I don’t mind filling cartridges with bottled ink using a syringe and I already do that with a few of my many pens. But I find cartridges very annoying mainly because I’ve often had ink flow issues with them. To me, they’re just not very dependable despite having decent ink capacity - especially the long cartridges. But cartridges are also a nuisance because you constantly use and discard if you have packs of them in stock. On balance, I still prefer converters, despite the frustratingly scanty ink capacity in a majority of them.
I agree. Cartridges are great for travel, but refilling with a syringe with your ink choice is great. I don't miss the fuss of converters, or trying to remember which goes with what pen. Good discussion!
Team Fish ...Pilot and Sailor converters are a sad, bad joke. Platinum’s are scarcely better. And some of my otherwise splendid Kaweco pens don’t even always come with converters. Oh well, their converters actually suck anyway. Apart from the pain of cleaning - though I seldom change inks in my pens - piston fillers are arguably best all round. Lately, I’ve come to really enjoy my eye-dropper filled pens a lot. Converters, for me, are just better than cartridges. If only they were designed to hold more ink in them.
Normally I use converters.Cartridges are more expensive and I don't want to add to the plastic waste by throwing away empty cartridges. I prefer using a converter over refilling a used cartridge as it's more convenient and less messy except for my vintage Waterman CF (no matching converter available and the cartridges are also hard to come by). For a person writing not so much I can see the advantages of cartridges. Why buy a glass of ink that you probably will never empty? And in that case the difference in prices for bottled ink vs. cartridges won't matter that much but for me converters are the better solution.
Usually I prefer converters. But I have a few Geha pens without converters. Since these are pens from the 1970s, I'm fortunate to have found (and refilled) vintage cartridges that came in the pens.
Great to see this pop up in my notifications! Hope you're keeping safe and well. This morning, I tried eyedropper converting one of my pens, but gave up and just refilled the cartridge with Waterman Audacious Red. I generally use converters, but have cartridges for when I CBA. And I keep an empty cartridge for each model (Kaweco Sport, Parker, Pilot standard, Pilot Petit). So I don't feel strongly either way, but it's nice to hear the relative advantages elucidated.
I have a mix of cartridges and converters, because I like my pocket pens! Also if I travel, the cartridges make sense. But I adore my ink collection, so I generally prefer converters. I have refilled a few cartridges by syringe, but they’re not meant to last forever, so eventually they go in the trash.
I had never thought to fill a cartridge by syringe. I might have to try that on my Pilot Kakuno, because it came with only one proprietary cartridge, and I just love writing with it. Next payday (or two, depending on this crazy world economy right now) I might grab a converter for it.
Carrying on ink isn't a security issue, and smaller bottles (Diamine 30mls are great for this) and vials fit in a pen case. Or, a couple of piston fillers, which I prefer, would also work. I haven't had issues with burping. I would never think of checking pens or ink!
Like you I use cartridge converters… most of the time. Of my 15 pens, two are eye-dropper pens and one is a piston-filled pen. While I use them all for writing, they are also used in drawing and I do enjoy the freedom of switching colors. Having said all that, you opened my eyes (the light went on) to the benefits of having cartridges. So, now I am on the hunt for cartridges to use when I travel. And I thank you for that suggestion.
Since where I live converters are extremely expensive, I get a set of cartridges and only use one, once is empty I use a syringe 💉 to refill it and once empty again refill it, the only bad side is that you can not manipulate the ink as you can with converter, and if I have to travel I use a new cartridge. This way I don’t throw them away and recycle them is even as recycling a bottle of plastic
Yes, I'm glad to see you, too! I'm mostly a converter person, but I recently acquired a pen that didn't come with a converter but included a blue cartridge I really liked. So I ordered 2 packages of cartridges and a couple of liquid samples. I may decide to stick with cartridges for this pen.
It’s a nuisance with some pens that they don’t include a converter when you buy, so my Kaweco Sport and one of my Lamys are having their cartridges refilled with a syringe. The Kaweco converter has such a small ink capacity that I don’t even want one. I generally don’t like cartridges for environmental reasons, but I recently bought my first packet of Platinum Carbon Black for my Platinum Carbon desk pen (long tail). It’s a pen favored by sketchers, and I was going on a big international trip and took extra ink for my sketchbook and trip diary. Before, I had always taken extra ink in a sample vial or the Traveling Ink Pot, so it was kind of nice to just throw in an extra cartridge.
Worth remembering that some pens use only their own proprietary brands of cartridges/converters, so don’t get caught out! Also, don’t assume that all pens always come with both/either … they don’t!
