Pilot’s best converter (that they didn’t make)
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- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- Hello pen friends!
This month, I am trying out the one pen, one ink, one month challenge. You picked the pen, I picked the ink, and I kind of can’t wait for it to be over.
Since the Pilot Kakuno I am using this month is one that I have already reviewed on this channel, I thought I would take a bit of a deep dive into converters, and more specifically, why I have Pilot’s converters. Also, I have stumbled upon a surprising alternative!
Check it out here:
bit.ly/3k1NzqF
Also, here is the pen:
amzn.to/40CrpvX
And the ink:
amzn.to/47tc2Ic
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Contents:
00:00 introduction
00:45 what’s a converter?
02:35 Pilot’s Converters
05:00 the worst converter
06:27 the best converter
07:50 Pilot’s best converter
10:12 ink fill
11:20 drawing sample
12:54 final thoughts
Thank you so so much for making this video! I bought a Pilot Décimo that has NOT been behaving with the cartridges I’ve been putting in it, even though all my cheaper Pilot pens have been perfect. I really hope it does better with this converter. With all I hear about how Pilot converters suck, I’m so happy I know of a better option now thanks to your video and I never have to deal with them🤗
Hopefully that gives you a better experience. I cannot for the life of me figure out why a company that makes such stellar pens cannot invest the same effort into converters.
I got a Kakuno as a gift last Christmas and I was thinking about buying the converter. This video surely helped me avoid a disappointment! Thanks!
Haha. I wish I had better news. The little capsules that come in the Majohn pack I got are actually really nice. I know a few subscribers to this channel actually just use empty Pilot cartridges and a blunt needle syringe with some success.
@@stepheninks I use a syringe, but i think the process is too messy. Just bought the A1 converter at Ali Express. Let’s see if it goes well
I bought extra Moonman A1 converters to use in my Pilot pens already and am so happy I don't have to deal with the con-40 anymore!
If only Pilot would get their converter game to match the level of their pens!
Let's see the positive side, the metal balls inside the con-40 will keep your pigmented ink mixed instead of having the particles seating on the bottom.
But I agree, e.g. the converter that comes with the Jinhao 92 is simpler and bigger than the Pilot's ones.
Yeah I do see the point of the ball bearings. I just don’t know why they need so many of them!
Great video, thanks. Subscribed !
Welcome!
Oh wow! Nice score on getting that pilot-compatible converter. Well, I do have something to add on this Pilot piston converter love-hate fest! Since I have 3-4 of these converters (I like the Kakuno and Prera’s!), I decided to be brave and experiment with one of them. My problem was not the filling of the converter because I gave up and used a syringe. MY problem was that ink never flowed out of the converter. The nib was dry and the converter was full. The ball bearings sat over the little cage and didn’t allow ink to flow! So, I got out tweezers and courage. Result: you can easily remove the little ‘cage’ which keeps the ball bearings in the barrel. And then you can remove the ball bearings as well. That cage is just in the barrel by friction. It is not attached. So, I took them out, revealing a nice empty barrel. Filled the barrel with ink and attached to the pen. No more problems with ink flow.
That’s a good tip! Might try it myself someday if I ever get annoyed enough with my con-40.
This is a great idea. As I have no slim tweezers, I have used a bent wire. It works excellently and now I have 3 normal, clean Pilot converters. Thank you so much!
God bless you. This is another reason I think pilot should thank Moonman for the a1. Now pilot can return the favor by copying the Moonman a1 converter and everyone can live happily ever after.
I’m not one of those people who feels the need to defend capitalism (it’s not a perfect system), but this is the finest example of when market competition allows better products to be made, and causes even the old pros to have to think on their feet. I hope Pilot notices the improvements.
I loved my A1 till it suddenly started leaking all the hell over the place.
@@ichirofakename really? I have not heard of that happening! Maybe even this little knock off isn’t without its downside either…
@@stepheninks I don't tolerate leaking AT ALL anymore.
@@ichirofakename no one should. Pen companies shouldn’t expect us to defend their products if they don’t work. I get really frustrated with all the broken design apologists in the pen community.
Great video. I had forgotten that my Majohn A1 came with that converter, and that is really helpful to know that it works with the Kakuno. I 100% agree with your opinions on converters. It seems like such an odd thing for Pilot to fall short on.. I wonder if they are just trying really hard to be different? Thanks!
I also wonder if they have just had the same designs for so long that they never bothered to look at what everyone else is doing?
To be fair, I do not know where the first converter came from. Was Pilot one of the first? Did everyone just copy them and do a better job? I know nothing.
