Do Ink Cartridges Damage Fountain Pens?

[rh968]

I always use the filling mechanism provided by the manufacturer to fill my pens and never use throwaway cartridges. Partly this is because I enjoy the ritual of filling from a bottle, but also I have always thought/feared that regular, long term use of cartridges might damage the sharp point in the pen that has to pierce the plastic cartridge. Has anybody found that to be the case or am I worrying too much? I don't like the thought of damaging what might be a very expensive pen that hopefully would last my lifetime.

[Heldin]

The sharp thing is designed to pierce cartridges so no, I don't worry about it.. you could always pre-pierce cartridges before putting them in the pen if you're worried about it

[cimmerian]

Technically, it's the tip of the feeder that pierces the cartridge. But in all the pens I've seen there's kind of a housing in the section that surrounds the feeder tip that will collect the ink from inside the cartridge. That plastic/ebonite/metal/other material is pretty tough, and I'd guess it's exactly so it easily punctures the cartridge.

 

I frequently use cartridges — in some pens I've been using cartridges for years — and they're all fine. Expensive, cheap, from famous brands, from anonymous brands... Also, in the pens I own in which the manufacturer bothered to add an instruction manual, they always say something like "always use [our brand] inks and cartridges". So they want you to use cartridges.

 

If you are still worried, you can always pierce the cartridge yourself with something pointy and then insert it in your pen.

[PaulS]

Possibly I'm misunderstanding the o.ps. thoughts - would not be the first time - but the comment .........."I always use the filling mechanism provided by the manufacturer to fill my pens and never use throwaway cartridges", has me confused ........... does this imply that rh968 does not use pens that are designed to for cartridges, and writes with pens that are l.f., b.f. or vac fill only - i.e. some use of a sac of some description. Alternatively, have I missed the point entirely and is it the case that the o.p. uses a converter, whereby there is no requirement to remove anything from the pen, since the converter remains in place permanently, thereby obviating the need for cartridges?

 

quote ...... "what might be an expensive pen" ........ probably a subjective comment, no matter by whom it was said

What is an expensive pen?? For me it might be £80 - £100............. for others a lot more, and for the rest it might be a lot less.

Surely, something like a P45 which was designed specifically for carts., has inbuilt rubustness to withstand constant replacement of it's ink supply.

 

I'm not trying to be awkward, but with my limited intelligence was unsure of the meaning that the o.p. had in mind.

Edited July 2, 2017 by PaulS

[rh968]

The pens I had in mind come with both a cartridge filler and a plastic throwaway cartridge in the box, so you can use either. Obviously with a piston filler you cannot use a cartridge of the disposable kind. And I agree, expensive pens are subjective as to what one calls 'expensive', but the point is the same - if it is valuable to me/ you then it's worth not damaging. By the way I had the P45 in the 1970s and they came with a cartridge filler and a disposable cartridge so that either could be used.

[Bo Bo Olson]

The spike is sharp enough, or sturdy enough to pierce the cartridges, as they sere designed to do so.

 

In Europe you can easily buy a needle syringe...do ask for the thickest needle they have and a 10-12ml syringe..if the pharmacist questions tell him the truth you are a weirdo, you fiddle with fountain pens . After flatting the tip on a stone, you can fill the cartridge with any ink you wish.

 

Get two needle syringes, the second leave sharp. Europe does not have butterball turkeys, so they are very dry. Cook up some butter with which ever spices you like and shoot that turkey everywhere, breast, thigh, and leg.....something US folks can think of too.

Some kitchen needles are a bit thick.

 

You need also a baby rubber ball syringe to clean your CC pens. Shove the end over the spike and flush water in and out, until clean....usually unless you are using supersaturated inks, clean with in a minute.

If you have Pelikans, you need two, one to cut off so it fits over the end of the screw out nib section end.

 

The gismo is called a converter. Sometimes you might need to add a small steel ball to it to break vapor lock. A normal problem....or a small bit of spring metal.

Edited July 2, 2017 by Bo Bo Olson

[PaulS]

 

but seriously, it seems I had misunderstood the meaning of the term 'cartridge filler' - have to admit that I'm at a disadvantage in these matters where people are speaking of writing with their pens - I don't write in the real sense, other than dip testing. All carts. are disposable in the sense that they were not designed originally to be refillable or re-usable - with syringes or pipettes - you used them and when empty you binned them.

