lotion-free tissue at the ready.

 

penman

Edited September 30, 2012 by NewPenMan

[The Good Captain]

Brian Goulet has a good video clip showing how to fill a piston-filler (his demo was a Pelikan) using a syringe and blunt needle. In essence, open the piston as if ready to suck up ink; drop ink from the syringe onto the nib feed until it looks 'full'; close the piston just until the feed appears 'empty'; repeat as necessary until the piston know is in the fully closed position. I've not tried it yet but it would seem to be ideal for the last drops in the bottle or a large nibbed pen. for example Pelikan M805 and J Herbin ink!

[toomanypelikans]

For my Pelikan White Tortoise pens I tend to unscrew the nib and just syringe ink into the barrel then screw nib back in. You don't get a full fill that way but you don't get the white grip section all inky either.

[ObserveClosely]

For my Pelikan White Tortoise pens I tend to unscrew the nib and just syringe ink into the barrel then screw nib back in. You don't get a full fill that way but you don't get the white grip section all inky either.

Buy the ink syringe here.

[Bo Bo Olson]

A second solution is to buy another bottle of that ink, and as soon as there is space, pour the left over in.

 

Twsbi makes a modern inkwell bottle. You do want a twist top inkwell, other wise the ink dries up with a flip top.

 

If you find that tiny funnel let us know. I'm sure there are folks here who need it. :blink:

 

You do need a 'baby' rubber ear syringe, besides a needle one. It make cleaning the nib and feed section easy and fast.

[New_Falcon]

If you find that tiny funnel let us know. I'm sure there are folks here who need it. :blink:

 

Not sure if you were serious, but look at perfume funnels also places like bed bath beyond also sell little funnels.

[NewPenMan]

If you find that tiny funnel let us know. I'm sure there are folks here who need it. :blink:

 

Not sure if you were serious, but look at perfume funnels also places like bed bath beyond also sell little funnels.

 

100% serious. I was trying to imagine the ways of getting that last drop.. the blunt hypo/syringe method looks great, but maybe the funnel is better for getting THE very last drop?

 

penman

[N2theBreach]

+1 on watching Goulet Pens videos. There is a section on their web site called Fountain Pens 101. He's made quiet a few videos for those of us who don't have the benefit of someone close by to show them a few basics. For me, watching someone do it is a lot easier than trying to read about it. He even has one on how to get as much as possible from the little plastic vials they use for their samples.

 

Hang in there... once you get this part down, the hard part's over (unless you want to start tuning your own nibs or something! :-).