Refilling Rollerball and/or Gel Cartridges

[klevine]

Sorry to revive this old thread! I haven't been able to find a newer one on the same topic. I have a Parker rollerball and cartridges that I'd like to refill, but I seem unable to figure out how. I do see that someone else had trouble with their Parker cartridge as well. I'm extremely new to this, so forgive me if I'm asking stupid questions. I've been trying to find something that would allow me to use a FP ink converter in my rollerball, but I'm not sure if this exists (and if so, if it's usable with a Parker).

 

One of my main reasons for this is that I don't like the idea of producing so much waste. Is my only option to convert to a FP for everything?

 

Thanks for any help you can provide!

[Possum Hill]

Sorry to revive this old thread! I haven't been able to find a newer one on the same topic. I have a Parker rollerball and cartridges that I'd like to refill, but I seem unable to figure out how. I do see that someone else had trouble with their Parker cartridge as well. I'm extremely new to this, so forgive me if I'm asking stupid questions. I've been trying to find something that would allow me to use a FP ink converter in my rollerball, but I'm not sure if this exists (and if so, if it's usable with a Parker).

 

One of my main reasons for this is that I don't like the idea of producing so much waste. Is my only option to convert to a FP for everything?

 

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Both Kaweco and Pelikan have made ink roller pens that accept fountain pen ink in cartridges and converters, so refilling rollerball cartridges is not the only option.

 

If you have some empty (or full) Parker cartridges you can afford to lose, I suggest you disassemble one or more to see what's inside and how they're assembled. Take the least destructive approach you can, but get one open even if you have to do it with an axe.

[klevine]

Both Kaweco and Pelikan have made ink roller pens that accept fountain pen ink in cartridges and converters, so refilling rollerball cartridges is not the only option.

 

If you have some empty (or full) Parker cartridges you can afford to lose, I suggest you disassemble one or more to see what's inside and how they're assembled. Take the least destructive approach you can, but get one open even if you have to do it with an axe.

 

That was fun. Check out the linked pics of the destruction. It appears to be constructed similar to the old Pilot V5s. So it doesn't use felt, but seems to use capillary action. Since nsw was able to refill the V5s, I am assuming it's possible to do it to the Parkers as well. The only difference is that the V5 is refilled from the back, and the Parker needs to be refilled at the tip.

 

One thing I think may have contributed to the leaks is perhaps too much air in the cartridge. I am wondering if it will help to let the cartridge sit for a moment without replacing the tip - maybe this will help to equalize the pressure.

 

I think the butt end is all the room that is available for ink, since the top has the mascara brush-like piece (no idea what this is called). It's a bit trickier since the cartridge is opaque, but I'll try to err on the side of caution to begin with.

 

Having said all that, do you think it would be best to stick with Parker's FP ink? Or would that be unimportant?

 

Thanks again!

 

Cartridge in two pieces, tip and plastic bit.

Butt end of cartridge

Plastic piece that transports ink from cartridge to tip

End of top portion of cartridge. The black plastic piece is shown removed in the next image.

The mascara brush within the top portion of the cartridge. Not sure what this really is or what it does.

[bahnstormer]

I refilled a MB rollerball with black Quink once, and it wrote perfectly. the Quink wasnt as dark a black as the original ink though, maybe ill try again with Aurora black (once i manage to find some )

[Possum Hill]

 

That was fun. Check out the linked pics of the destruction. It appears to be constructed similar to the old Pilot V5s. So it doesn't use felt, but seems to use capillary action. Since nsw was able to refill the V5s, I am assuming it's possible to do it to the Parkers as well. The only difference is that the V5 is refilled from the back, and the Parker needs to be refilled at the tip.

 

One thing I think may have contributed to the leaks is perhaps too much air in the cartridge. I am wondering if it will help to let the cartridge sit for a moment without replacing the tip - maybe this will help to equalize the pressure.

 

I think the butt end is all the room that is available for ink, since the top has the mascara brush-like piece (no idea what this is called). It's a bit trickier since the cartridge is opaque, but I'll try to err on the side of caution to begin with.

 

Having said all that, do you think it would be best to stick with Parker's FP ink? Or would that be unimportant?

 

Thanks again!

 

Cartridge in two pieces, tip and plastic bit.

Butt end of cartridge

Plastic piece that transports ink from cartridge to tip

End of top portion of cartridge. The black plastic piece is shown removed in the next image.

The mascara brush within the top portion of the cartridge. Not sure what this really is or what it does.

Thanks for putting up the photos.

 

My guess is that about any FP ink would work. I've used several varieties of Noodler's, including bulletproof inks and Baystate Blue, in the Pilot rollerball pens I've refilled just because it was what I had on hand.

