How to Refill Your PILOT Fountain Pen
Refilling Your PILOT Capless Fountain Pen
Sophia Le ·
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Frequently Asked Questions
No - most fountain pen inks are water-based/water-soluble. The advantages of water-soluble inks are that they are more well-behaved and require less maintenance when used in fountain pens. With the pigments or iron gall particles that are used in waterproof inks, there is a risk of clogging or damaging your fountain pen, especially if left in them for a long period of time.
Another enjoyable aspect of using water-soluble inks, especially when sketching and painting, is the ability ‘pull colour’ from the ink like you would with watercolour paints. Further dimension can be added to a sketch when using a wet paintbrush.
No - most fountain pen inks are water-based/water-soluble and the rich, vivid colours available within the PILOT iroshizuku range could not be achieved with a waterproof formula.
The advantages of water-soluble inks are that they are more well-behaved and require less maintenance when used in fountain pens. With the pigments or iron gall particles that are used in waterproof inks, there is a risk of clogging or damaging your fountain pen, especially if left in it for a long period of time.
Another enjoyable aspect of using water-soluble inks, especially when sketching and painting, is the ability ‘pull colour’ from the ink like you would with watercolour paints. Further dimension can be added to a sketch when using a wet paintbrush.
PILOT Signature Cartridge (IC-50) & Rotary Ink Converter (CON-40) Only:
Desk Fountain Pen, MR Range, Prera, Cavalier, E95s, Capless
PILOT Signature Cartridge (IC-50), Rotary Ink Converter (CON-40) & Push Button Ink Converter (CON-70):
Kakuno, Explorer, Falcon, Justus 95, CUSTOM 74, CUSTOM 742, CUSTOM 743, CUSTOM 845, CUSTOM Heritage 912, CUSTOM Heritage SE, CUSTOM Urushi, Namiki
Upon unboxing your PILOT Capless fountain pen for the first time, you’ll find the pre-installed PILOT Rotary Ink Converter (CON-40) nestled in the nib unit. You’ll also find a spare PILOT Signature Ink Cartridge (IC-50) and a metal cartridge sleeve - definitely keep that safe!
Then head over to our Step-by-Step Guide to Refilling Your PILOT Capless Fountain Pen.
A vacuum filler is a type of fountain pen that uses a vacuum mechanism to draw ink into its reservoir. They usually hold more ink as they do not require a cartridge or converter. Ink is stored in the body of the pen, which is often transparent for users to see the ink level. Vacuum fillers like the CUSTOM 823 are favoured by those who write extensively and appreciate long writing sessions without frequent refills. They are great for travelling due to their high ink capacity and ability to cut ink flow from the main ink chamber when the piston is screwed down.
A piston filler is a type of fountain pen that uses a piston mechanism to draw ink into its reservoir. When the pen's end cap is rotated, the piston moves inside the barrel, creating a vacuum that draws ink into the pen. They usually hold more ink as they do not require a cartridge or converter. Piston fillers like the CUSTOM Heritage 92 are popular among fountain pen enthusiasts for their convenience, large ink capacity and transparent demonstrator barrels.