Proper Converter For The Kaweco Sport

[OakIris]

Glad it worked for you. Tried both the useless squeeze converter and the not much better Monteverde... Gave up on Kaweco, way too much effort for such terrible results. Can't sell the Sport as it's a gift, every time I'm reminded of it I'm sorely tempted to accidentally put it under my chair.

 

"way too much effort for such terrible results" - are you only talking about the converter or about the Kaweco writing experience? The Monteverde converter is NOT made to fit Kaweco pens so of course it didn't work. The consensus is that the squeeze converter doesn't seem to work either, but the mini-piston converter does, and of course the pens work fine with just a cartridge too.

 

It seems too bad to give up on a pen in specific or manufacturer in general just because you haven't installed a working converter. But that means more Kaweco's for the rest of us - and you can accidently send that Sport you don't like my way as I would be happy to take charge of the awful thing for you!

 

Holly

Edited April 4, 2017 by OakIris

[Tweel]

I used the original press-bar squeeze converter in my Sport, and it really was awful. I finally gave up and just filled it with a syringe each time. However, I replaced it with the newer bulb-style squeeze converter, and that works fine for me. I have to "burp" the air out and top it off, but that's not a big deal for me -- I tend to do that with any filler that allows it, for a complete fill.

[OakIris]

I used the original press-bar squeeze converter in my Sport, and it really was awful. I finally gave up and just filled it with a syringe each time. However, I replaced it with the newer bulb-style squeeze converter, and that works fine for me. I have to "burp" the air out and top it off, but that's not a big deal for me -- I tend to do that with any filler that allows it, for a complete fill.

 

Good to know that I wasn't the only one that couldn't get the older squeeze converter with the press bar to work - I even removed the converter and stuck the "business end" of it into the bottle of ink itself in case it wasn't making a good seal at the section nipple - nada, not a bit of ink was sucked up. Too bad I bought the darn thing in 2013 and didn't get a Kaweco Sport until this year, or it would be going back to the seller.

 

Holly

[senzen]

 

"way too much effort for such terrible results" - are you only talking about the converter or about the Kaweco writing experience? The Monteverde converter is NOT made to fit Kaweco pens so of course it didn't work. The consensus is that the squeeze converter doesn't seem to work either, but the mini-piston converter does, and of course the pens work fine with just a cartridge too.

 

It seems too bad to give up on a pen in specific or manufacturer in general just because you haven't installed a working converter. But that means more Kaweco's for the rest of us - and you can accidently send that Sport you don't like my way as I would be happy to take charge of the awful thing for you!

 

Holly

 

The gold on the nib lasted three days maybe, and I'm careful with my pens, not a great start... After the Kaweco converter joke, tried the Monteverde... Until the pen decided to burp a big drop of ink as I was writing... Not a happy camper; which doesn't mean anyone else can't be one.

 

Seriously though, I am not one to get on my high horse, but the right thing to do for Kaweco would be to send one of these converters in exchange for the old squeeze monstruosity, with the promise that they will be destroyed.

[senzen]

I think the new converter works quite well. I am able to get a full ink fill with the plunger and Ive had no ink flow issues so far using the converter in the pen. Might be worth giving that Sport another chance.

 

Kaweco should reward its civilized consumers, like you and the others on this thread... So what's the model name or part number of this new converter? "Unsucky converter number 2"? I do feel sorry when asked if I've used my gift and come up with the litany of problems, only to see my friends worried faces.

[Chrissy]

Kaweco show all of their converters and other parts, plus pens, on their web-site and they say which pens they fit. It's very informative.

 

I also reviewed the Kaweco new mini piston type converter Here

[Bluey]

If the new converter turns out to have it's drawbacks there's always the possibility of eye dropper conversion

[senzen]

Kaweco show all of their converters and other parts, plus pens, on their web-site and they say which pens they fit. It's very informative.

 

I also reviewed the Kaweco new mini piston type converter Here

 

Thanks!

[tinta]

Kaweco show all of their converters and other parts, plus pens, on their web-site and they say which pens they fit. It's very informative.

Thanks Chrissy. The link you sent looks like an improved Kaweco accessories web-page. Very helpful.

 

It seems that the folks at Kaweco have been listening to customer feedback regarding the compatibility of certain Kaweco converters with some of their pens. I have contacted Christiane Gutberlet directly about a QC issue with a Dia2 & was very impressed with how my problem was solved. This keeps me returning back to Kaweco.

