Ink Bottle vs Ink Cartridge

[wvbeetlebug]

I have a feeling my Parker is going to eat up these cartridges. They are the long ones too and they last about one week since I use my pen for everyday use. This begs the question. How much more cost effective is it to buy bottled ink versus ink cartridges. I'm think bottled ink is more cost effective by a long shot. What do you think?

[PAKMAN]

I have a feeling my Parker is going to eat up these cartridges. They are the long ones too and they last about one week since I use my pen for everyday use. This begs the question. How much more cost effective is it to buy bottled ink versus ink cartridges. I'm think bottled ink is more cost effective by a long shot. What do you think?

 

With 6-8 long cartriges or 12 short going for 5-6 dollars and a bottle of ink going for 7-13 dollars, you will get a lot more mileage out of bottles. In most cases you can get a lot more variety also! IMHO

[AndreaDuni]

That is a good question. I was wondering about it too. To have a right idea I'm interested in ml/oz of ink inside these cartridges:

• standard international short cartridges = visconti, pelikan
• standard international long cartridges = waterman
• Parker and Aurora long cartridges
• Lamy cartridges
• Sheaffer cartridges
• Mont Blanc cartridges

[RLTodd]

I can not recall the URL, but I seem to remember seeing a list of the ml capacities of various cartridges. Someone might be able to google it.

 

[Emil]

At least you will have much MUCH more ink with bottles, but I don't know exact difference. Hopefully, someone can share this information.

[AndreaDuni]

I found that page. Reading it I can assume that a long cartridge/converter has a capacity between 0.9 and 1.3 ml. It means that with a 30 ml ink bottle you can refill between 33 and 23 long cartridges.

 

 

[Shangas]

I currently have 4 fountain pens.

 

Two are piston-fillers, one aerometric and one cartridge-filler.

 

I personally think that it is DEFINATELY more cost-effective to buy bottles of ink, as opposed to cartridges. Oh sure, cartridges might be cleaner, but the thought of having to go out every few weeks to buy more cartridges..naw. Not for me. That is why I prefer bottled ink.

 

I generally stick to Parker Quink. In my lifetime since I've started using FPs & bottled Quink (about 12 years now), I'm still only on my 3rd bottle of Quink.

 

That's right.

 

3rd bottle. In over 10 years.

 

And this bottle isn't even so much as 1/4 empty yet! I would definately buy bottled ink over cartridges. Lasts so much longer and is definately more cost-effective.

[AndreaDuni]

You don't write enough, boy.

In two years by now I used ONLY fountain pens and around 60 cartridges, two bottle of Pelikan Blue, one bottle of Pelikan Black. I used only medium and fine but now that I have also Broads and one Stub I think I will use more ink. I'm not worried: I have 1000ml of Pelikan Black and various blue of some brands.

[BillTheEditor]

With my Parkers, I use bottled ink in the office and during local travel (i.e., by car). For any out-of-town trip by air, I flush a couple of 45s or Rotring Cores to take with me, leave the converters at home, and carry as many cartridges as I think the trip will require (normally two Parker cartridges per five days, or three short International cartridges for the Rotring Cores). The bottled ink is cheaper, but the cartridges are more convenient for travel.

[Shangas]

You don't write enough, boy.

In two years by now I used ONLY fountain pens and around 60 cartridges, two bottle of Pelikan Blue, one bottle of Pelikan Black. I used only medium and fine but now that I have also Broads and one Stub I think I will use more ink. I'm not worried: I have 1000ml of Pelikan Black and various blue of some brands.

 

I was a kid back then. I didn't do much writing. I do a LOT MORE now though. I'm filling my pens on at least a weekly, or fortnightly basis.

[Eastward313]

OK - quick calculation. ASSUME that a cartridge holds 1ml of ink (and from my experience, it does, or very close at least).

 

Cartridges

A 12 pack of PR cartridges costs $5 here. That's 12ml of ink for $5. That comes out to about 42 cents per ml of ink using cartridges.

 

Bottled ink

A 50ml bottle of the same PR ink costs $7.10 here. 50ml for $7.10 = 14 cents per ml of ink using bottled ink.

 

That means that cartridged ink costs three times as much as bottled ink.

 

Furthermore, if one wanted the same 50ml of bottled ink in cartridges, how much would it cost? Well, at $5 per 12ml, 50ml (same as a bottle) would cost 50/12*5 = $20.83 to buy the same amount of ink in cartridges that you would get if you bought a $7.10 bottle of ink.

 

So yes, buying ink in a bottle is definitely more cost effective than buying ink in cartridges!

Edited May 24, 2007 by davidmigl

[captnemo]

Sheaffer standard cartridges (the kind used in school pens) hold 1.4 cc of ink.

 

Phil

[Emil]

Furthermore, if one wanted the same 50ml of bottled ink in cartridges, how much would it cost? Well, at $5 per 12ml, 50ml (same as a bottle) would cost 50/12*5 = $20.83 to buy the same amount of ink in cartridges that you would get if you bought a $7.10 bottle of ink.

 

And you also have to pay $20.83-7.10=$13.73 for plastic cartridges which you'll throw away.

[AndreaDuni]

Sheaffer standard cartridges (the kind used in school pens) hold 1.4 cc of ink.

 

Phil

 

 

I hope u mean the long cartridges... I've never seen sheaffer cartridges... sorry.

[bossy]

I found that page. Reading it I can assume that a long cartridge/converter has a

capacity between 0.9 and 1.3 ml. It means that with a 30 ml ink bottle you can

refill between 33 and 23 long cartridges.

And noodlers at 89 ml would be almost 100 cartridges worth. That a lot of em.

[wvbeetlebug]

Wow! I had no idea my post would generate so much traffic. Thank you for all of your replies.

[AndreaDuni]

Wow! I had no idea my post would generate so much traffic. Thank you for all of your replies.

 

 

Uh? your signature is "Cathy" but your avatar colour is orange... so are you male or female?

 

I like your thread... it is something about no one thinks on it. and it is under our eyes everyday.

[wvbeetlebug]

Wow! I had no idea my post would generate so much traffic. Thank you for all of your replies.

 

 

Uh? your signature is "Cathy" but your avatar colour is orange... so are you male or female?

 

I like your thread... it is something about no one thinks on it. and it is under our eyes everyday.

 

I'm a female. Not sure about the little orange guy. What color should he (her?) be? It would be nice if it were purple.

 

[Shangas]

Hey Beetlebug (What a cute name...)

 

Yeah, your topic is very interesting. I loved reading all the different responses. Like I guessed earlier, and what just about everyone else has backed up...is that ink-bottles are definately more cost-effective than ink-cartridges.

[Viseguy]

So yes, buying ink in a bottle is definitely more cost effective than buying ink in cartridges!

Yes, DEFINITELY.