2 weeks straight of FP all day everyday

[global_dev]

So i spent the last 2 weeks in training and brought 2 of my 3 FPs. a platignum time (mini converter) and franklin Christoph 02 (std converter) and a bottle of noodlers air corp blue black. i used the platignum the first week and the 02 the second

here are some my thoughts/questions and i'd appreciate some comments.

I had to refill both converters every evening from the amount of writing i did. seems like a bit much

i had to keep a "starter" scribble post-it handy to get the pens started if i didn't write for a couple minutes (anywhere from 10-30 mins, i didn't really count, but that would seem correct) and it was uncapped.

i'd like to eyedropper convert the 02 to increase capacity, is there a standard way to prep the inside barrel? do i even need to do that?

i really enjoyed the FPs and i could see myself with a couple more if maintenance was a low enough and capacity increased.

I truly want to avoid a leak with the eyedropper conversion, i'll apply synth grease, but FC recommended no o-ring b/c of the already tight tolerances and a#5 fits but, you can't close the pen with cap. the grease should keep it safe from leak?

how hard is it to replace the nibs on the FC or does it make sense to just get another in a different nib. i don't really plan to change it often, but just curious.

thanks

 

[oc_in_fw]

I have never needed to use an o-ring on my ED pens (Sheaffer Glideriter, 2 No-Nonsense, and a Parker Reflex). I have had no leaks, and did nothing to prepare the barrel. Since I got my Pelikan M200 I have sworn off of converter pens due to lack of capacity.

 

[Dave258]

The silicone grease should be sufficient for converting the pen to an eyedropper. I have eyedropper filled a few pens, including a Kaweco sport that I would put in my pants pocket, and I never had any problems.
The nib on the FC just unscrews. It is pretty easy, put the nib side against the inside of your bent finger, and your thumb against the feed. Try to turn the pen not the nib to try to avoid miss-aligning the nib and feed. It may be a good idea to take the nib out, and put some grease on the threads of the nib also before you convert it to an eyedropper.
Good luck, glad you are enjoying your pens!

 

[andrew98]

I would use silicone grease for the threads. You don't need to do anything to the barrel, and that pen should hold a ton of ink! If you're not going to write with a pen for a minute or two, you need to replace the cap. If you find that bothersome, I'd recommend a Pilot Vanishing Point, but you'd hate that pen's low ink capacity.

-Andy

 

[global_dev]

just eyedroppered the 02, the platignum time is metal inside, it looks like. anyone think eyedroppering that would be an issue? i am pretty sure it's aluminum. http://www.gouletpens.com/Platignum_Time_Khaki_Fountain_Pen_p/ptg50393.htm

 

[oc_in_fw]

just eyedroppered the 02, the platignum time is metal inside, it looks like. anyone think eyedroppering that would be an issue? i am pretty sure it's aluminum. http://www.gouletpens.com/Platignum_Time_Khaki_Fountain_Pen_p/ptg50393.htm

Everyone says to not ED metal. I would heed that advice, because it comes from Nib pros.

 

[global_dev]

Everyone says to not ED metal. I would heed that advice, because it comes from Nib pros.

maybe i'll use one of the cartridges and then just re-use that for some more capacity.

 

[syngent]

If a pen is semi translucent can EDing a pen stain the barrel?

 

[Katia]

I think it would depend on the ink. It seems I've heard of some complaining about red or red-based inks staining the insides of self-filling demonstrator pens. In fact, I believe that's maybe why someone once tried to dissuade me from my idea of using Waterman Havana in a piston-fill demonstrator (but it's been years, so I don't recall perfectly).

 

[andrew98]

Everyone says to not ED metal. I would heed that advice, because it comes from Nib pros.

+1.

maybe i'll use one of the cartridges and then just re-use that for some more capacity.

Good idea.

If a pen is semi translucent can EDing a pen stain the barrel?

Yes, depending on the ink. Ink view windows and demonstrators can be stained. Think Baystate Blue, for example.

-Andy

 

[andrew98]

I've even seen converters stained with certain inks. I've gotten pretty careful about ink choice in the past few months because of this issue. I have some Legal Lapis that was a nightmare to clean out of a converter once, so I'm hesitant to use bulletproof and heavily saturated inks now, especially in expensive pens. I just worry about these inks clogging a feed or coating the inside of a nice piston filler pen. A Chinese pen gets any questionable ink that I want to try.

-Andy

 

[cameraflier]

You can cheat a bit, to get an extra large fill in your pens. I don't know the specifics on yours, but I do this all the time to mine, regardless of the mechanism.

When the pen goes dry, hold it with the pen pointed nib-up, and do whatever procedure expels air from the reservoir. Lever, converter, whatever it is. Then holding everything still, rotate down into the ink, and fill from your bottle. Come out of the ink, and wait a few minutes, letting the pen sit nib-up. You can shake it a few times if you like. Your goal is to get all the ink to move to the bottom of reservoir. Then, slowly and carefully, pull the lever (or whatnot) and blow out some more air. You'll get bubbles. Think of a junkie shaking bubbles out of his syringe. After a few bubbles, stop when you see ink. The goal is to expel all the air you can, and fill a second time.

I'm a note taker and letter writer. This way gets me *many* more pages between fills.

One warning: don't do this trick before a plane ride. You're more likely to make a mess.