[max dog]

Kaweco show all of their converters and other parts, plus pens, on their web-site and they say which pens they fit. It's very informative.

 

I also reviewed the Kaweco new mini piston type converter Here

Great review. Thanks!

Up until now the Kaweco Sport, although I like the nib and the way it writes, has been more a novelty pocket pen for me, rarely used, but with this reliable converter option, it can be a daily user now, and something I can recommend to anyone looking for a low cost fountain pen.

Edited April 8, 2017 by max dog

[senzen]

Ordered it, that's $23 for three converters for a $22 pen. And not even a screw in type but oh well, I'll just set my expectations to "Samsung: just be glad it doesn't explode".

[Pentode]

Ordered it, that's $23 for three converters for a $22 pen. And not even a screw in type but oh well, I'll just set my expectations to "Samsung: just be glad it doesn't explode".

 

Okay, I get it: your pen had plating problems and the early converters weren't very good. You have every right to be annoyed by these things and, as a member of a public forum, you have every right to post those annoyances here. That's why we're here: to discuss pens.

 

Here's where it gets a little confusing for me: If you're so down on the pen, why did you bother getting the newer converter at all? And why did you order three?!? And if you are, indeed, giving the pen another chance, why such a negative attitude about it before you've even given it that chance? And did you ever contact Kaweco about the plating issue and give them the chance to address the problem for you?

 

Don't get me wrong, everybody's allowed to complain here, and your complaints seemed valid to me, at least at first. And I'm not a Kaweco fan-boy or anything; I have a couple of their Classic Sports and have had no issues - they seem like perfectly good, inexpensive pens to me, but I'm not singing their praises to the heavens. They're fine. They work. It just seems to me that your dislike for the pen goes a little above and beyond what the pen deserves. It is, after all, a <$25 pen. Aren't you being just a little hard on it? Maybe I'm just reading into it....

[senzen]

 

Okay, I get it: your pen had plating problems and the early converters weren't very good. You have every right to be annoyed by these things and, as a member of a public forum, you have every right to post those annoyances here. That's why we're here: to discuss pens.

 

Here's where it gets a little confusing for me: If you're so down on the pen, why did you bother getting the newer converter at all? And why did you order three?!? And if you are, indeed, giving the pen another chance, why such a negative attitude about it before you've even given it that chance? And did you ever contact Kaweco about the plating issue and give them the chance to address the problem for you?

 

 

Converter 1: Kaweco's squeeze.

Converter 2: Monteverde's.

Converter 3: new one discussed here.

 

Why buy it? So when my friends ask if I'm using the pen they gave me I can finally say yes.

[Pentode]

So why buy 3?

[FPRebel]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the easy bulb-filler conversion. Did I say "easy"??!! Even I did it it in less than 5 min + dry time. I'm enormously grateful to whomever developed the hack. Here's the YouTube vid I followed, except there is no need to clean the cartridge before cutting. It was a breeze to clean after cutting. If there's any ink in the cartridge, be sure to cut it on top of several folds of paper towels. My Kaweco Sport has an admirable fill of Noodler's Ottoman Rose thanks to this:

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl92XmaQ3Hg

[OakIris]

The mini-piston converter came loose from the section nipple of my Brass Sport again, discovered this yesterday, so obviously the first time was not a "one-off" and this is going to become a problem for me.

 

Too bad - I like the converter and don't want to go back to filling cartridges with a syringe. I hope that I can find a spring that will work with it and hold it in place against the nipple. I will either do that or, since the squeeze converter gets so few positive comments, make my own squeeze converter, like FPRebel and others have done. I have all of the materials needed and making a squeeze converter is pretty easy - and you can actually cut the sac to the correct size for the barrel and for once get a complete fill for the pen, instead of the miniscule amount you get with the converter or cartridge.

 

Holly

[tinta]

The mini-piston converter came loose from the section nipple of my Brass Sport again, discovered this yesterday, so obviously the first time was not a "one-off" and this is going to become a problem for me.

 

Too bad - I like the converter and don't want to go back to filling cartridges with a syringe. I hope that I can find a spring that will work with it and hold it in place against the nipple. I will either do that or, since the squeeze converter gets so few positive comments, make my own squeeze converter, like FPRebel and others have done. I have all of the materials needed and making a squeeze converter is pretty easy - and you can actually cut the sac to the correct size for the barrel and for once get a complete fill for the pen, instead of the miniscule amount you get with the converter or cartridge.

