Rollerball Recommendations For Fp Ink?

[TSherbs]

Hi folks,

 

I am (for some reason) developing an interest in trying a refillable rollerball that will use my bottled ink. I know that Noodler's and jHerbin make them. Any recommendations? Any other brands? I am not looking to spend much money, so cost is a factor. Are they worth the $? It might be only the novelty of the idea that is intriguing me. Is fountain pen ink any good in a rollerball system (not what it is designed for)?

 

There are not many reviews on youtube, either, so....

[OCArt]

Somewhere I have a Kaweco Sport rollerball that uses fp ink cartridges. Never used it so I can't say how well they work.

[shawndp]

Is there a specific reason you want a RB to take bottled ink? I ask because I have a definite place for RB's in my daily pen rotation and there are so many good refills out there in terms of colours and smoothness that I haven't felt the need to go the ink route. I use a RB for the sheer convenince of not having to worry about it leaking or spilling or freezing... I have a few of the ink-it-yourself sort out of curiosity - Noodler's / Herbin / and another that came with a bottle of ink that looks like a Preppy and none were as satisfying as writing with a FP (ink flow / smoothness) or as convenient as writing with a RB (hard starts). I have one more to try - it is a Delta 82 that came as part of FP / RB set that my gf has - maybe they got the formula right, but it is hard to displace Montblanc / Visconti / Pilot refills that work so well. All the best!

[Frank66]

Hi, I hope this might be relevant to the rollerball question. There are Refillable Rollerball Nibs available in specialized pen stores (e.g. Beaufort ink, UK, http://www.beaufortink.co.uk/rbnibs.html ) that can be retrofitted into an existing fountain pen that accepts a #5 fountain pen nib, along with a standard international cartridge converter. All in takes is some experimentation, I am sure, but it is worth it, at least in my mind, to be able to switch inks in rollerball pens same as with a fountain pen.

 

You may want to contact Phil Dart at Beaufort Ink, UK for more instructions about this pen modification, if you are willing to attempt one. For instance, it might be interesting to experiment with a Jinhao, Hero or other inexpensive fountain pen. For a while now, I have been interested in trying it myself, when I get the time, I promise I will try to post again with the results. Other than that, I am sorry but I cannot be of any more help.

 

Regards, Photios

Edited March 2, 2016 by Frank66

[GeneralSynopsis]

You can refill many liquid ink rollerballs (the ones with the fins visible through the section) the same way that Pilot Varsities/V-pens can be refilled by pulling the feed/collector and filling the ink tank with a syringe.

[EBUCKTHORN]

On page 20 of their online PDF catalog Schmidt shows a Cartridge-Rollerball-System. it's not clear whether cartridges other than their own can be used but that shouldn't be difficult to find out. It's a very impressive collection of pen apparatus (apparati?) that they make!

[Witsius]

I believe Monteverde makes a rollerball that is purpose designed for use with fountain pen ink. I've read mixed reviews on how well it works though.

[RMN]

Several brands, among them Monteverde and Visconti. More, but I don't know them off the top of my head.

 

 

D.ick

[TSherbs]

thanks for these additional replies!

[EBUCKTHORN]

In addition to my earlier suggestion about using a Schmidt unit it seems that there are two ways to use them: with cartridge OR converter. There also seem to be two basic ways to accomplish the fountain pen to roller ball conversion. The first is converting an existing roller ball pen so it can use (cartridge or bottled) fountain pen ink and the other is to convert an existing fountain pen to to have a roller ball tip that will use fountain pen ink. I hope this is a positive contribution, accurate, and not creating confusion.

[Phil_Dart]

The refillable rollerball nibs on the Beaufort Ink website are kept in stock primarily for pen makers. However, depending on the pen, they can be retro-fitted in to existing fountain pens that take a size 5 nib, if the existing section allows for it. The outside diameter of the portion which goes in the section is 6.9mm and the thread is M6.5 x 0.5, which can often be made to fit by chasing out the section thread if necessary.

 

Beaufort Ink's refillable rollerball nibs will take both a Standard International cartridge and a Standard international converter. They come in two colours, one of which is black and the other is chromed, and they cost £1.97 and £3.57 respectively. Beaufort Ink's premium converters are £2.97

http://www.beaufortink.co.uk/rbnibs.html

I hope that helps
Phil