Pens With Shutoff Valve Or Leak Prevention?

[something creative]

I recently had a little scare where some ink leaked from one of my pens while it was clipped to my shirt. Thankfully the ink was trapped in the cap so no stains But it seems my body heat tends to make my pens want to release their ink... Now, I know there are some ways to make leaking less likely (nib up, etc.), but are there any pens out there that actually have measures to prevent ink leaking, regardless of orientation or temperature?

 

So far I can only think of the Vac 700 and Pilot Custom 823, two vacuum fillers which I believe have shutoff valves. Any others out there, especially in the lower price range? Thanks for the answers!

[hari317]

Lower price range? no. This painful (IMO, of course) contraption is offered only with certain high end pens like the Dani Trio EDs, Namiki EDs, older Japanese EDs and recently in the Belgian Conid pens.

[Pterodactylus]

I recently had a little scare where some ink leaked from one of my pens while it was clipped to my shirt. Thankfully the ink was trapped in the cap so no stains But it seems my body heat tends to make my pens want to release their ink... Now, I know there are some ways to make leaking less likely (nib up, etc.), but are there any pens out there that actually have measures to prevent ink leaking, regardless of orientation or temperature?

 

So far I can only think of the Vac 700 and Pilot Custom 823, two vacuum fillers which I believe have shutoff valves. Any others out there, especially in the lower price range? Thanks for the answers!

 

Beside vacuum fillers also vintage safety pens come into my mind (with retractable nibs).

I own a nice Waterman 45 safety pen which probably will never leak but has the danger to spill all the ink (and there is a lot of ink in it) when open it not in a vertical position.

But these are not in the lower price range.

[jar]

There are also the vintage Onoto pens from Thomas De La Rue that have a shut off valve.

[Sasha Royale]

In the early days, Parker fountain pens were called "the clean pen".

When pocketed, nib up, the excess ink drained back into the reservoir.

Body heat, warming the air in the pen, would push air out of the feed,

not ink. There were also design features to close-off the barrel.

(Something that lever fillers cannot do.) This became most important

with growing civilian air travel.

 

I insert a plastic ID badge pouch into my shirt pocket as protection

against leaks. It disappears into the pocket, unlike the big, "nerdie"

pocket protectors. Yes, I use it with my Parker pens, as well. Sometimes,

I wear belt and suspenders. (Sue me.)

[Freddy]

Honorable mention:

 

Visconti: High Vacuum Dual Reservoir/Dual Tank Power Filler.... .

 

Fred

 

Tell you what..mister citizen bartender.... .You can take your

beers and Shove'em up your Donkey sideways.

Can You Dig It?

~ Mulhall ~

[something creative]

Lower price range? no. This painful (IMO, of course) contraption is offered only with certain high end pens like the Dani Trio EDs, Namiki EDs, older Japanese EDs and recently in the Belgian Conid pens.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't want the shutoff valve on all my pens but I would like just one with it, that I can trust a bit more in varying climates And I forgot about Conid, awesome But, where would I find one of those ED's?

 

I recently had a little scare where some ink leaked from one of my pens while it was clipped to my shirt. Thankfully the ink was trapped in the cap so no stains But it seems my body heat tends to make my pens want to release their ink... Now, I know there are some ways to make leaking less likely (nib up, etc.), but are there any pens out there that actually have measures to prevent ink leaking, regardless of orientation or temperature?

 

So far I can only think of the Vac 700 and Pilot Custom 823, two vacuum fillers which I believe have shutoff valves. Any others out there, especially in the lower price range? Thanks for the answers!

 

Beside vacuum fillers also vintage safety pens come into my mind (with retractable nibs).

I own a nice Waterman 45 safety pen which probably will never leak but has the danger to spill all the ink (and there is a lot of ink in it) when open it not in a vertical position.

But these are not in the lower price range.

 

Thanks, I'll stay on the lookout for one of those

 

There are also the vintage Onoto pens from Thomas De La Rue that have a shut off valve.

 

Where would I find one of those?

 

In the early days, Parker fountain pens were called "the clean pen".

When pocketed, nib up, the excess ink drained back into the reservoir.

Body heat, warming the air in the pen, would push air out of the feed,

not ink. There were also design features to close-off the barrel.

(Something that lever fillers cannot do.) This became most important

with growing civilian air travel.

 

I insert a plastic ID badge pouch into my shirt pocket as protection

against leaks. It disappears into the pocket, unlike the big, "nerdie"

pocket protectors. Yes, I use it with my Parker pens, as well. Sometimes,

I wear belt and suspenders. (Sue me.)

 

Haha Those Parkers sound awesome. I wouldn't want all my pens to be that way, but to have one, would be nice Where would I find one of those?

 

Honorable mention:

 

Visconti: High Vacuum Dual Reservoir/Dual Tank Power Filler.... .

 

Fred

 

Tell you what..mister citizen bartender.... .You can take your

beers and Shove'em up your Donkey sideways.

Can You Dig It?

~ Mulhall ~

 

Haha All right, I'll keep my eye out for those

[jar]

 

There are also the vintage Onoto pens from Thomas De La Rue that have a shut off valve.

 

Where would I find one of those?

 

Most anywhere. I found one in an old family run drugstore sitting in a counter in the back. I found another in a Flea Market in North Carolina. They come up for sale quite often on eBay (both US & UK) and many of the vintage dealers that are members here at FPN seem to have them pretty regularly. Look for the Plunger Filler version and not the lever filler.