I first got into fp because of the ink, then fell in love with the pens. But yeah, I'm a converter person. Mostly use my pens at home, so I could always change ink. When I travel, which isn't a lot at all, I grab my ECO, which has more than enough ink in one filling... EDIT: but yeah. the only times I use catridge is travel
Converter. Less trash, and dunno, more fun. I think the filling with such a little mechanical device is one of the attractions of fountain pens. If you want convenient grab a rollerball or something😉
I like cartridge and converter system, easy to clean and maintain. I tend to use both, not for travel or convenience, but for the versatile use scenario, for example when the ink level is low in the bottle, I can use a syringe to fill.
Thanks for the great debate! Ha! For me, it depends on the pen whether I use converter or cartridge. I have two Kaweco Sports that I use all the time and only use cartridges. I bought a converter and it just doesn’t look like it’s worth the bother. Then there are the TWSBI Ecos, well neither of course! Lamy Safari, I’ve never picked up a converter and am happy with the cartridge. However, my Lamy 2000 I use only a converter! I’m probably 75/25 in favor of converters for the beauty of the inks.
Hello. Congratulations, we really like your videos. Would you be so kind as to answer a question? I am looking for an ebonite feeder pen that accepts ink cartridges and is inexpensive. Which do you like
Some inks from Parker only come in cartridge. I usually use converters but have recently started using the giant backlog of cartridges that came with pens.
The Pilot con 70 in my Pilot Kakuno with its B stub nib is my daily writer. The Con 70 converter holds a ton of ink. 1.1ml I think. I can never get a complete fill with the Con 40 converter in my Pilot 78g? When I could still travel I used to take some Pilot blue cartridges with me. I am 73 now and I am not allowed to go out here in the UK as I am a double high risk person because of heart disease, plus over 70 years old. So the Con 70 converter is in my Pilot Kakuno now with Seitz kreuznach Palm green ink which shades beautifully almost to black with the B stub nib. I KEEP WRITING! 3 months more of isolation. TH-cam is a great way to pass the time, and watching all those all movies and TV shows. Mad Men here we come.
I prefer converters and use them the most as I like variety of ink colors. Usually when I travel, I'll bring several ink-filled pens and I'll be fine. I do despise Pilot converters, so I'm inclined to syringe-fill a cartridge instead.
I prefer converters, but since I love Sailor pens, I get frustrated by their small ink capacities. But a large piston filler is surely sufficient for a long session of writing- (I find a Pelikan M800 fully filled will last me at least 4-5 days, so that when I travel, I take two of them plus a Visconti travelling ink well). Cartridges are convenient, but my "eco-conscience" rather rebels against the waste of single use plastic containers...
Don’t get the controversy: they both have their uses. I like cartridges when traveling even if driving for all the reasons you laid out. Mostly, I use a converter at home. It’s not an either or thing.
U wasted my time by not mentioning most crucial factor in favor of ink converters that ink flow from converter is better than cartridge so converter gives more speed to writing
What happened to the tea? While most of my pens are C/C, I prefer larger ink capacity like piston and vac fillers. At least with a converter I can fill up, as I find cartridges are done in a flash, even Waterman's long cartridges. When traveling, I carry the Pilot Custom 823, so that solves that problem. Besides half of the fun of fountain pens is inking it up.
Converter almost all the time. I fill the pens (usually my less expensive Lamys) before I travel and take some cartridges for backup. Depending on how long I am away, I will leave my piston and more expensive pens at home. But since I am now at home and not going anywhere, it’s converters and pistons all the way! Stay home, stay well everyone.
the converter is more convenient for the price of the ink and you have more choice as colors as well as you can use inks of different brands that you could not use with the cartridges
Who else hates cartridge/converter pens? I just think they're kinda boring. It's my goal in this hobby to get as many different filling systems as possible.
I don’t mind filling cartridges with bottled ink using a syringe and I already do that with a few of my many pens. But I find cartridges very annoying mainly because I’ve often had ink flow issues with them. To me, they’re just not very dependable despite having decent ink capacity - especially the long cartridges. But cartridges are also a nuisance because you constantly use and discard if you have packs of them in stock. On balance, I still prefer converters, despite the frustratingly scanty ink capacity in a majority of them.
I agree. Cartridges are great for travel, but refilling with a syringe with your ink choice is great. I don't miss the fuss of converters, or trying to remember which goes with what pen. Good discussion!
I absolutely do that too. I’m surprised Kerry didn’t mention that. The Con-40s that come with the Pilot VPs suck!