I actually have the no name pen converter in a wooden fountain pen that I bought from the internet. And unlike the one in your video the slide is knurled and larger in height from the shaft and works pretty good. It’s definitely different than twisting the back end but it holds ink well and although I changed the fine nib to a fude nib I actually like the pen and the converter. ( with the fude nib it gets a workout as fude use a lot of ink quickly as you know ).
To each their own. I’m glad if you like it. I do think that converter looks like someone tried to redesign the basic piston converter just to be unique? And it wasn’t necessary, when there’s already a general style and shape that most people like. Maybe that’s just me though.
6:13 I have liked this joke 🤣
Gotta protect the good ones.
The Majon a1 converter holds more ink than the Pilot Converter and is easier to clean. I will use one in my Pilot 78g + now.
Totally agree. I like Pilot pens, if they need to step up their converter game.
We use a syringe to fill the CON-40 fully. And the CON-40 holds enough to let us swap between pens without waiting too long 😆
I suppose that works. Seems like a silly thing to have to do though, considering it is supposed to just work like a converter…because it is a converter.
1. I don't care about converters. They either work or they don't. All mine do. But generally I refill cartridges. Actually that's not true, my old Con-70 sucks, as it doesn't suck much anymore.
2. I've been seeing more and more praise for the Kaküno. Everybody loves it.
More Kakuno in my feed please! Less con-70, and thank you.
Funny, how he pronounced the german "De Atramentis" ink in a french way (besides it's Latin). :)
Does it matter if I say that a German product, writtten in Latin but pronounced as French makes perfect sense to me as an English speaker? The real secret is that every pronunciation is a stab in the dark for me. Haha.
Jinhao and HongDian converters. Plus Jinhao just released a monster converter for the 9019 pen. My MaJohn A1 is loaded the same as yours. The cartridge just holds more than that puny converter and is just as easy to fill. (spring loaded needle fillers ftw!)
I really want a 9019.
My A1 arrived 2 days ago...the 9019 (burgandy solid) gets here monday or tuesday. Lesigh....picks up x159 and doodles. 😀@@stepheninks
speaking of the a1, I've had the chance to hold the matte black one recently, and weirdly enough, it's girth is slightly smaller than my a1 white version. Both are clipless, which makes it very weird.
That is weird… maybe the matte coating is applied on top of the base coat? That would make it slightly wider. Or maybe they’re not making them with that much precision? I don’t know… as long as it works.
Stephen what’s a good mid range pen if you want to get into doing more ink and watercolour? I know you mentioned the Muji and the PenBBS 456. Is it better to invest more and get the BBS which already had a built in converter? Also, I tried finding the Kakuno here in Czech Republic, no one sells it, which is weird because Pilot is a well known company.
I’m assuming by mid-range, you mean somewhere between the price of the Muji and the 456? If you’re looking for a fine liner, those two are fantastic, but if you’re looking for a lower cost option from PenBBS, check out the model 308. It also comes with a converter.
I think that any of the pens on my top ten pens for drawing video (on my channel) would be a solid choice. If you’re having trouble locating Japanese pens over in the Czech Republic, maybe some European pens would be easier to find? I really like the Faber Castell Grip, and I have heard that the Hexo is nice (but I don’t own a Hexo) I’ve also heard that the Diplomat Magnum has a very nice nib, though I haven’t used one (yet).
The real trick with watercolors is to get a water resistant ink. Platinum’s Carbon Black does the trick, as well as De Atramentis Document series which comes in a range of colors.
@@stepheninks Thanks for the quick reply and help.
I bought a kakuno that use international converter/cartriges . I’ve read these are only available on the european market..
I have heard that Pilot does that. Is it an EU thing? Because I know they were trying to get Apple to change the charging port on their phones a few years ago. Standardization does have some benefits. If it can get me a pilot pen without the Pilot converter, I’m all for it!
Can you please tell me which convertor I can use apart from con 40 and con 70 in my pilot kakuno fountain pen extra fine nib please eagerly waiting for your reply 😊
The one in this video is my favorite. Link in the description if you want to check it out.
If I have no other options which one should I pick con 40 or con 70.
I wound probably say the Con-40, because it’s universal for Pilot pens. The Con-70, for example doesn’t fit in the Metropolitain or the Falcon. Both take the Con-40, and the Kakuno, which does take the Con-70, can take the Con-40 as well.
I am from India, so I did look into other options but they are very expensive. Thank you.
Will it fit on a vanishing point?
I don’t have a Vanishing Point myself to test it on, but from what I can understand, and other UA-cam channels have shown (you can easily find a comparison video on here), the pens are identical and the parts are interchangeable. The only difference is that the VP has a gold nib. By that logic, I see no reason why this converter wouldn’t fit on a VP, as it also fits on all of my Pilot pens.
