Filling Lamy converter

[kdquenzer]

I have a Lamy Vista with a converter and everytime I fill it with ink the ink drains down to the end and very little ink remains in the converter. I would like to fill the converter so that it will last longer between refills.

I twist the converter slowly to fill it and notice air bubbles in the ink as it fills. Am I doing something wrong?

[WendyNC]

Next time, after you twist the converter and pull in the ink, with the nib in the bottle up to the lower part of the section, twist it the opposite way to put the ink back into the bottle and then, without removing the nib, twist the converter to fill it again. You may even have to do this a third time, but that gets rids of the excess air bubbles.

 

If this doesn't do it, the converter may be air leaky and have to be replaced.

[tonybelding]

I'm not sure if it's true in this particular case. . . But I've had problems with Lamy Safari converters in the past, they seem to seal poorly. Is there a higher quality converter available that will fit these pens?

[kdquenzer]

Next time, after you twist the converter and pull in the ink, with the nib in the bottle up to the lower part of the section, twist it the opposite way to put the ink back into the bottle and then, without removing the nib, twist the converter to fill it again. You may even have to do this a third time, but that gets rids of the excess air bubbles.

 

If this doesn't do it, the converter may be air leaky and have to be replaced.

 

I just tried what you suggested and it worked much better. Thanks!!

[Shinma]

Nice, you worked it out. The key with Lamy (Safaris/Al-Stars/Vistas) is to submerge the nib so that the breather hole at the base of the nib is completely covered. This is where the ink is drawn into the converter chamber.

 

Happy Inking!

[kdquenzer]

Nice, you worked it out. The key with Lamy (Safaris/Al-Stars/Vistas) is to submerge the nib so that the breather hole at the base of the nib is completely covered. This is where the ink is drawn into the converter chamber.

 

Happy Inking!

I do keep the base of the nib completely covered but for some reason it still gets some air. When I filled it, emptied it, and filled it while keeping it submerged the air bubble problem was greatly reduced.

[Spector]

Ah this seems to help a lot for me too considering that before my lamy safari didnt fill all the way with the converter.

[Nitesiter07]

I remove the converter and fill it while not attached to the nib. I can get it filled to the brim every time. Is that not how i'm supposed to be doing it?

[Shinma]

I remove the converter and fill it while not attached to the nib. I can get it filled to the brim every time. Is that not how i'm supposed to be doing it?

This is one potential way of filling the converter, though not the most common (to my knowledge at least).

 

There is only one con to this method I can foresee: One of the major advantages to using a non-cartridge/eyedropper filling system (i.e. piston/cartridge converter/squeeze/etc) is that by sucking ink in through the breather hole of the nib, through the nib feed and section and eventually into the ink chamber, the feed and section of the pen has a frequent supply of freshly flowing ink. This "breath of fresh ink" often clears the passages and crannies of the section and feed of old ink which may be trapped. By filling your converter separately, your pen misses out on this rather refreshing process.

 

In any event, your method is a perfectly practical mode of filling your converter, just remember to flush your pen regularly!

[wallylynn]

when i fill mine, i submerge the nib completely so that the plastic lip of the section (the grip portion) is under ink too just to be sure that the breather is under the ink level. be sure that the pen is in deep enough.

 

another few comments:

- the lamy safari converter has two little nubs that are supposed to snap in to the notches on the pen. It helps hold the converter in place. If you're off 90 degrees in the big notches, it could be loose.

- lamy has multiple converters. the one on my Lamy Vista (Safari) has the red top.

[Feanor]

I remove the converter and fill it while not attached to the nib. I can get it filled to the brim every time. Is that not how i'm supposed to be doing it?

 

The biggest potential problem with doing it this way (and, I believe, the reason it's not recommended) is that ink could leak out and get into the body. From there it can leak through the threads in the section or, with a Safari, through the holes in the sides of the body and get places it shouldn't be.

[irbyls]

I remove the converter and fill it while not attached to the nib. I can get it filled to the brim every time. Is that not how i'm supposed to be doing it?

This is one potential way of filling the converter, though not the most common (to my knowledge at least).

 

There is only one con to this method I can foresee: One of the major advantages to using a non-cartridge/eyedropper filling system (i.e. piston/cartridge converter/squeeze/etc) is that by sucking ink in through the breather hole of the nib, through the nib feed and section and eventually into the ink chamber, the feed and section of the pen has a frequent supply of freshly flowing ink. This "breath of fresh ink" often clears the passages and crannies of the section and feed of old ink which may be trapped. By filling your converter separately, your pen misses out on this rather refreshing process.

 

In any event, your method is a perfectly practical mode of filling your converter, just remember to flush your pen regularly!

 

 

I fill the converter separately, but I always flush my pens between filling, even if it is with the same ink.

[professionaldilettante]

Nice, you worked it out. The key with Lamy (Safaris/Al-Stars/Vistas) is to submerge the nib so that the breather hole at the base of the nib is completely covered. This is where the ink is drawn into the converter chamber.

 

Happy Inking!

I do keep the base of the nib completely covered but for some reason it still gets some air. When I filled it, emptied it, and filled it while keeping it submerged the air bubble problem was greatly reduced.

This is because you're sucking air that was in the feed into your cartridge. Now the trick is to twist and fill it like you would like. Then, with the nib pointed up, slowly twist the converter to force the air back out, but only after you let the ink drain to the bottom of the converter. If you are getting only bubbles with a little ink coming out, you're doing it right. Now if there is ink coming out in drops, you've over done it. Now, stop just when the breather hole /nib looks a bit watery and the bubbles have stopped. Suck more ink back into the cartridge and you should be good to go.

[Shinma]

I fill the converter separately, but I always flush my pens between filling, even if it is with the same ink.

You got it! As long as there's regular flushing intervals going through your pens, they should be okey dokey!

[kdquenzer]

when i fill mine, i submerge the nib completely so that the plastic lip of the section (the grip portion) is under ink too just to be sure that the breather is under the ink level. be sure that the pen is in deep enough.

 

another few comments:

- the lamy safari converter has two little nubs that are supposed to snap in to the notches on the pen. It helps hold the converter in place. If you're off 90 degrees in the big notches, it could be loose.

- lamy has multiple converters. the one on my Lamy Vista (Safari) has the red top.

I never noticed the nubs before but just looked at my converter and they are there but I do not have them snapped into the notches. Thanks for letting me know!

[ingridincali]

I know this is a really old thread, but it came up in my search. I was having problems with air bubbles in my Safari, got them out by twisting the converter knob. However. I never noticed the notches in the pen - that may be part of my problem. Thank you!

- the lamy safari converter has two little nubs that are supposed to snap in to the notches on the pen. It helps hold the converter in place. If you're off 90 degrees in the big notches, it could be loose.

[green51]

it's simple really. get a 3ml vaccination syringe from your vet or online. Remove the converter from the pen. Screw the plunger all the way back. Draw in from the bottle into the syringe. Place the syringe needle into the converter. Inject as much ink as you want into the converter. Return surplus ink to the bottle. Rinse the syringe. You are done.

[thomasrhee]

This.

 

when i fill mine, i submerge the nib completely so that the plastic lip of the section (the grip portion) is under ink too just to be sure that the breather is under the ink level. be sure that the pen is in deep enough.

another few comments:
- the lamy safari converter has two little nubs that are supposed to snap in to the notches on the pen. It helps hold the converter in place. If you're off 90 degrees in the big notches, it could be loose.
- lamy has multiple converters. the one on my Lamy Vista (Safari) has the red top.