For brand spanking new fountain pen customers and/or folks seeking to refill a pen on the go, cartridges are sometimes what they attain for as a fast and straightforward fill possibility. With so many fountain pen cartridge choices available on the market that fluctuate by form, measurement, and make, it may be arduous to know which one is true in your pen. Goldspot shares over 200 totally different cartridge SKUs so let’s focus on which of them is perhaps best for you. To slender down the choices, we are going to simply take a look at the 8 hottest sizes or types presently available on the market. We might take a look at a few of the extra obscure ones in a future half 2 as a result of there are positively some very attention-grabbing cartridges which have existed over time.
Normal Worldwide (SI) – Brief
90% of pens will use this cartridge and most manufacturers that primarily make ink (J. Herbin, Diamine, and so on.) make their cartridges on this measurement resulting from its reputation. While you buy a pen that comes with cartridges more often than not it would include a Normal Worldwide Brief cartridge so there’s a good probability you have already got just a few of those tucked away in your ink stash someplace. Whereas it does not maintain loads of ink the SI-Brief is at all times helpful to have in a handbag or pockets in case your pen runs out of ink whereas on the go. A giant advantage of this cartridge is the sheer variety of ink colours and kinds that you would be able to get it in that means that you would be able to completely keep away from bottles if that’s your choice.
A few of the fountain pens that take the SHORT normal worldwide ink cartridge:
- Kaweco (All the pieces, apart from the piston-fillers)
- Monteverde (All the pieces that isn’t eyedropper)
- BENU (All the pieces)
- Esterbrook (All the pieces trendy, save for button fillers)
- Edison
- Laban
- Montegrappa
- Conklin (apart from the Crescent filler)
- Visconti (apart from any energy fillers)
- Tom’s Studio
- David Oscarson
Normal Worldwide (SI)- Lengthy
Just like the SI- Brief, this cartridge will match into most pens however due to its size, the pen physique should be not less than 70mm to accommodate it. This cartridge received’t slot in most pocket pens however is beneficial if you happen to use a pen just like the Pelikan Twist, a BENU Euphoria, or an Esterbrook Estie and need the comfort of a cartridge. This cartridge tends to come back within the fundamental blue and black however, every so often, Pelikan or J. Herbin will launch a few of their extra enjoyable colors on this measurement as nicely.
A few of the fountain pens that take the LONG normal worldwide ink cartridge:
- BENU (Bigger fashions; Euphoria, Talisman, and so on.)
- Esterbrook (Estie, Camden)
- Waterman (trendy)
- Pelikan (Twist, Jazz)
Undecided whether or not your pen takes the worldwide or a proprietary ink cartridge?
Take a look at our Cartridge Converter Compatability Information to double verify the model of your pen and rapidly discover the suitable ink cartridges or converter you want.
Lamy T10
The LT10 ink cartridge refill is proprietary to Lamy and if you happen to’ve learn my earlier Black Pen article for Goldspot you’ll know that I don’t love proprietary refills. I prefer it when pens, each ballpoint and fountain pens, take a refill that’s straightforward to seek out anyplace and whereas most giant bookstores will carry SI-Brief cartridges, they don’t usually carry one thing proprietary to 1 model. This implies you at all times should have a spare cartridge on you or know the place your nearest pen retailer is. Lamy does provide a reasonably good color choice in these cartridges however sadly, none of them are waterproof or water resistant.
Fountain pens that use this ink cartridge: Lamy Safari, AL-Star, Vista, Studio, Dialog
Sailor
That is one other proprietary cartridge however I do recognize that you would be able to purchase their waterproof ink in them. I do want that they provided extra colours in cartridges, no Manyo or Ink Studio, solely Shikiori if you would like colours apart from blue or black. The truth that within the small assortment, they do provide three waterproof choices is an enormous bonus.
A few of the pens that take this refill:
- Professional Gear
- King of Pens
- 1911
- TUZU
Pilot
That is a type of proprietary cartridges that I really discover myself reaching for incessantly. Like many individuals within the pen world, the CON-40 converter and I are incessantly at odds however fortunately due to how these cartridges are designed, they’re straightforward to wash out and refill with a brand new ink that means you by no means have to make use of a converter. The opposite bonus of those is that ALL the Pilot colours are available cartridges that means that you’ve entry to all of the enjoyable Iroshizuku colours your coronary heart wishes with out ever having to achieve for an ink bottle. Pilot doesn’t even have a water-proof or water resistant ink of their line so I can’t be mad at them for not providing one in cartridges.
Fountain pens that use this ink cartridge: Pilot Kakuno, Vanishing Level, Customized 74, E95S, Decimo, and Prera
Platinum
Obtainable in each 2 and 10-packs, Platinum affords a small however shockingly full line of inks of their proprietary cartridges for anybody who isn’t as much as the problem of eye-droppering a Preppy or refilling a 3776 with a bottle. The draw back for me isn’t any waterproof inks*, if somebody goes to be locked right into a system not less than provide them a single waterproof ink possibility within the lineup. Seeing as Platinum has such a implausible lineup of waterproof & water-resistant inks I’m really fairly disillusioned by this.
Fountain pens that use this ink cartridge: Platinum Preppy, #3776 Century, Procyon, and Curidas.
Parker – Mini & Normal
Whereas technically accessible in 2 sizes, I’m about 90% certain the mini model of the Parker Quink cartridge has been discontinued as they appear arduous to seek out anyplace lately and whereas they’re nonetheless used because the profile image for “cartridges” on the Parker web site, there is no such thing as a precise point out of them on product pages.
The usual Parker Quink cartridge however is barely accessible in three colors lately however continues to be very a lot a go-to for anybody who has a Parker pen, both classic or trendy, of their assortment. I at all times recognize when a legacy model retains its refills the identical over time and Parker has finished that that means that when you have a 1950’s 45, a recent Quink cartridge will nonetheless work in it.
A few of the fountain pens that take the Parker Quink ink cartridge:
- Parker
- Aurora
Total, this isn’t a complete listing as a result of there are just a few different odd-sized cartridges available on the market just like the Rotring Rapidograph, Sheaffer Skrip Basic, Cross Slim, Cross Normal, and Montegrappa Lengthy. For essentially the most half, this weblog ought to offer you a great jumping-off level for determining which refill is true in your pen. As at all times although, when you have any questions on which refill suits your pen, be happy to achieve out to the Goldspot workforce. They are going to be pleased that will help you determine which inserts in your pen.
*Observe: Technically Platinum Carbon Black is offered in cartridges but it surely looks as if it could have been discontinued because the locations that also have it accessible are few and much between.
In regards to the Creator
Alexandra Richardson is a Canadian watercolour and fountain pen content material creator. She could be discovered on Instagram and Youtube beneath @alexandrasartinsanity.
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