Which Is Your Favorite Standard International Converter

[whoelse]

Are there differences in term of ink capacity and quality/reliability/maintenance? Which brand is the best or were they all made by the same source?

[The Blue Knight]

Kind of like waterman as the ink doesn't stick to the sides. However I know the capacity isn't the greatest.

[lapis]

CdA's. Standard International Converters are not all made by the same manufacturer, E.G. Pelikan sells its own 5-pack. Pelikan's are IMO less well built than CdA's but I don't really worry because I refrain from Carts. Odd exception: when I need to use 5-6 Pelikanos altogether for a comparison of inks.

 

Mike

[usk15]

I'm using a rOtring Std int converter, very good quality.

[Tangster]

I only have one standard international converter(because I only have one standard international pen). The Faber-Castell converter. It works very well, although I can't seem to disassemble it for maintenance...

[PAKMAN]

I have some Private Reserve and Diamine International Carts. I like the color variety available with the Diamine carts and they seem to function well.

[tinta]

Which other manufacturers make converters to an international standard?

I know of & only use the Schmidt K5 piston converter.

Edited January 9, 2014 by tinta

[Jerome Tarshis]

"Standard international" should be interpreted to mean "somewhat standard" or "almost standard." In practice one finds that there are slight differences that make a converter useful with some pens that take international cartridges, though not necessarily with all of them.

 

The Waterman converter fits several of my pens that take international cartridges. Experiences differ: ink does hang up in my Waterman converters, and on the whole I prefer to use Waterman cartridges.

 

I own a Pelikan converter that will fit some or perhaps many pens that take international cartridges. But I doubt that Pelikan actually manufactures its converters.

 

My push-fit Montblanc converter from the 1980s fits other pens; I don't know what is the story on the current screw-in MB converter. A Cross screw-in converter will work in Cross pens designed for the push-fit converter, but that may not be true for Montblanc's current screw-in converter.

 

Sometimes the first converter one tries will do a satisfactory job. In other cases there can be some trial and error.

[chlorine]

I have a Waterman converter and I'm not quite happy with it. This is the first time I use a converter so I don't know if this is expected or not, bt it tends to not stay attached to the pen head and joggle around in the body.

So far this hasn't lead to linkage and the pen writes quite well, but I'm wary about it and will happily replace it by an empty cartridge once I get the syringe I ordered.

Note that this may come from the pen as it's 20 years old and not top quality. I have no problem with cartridges though.

[alc3261]

Faber Castell seem to be the best to me.

[The Good Captain]

Faber Castell are also the ones I use if the Schmidt ones in my CS or Onoto pens don't like a particular ink.

[warblerick]

Faber Castell are also the ones I use if the Schmidt ones in my CS or Onoto pens don't like a particular ink.

Ditto.

[tinta]

(I do not wish to derail this thread, just ask a question that is related to the original post.)

 

Can a Faber-Castell converter be disassembled?

The serrations on the at the top of the converter (# 148785, as pictured on amazon.ca) suggest that they may be a grip for un-screwing the chrome sleeve.

 

The only thing I don't like about the Schmidt K5 converters is that they cannot be taken apart for a thorough cleaning like my Sailors.

Would love to find a converter for my Edison that will come apart.

Edited January 12, 2014 by tinta

[Pterodactylus]

I buy exclusively Pelikan converters (as they are easy to get here offline and IMO have good quality) and had never a problem with them, they are manufactured by Schmidt as many others also (e.g. The Montblanc ones).

[bgray]

 

The only thing I don't like about the Schmidt K5 converters is that they cannot be taken apart for a thorough cleaning like my Sailors.

Would love to find a converter for my Edison that will come apart.

 

Schmidt K5's will disassemble. Unscrew the metal sheath.

[tinta]

Thanks Brian. I had to use neoprene gloves to get a good grip,...but the converter did come apart. Well made for an inexpensive item.

[Lady P]

Does anybody know if Faber-Castell converters would fit an Edison or a Visconti pen? I ask because I've been thinking about buying a pen by Edison or Visconti, but I've gotten a bit paranoid about CC pens due to many bad experiences with converters. The FC converter seems to be the one converter that works quite well (knock on wood!), and so if I'm going to buy a CC pen from a brand that I haven't tried yet (such as Edison or Visconti), I would feel better if knew that it would take a FC converter in case the converter that the pen came with didn't work as well as I'd like.

[alc3261]

FC converters do work with Edison pens.

[Lady P]

FC converters do work with Edison pens.

 

Thank you!

[Gloucesterman]

Some Visconti and some Monteverde use screw-in converters. These are particularly secure and obviously have a big advantage over the regular push type converters.

 

BTW, if the opening in the nib section of the pen is large enough, the screw-in converters can be used as push-in converters.