What's the Difference Between a Fountain Pen Cartridge and a Converter?
If you’re new to the wonderful world of fountain pens, you have probably seen the terms “cartridge” and “converter” thrown around a ton. What are these wacky things, and which one is best for you as a beginner? Whether you’re buying a pen on its own or as part of a starter kit, it’s best to have an idea of where to start to actually make sure your pen has ink to write!
Most fountain pens use either a cartridge or converter to hold the ink. Pictured here are the two systems being used in Lamy Safari fountain pens. On the left is a Lamy Safari in Umbra with a Lamy Violet cartridge and on the right is a Lamy Safari in Special Edition Aquamarine with a Lamy converter, filled with J. Herbin Bleu Calanque. All Safari fountain pens sold at Phidon include one blue Lamy cartridge and a converter.
Essentially, cartridges and converters are the two main ways you actually keep ink in a fountain pen. Cartridges are disposable, pre-filled ink vials that are designed to start the flow of ink once the top has been punctured. Converters, on the other hand, are a refillable add-on that usually have a screw mechanism to help you suck ink up from a bottle. Both attach on the inside and are hidden by the body of the pen once it is reattached.
There are some pros and cons to each system, and which one you’ll want to use will largely depend on how you want to use your pens. Luckily, you don’t have to commit to one way or another because they are totally interchangeable!
Cartridges are easy to take on the go with you, as you just toss the used cartridge in the trash and pop in a new one once you’re out of ink. It’s easy to travel with cartridges because the small boxes can slip easily into a briefcase, backpack, pencil case, or pocket.
Some people are worried about taking ink with them on flights, and though we’ve never had any issue having them out in the open, you can always slip a box or two of cartridges into your liquids, gels, and creams bag when you head through security. They’re certainly the most convenient option, and they might save you from some inky fingers while you get the hang of your pen!
However, cartridges do limit which colours you can choose to put in your pen. Cartridges and converters come in different sizes depending on the brand. Some brands (like Lamy, Pilot, and Platinum) use proprietary cartridges and converters, meaning that you can only use that brand’s cartridges with that brand of pen. There is a size called international standard (used by brands like Faber Castell and Kaweco) that introduces ink from other brands, but a converter gives you limitless possibilities. It’s the only way of putting a Graf von Faber Castell ink into a Lamy pen or a Platinum ink into a Pilot pen, for instance.
There are lots of different sizes of cartridges, so be sure to get the size that fits your pen! Pictured here are Pilot, Lamy, Faber Castell (international standard short), and Platinum cartridges, which all fit different pens and are not interchangable.
Some pens, like the beginner-friendly Lamy Safari, take some elbow grease to get the cartridge properly in the pen! Don’t worry if it won’t pop with a gentle push, that’s natural. Just make sure you’ve got the right end of the cartridge on the right side of the pen and keep pressing straight across until you hear a “click”.
Most fountain pens will come with one or two disposable cartridges you can use. A converter isn’t usually included at an entry-level price, but you should always check so you don’t pay for an extra if you don’t need it! For example, it isn’t standard to get a converter with your Lamy Safari or Al-Star, but we include one with your purchase anyways so you can try both methods of inking your new pen. You can always find whether or not a pen comes with a converter in the product description on our website!
Whether your pen of choice comes with a converter or you’re looking to make the investment to purchase one, converters are more economical in the long run. This may seem counter-intuitive, as most converters are between $8-10 CAD on top of the price of the pen (if it is only sold separately), and you’ll also need to buy a bottle of ink to fill them. However, let’s look at the math: cartridges usually cost about $1 CAD each and hold a little less than 1ml of ink. A bottle of Diamine ink, for instance, is $15 for 80ml, plus $10 for a converter. Where you can get over 80 fills for $25 with the converter, you’d only get 25 fills with cartridges!
Unlike cartridges, you can fill a converter with the ink from any fountain pen brand, just as long as you have the right size converter to start with. This means you have complete freedom over the colours you want to use. However, you should be prepared for the fact that ink bottles are less portable than the boxes of cartridges. They’re also usually made of glass, so you’d have to be brave to put them in a well-travelled bag to come with you on your adventures. It’s also good to keep in mind that if you’re buying a more expensive pen with a warranty you should read it before putting another brand’s ink into it, just in case it is one of the conditions. But, for the most part, it is completely safe to swap between brands with a rinse of your pen in between fills (as long as the ink is specifically designed for fountain pens)!
If you’re confused about which converter to get, don’t feel disheartened! Some brands sell different kinds of converters, like the three seen above (with a cartridge on top) from Pilot, so we’re always happy to help you find the perfect fit.
Speaking of rinsing, converters also make cleaning your pen way more convenient. If you’re swapping from a black ink to a yellow, all you’ll need to do is suck up some warm water through your converter and flush it out a few times to get any leftover black out of the way. That’s also handy if you make the mistake of letting ink dry in your pen!
Converters are also the more environmentally friendly choice, as you can reuse them for years. Cartridges are a one-time-use system that creates more plastic waste. However, you’ll have to master the art of filling from a bottle with a converter! Until you get the hang of it, you may end up with some ink on your fingers when you refill your pen.
No matter which system you think may be right for you, please feel free to reach out to us at phidonpens@bellnet.ca if you have any questions or want any advice. Some brands even sell more than one converter, so don’t feel silly double-checking you’re getting the right one!
What’s your filling system of choice? Let us know in the comments!