Refilling an Ink Cartridge

[Ink Stained Wretch]

INSULIN SYRINGES: I know I've said it elsewhere, but I have settled on Insulin Syringes, as I feel they are superior to all the other types.

Those were the first ones I tried. Unfortunately, possession of hypodermic syringes is illegal where I live unless you have some definite medical need for one. Also, they tended to fall apart pretty quickly, and there was the danger of jamming one into yourself.

 

They hold 1 cc total (that's 1 mL, typically what a standard cartridge will hold), they are slim (and thus fit nicely in a travel pen-case without taking up too much room), and their needle is incredibly thin and short. I don't know the gague, sorry. I use ones from BD.

The gauge is probably 27 or 28. I prefer the 1½ inch long needles, it allows me to get into the bottom of an ink bottle to get those last drops of ink out without having to stick the entire syringe in there. I've got both 3 mL and 1 mL syringes.

 

I like being able to put the needle I want on the syringe, and if either component breaks or wears out I don't have to discard both syringe and needle.

 

Of course it's all about personal preference. Hey, I hear that some people even use ballpoint pens.

[andru]

For those already in possession of needles shorter than their cartidges, my experience is that you can get the last ink out of the cart by holding it opening-down (or at a slight angle from that). By drawing the needle tip forward to the side of the opening you can suck up the last drop.

 

Sometimes you can pop the initial bubble that forms -- inward into the cartridge -- by a very slight initial suction with. This saves on spatter. Even if the syringe then pumps back out an air bubble, it is not riding on the hole of the cartridge and won't cause a problem.

 

I'm sure glad of cartridges that have the little ball inside of them. Makes ink-mixing directly in the cart a lot easier!

[captnemo]

I use industrial syringes---but good grief, that needle in the video is looooonnnnng!

 

Yes it is but it's still not long enough. It reaches to the bottom of a Sheaffer cart, no problem, but is quite a ways short on a full-size international cart. I wish the needle were even longer.

 

Needle length only matters when flushing a cart for a new color. I like to jet blast the sides and bottom with water two or three times and then suck out all the water with the syringe. I can manage with the needle in the video on an international cart but it would be nice if it was another half-inch longer.

[DwarvenChef]

Something happened to the link, or is my computer illiteracy showing through?

[thibaulthalpern]

[deleted] :-)

Edited August 31, 2008 by thibaulthalpern

[BucolicBuffalo]

I saved my first emptied cartridge for my Sailor with the intent of refilling. I have one of those refill syringes and needles. My question is, the cartridge has a little piece of plastic that once sealed it in the mouth. Should I try to whittle that out of the cartridge, or simply not worry about it? Anyone have a recommendation on how many times a cartridge can be refilled before the seal at the mouth starts leaking?

[Sailor Kenshin]

Nice hands and voice, CaptNemo How do you keep your hands looking so young? By refilling cartridges and not having to scrub a layer of skin off inky hands :roflmho: ! Thanks so much for the demo. I only have very fine needles to work with and would like a larger one; I'll have to look into this (as well as a decent hand cleaner instead of Ajax!).

 

If you are using Ajax now, Ink Nix might suit you. It's got abrasive in it as well as the

detergent component. If you are interested in younger looking hands, and also need

to take an occasional stain off of your clothes, then I'd suggest Amodex, which is dual

purpose. I haven't tried the garage-type Gojo or similar hand cleaners for fountain pen

ink. They do work for printers ink, but that is not water based.

 

Thank you for the suggestions. I really need something like these because I seem to get ink on my hands no matter how I fill the pen!

 

I discovered by accident that Clorox wipes (the lemon ones) work really well.

 

And you can't beat industrial syringes. I don't know whether you can buy them retail, but they end up costing like a dollar each so you can have one for every color.

 

[Possum Hill]

And you can't beat industrial syringes. I don't know whether you can buy them retail, but they end up costing like a dollar each so you can have one for every color.

You can by syringes and dispensing (blunt) needles from McMaster-Carr Supply Co.

 

Others have also listed other sources.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Please feel free to click the video and leave comments / ratings over on YouTube. <nudge, nudge, wink, wink, hint, hint>

 

It looks kind of strange to have a video with lots of views but no comments or rating.