Surprised the Kaweco Squeeze converter wasn't brought up.
I have one of those. I don’t like it as much as the pull-piston converter though (which I did mention, though I didn’t show it).
The balls have a major positive on difficult inks, shimmery ones and thick ones need agitation and breaking tension. These work oddly better than most. Suction normally offers more capacity but the 70 is not great.
Yes, I get the reasoning behind the ball bearings. I’m not entirely convinced that they need 4-5 of them over 1-2, but I’m not an engineer. My biggest complaint is that the size and form factor of the different parts. The piston knob is too small, and the actual ink capacity is tragically hamstrung by how deep the converter has to go into the pen. I get that might make it more secure, but I’ve never had any problems with, say, a standard International converter falling off. I know some people do have that problem sometimes, but I don’t think it’s really that widespread. At any rate, I think it’s more an issue of tradition over innovation for those guys. I don’t know if they’re ever going to be open to changing it up, even if it would give them a better product. I may be the only one complaining.
No problems with Kakuno drying up ?
technically old con 70 could been cleaned.
If you know a better way to clean the Con-70, I’m all ears. I use a blunt needle syringe and warm water, but this is the best I get.
The “adopted” converter works without drying up the feed, by the way. Fits like a glove!
Watching this after i just paid for con70 thinking it'll solve my con40 issues 😢.......two con70s since i own two kukunos.
Sorry you didn’t get here sooner. Maybe you’ll love the con-70. I seem to me in the minority about my disdain for it. I think it might maybe be better than the con-40 by a narrow margin.
My favorite converter is no converter. Give me a vacuum- or piston-filler and I'm happy! The worst converter I have is either the Pilot Con-B or some no-name international that doesn't come apart. I'm not sure which annoys me more.
Yeah, I didn’t even talk about the con-b, but that one is a whole other level of no thanks.
I think cartridge-converters are the entry level filling mechanism of choice for many, but if you know you’re going the bottled ink route, I fully respect diving in head-first.
How's the converter going all these months later?
Still working just as well as the day I put it in!
@@stepheninks Ok! I'm about to buy two - one for a Prera another for a Kakuno. I'm surprised they're at $6.93, but it comes with a dripper and cartridge so I guess that's ok.
@@ab-zg8pt yeah it’s more of a kit than a converter. Still cheaper than the the con-70, and might be just a liiiitle more expensive than the con-40 depending on where you buy it.
@@stepheninks I ordered from eBay, at $4.45 each with free shipping
Pilot, Sailor and Platinum need to stop making proprietary converters, at least for their less-than-€50 fountain pens. I've been in the absurd situation of buying a pen (an excellent one I must say) that had a converter as expensive as the pen. As for a pocket pen converter, they should take a page from Kaweco's book. Their converters are minute but they're made in such a way that there's no wasted space.
I have heard rumors that Pilot makes a Metro that takes a standard international cartridge…something about EU regulations… but I don’t know if that’s true, and living so far away in the US, we’ll pretty much believe anything over here.
But if I’m dreaming, I wish that everyone made converters exactly like the Platinum ones, because they’re my favorite. So well made. The Kaweco mini (non-squeeze) is a close second. Efficient design is the ultimate end game at this point, and too many manufacturers are missing the mark.
@@stepheninks I just checked. All three models below €50, namely Kakuno, Metropolitan and Plumix accept standard cartridges and converters in the EU (and other countries in Europe because they buy from EU distributors). I don't know how the situation is in UK because buying from those stores is... finicky (blame Brexit). The situation I mentioned with pen & converter of the same value was with Platinum.
I don't think it's a regulation tho, I think they just adapted to the market; European brands are more fond of international standard, with Lamy being the big exception, & most people buy fountain pens for school or art. Note how the more expensive models are still proprietary (the ones people will buy in a special place as a luxury, as opposed to random convenience store for school). Also Parallel which is ~€16 but exclusively for calligraphy & decoration has its own standard (another pen you won't find in a random bookstore or convenience store, definitely not a school pen). Other brands in Europe & UK still have proprietary standards, or allegedly international but when you try an international cartridge/converter it doesn't fit (I'm looking at you, Sheaffer).
And I agree, Platinum's converters are awesome. They fit perfectly, they don't waste space (I have a pen whose converter leaves 1/2cm out for no apparent reason), they're sturdy... they're chef's kiss 👌
I hate pilot converters for the same reasons.
Welcome to my channel: I never miss an opportunity to remind people why Pilot converters are awful.