 

I suppose an iron gall ink might not work as well, but that would be a very interesting experiment.

[klevine]

Thanks for putting up the photos.

 

My guess is that about any FP ink would work. I've used several varieties of Noodler's, including bulletproof inks and Baystate Blue, in the Pilot rollerball pens I've refilled just because it was what I had on hand.

 

I suppose an iron gall ink might not work as well, but that would be a very interesting experiment.

 

My pleasure! Thanks for the advice!

[nsw]

Both Kaweco and Pelikan have made ink roller pens that accept fountain pen ink in cartridges and converters, so refilling rollerball cartridges is not the only option.

 

If you have some empty (or full) Parker cartridges you can afford to lose, I suggest you disassemble one or more to see what's inside and how they're assembled. Take the least destructive approach you can, but get one open even if you have to do it with an axe.

 

That was fun. Check out the linked pics of the destruction. It appears to be constructed similar to the old Pilot V5s. So it doesn't use felt, but seems to use capillary action. Since nsw was able to refill the V5s, I am assuming it's possible to do it to the Parkers as well. The only difference is that the V5 is refilled from the back, and the Parker needs to be refilled at the tip.

 

One thing I think may have contributed to the leaks is perhaps too much air in the cartridge. I am wondering if it will help to let the cartridge sit for a moment without replacing the tip - maybe this will help to equalize the pressure.

 

I think the butt end is all the room that is available for ink, since the top has the mascara brush-like piece (no idea what this is called). It's a bit trickier since the cartridge is opaque, but I'll try to err on the side of caution to begin with.

 

Having said all that, do you think it would be best to stick with Parker's FP ink? Or would that be unimportant?

 

Thanks again!

 

Cartridge in two pieces, tip and plastic bit.

Butt end of cartridge

Plastic piece that transports ink from cartridge to tip

End of top portion of cartridge. The black plastic piece is shown removed in the next image.

The mascara brush within the top portion of the cartridge. Not sure what this really is or what it does.

 

 

 

 

I have successfully filled a Parker Roller Ball refill. My suggested steps are:

 

1. Remove nib and be careful not to damage the ball tip of the nib.

2. Pull the long wick out the refill.

3. Fill a syringe with ink of your choice. The needle should be long enough to go beyond the brush-like piece to reach the inner ink chamber at the end of the refill.

4. Hold the refill upright with the nib pointing upwards and inject the ink very slowly into the ink chamber of the refill. Note that as you do so, air bubbles in the refill escape through a slit in the brush-like piece out of a small hole at the nib end. Fill the refill until ink instead of air bubbles escape through that small hole.

 

Note that if your syringe needle is not long enough to protrude the brush-like piece to reach the ink chamber, injected ink will stay in the bore of the brush-like piece and will back flow (leak) through the nib end opening through which the needle is inserted. In such a case, block the opening using a rubber or silicone piece. That way, ink will not be able to escape and will be forced into the ink chamber instead. This is exactly what I did because the needle I have is too short.

 

Regarding the type of ink, I use Chinese caligraphy ink. But I think fountain pen ink should work just fine.

 

BTW, I have also found an easier way to to refill the Pilot V5s. Instead of making a hole at the back end of the pen, I simply pull the brush like piece out using a pair of pliers, fill the pen body with ink and push the brush like piece back in. Chinese caligraphy ink and Parker Quink ink works well in the Pilot V5s. Now, the V5s and the V7s are the pens of choice for me.

 

Have fun with refilling.

[klevine]

I have successfully filled a Parker Roller Ball refill. My suggested steps are:

 

1. Remove nib and be careful not to damage the ball tip of the nib.

2. Pull the long wick out the refill.

3. Fill a syringe with ink of your choice. The needle should be long enough to go beyond the brush-like piece to reach the inner ink chamber at the end of the refill.

4. Hold the refill upright with the nib pointing upwards and inject the ink very slowly into the ink chamber of the refill. Note that as you do so, air bubbles in the refill escape through a slit in the brush-like piece out of a small hole at the nib end. Fill the refill until ink instead of air bubbles escape through that small hole.

 

Note that if your syringe needle is not long enough to protrude the brush-like piece to reach the ink chamber, injected ink will stay in the bore of the brush-like piece and will back flow (leak) through the nib end opening through which the needle is inserted. In such a case, block the opening using a rubber or silicone piece. That way, ink will not be able to escape and will be forced into the ink chamber instead. This is exactly what I did because the needle I have is too short.

 

Regarding the type of ink, I use Chinese caligraphy ink. But I think fountain pen ink should work just fine.

