Concerning fountain pens

[Baldar]

Converter or cartridges? Does it matter?

 

[Boycie83]

Converter gives you access to more ink variety. Cartridges offer convenience and plastic waste.

 

[Rusty Blade]

The short answer to your question is I don't know if one is necessarily better than the other. I am new to fountain pens. I purchased a Pilot MR a few months ago and I really enjoy the fountain pen format. This one has a cartridge system and it seems to work for me. Simple, nothing fancy, and I get the fountain pen experience. Someday, if I fall down the fountain pen rabbit hole, I may venture into converters.

 

[Chris]

What @Boycie83 said. Converters all the way for me or piston-fill for preference. Bottled ink also works out a lot cheaper.

 

[SweeneyTodd]

Eyedropper, piston or converter are my preferred methods. I find cartridges limiting in ink choice, and they aren't standardised. However, I think that most pens that take cartridges can also use converters, either proprietary or standardised.

 

[HereticHermit]

For ink variety and colors I use exhausted cartridge and refill it with a small syringe using blunt needle. After a while the lip collar become loose but I see enough use of single cartridge. I think my landfill contribution is very minimal.

 

[SweeneyTodd]

For ink variety and colors I use exhausted cartridge and refill it with a small syringe using blunt needle. After a while the lip collar become loose but I see enough use of single cartridge. I think my landfill contribution is very minimal.

That's what I do with Kaweco Sport pens. Converters are available for these, but I haven't had one which didn't jar loose in the pen (particularly a problem with the metal Sports), whilst cartridges, refilled with a choice of ink, as you describe, fit firmly and stay put.

 

[Baldar]

I think the empty bottled water and energy drink plastic bottles are more of a blight on the environment than any amount of fountain pen cartridges, but I've ordered converters for my pens.

 

[SweeneyTodd]

I think the empty bottled water and energy drink plastic bottles are more of a blight on the environment than any amount of fountain pen cartridges.

Ink cartridges must be only a very small part, compared to other plastic consumables. Here, we can bin plastic bottles, and ink cartridges, for recycling, although, as with many places, there is some question whether the stuff is actually properly recycled here, or abroad, or is exported to be an unprocessed blight on someone else's country.

 

[Baldar]

China stopped accepting recycling a year ago. There is a huge plastic island floating in the Pacific. I forget which real island it is the size of.

 

[Paper Plane]

In the same way as I enjoy using pencils, I like writing with a fountain pen, even the (very) cheap ones I currently own. My problem is that I have no reason to write anything with one as I no longer work. (My 49.5 year employed life was behind a desk.)

At least I can still use pencils for a lot of things...

steve

 

[Baldar]

In the same way as I enjoy using pencils, I like writing with a fountain pen, even the (very) cheap ones I currently own. My problem is that I have no reason to write anything with one as I no longer work. (My 49.5 year employed life was behind a desk.)

At least I can still use pencils for a lot of things...

steve

If you get bored in retirement, like I did, sign up for the Great Courses Plus. You can use you fountain pen to take notes.

 

[Grarea]

Ink cartridges must be only a very small part, compared to other plastic consumables. Here, we can bin plastic bottles, and ink cartridges, for recycling, although, as with many places, there is some question whether the stuff is actually properly recycled here, or abroad, or is exported to be an unprocessed blight on someone else's country.

Agreed, it is only a small part, but lots of small parts add up don't they?
Imagine the 65 million people of the uk all making one small change.
65 million of anything is quite a lot.
But we all make our own decisions.
I accidentally bought ink in a plastic bottle as well. I didn't think about that having only had ink in a glass bottle before.


Anyway, I am new to fountain pens, (well, a small hiatus of about thirty years) I like and was amazed by the variety of inks in bottles.
I rather enjoy filling it up as well somehow. Not sure what I like about it.
I have found some inks smoother than others which also surprised me that I could tell the difference.
So I am excited by the variety available.

 

[Chris]

I accidentally bought ink in a plastic bottle as well. I didn't think about that having only had ink in a glass bottle before.

It can possibly be recycled.

 

[Grarea]

It can possibly be recycled.

Oh, yes, that is true.