Converters.Pros and Cons?
- Thread starter Snargle
- Start date
I'm with Rockminer on this. I'm basically done with C/C for the most part, and for the reasons he stated.
I also think C/C is prone to creating a vacuum that resists capilary action, so I tend to have to unscrew the thing and and push some air out for the pen to flow well, but even if that were not true I would still greatly prefer old school filling mechanisms. I LIKE the fact that they are less practical, for the same reason I like to hone my razors and wind my watches.
I also think C/C is prone to creating a vacuum that resists capilary action, so I tend to have to unscrew the thing and and push some air out for the pen to flow well, but even if that were not true I would still greatly prefer old school filling mechanisms. I LIKE the fact that they are less practical, for the same reason I like to hone my razors and wind my watches.
I just got around to reading Brian Gray's essay. It seems like a good one to me. I think I basically agree with syngent's first post.
I generally fill all of my pens with a syringe and needle anyway. I agree with Vlad, though, that it seems to me converters tend to create more flow problems. Not that big a deal for me to twist down the converter, though.
I generally fill all of my pens with a syringe and needle anyway. I agree with Vlad, though, that it seems to me converters tend to create more flow problems. Not that big a deal for me to twist down the converter, though.
You summed up my thoughts exactly. I can tolerate C/C in a less expensive utility pen, but if I'm going to invest in a quality pen it will be piston filled.
Larry --
I've been much happier with piston-fill pens, but that's really for the greater ink capacity. With a regular converter, I find that I can write about 7 pages, which is about right for a session. That means that I have to ink up just about every session, and that annoys me. My Lamy 2000 can write about 17 pages for me, and I like that a lot better. I have a nice Parker Premier that writes like a dream, but having to stop and ink in the middle of a session is terrible.
I honestly haven't ever tried cartridges. I would guess that they were easy to use, but I feel a lot better knowing that I'm not tossing more plastic into landfills. Plus, if I like an ink, I can write a *lot*, so I'd rather know that I have ink to last me months instead of a box of 12 cartridges. That's just really my own opinion, though.
Robert
I've been much happier with piston-fill pens, but that's really for the greater ink capacity. With a regular converter, I find that I can write about 7 pages, which is about right for a session. That means that I have to ink up just about every session, and that annoys me. My Lamy 2000 can write about 17 pages for me, and I like that a lot better. I have a nice Parker Premier that writes like a dream, but having to stop and ink in the middle of a session is terrible.
I honestly haven't ever tried cartridges. I would guess that they were easy to use, but I feel a lot better knowing that I'm not tossing more plastic into landfills. Plus, if I like an ink, I can write a *lot*, so I'd rather know that I have ink to last me months instead of a box of 12 cartridges. That's just really my own opinion, though.
Robert
Vlad --
That's a great point. One other issue I have with C/C pens is that I usually have to do what I call "goosing" after 2 pages. "Goosing" is holding the nib up and screwing the converter to squeeze out the air that displaces the ink while writing. I've found that with a piston-fill pen, I get the same good ink flow from full to empty. To be fair, goosing a pen is a minor inconvenience, but this post did allow me to admit my peculiar turn of nomenclature.
Robert
If you're having to do that then I feel there's a problem. You should have good ink flow from start to finish -- cartridge, converter, ink sac, piston, whatever.
Having to do that shows you've got poor flow due to bad feed/nib design, crummy ink, clogs, misaligned parts, incorrectly set feed -- needs work IMO.
Having to do that shows you've got poor flow due to bad feed/nib design, crummy ink, clogs, misaligned parts, incorrectly set feed -- needs work IMO.
There may be something to the "converter doesn't work well with this pen" going on.
I thought I remember James saying that he had a problem with his FA nib 912, in that respect.
I thought I remember James saying that he had a problem with his FA nib 912, in that respect.
I'm pretty sure that any flow issues related to an FA nib have everything to do with the feed and nothing to do with the converter. That was my (and many others') experience anyway.