 

BTW, I have also found an easier way to to refill the Pilot V5s. Instead of making a hole at the back end of the pen, I simply pull the brush like piece out using a pair of pliers, fill the pen body with ink and push the brush like piece back in. Chinese caligraphy ink and Parker Quink ink works well in the Pilot V5s. Now, the V5s and the V7s are the pens of choice for me.

 

Have fun with refilling.

 

Excellent info! Thanks!

[lordemrick]

"Try Heart of Darkness...and be certain to only fill enough to saturate the sponge in the chamber (and if there is an open chamber, use rubber cement to seal back the plug in the back of the cartridge or barrel........."

 

This is amazing stuff and I'm surprised these instructions are buried instead of in an instructable or on the Noodler website. Thank you for sharing them and I hope more people take advantage of this information.

 

Eternally Noodiling- Your recommendation of Heart of Darkness takes care of black ink but are there any technical or other reasons to just use this one choice and any of the other amazing Noodler Ink types and colors?

 

~Nathan~

[bluemagister]

I frequently use Heart of Darkness (the best black ink ever) in rollerball refills by saturating the fiber core inside with ink and then replacing the back cap. The cheaper Foray rollerball refills are good for 3 or 4 HoD fills and I'd guess that the better quality Schmidt refills would last much longer.

[vattqzjcsharklasers.com]

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/207157-refilling-a-rollerball-pen-with-fountain-pen-ink/

[ragman35]

I have refilled pilot roller balls by removing the plastic finned end and filling with parker ink they worked well.

 

Lately I purchased some itoya roller ball refills that write like a dream but last only about a day. Have been able to refill them also. They are water based with a layer of nonmiscible oil at the top so they do not leak out. I have cleaned the ink and oil residual along the walls of the spent refill with pipe cleaner inserted the nib filled with parker ink and am trying to find something to put in the top so they do not leak. Used gear oil 140 wt but it was too thin and leaked out the top. Put vasoline in and it was too thick would form a vacuum when writing and stop. Today tried some lithium grease it was better still a bit too thick.

You need some thixotropy enough to seal the oil from leaking but not so heavy it does not flow as the ink level changes. May try thinning the grease with some oil to the right level. When you get old and your are retired you get a bit nuts and this give me something to play with.

ragman35

[amberleadavis]

Wow, these all sound like difficult tasks. I refill my rollerballs frequently and it's really easy.

 

Get a mug of boiling water. Put the rollerball cartridge into the mug tip up. Once the cartridge is hot (nearly too hot to touch) dip it into a vial of ink (I use the remainders of samples), the room temperature ink is comparatively cold and the ink is sucked in. It's a neat science experiment and it works well.

[leewm]

Trying to refill the solid metal parker roller ball cartridge has been almost impossible until now with the syringe vacuum method.

 

Pls refer to https://youtu.be/uMtBMEE7tas

 

or search "refill parker roller ball using vacuum"

 

People will be asking is it worth going through the trouble? In Singapore one of those cartridges cost almost the same as a bottle of ink! Well u be the judge of your time; I personally found it an interesting brain exercise to be able to do it

 

For the Pilot Varsity/V/Hitech pens, the syringe vacuum method (search youtube refill pilot varsity pen vacuum method) will not damage the pens in anyway.

[amberleadavis]

Lee, thank you for the video. I still find the hot water trick to be less messy, but that's because I'm a klutz and if you over pressurize that tube, you are wearing a lot of ink. Your method appears to take a minute less, and that has value too.

[leewm]

I have over pressurized the tube before and it was REALLY messy!

 

Btw how many times were u able to refill the cartridge and when it finally broke, can u pls let us know which part gave way?

 

I have refilled pilot hi tech pens before and the part the finally broke was the ball came out of the tip. I suspect that it would be the same case but the Parker tip construction seems much more robust than the pilot's.

 

With the pilot varsity, it could be refilled numerous times. It didn't write well when mound grew inside the fiber but after cleaning it worked again. Sometimes, the air hole got blocked with dried ink but these could be fixed by cleaning. It finally stopped writing after several years when it dropped out of my pocket and I couldn't find it :-(

[Ppgallop]

Wow, these all sound like difficult tasks. I refill my rollerballs frequently and it's really easy.

 

Get a mug of boiling water. Put the rollerball cartridge into the mug tip up. Once the cartridge is hot (nearly too hot to touch) dip it into a vial of ink (I use the remainders of samples), the room temperature ink is comparatively cold and the ink is sucked in. It's a neat science experiment and it works well.

Can you do this with the schmidt p8126? Can you post a video? If doing so with blue ink which ink will get the best results I usually use MB royal blue