cleaning a converter/ink chamber

[GreenVelvet]

I am about to make the move from cartridges to converters for some of my pens. (YAAY!)

 

I've been refilling cartridges and know how to clean them out for the next ink, but how does one clean a converter? I will be switching ink colors a lot and anticipate wanting to clean them after each ink before the next new one goes in.

 

Also, I'm anticipating a Parker 51 aerometric - how does one clean that out? Just flush with water?

 

Thanks for putting up with the newbie questions!

[Randal6393]

Just fill and empty the converter three or four times in a row with clear water. Then dry thoroughly and fill with the next run of ink. For more serious situtations -- old pen, ink dried out and in feed -- might add a drop of ammonia. But that is rare. Mostly just flushing with clear, cool (to lukewarm) water will work.

[richardandtracy]

Just fill and empty the converter three or four times in a row with clear water. Then dry thoroughly and fill with the next run of ink. ...

With the P51, due to the collector size, I suspect that 'three or four times' is a wild under-estimate of how long it'll take. If the ink colours are very different, and the pen rather gummed up with ink, then 30 minutes of flushing may be needed.

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[GreenVelvet]

Thanks to you both!

 

I assume the only way to dry thoroughly, in either situation, is to leave it out to air-dry overnight?

 

Unfortunately the climate where I live this time of year is VERY humid (at times our bath towels don't dry) and that's the part I worry about. Come winter, it will be no problem.

[Gawain]

Thanks to you both!

 

I assume the only way to dry thoroughly, in either situation, is to leave it out to air-dry overnight?

 

Unfortunately the climate where I live this time of year is VERY humid (at times our bath towels don't dry) and that's the part I worry about. Come winter, it will be no problem.

 

You know GreenVelvet, I was worried about that too, until I read how many people dilute ink with water to make it dry faster. I'm not sure a little ach-two-oh is necessarily a bad thing....

 

What do other think?

 

[richardandtracy]

...I assume the only way to dry thoroughly, in either situation, is to leave it out to air-dry overnight?

...

Not at all, no need whatsoever. I just use a bit of loo paper or kitchen towel to wick out as much water as will come, then fill up with ink. If there's a drop or two of water left in there, the dye strength of the ink will make very little difference to the slightly diluted ink colour.

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[GreenVelvet]

Lovely! This is excellent news.

[JayJay]

Just fill and empty the converter three or four times in a row with clear water. Then dry thoroughly and fill with the next run of ink. For more serious situtations -- old pen, ink dried out and in feed -- might add a drop of ammonia. But that is rare. Mostly just flushing with clear, cool (to lukewarm) water will work.

As a new fp user, I followed this process for the first time a couple of days ago and achieved excellent results.