Poor Inkflow In Cartridge Converter Pens

[UK Mike]

Gotta give it to the 540! Out of all my pens the 540 does have a tight seal and I've never had a start up or drying issue even after 2 months of letting it sit.

 

Unlike my 580 which steadfastly refused to start up even when used an hour earlier. Perhaps it was the change of nib manufacturer and feed but my 580 was one of the most awkward amnd problematic pens I have encountered.

Edited September 5, 2013 by UK Mike

[NHsueh]

For those of you that have flow issues with a converter may I ask if the converter has a ball or metal spring inside to break the surface tension? I ask because this issue has come up pretty often on FPN, and some folks have remedied this problem buy taking the ball from a cartridge or from another converter and putting it in the converter that has problems.

 

On another note. I prefer to refill cartridges as well on my cc pens because most long cartridges hold more ink than a converter do. My only concern is the constant pulling and putting back on the cart might wear out the cartridge nipple on the pen. So far no problems, but I haven't had any cc pens for more than 1.5 years.

 

I've always wondered about using cartridges wearing out the pen as well. On the other hand, constantly wiping the pen nib every time you refill would wear out the nib's shine too, so I guess I rather wear out the attachment part.

[pokermon]

I wouldn't worry about wearing the shine if the nib is solid gold. If the nib is plated I would worry more about keeping good pen hygiene so certain inks won't strip the plating off. Wiping has so little wear that I don't even consider it.

[ac12]

Don't sweat it.

I changed MANY cartridges while in college, and I did a LOT of writing (note taking) and those pens are still fine.

It would take a LOT MORE cartridge remove and installs to wear out the nipple.

 

More that likely what would wear out is the end of the cartridge that you push over the nipple.

Cartridges were not designed to be reused, you use them and throw it away. So the hole could gradually increase in size, from repeated installs, until it starts to leak.

Edited September 5, 2013 by ac12

[pokermon]

Thanks for the info AC12. I did assume if anything were to wear it would the cartridge nipple itself and not the piercing tube on the pen since one is made to pierce the other, and the cartridge plastic is softer than the tube. Some piercing tubes have a metal housing as well increasing durability.

[Rudolf]

 

An interesting observation, except for the fact that Schmidt manufacture the converters for the current Faber Castells - the only modification being the name that is screen-printed on the metal ring. I have examples of both current models in front of me here and I can assure you they are identical in every detail. Precisely the same converter is used in the Visconti Rembrandt/van Gogh/Salvador Dali/Michelangelo; ST Dupont Defi; OMAS MiLord etc. Most use the K2 design with ST Dupont and OMAS preferring the K5 design with a metal ring also at the nipple end. In some cases, the end of the barrel carries an external thread to give a more positive location in the nib unit. (K6)

 

The main factor that may affect converter performance is whether the converter has been flushed out, a process I always try to do before using the pen. A cartridge does not of course require a lubricant internally and this may give lower surface tension. A well lubricated (OVER lubricated) converter may occasionally cause the ink to "Hang up" and require a nudge to get the ink to return to the working end. With a piston filler, the larger diameter of the barrel overcomes the surface tension every time.

 

A properly clean converter will not affect the flow to the nib, any more than piston fillers or cartridges do, because they will always feed more ink than the feed can use. It is the feed that controls the ink to the nib, not the filling system.

 

+ 1

This worked for my waterman carene. Very poor inkflow, but after a converter flush with water and detergent it improved very much.