Source For Converters With Internal Surface Tension Breakers

[markh]

I occasionally buy a pen with a converter included that has something inside to break up surface tension. Maybe a spring,or a small steel sphere.

 

The idea it to stop ink being held up at the top - a problem that too many converters seem to have.

 

I haven't seen a source for international converters like this. Any suggestions??

 

thx,

.

[davidtaylorjr]

I occasionally buy a pen with a converter included that has something inside to break up surface tension. Maybe a spring,or a small steel sphere.

 

The idea it to stop ink being held up at the top - a problem that too many converters seem to have.

 

I haven't seen a source for international converters like this. Any suggestions??

 

thx,

.

Not sure, I will have to look around. I know the Pilot CON-40 has this feature built into it but obviously, that is proprietary.

[Runnin_Ute]

I have never purchased them, but there are places you can get the springs. I don't recall who it was, but I am aware of at least one member who knows a source.

 

Keyboard springs maybe?

[wags]

I bought glass beads at Michael's. They are cheap, and small enough to drop through the opening in the international converter.

 

Cheers!

[mulrich]

Montblancs converter comes to mind (it has a spring); the MB cartridge also has a small plastic bead.

Ive looked around for others but havent found one.

[kestrel]

One source for the springs. I haven't done business with this company.

 

https://www.springsfast.com/part_detail_compression.php?part=C03-008-004

[praxim]

You can (I did) buy a hundred keyboard springs for peanuts (at least, the price of a bag of nuts) on ebay. Mine are said to be 24k. Given options for compression force, I chose the lightest which was 45g. They are easy to fit other than to my Waterman converters which so far have declined to separate.

[Erggg]

I occasionally buy a pen with a converter included that has something inside to break up surface tension. Maybe a spring,or a small steel sphere.

 

The idea it to stop ink being held up at the top - a problem that too many converters seem to have.

 

I haven't seen a source for international converters like this. Any suggestions??

 

thx,

.

Don't know if this is what you're looking for, but I know the Nemosine Standard International converters have a small bead in them. They're cheap, you can get them for around 2$ USD on certain sites. I have tons of them. They'e decent converters too. The bead also doesn't make a whole lot of noise since it's light but I do see that it can break the surface tension. It isn't as good as a heavier metal one, but it's quieter and less obnoious.

Edited May 18, 2018 by PanDeBer

[markh]

Don't know if this is what you're looking for, but I know the Nemosine Standard International converters have a small bead in them. They're cheap and I have tons of them.

 

And where can I buy them??

[Erggg]

 

And where can I buy them??

I usually go to Goulet Pens to buy mine. The link is

 

https://www.gouletpens.com/nemosine-cartridge-converter-chrome/p/NM-N79001

 

There's also a pen shop in my state that sells them. Nemosine pens are actually "made" in my state so I think I have somewhat more access to them than the average person.

 

Again, I don't if this was what you were looking for, but if it is, I like those converters. I should also mention I misspoke about the price. It' now 3$ USD. I forgot Nemosine some products recently increased in price like their nibs.

Edited May 18, 2018 by PanDeBer

[SpecTP]

It's incredibly simple to put a spring in a converter. I use keyboard springs since I customize mechanical keyboards. I've done this mod to all of my converters. No issues whatsoever with any inks.. including iron gall ones.

 

You can find keyboard springs here https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=339

[hinky]

A lot of converters can be taken apart. I normally do this to add silicone grease if needed. While it's disassembled, I also take the time to put a little ball salvaged from a used cartridge (when they eventually crack after several refillings). I prefer ball agitators because the spring ones tend to trap ink and are harder to thoroughly clean.

 

Hope that helps 😊

 

*I've only done this on Lamy, Nemosine, and converters that came with my Chinese pens. Can't seem to take apart a Sheaffer converter though.

 

**Edited for typo

Edited May 18, 2018 by hinky

[nigelg]

I'd suggest a spring or floating plastic bead type would be the best option. I'm sure I have a converter here somewhere that has a metal bead which simply sinks down to the outlet and blocks the flow of ink - about as much use as a chocolate teapot .

Edited May 18, 2018 by nigelg

[ac12]

I use a stainless steel ball. BUT, a stainless steel or gold plated spring is better.

This is because on some converters, when the ball goes to the front it could seal the opening out of the converter. That makes it a PIA to clean, and it could starve the pen of ink if you don't put the pen nib up periodically, to get ink to flow to the feed. The spring avoids this problem.

 

As for other balls. The ball has to be heavy enough to fall through the ink that is stuck at the back of the converter. The plastic balls from cartridges and in some of the cheap converters are too light to do any good. They just stay in the ink without falling through.

 

But this only works for converters that you can open.

I have NOT been able to open Parker screw piston converters, and Sheaffer converters.

Edited May 21, 2018 by ac12