Plugging partially-used cartridges?

[Goodwhiskers]

I don't like to use cartridges, but I keep two Cross carts and a long Levenger cart (Parker-ended, risky but possible in a Lamy Safari) in my bag just in case a converter runs out while away from my ink bottles (which are at home).

 

I'd like to be able to take a partially-used cartridge out as soon as possible, saving it for the next time a converter inconveniently runs out (and cleaning the pen, putting the converter back in and refilling it from a bottle).

 

When I asked a pen salesperson about capping a partially-used cartridge, she said she'd never heard of that and didn't know if it were possible to do effectively.

 

I've never seen any product for capping or plugging cartridges, not even on Pendemonium's website.

 

I know that plastic wrap and a rubber band would not work! A perfectly-sized plug would be necessary. Putting a plug in and taking it out too many times could wear out the pressure-seal property of a cartridge, too.

 

Any thoughts?

[M4R1N4]

I have wondered about this too for a while. First I thought if you could get some beeswax to plug it that would work, but getting it out again may be a chore and you wouldn't want little bits of wax getting into your pen! So then I thought of that blue "poster putty" stuff that is like Silly Putty. I think that would be easier to get all of it out, but have not experimented yet. I know they make little teeny corks, but I don't know if they make them THAT small... could you shave a cork to fit? Like a cone so you have a handle too? Maybe it depends on where you are going to store them until further use. (Whether they can be "upright" so the ink is not toward the open end...)

 

Just some thoughts I've had. I'm looking forward to others' solutions on this!

[Titivillus]

I don't like to use cartridges, but I keep two Cross carts and a long Levenger cart (Parker-ended, risky but possible in a Lamy Safari) in my bag just in case a converter runs out while away from my ink bottles (which are at home).

 

I'd like to be able to take a partially-used cartridge out as soon as possible, saving it for the next time a converter inconveniently runs out (and cleaning the pen, putting the converter back in and refilling it from a bottle).

 

When I asked a pen salesperson about capping a partially-used cartridge, she said she'd never heard of that and didn't know if it were possible to do effectively.

 

I've never seen any product for capping or plugging cartridges, not even on Pendemonium's website.

 

I know that plastic wrap and a rubber band would not work! A perfectly-sized plug would be necessary. Putting a plug in and taking it out too many times could wear out the pressure-seal property of a cartridge, too.

 

Any thoughts?

I hate to say it but for what a cartridge costs it's going to be alot of time and effort to plug/cap one.

 

 

One way of doing it might be to take a piece of teflon (plumbers) tape over the top of the open cartridge and then using regular tape go around the body of the cartridge to seal the end. I would suggest that it then be put into a small plastic vial to protect the end.

 

 

Kurt H

[TMann]

I've had pretty good success putting a piece of scotch-tape over the end of a cartridge, putting it gently in a zip-lock bag and then storingi in one my desk drawers. If you're just using it for emergency back-up use for your briefcase, why don't you just put a new, unused one in there?

 

TMann

[heidi]

There's this really cool thing people use in chemistry labs, called "Parafilm." I've read on other forums that people use it to seal refilled cartridges. Here's a link to a page with pictures of parafilm in action. When I first came across parafilm in bio lab, I immediately wished I could find some for the home - it seems so handy! I've never seen wear to get it for home-use, though... It's like stretchy saran-wrap, only thincker, and it seals air-tight around any opening...

http://www.2spi.com/catalog/supp/supp4b.shtml

[*david*]

I have used a little ball of the stuff that is normally meant for sticking posters to the wall. It doesn't seal well enough to tilt the cartridge, and it's also not good for a long-term seal, but it worked OK just to keep the dirt out of my ink for a few days.

[Ink Stained Wretch]

I've never seen any product for capping or plugging cartridges, not even on Pendemonium's website.

 

I know that plastic wrap and a rubber band would not work! A perfectly-sized plug would be necessary. Putting a plug in and taking it out too many times could wear out the pressure-seal property of a cartridge, too.

 

Any thoughts?

Yeah, I've had that problem too. I refill cartridges and have wondered about bringing spares with me. What I've settled on is taking along two fountain pens!

 

It prevents the cartridge from spilling its contents quite effectively. I keep two of the same fountain pen with me when I'm out and this method has kept me from running out while I'm at a meeting.