time between refills

**32t** · 04-23-2012, 07:52 PM

I am new to the world of fountain pens and the one I am using at the moment is a Parker model 21. Used, i am using it in the condition I got it. I am doodling and using it more than I may if I was not interested in it but it is running out of ink between refills more often than I would expect. It functions fine and is not leaking so I am wondering if this is just the nature of the beast? I am thinking it is the equivalent to about 2 or 3 pages of text. Just a guess as i admit to my doodling.

Thanks,

Tim

**Doc4** · 04-23-2012, 08:04 PM

Eyedropper conversions ... be it a free Preppy that comes with a bottle of Noodlers, a $10 Pilot 78g, a $30 Kaweco Sport, or a $175 custom monster pen ... if you do an eyedropper conversion to the pen you get a lot more ink capacity.

... a lot more.

**32t** · 04-23-2012, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by Doc4

Eyedropper conversions ... be it a free Preppy that comes with a bottle of Noodlers, a $10 Pilot 78g, a $30 Kaweco Sport, or a $175 custom monster pen ... if you do an eyedropper conversion to the pen you get a lot more ink capacity.

... a lot more.

Thanks for the advice. I will check it out. I am not one to change things that are not broken. If it is broke i would certainly think about "updating" it. At this time I am wondering if this is the way that I should expect it to be. If this is normal I could keep a bottle of ink at work or refill it every night when I get home. It is less time between refill than I thought but if that is the way it should be I can certainly understand.

Related to this forum is my experience in learning how to hone a straight razor. I had a blade that was the best that I could do but thought could be made better. I gave it to an "expert" that i respect his abilities and found he could do no better than I had. I was chasing something that wasn't there.

In this context i am wondering if what I am experiencing is "normal". If so that is fine and i can take the experience for what it is and not wonder about what could be.

Tim

**jwhite** · 04-23-2012, 08:47 PM

I have to press the bar on those types several times to get a complete fill. One will often be less than half, two will give me maybe three fifths, etc.

**Dave258** · 04-24-2012, 03:03 AM

And on your last press be sure not to pull the nib out of the ink prematurely as it will also result in an incomplete fill.

**SmoovD** · 04-24-2012, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by Dave258

And on your last press be sure not to pull the nib out of the ink prematurely as it will also result in an incomplete fill.

+1. Give it a ten count to allow for a complete fill.

**Doc4** · 04-24-2012, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by 32t

Thanks for the advice. I will check it out. I am not one to change things that are not broken. If it is broke i would certainly think about "updating" it. At this time I am wondering if this is the way that I should expect it to be. If this is normal I could keep a bottle of ink at work or refill it every night when I get home. It is less time between refill than I thought but if that is the way it should be I can certainly understand.

Well, each filling mechanism holds its own amount of ink, some more than others. ("Eyedropper" is basically the greatest volume.) And each filling mechanism has its little quirks you have to master to get a decent fill. So make sure you have the nib submerged enough in the ink, and make sure you squeeze the little thingy enough times ... my '21' tells me to give it four squeezes.

**Shmu** · 04-24-2012, 04:30 PM

I am also interested in this. To make it more standard, how far should we expect a cartridge like any of these to last? It says that they are "standard international size."

**Go West Young Man** · 04-24-2012, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by 32t

I am new to the world of fountain pens and the one I am using at the moment is a Parker model 21. Used, i am using it in the condition I got it. I am doodling and using it more than I may if I was not interested in it but it is running out of ink between refills more often than I would expect. It functions fine and is not leaking so I am wondering if this is just the nature of the beast? I am thinking it is the equivalent to about 2 or 3 pages of text. Just a guess as i admit to my doodling.

Thanks,

Tim

There's a lot of variables at play there - how much writing do you do on a page? How much doodling? I have to refill most pens after a week of meetings/sales calls note taking - call it 40 or so pages of bullet points, not solid text margin to margin. If you're covering entire pages with solid blocks of colored in doodles, that'll burn through ink a lot faster.

**32t** · 04-24-2012, 05:46 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I understand there are very many variables and that is why I mentioned my doodling. I sat in a meeting next to my manager today and had a hard time not doing it. I had to act like I was a little interested in what was being said! [Actually he is not that bad! LOL] He did catch me a little off guard though and wanted me to comment on a new application we are using. I am not the greatest speaker and am glad I didn't hold the pen while I was talking. I might have waved my hands and sprayed everyone around me.

Seriously I will try a few more squeezes when filling and because I count fast I will count to 20 before I remove it from the ink.

Tim

**32t** · 04-28-2012, 08:38 PM

I think that I have found the problem. I have been using a Higgins ink and now have tried a Quink and that is working much better. the Higgins said that it was for fountain pens. [ But not for the ones that I have. ]

The Blue/Black Quink looks pretty Green to me but that may be my eyes. I also bought some Waterman Purple that is a neat color. I prefer the Waterman to this point but it is early in my journey. I had the option of a Noodlers but with the possible negatives I thought better of it.

Tim

**Doc4** · 04-28-2012, 08:55 PM

Glad you got that sorted out, Tim!

Originally Posted by 32t

I had the option of a Noodlers but with the possible negatives I thought better of it.

Tim

Don't give up on Noodler's!! Sure, the Baystate inks are a breed apart (and

for some pens), but there are lots of other ink in the Noodler's lineup that are fantastic. (Nudge nudge wink wink about the two B&B inks that Noodler's did for us, but ... ) there are lots of colours in that rainbow that are just fine. A few inks have performance issues, but that can be said of any ink brand, and reading reviews is always a good idea. But there are lots of Noodler's inks that are fantastic performers. Their blue and black are favourites of many, (and Brian Goulet of Goulet Pen Co. has said in one of his videos that Noodler's Black is the one ink he always has inked up in one of his pens ... and that man has hundreds of ink samples to pick dabble with.)

**oc_in_fw** · 04-28-2012, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by 32t

I think that I have found the problem. I have been using a Higgins ink and now have tried a Quink and that is working much better. the Higgins said that it was for fountain pens. [ But not for the ones that I have. ]

The Blue/Black Quink looks pretty Green to me but that may be my eyes. I also bought some Waterman Purple that is a neat color. I prefer the Waterman to this point but it is early in my journey. I had the option of a Noodlers but with the possible negatives I thought better of it.

Tim

Noodlers Black Eel is a great ink. A very black black, lubricated, and it took 4 days of washing with Lava to get it off my hands after an unfortunate accident.