An ink converter is a small device that fits into a fountain pen in place of an ink cartridge, allowing you to fill the pen from a bottle of ink. Using a converter opens up the full world of bottled fountain pen inks, giving you access to hundreds of colours and formulations that are not available in cartridge form. Here is how to use one.
What is an Ink Converter?
A converter looks similar to an ink cartridge but has a mechanism inside (usually a piston or squeeze bladder) that allows you to draw ink up from a bottle. Once filled, it sits in the pen just like a cartridge and feeds ink to the nib in the same way.
Most converters are brand-specific. LAMY converters only fit LAMY pens, Pelikan converters only fit Pelikan pens, and so on. A small number of brands use the international standard fitting, which means converters from different brands are interchangeable. Check your pen's compatibility before buying.
Types of Converter
- Piston converter - the most common type. A screw mechanism moves a piston up and down to draw in or expel ink. Reliable and easy to use.
- Squeeze converter - a rubber bladder that you squeeze and release to draw in ink. Simple but holds less ink than a piston converter.
- Push-button converter - a button depresses the bladder. Used by some brands including Pilot.
How to Fill a Piston Converter
- Prepare your ink. Open your bottle of ink and place it on a stable surface. If the ink level is low, tilt the bottle slightly to pool the ink at one side.
- Attach the converter. If it is not already in the pen, push the converter firmly into the grip section until it clicks or seats securely.
- Wind the piston down. Twist the knob at the end of the converter clockwise to push the piston to the bottom, expelling any air.
- Submerge the nib. Dip the nib into the ink, making sure the nib and part of the grip section are submerged. The deeper the better, to avoid drawing in air bubbles.
- Draw up the ink. Twist the knob anticlockwise to pull the piston up. You will see ink being drawn into the converter.
- Repeat if needed. For a fuller fill, push the piston back down to expel the ink back into the bottle, then draw up again. This also helps purge any air bubbles.
- Wipe the nib. Remove the pen from the ink and wipe the nib and grip section clean with a lint-free cloth or paper towel.
- Cap and write. Cap the pen and you are ready to go. You may need to write a few strokes before the ink flows fully.
Tips for Best Results
- Fill slowly to avoid air bubbles, which can interrupt ink flow.
- Do not overfill. Leave a small amount of space in the converter to allow for ink expansion in warm conditions.
- If the pen does not write immediately after filling, try holding the nib down for a moment to let gravity help the ink flow to the tip.
- Clean the converter thoroughly when changing inks to avoid mixing colours or causing reactions between incompatible inks.
Which Converter Do I Need?
The converter you need depends on your pen. Common options include:
- LAMY Z28 - fits all LAMY pens with a cartridge/converter filling system
- Pelikan converter - fits Pelikan cartridge/converter pens
- Pilot CON-40 or CON-70 - fits most Pilot fountain pens
- International standard converters - fit pens from many brands including Kaweco, Faber-Castell, and others
If you are unsure which converter fits your pen, get in touch and we will help you find the right one. Browse our pen accessories for converters and filling tools.
Explore Bottled Inks
Once you have a converter, the world of bottled ink is open to you. We stock inks from over 20 brands at Pure Pens, from the classic Diamine and J. Herbin to the adventurous KWZ and Noodler's. Browse our full fountain pen ink range to find your next favourite colour.