 

I'd love to see it but the link isn't a link.

[Anne-Sophie]

Link is not working!

 

But this one does

 

Edited September 21, 2008 by Anne-Sophie

[someonesdad]

Sorry if this is duplication of information, but if you need to buy a syringe and needle, they can usually be found (in the US at least) at a store that supplies agricultural needs (e.g., a farm supply store). They are sold for giving shots to animals and, at least where I live, you can just walk in and buy them. Also try medical supply stores. Drug stores carry them too, but you might need to have a prescription to get needles(ask your doctor for one). Avoid the one-use syringes. I like the 3 and 5 cc sizes for general use.

 

The first thing I do when I get the needles is to grind off the sharp tip on a grinding wheel.

 

You can also ask a vet for some used horse needles. They usually have a bucket full of them in the back of their trucks. I boil the needles for 5 minutes before using them around my shop. The bigger and longer ones are great for injecting Vaseline (petroleum jelly) into tight spaces. Melt the Vaseline and pour it into the syringe, then hold it vertically to squeeze out the air bubbles.

 

[Ink Stained Wretch]

I saved my first emptied cartridge for my Sailor with the intent of refilling. I have one of those refill syringes and needles. My question is, the cartridge has a little piece of plastic that once sealed it in the mouth. Should I try to whittle that out of the cartridge, or simply not worry about it?

I pull those little, blue disks out. They can get in the way and there's no telling what mischief they can cause just lurking around in there.

 

Anyone have a recommendation on how many times a cartridge can be refilled before the seal at the mouth starts leaking?

For Pilots I don't know yet, but international cartridges can go at least tens of times each. Same with Sheaffers.

 

The Pilot cartridges are much bigger at the mouth than the others, so they may not stay water tight for as many uses. That's just speculation though. I've only refilled one a couple of times so far, but it's been all right with those refillings.

[BarryR]

I'm a great fan of the syringe method. I find it almost as convenient as pistons and you can top off the ink any time. In that way, it's better than a cartridge (and holds more than a converter).

Just a few comments:

1) Instead of a blunt needle I use an IV tip which is soft and a little floppy. When I'm done, I can just drop the syringe with the catheter tip in a ziplock (with a piece of paper towel in it to blot any stray ink) then:

 

2) Why empty and rinse the syringe unless changing colors?

I just fill up the syringe and use it till it's empty. I don't worry about the ink trying because the catheter tip is very narrow. If you are worried and use a blunt needle, you might be able to stick it in a cork (as long as it doesn't shed little cork-bits).

 

3) I've re-used Namiki cartridges (for VP and Falcon) over 30 times or maybe much more without any problems and reused Parkers 20 or 30 times without any problems.

 

 

Edited February 26, 2009 by BarryR

[Sailor Kenshin]

Since I use LOTS of different ink colors, I have a couple of industrial syringes with blunt tips that work well.

 

I also just stumbled on a bunch of them at an art supply store where I picked up a big bottle of Pelikan blue-black (which will be good for mixing). The syringes work out to about two bucks each and you don't have to bother asking a pharmacist or blunting a needle.

 

Unless you like that sort of thing.

[Aimsport]

Samco 233 Extended Fine Tip Pipets work for me. I have a box. Very handy.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Samco 233 Extended Fine Tip Pipets work for me. I have a box. Very handy.

 

 

Willing to sell or trade any off? I don't need two hundred or more---just maybe five, and the only links I found sell 'em by the gross.

 

They are indeed very handy.

[sallywally]

No Academy Award for cinematography, but...

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EDIT: Please feel free to click the video and leave comments and ratings over on YouTube also.

I can't open the video.....

[sallywally]

No Academy Award for cinematography, but...

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name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="

type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

 

 

EDIT: Please feel free to click the video and leave comments and ratings over on YouTube also.

I can't open the video.....

I found it through Anne-Sophie's post! Oh boy....it's a Pilot cartridge I need to refill. I think I actually threw out the last empty one.....duh!!! :bonk:

[tanesiir]

Is it me, or does the guy on the video (you?) sound like Johny Cash?

[Ru4scuba]

Great vid for a newb learning the skills! Thanks