 

Holly

Thanks for posting Holly.

 

I have read similar reports of loose converters (both the Kaweco branded standard K2 size & the mini-piston), This would explain why I was not getting enough suction on my big Kaweco converter. Could only half-fill & mostly with bubbles. Finally gave up after purchasing two units.

 

My mini-piston has behaved admirably so far, but the possibility of a loose fit (& the resultant mess) is always in the back of my mind. Not exactly comforting. Because of this, I have relegated all my Kawecos to be cartridge-only fillers. It's only three pens out of a number.

 

It's well worth contacing someone at Kaweco directly about your converter problem, so they can get feedback directly from users.

Kaweco (Gutberlet) welcomes this feedback. I've had very positive & kind support from:

 

Christiane De La Rosa (geb. Gutberlet)

Sales & Export Manager

KAWECO

h & m gutberlet^® GmbH

max-brod-straße 11

D-90471 Nürnberg

Edited April 10, 2017 by tinta

[OakIris]

Thanks for posting Holly.

 

I have read similar reports of loose converters (both the Kaweco branded standard K2 size & the mini-piston), This would explain why I was not getting enough suction on my big Kaweco converter. Could only half-fill & mostly with bubbles. Finally gave up after purchasing two units.

 

My mini-piston has behaved admirably so far, but the possibility of a loose fit (& the resultant mess) is always in the back of my mind. Not exactly comforting. Because of this, I have relegated all my Kawecos to be cartridge-only fillers. It's only three pens out of a number.

 

It's well worth contacing someone at Kaweco directly about your converter problem, so they can get feedback directly from users.

Kaweco (Gutberlet) welcomes this feedback. I've had very positive & kind support from:

 

Christiane De La Rosa (geb. Gutberlet)

Sales & Export Manager

KAWECO

h & m gutberlet^® GmbH

max-brod-straße 11

D-90471 Nurnberg

 

The loose converter made itself known to me both times because the pen wouldn't write, no ink flow. The first time I thought it was out of ink, this time I was pretty sure it wasn't and a gentle shake allowed me to hear the converter rattling around inside the pen's barrel. I carry this pen, and a Brass Wave Liliput (in a leather case I made) in the front pocket of my jeans. Apparently the movement? vibration? as I walk around and sit and move during the day is causing the converter to fall off the nipple; I have also noticed that the barrel of the pen starts to unscrew as well, often needs to be tightened down before I use it. Luckily, no ink made an escape either time but it could have been quite a mess. This was supposed to be my new EDC pocket pen, but it doesn't seem to be made for pocket carry if it can't keep its parts securely together with a bit of walking and normal movement; it isn't as if I am out there running a Triathlon with it in my pocket! I have never had these problems with other pocket pens so this is disappointing.

 

I am not going to try the mini-piston converter in my Raw AL Sport. It already has a potential to "develop" thread galling because it is made of raw aluminum and an ink leak caused by an ill-fitting converter could have disasterous results, hastening the process by causing some corrosion and making the pen totally unusable - not much you can do once the threads have welded together from the galling!

 

I have communicated with Christiane before, actually in reference to the possibility of thread galling with the Raw version of the AL Sport, and have read of others that have dealt with her as well; she is indeed very helpful. I may contact her about the converter, just to let her know. Perhaps I should also ask her to add me to the list of many who find their nibs way too dry, lol. I was able to correct that problem, but there doesn't seem to be any way to fix the converter other than gluing it to the section nipple. I may be going to cartridge-only myself for these pens if my search for a spring doesn't pan out, or if my DIY squeeze converter doesn't suit me.

 

Holly

[max dog]

The mini-piston converter works well in my Dia 2 as well.

 

I haven't noticed this converter being loose at all in the Sport nor the Dia 2, in fact mine is quite snug in both pens. Hope Kaweco ups the QC on these so loose converters don't become an on-going issue.

[chromantic]

I watched a youtube comparison of the standard squeeze and the new piston where the reviewer managed to half fill the squeeze, which looked to be about the same amount as the full piston (I think he could have done better - he was squeezing from near the collar rather than starting from the back end and 'rolling' down). However, I was impressed with how the squeezer appeared to snap into the Sport very snugly so I went ahead and ordered one.