Team Fish ...Pilot and Sailor converters are a sad, bad joke. Platinum’s are scarcely better. And some of my otherwise splendid Kaweco pens don’t even always come with converters. Oh well, their converters actually suck anyway. Apart from the pain of cleaning - though I seldom change inks in my pens - piston fillers are arguably best all round. Lately, I’ve come to really enjoy my eye-dropper filled pens a lot. Converters, for me, are just better than cartridges. If only they were designed to hold more ink in them.
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5:05 @@pmichael73
Normally I use converters.Cartridges are more expensive and I don't want to add to the plastic waste by throwing away empty cartridges. I prefer using a converter over refilling a used cartridge as it's more convenient and less messy except for my vintage Waterman CF (no matching converter available and the cartridges are also hard to come by). For a person writing not so much I can see the advantages of cartridges. Why buy a glass of ink that you probably will never empty? And in that case the difference in prices for bottled ink vs. cartridges won't matter that much but for me converters are the better solution.
Usually I prefer converters. But I have a few Geha pens without converters. Since these are pens from the 1970s, I'm fortunate to have found (and refilled) vintage cartridges that came in the pens.
Great to see this pop up in my notifications! Hope you're keeping safe and well.
This morning, I tried eyedropper converting one of my pens, but gave up and just refilled the cartridge with Waterman Audacious Red.
I generally use converters, but have cartridges for when I CBA. And I keep an empty cartridge for each model (Kaweco Sport, Parker, Pilot standard, Pilot Petit). So I don't feel strongly either way, but it's nice to hear the relative advantages elucidated.
Piston Filling system
I prefer cartridges. I refill them with a syringe and that is my favourite way to do it!
Me too!
My fountain pen Parker use long cartridges and isn't easy to find here but I prefer the converter option in the most of my fountain pens...
I have a mix of cartridges and converters, because I like my pocket pens! Also if I travel, the cartridges make sense. But I adore my ink collection, so I generally prefer converters. I have refilled a few cartridges by syringe, but they’re not meant to last forever, so eventually they go in the trash.
I had never thought to fill a cartridge by syringe. I might have to try that on my Pilot Kakuno, because it came with only one proprietary cartridge, and I just love writing with it. Next payday (or two, depending on this crazy world economy right now) I might grab a converter for it.
Carrying on ink isn't a security issue, and smaller bottles (Diamine 30mls are great for this) and vials fit in a pen case. Or, a couple of piston fillers, which I prefer, would also work. I haven't had issues with burping.
I would never think of checking pens or ink!
Like you I use cartridge converters… most of the time. Of my 15 pens, two are eye-dropper pens and one is a piston-filled pen. While I use them all for writing, they are also used in drawing and I do enjoy the freedom of switching colors. Having said all that, you opened my eyes (the light went on) to the benefits of having cartridges. So, now I am on the hunt for cartridges to use when I travel. And I thank you for that suggestion.
Since where I live converters are extremely expensive, I get a set of cartridges and only use one, once is empty I use a syringe 💉 to refill it and once empty again refill it, the only bad side is that you can not manipulate the ink as you can with converter, and if I have to travel I use a new cartridge.
This way I don’t throw them away and recycle them is even as recycling a bottle of plastic
Yes, I'm glad to see you, too! I'm mostly a converter person, but I recently acquired a pen that didn't come with a converter but included a blue cartridge I really liked. So I ordered 2 packages of cartridges and a couple of liquid samples. I may decide to stick with cartridges for this pen.
It’s a nuisance with some pens that they don’t include a converter when you buy, so my Kaweco Sport and one of my Lamys are having their cartridges refilled with a syringe. The Kaweco converter has such a small ink capacity that I don’t even want one. I generally don’t like cartridges for environmental reasons, but I recently bought my first packet of Platinum Carbon Black for my Platinum Carbon desk pen (long tail). It’s a pen favored by sketchers, and I was going on a big international trip and took extra ink for my sketchbook and trip diary. Before, I had always taken extra ink in a sample vial or the Traveling Ink Pot, so it was kind of nice to just throw in an extra cartridge.
You are getting more ink capacity as well!
I prefer converters, because I hate having to throw out small plastic tubes. I have refilled cartridges with bottled ink and an ink syringe.
Worth remembering that some pens use only their own proprietary brands of cartridges/converters, so don’t get caught out! Also, don’t assume that all pens always come with both/either … they don’t!
I first got into fp because of the ink, then fell in love with the pens. But yeah, I'm a converter person. Mostly use my pens at home, so I could always change ink. When I travel, which isn't a lot at all, I grab my ECO, which has more than enough ink in one filling...
EDIT: but yeah. the only times I use catridge is travel
What a happy girl, keep enjoying life🙋
I was missing your videos already, how are you?
