Inky T O D - Oh, The Places You'll Go, Or, Waypoints On The Inky Journey

[arcfide]

3 hours ago, This name was free. said:

I can warmly recommend the Sailor blue-black inks. Well, one of them yet.  

 

As it turns out in your new thread, my tongue-in-cheek suggestion was not as good as I hoped.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that the Platinum cartridge is not black at all - only blue. Maybe they have different blues.

 

Platinum Blue Black is a "blue" IG ink, which Platinum calls Blue Black to signify its IG-ness.

[XYZZY]

21 hours ago, This name was free. said:

I started my fountain pen journey just this week with the arrival of the Platinum #3776 (medium nib). The first thing I noticed was that the cartridge that came with it made the nib produce ugly light blue (and too broad) lines on whatever paper I tried. Today, my Sailor Sou-boku arrived, I instantly trashed the cartridge and filled the converter: Thin dark lines - perfect!

 

Fascinating for me - but boring for most of you, I guess.

 

Tip:  fish that cartridge back out if it's still in your trash.  Empty it, clean it, dry it, and stash it with your box of pen parts (or use it to start your box of pen parts).  You may someday want to syringe-fill a cartridge with whatever ink you  choose, and you'll be glad to have that cartridge.  Of course you could also just syringe-fill a converter, but a cartridge will hold more, and takes little space in your parts box.

[This name was free.]

Good tip - but I actually plan to keep a few converters filled instead.  Open cartridges are not really secure - once accidentally pressed, they’re empty...

[inkstainedruth]

You *can* seal them.  Some people use a hot glue gun.  I used to use 100% silicone caulk (the stuff you use around bathtubs).  But honestly, I prefer using converters in my c/c pens.  Flushing out cartridges is a major PITA, even with a syringe.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[This name was free.]

I work in IT. Nobody would want me to handle anything that requires a steady hand.

[Arkanabar]

 

17 hours ago, XYZZY said:

 

Tip:  fish that cartridge back out if it's still in your trash.  Empty it, clean it, dry it, and stash it with your box of pen parts (or use it to start your box of pen parts).  You may someday want to syringe-fill a cartridge with whatever ink you  choose, and you'll be glad to have that cartridge.  Of course you could also just syringe-fill a converter, but a cartridge will hold more, and takes little space in your parts box.

 

+1.

 

I think the Platinum cartridge is probably one of the best around.  It has both internal ribs and a sizable ball bearing to encourage flow, and it holds more than a converter would.  Further, its wide throat makes it easy to refill with just a disposable bulb pipette.  Now, I wouldn't carry a refilled cartridge, but I am still using the original cartridges on all three Plaisirs in my house, which I refill at need.

[ENewton]

2 hours ago, Arkanabar said:

 

 

+1.

 

I think the Platinum cartridge is probably one of the best around.  It has both internal ribs and a sizable ball bearing to encourage flow, and it holds more than a converter would.  Further, its wide throat makes it easy to refill with just a disposable bulb pipette.  Now, I wouldn't carry a refilled cartridge, but I am still using the original cartridges on all three Plaisirs in my house, which I refill at need.

 

I feel silly for not having thought of this option.  I have had such terrible luck with Platinum converters  that a cartridge would probably last me longer.  I don't seem to have kept either of my original Platinum cartridges but might buy a box of ink in cartridges instead of another converter to replace the one that most recently failed.

[AmandaW]

And, if you ever need to problem solve a pen, having a cartridge to fill and pop in will prove/rule out the converter as the problem. (I just went through that with a Pilot Falcon - so this use is fresh in my mind - thankfully it wasn't the pen!)

 

I keep a few empty cartridges for each brand of pen in my collection.

 

 

[bayindirh]

3 hours ago, AmandaW said:

And, if you ever need to problem solve a pen, having a cartridge to fill and pop in will prove/rule out the converter as the problem. (I just went through that with a Pilot Falcon - so this use is fresh in my mind - thankfully it wasn't the pen!)

 

I keep a few empty cartridges for each brand of pen in my collection.

 

 

 

Moreover, most of the cartridges (Platinum, Lamy, international long and Parker) hold more ink than a converter. They're useful in EDC pens with run of the mill (Serenity, Lamy Blue, 4001, etc.) inks. You fill and forget it and write for a long time.

 

It's not as ritualistic as other methods and of course doesn't provide exorbitant amount of ink reserve like some other options, but it's practical, hassle free & effective.

[This name was free.]

I agree that cartridges hold more ink than a converter, but there are no Sailor cartridges for Platinum pens - and I’m really bad at things which require a steady hand.

[RJS]

Don't forget that when you use a converter and fill a pen by dipping the nib in ink, the amount of liquid held exceeds the volume the converter holds alone.