[iamchum]

I dont know if this adds anything to the discussion, but I found it interesting nonetheless, while trying to find an oversize specimen for myself. Early Wahl Doric's had shutoff valves to accompany the growing popularity of air travel, but they were found to be so woefully inadequate that it had to stop being advertised as having a shutoff valve. Eventually Wahl removed them altogether. So, probably not going to work for you in terms of limiting mess, but funny history nonetheless. lol :roflmho:

[something creative]

 

There are also the vintage Onoto pens from Thomas De La Rue that have a shut off valve.

 

Where would I find one of those?

 

Most anywhere. I found one in an old family run drugstore sitting in a counter in the back. I found another in a Flea Market in North Carolina. They come up for sale quite often on eBay (both US & UK) and many of the vintage dealers that are members here at FPN seem to have them pretty regularly. Look for the Plunger Filler version and not the lever filler.

 

Okay, thanks, I'll keep my eye out

 

I dont know if this adds anything to the discussion, but I found it interesting nonetheless, while trying to find an oversize specimen for myself. Early Wahl Doric's had shutoff valves to accompany the growing popularity of air travel, but they were found to be so woefully inadequate that it had to stop being advertised as having a shutoff valve. Eventually Wahl removed them altogether. So, probably not going to work for you in terms of limiting mess, but funny history nonetheless. lol :roflmho:

 

Hahaha thanks, it's good to know what not to buy too

[icevic]

The Waterman Edson was advertised as being leak-proof. Not sure what technology they used. That was an expensive pen.

 

At the other end of the spectrum, the $3 Platinum Preppy has a spring-loaded inner cap that seals the pen when you cap it, so you shouldn't have any leaking since air can't get in. They aren't supposed to dry out that way either, Platinum says you can leave it for a year and then still write with it.

 

For $20 more you can get the aluminum bodied Platinum Plaisir, internally identical to the Preppy with the same spring-loaded cap. It really is a neat trick and it definitely works, in my experience.

 

The Vac 700 seems to do the trick too, although I have to remember to unscrew it each time I write.

 

There really isn't a leak proof fountain pen. That's the whole point of them, they work by "leaking" when you touch the paper, and they will all be affected by jolts, drops, or changes in pressure and temperature.

 

I have tested the 700, Preppy, and Plaisir, but not the Edson (although I would like one someday). They'll splash a little in their caps but they won't leak out ink.

[something creative]

The Waterman Edson was advertised as being leak-proof. Not sure what technology they used. That was an expensive pen.

 

At the other end of the spectrum, the $3 Platinum Preppy has a spring-loaded inner cap that seals the pen when you cap it, so you shouldn't have any leaking since air can't get in. They aren't supposed to dry out that way either, Platinum says you can leave it for a year and then still write with it.

 

For $20 more you can get the aluminum bodied Platinum Plaisir, internally identical to the Preppy with the same spring-loaded cap. It really is a neat trick and it definitely works, in my experience.

 

The Vac 700 seems to do the trick too, although I have to remember to unscrew it each time I write.

 

There really isn't a leak proof fountain pen. That's the whole point of them, they work by "leaking" when you touch the paper, and they will all be affected by jolts, drops, or changes in pressure and temperature.

 

I have tested the 700, Preppy, and Plaisir, but not the Edson (although I would like one someday). They'll splash a little in their caps but they won't leak out ink.

 

Wonderful info. Thank you I don't think I'd get the Waterman but good to know about those other three. Now wonder my Preppy has always been a quick starter even when capped for a while. I think I'm going to start doing some leak tests of my own...

[Pterodactylus]

Hi something creative,

 

I posted a review of my Waterman 45 BCHR safety pen here:

Might be interesting for you.

 

Waterman 45 BHCR safety pen review

[Frank C]

When I am concerned about leakage from a pen—which is rarely—I fill up with washable blue ink. True to its name, it washes out of clothing. I don't use it for legal documents, though.

[something creative]

Hi something creative,

 

I posted a review of my Waterman 45 BCHR safety pen here:

Might be interesting for you.

 

Waterman 45 BHCR safety pen review

 

Wow. I may not be able to afford one of those but it sure looks wonderful.

 

When I am concerned about leakage from a pen—which is rarely—I fill up with washable blue ink. True to its name, it washes out of clothing. I don't use it for legal documents, though.

 

Great idea! Any washable inks you suggest?

[Frank C]

Hi something creative,

 

I posted a review of my Waterman 45 BCHR safety pen here:

Might be interesting for you.

 

Waterman 45 BHCR safety pen review

 

Wow. I may not be able to afford one of those but it sure looks wonderful.

 

When I am concerned about leakage from a pen—which is rarely—I fill up with washable blue ink. True to its name, it washes out of clothing. I don't use it for legal documents, though.

 

Great idea! Any washable inks you suggest?

 

Parker Quink Washable Blue, Diamine washable Blue, Akkerman Washable Blue. The old Montblanc blue was washable, no claim stated on the new. Same goes for the old Waterman Florida Blue.

Edited March 12, 2013 by Frank C

[georges zaslavsky]

I dont know if this adds anything to the discussion, but I found it interesting nonetheless, while trying to find an oversize specimen for myself. Early Wahl Doric's had shutoff valves to accompany the growing popularity of air travel, but they were found to be so woefully inadequate that it had to stop being advertised as having a shutoff valve. Eventually Wahl removed them altogether. So, probably not going to work for you in terms of limiting mess, but funny history nonetheless. lol :roflmho:

Yes you are correct