Converter. Less trash, and dunno, more fun. I think the filling with such a little mechanical device is one of the attractions of fountain pens. If you want convenient grab a rollerball or something😉
Cartridges for travel and converter for home use
In my Capless (Vanishing Point) I refill the cartridges with a syringe... so best of both worlds
Me too. The Con-40s are pathetic.
I like cartridge and converter system, easy to clean and maintain. I tend to use both, not for travel or convenience, but for the versatile use scenario, for example when the ink level is low in the bottle, I can use a syringe to fill.
Thanks for the great debate! Ha! For me, it depends on the pen whether I use converter or cartridge. I have two Kaweco Sports that I use all the time and only use cartridges. I bought a converter and it just doesn’t look like it’s worth the bother. Then there are the TWSBI Ecos, well neither of course! Lamy Safari, I’ve never picked up a converter and am happy with the cartridge. However, my Lamy 2000 I use only a converter! I’m probably 75/25 in favor of converters for the beauty of the inks.
Hello. Congratulations, we really like your videos. Would you be so kind as to answer a question? I am looking for an ebonite feeder pen that accepts ink cartridges and is inexpensive. Which do you like
Some inks from Parker only come in cartridge. I usually use converters but have recently started using the giant backlog of cartridges that came with pens.
Prefer cartridge converter. Much more cost friendly and eco friendly
The Pilot con 70 in my Pilot Kakuno with its B stub nib is my daily writer.
The Con 70 converter holds a ton of ink. 1.1ml I think. I can never get a complete fill with the Con 40 converter in my Pilot 78g?
When I could still travel I used to take some Pilot blue cartridges with me. I am 73 now and I am not allowed to go out here in the UK as I am a double high risk person because of heart disease, plus over 70 years old.
So the Con 70 converter is in my Pilot Kakuno now with Seitz kreuznach Palm green ink which shades beautifully almost to black with the B stub nib.
I KEEP WRITING!
3 months more of isolation.
TH-cam is a great way to pass the time, and watching all those all movies and TV shows.
Mad Men here we come.
I prefer converters and use them the most as I like variety of ink colors. Usually when I travel, I'll bring several ink-filled pens and I'll be fine. I do despise Pilot converters, so I'm inclined to syringe-fill a cartridge instead.
I buy cartridges all the time as ink samples. Every year with the new Lamy inks for instance I buy cartridges first to see if i like the ink.
I'm phasing out converter, and going 100 percent cartridge. I like to just pop 'em in and go.
I mostly just use cartridges in some pocket pens where the converter, if you can find one, is very small.
The best thing about cartridges is you don’t have to clean them.
I prefer converters, but since I love Sailor pens, I get frustrated by their small ink capacities. But a large piston filler is surely sufficient for a long session of writing- (I find a Pelikan M800 fully filled will last me at least 4-5 days, so that when I travel, I take two of them plus a Visconti travelling ink well).
Cartridges are convenient, but my "eco-conscience" rather rebels against the waste of single use plastic containers...
Don’t get the controversy: they both have their uses. I like cartridges when traveling even if driving for all the reasons you laid out. Mostly, I use a converter at home. It’s not an either or thing.
My choice for the most part would be either a converter, seems more vintage that way.
Converter is just a pretentious cartridge.
U wasted my time by not mentioning most crucial factor in favor of ink converters that ink flow from converter is better than cartridge so converter gives more speed to writing
You look so much fitter than healthier now
Another ride or die neither here. I'd take almost any integrated filling system over a c/c pen.
What happened to the tea?
While most of my pens are C/C, I prefer larger ink capacity like piston and vac fillers. At least with a converter I can fill up, as I find cartridges are done in a flash, even Waterman's long cartridges. When traveling, I carry the Pilot Custom 823, so that solves that problem.
Besides half of the fun of fountain pens is inking it up.
My next pen will be a converter pen. See if I like it or not. She's cute as a button. ;)
Converter almost all the time. I fill the pens (usually my less expensive Lamys) before I travel and take some cartridges for backup. Depending on how long I am away, I will leave my piston and more expensive pens at home. But since I am now at home and not going anywhere, it’s converters and pistons all the way! Stay home, stay well everyone.
the converter is more convenient for the price of the ink and you have more choice as colors as well as you can use inks of different brands that you could not use with the cartridges
Monteverde has an excellent selection of cartridges for a number of brands, which is an option for cartridge folk!
Who else hates cartridge/converter pens? I just think they're kinda boring. It's my goal in this hobby to get as many different filling systems as possible.
I thought Pelikan cartridges were standard international.???
Pelikan cartridges are standard international short and standard international long versions.