-Andy
I'm not saying he couldn't have made the con 70 work, but changing the c/c seemed to solve his problem.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...Heritage-912-Pen-Review?p=5628050#post5628050
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...Heritage-912-Pen-Review?p=5628050#post5628050
There is a flow issue between the con 70 and where it sits in the feed, likes to gather air there to rapidly and traps ink above the bubble, I swapped out to the con 20 and my pen works 1000 times better the con 20 has a different and more narrow base to it, It makes the thermodynamics (I think thats the sciencey term for flowy stuff) different and the ink bubble doesnt form, it slips up like it should allowing ink to flow, Chris is right, I have stated that one, and it did work for me. but that has to do with the rapid ink/air transfer when flexing out, I dont think this pen would write that wet to have that happen. It seems as if there is something in the feed itself that would cause that kind of issue.
I would agree with that. He mentions pen(s) so I wonder if it's same brands, same size Nibs, etc. I know my Twsbi with a 1.1 runs drier if I just plug away writing without taking a break. I don't know if that's normal, and I certainly wouldn't compare Twsbi's with better pens and feeds.
close.
Nothing original to offer on the pros and cons of converters. Easier to clean thoroughly, if they go bad, just replace them, many have a quite adequate ink capacity. Indeed, of the four pens I have inked right now, two have Pilot CON-70 converters, one has a long international converter, and the other has a Pilot cartridge instead of the CON-20 converter which is my other choice for it.
I like modern pens with built in piston fillers, even though I don't have one inked right now. I find them, and vintage pens with some sort of sac based filling system, to be more technically interesting than converters. I've used some converters that had problems, locking up because of air bubbles or some other unidentified issue or not drawing in much ink, for example. When you find one that works well in a given pen, though, it's hard to make the case that a built in system is inherently superior.
If a pen has a good nib, is comfortable to hold and well balanced, and will get through a respectable number of pages without a refill, then I don't worry too much about how the ink got in there. I do write quite a lot, but if I run out of ink when I'm on a hot streak, I always have another pen right there. I don't think I've ever emptied two pens at a sitting.
I like modern pens with built in piston fillers, even though I don't have one inked right now. I find them, and vintage pens with some sort of sac based filling system, to be more technically interesting than converters. I've used some converters that had problems, locking up because of air bubbles or some other unidentified issue or not drawing in much ink, for example. When you find one that works well in a given pen, though, it's hard to make the case that a built in system is inherently superior.
If a pen has a good nib, is comfortable to hold and well balanced, and will get through a respectable number of pages without a refill, then I don't worry too much about how the ink got in there. I do write quite a lot, but if I run out of ink when I'm on a hot streak, I always have another pen right there. I don't think I've ever emptied two pens at a sitting.
I sort of feel that way.
Sort of.
To me, an expensive pen is expensive for one or more reasons ... gold nib instead of steel, quality of construction, nib construction quality, quality control, fancy body artwork, "fashion" brand mark-up, whatever. Even a more complicated filling mechanism. If I buy a Sailor 1911, it's because of the Nagahara nib. If I buy a Pilot custom heritage 92, it's because of the piston filler. If I buy a Nakaya, it's because of the stunning pen body ... would I prefer my Sailor and Nakaya come with piston fillers? Of course. Am I willing to overlook the absence for other characteristics? Yes (to a degree).
And this, coming from a guy who likes to eyedropper any pen he can, for the ink capacity.
Here's something of interest: for years, Sailor made only c/c pens. Then, a few years back, they came out with a "REALO" piston filler ... and charged a premium for it. Pelikan has for years only made (more or less) piston fillers at least in their "M" series pens. Then, just recently, they announced a c/c M-200 pen ... and are charging the same as a piston-fill M-200.
And Im pretty sure with the Realo and its ink capacity, its just a sealed converter anyway, Visconti does that on a few pens as well