 

Sorry to seem thick, but still not entirely sure what is meant by a cartridge filler - is this a cartridge of some sort, or is it a gadget with which you fill a cartridge?

 

You may be worrying too much - and may we ask please what your interpretation is of an 'expensive pen'

Edited July 2, 2017 by PaulS

[Bo Bo Olson]

Over the years, cheap and expensive will change tremendously.

I chase vintage in the nibs are better and I can get top of the line for less or as much as middle class pens.

If one hunts.....and don't "Buy Now'.....or get in silly bidding wars on Ebay....you can get good solid used pens for perhaps under $40 or $50.

 

 

You can get adequate Chinese pens for $5-or so. I never chased them....in I didn't want metal pens, and had a selection of cheap $20-30 vintage German piston pens..........living in Germany makes it easier......and postage from the states is such a rip off it wasn't worth chasing US pens.

Postage from Germany is affordable.

 

Richard Binder's com/site is a 100% need to take three days and read. Nibs, filling systems, good advice about ink, and pretty pens.

 

Before rushing off to Ebay....you need to know what the hell you are doing!

The golden rule of fountain pens is take your time. That pen will be there next week, the week after and or next month. Stay in Budget!!!!!!!!!....+10%.

 

Do Not join the Pen of the Week in the Mail Club.

Nor the pen of the month.

Pen of the Quarter will get you a well researched great pen.

Edited July 2, 2017 by Bo Bo Olson

[Jerome Tarshis]

I think a "cartridge filler" in this context is what is more generally called a converter.

 

The bizarre phrase "cartridge converter" also exists. The form "c/c" means "cartridge or converter," but the idea of "or" is not universally understood. Quickly or slowly, we learn to understand one another.

[cimmerian]

I find the circular logic of "converter" very amusing.

 

— What's this?

— It's a converter.

— What does it convert?

— It converts your pen from cartridge... to converter.

— ...

[Chrissy]

C/C filling pens are meant to be used for either a converter or a cartridge. Some don't actually pierce the plastic of the cartridge like Sheaffer pens do, some just push a ball inside the cartridge. Whichever C/C filling pen you have, it is fine to use it for your cartridges.

[MercianScribe]

I find the circular logic of "converter" very amusing.

 

— What's this?

— It's a converter.

— What does it convert?

— It converts your pen from cartridge... to converter.

— ...

 

Hahaha! I see your dilemma!

 

But... I think it goes like this:

 

It converts the pen from a cartridge filler to a piston filler.

 

I suppose it could just as well be; it converts this implement from an air-filled tube to a pen!

 

BTW, I think the term 'cartridge filler' just means the pen is filled with ink by means of a cartridge, like in the old days a lever filler meant the pen was filled with ink with a lever etc... It's not an implement for filling cartridges!

[Safari_Camo]

Do converters get wear out? I mean, after taking out refiling and inserting the converter can it leak?, how many uses can the converter resist? , The cartridge also have a MTBF (mean time between failures), nobody knows?

I'm thinking this since I'm in fountain pen hobby.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

No. If does not damage the pen.

[fabri00]

Pen and cartridge are designed to work together, therefore no damages.

[fabri00]

Do converters get wear out? I mean, after taking out refiling and inserting the converter can it leak?, how many uses can the converter resist? , The cartridge also have a MTBF (mean time between failures), nobody knows?

I'm thinking this since I'm in fountain pen hobby.

 

the converter should not be taken out for refilling, necessarily.

I fill all my pens with converter without removing it.

[pajaro]

Do converters get wear out? I mean, after taking out refiling and inserting the converter can it leak?, how many uses can the converter resist? , The cartridge also have a MTBF (mean time between failures), nobody knows?

 

I'm thinking this since I'm in fountain pen hobby.

 

 

Piston converters wear out, in my experience after about ten years. It won't suck up ink any more.

 

As far as persons not understanding cartridge or converter goes, you buy a pen. If new you get a cartridge typically, and you used to get a converter. At any rate, there should be instructions to clarify the use of the pen. What's not to understand? Used pens are another matter, but then there are web sites to help.

 

Each removal and replacement of a cartridge or of a converter has some frictional wear involved. If you do it enough times the cartridge or converter will have a looser hold until it does not hold.