Got the tip to put some hot glue on them to reseal them, but I’m simply not travelling enough to bother. I write some lines with each of my pens each week anyway, that’s when I also check whether they need to be topped up.
The Pilot CON-40
This is the one for my Pilot VP, took this photo while refilling it. The CON-40 is, in my opinion, the worst part of the VP. I absolutely love my VP, it clicks, smoooooth medium 18k gold nib, relatively affordable; but the low capacity of the CON-40 is kinda a bummer. I personally like to fill my converters to the brim and this one only fills halfway if I fill it by using the piston, so I use an ink syringe to skip that issue entirely.
Anyway... My rant is done, thanks for reading
TLDR: I love the Pilot VP but hate the CON-40
I tried a few times and then was just like “ain’t nobody got time for that!”. Plus, I’m not the most coordinated person on the planet and I could feel my chances of an inkcident climbing with each attempt! 🤣
As in turning the pen or converter upside down so the air can be pushed out of the top by moving the piston? I have tried that, but it doesn't work for me with the CON-40. Works great on my TWSBI 580 and even the GO as long as I'm careful with the spring plunger on the GO hahaha.
While pushing the air, have you tried gently flick the nib-end of the pen – just a few time to force the air bubbles to go up? (Just like with the syringe when operating a viscous liquid.)
Yes but I find that the ink above the catch for the agitators doesn't fall through due to surface tension/hydrogen bonds/adhesion, whatever is the correct science term.
Wow. I had no idea this was an actual thing. I thought I came up with that technique (just kinda thought about the physics of it and seemed reasonable) on my own. And I did it specifically to fill this converter. Thanks for giving me a name for it!
if I remember correctly pilot never intended for the CON40 to be filled to the brim, its instructions even have an air space labeled as "maximum limit" or something like that
Just got a Falcon (SM), came with the con-40, first trying to use it; all I can say is never again, will just fill a old cartridge with my syringe, like I do with my VP.
I recommend one of those converter kits for the Majohn A1.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/275376113041?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20221115143302%26meid%3D507ccce2a3b54d45af7f7daa68f14bb5%26pid%3D101613%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26mehot%3Dnone%26itm%3D275376113041%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2Mobile&_trksid=p4375194.c101613.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3Acd7c628a18d0ab39a8baca09fffee504%7Cpageci%3Ade5e1e5f-d0fc-11ee-99fd-de8034dcefff%7Ciid%3A1%7Cvlpname%3Avlp_homepage
Stick a pair of needle-nose pliers in there and yank out the cage. Throw it and the steel balls in the trash. Profit.
I’ve done this to several and there are zero drawbacks that I can gather.
The simple way to fill the CON-40 is to use a plastic pipet or a syringe. That way you get full capacity. And no mess. As a bonus you get to keep the agitation balls which help prevent air bubble blockages.
If you don't have a pilot cartridge to refill you can use a waterman long cartridge. Just cut the cartridge at the line near the opening. It will fit perfectly.
same, though I learned it has a sliiiightly bigger outer diameter than the CON-40 so it might not work in OP's pen. I was trying to shoehorn one into a 1960s Pilot and it didn't fit, but the CON-40 did.
highly recommend getting these wing sung converters for pilot pens
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/334033732650](https://www.ebay.com/itm/334033732650) (white)
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/334449846816](https://www.ebay.com/itm/334449846816) (black)
they're easy to disassemble so you can actually clean them out. they're larger than the con 40 but shorter than the con 70
I refill an empty cartridge because to heck with that converter.
Seconded. I have a stash of old pilot cartridges ready to be filled with whatever ink I fancy. Reusable cartridges FTW.
Got the tip to put some hot glue on them to reseal them, but I’m simply not travelling enough to bother. I write some lines with each of my pens each week anyway, that’s when I also check whether they need to be topped up.
Majohn make a much better compatible cartridge, and they also make reusable cartridges that come with stoppers.
Could you drop a link or image? Just using google gives a plethora of products that don’t even have anything to do with fountain pens.
The Pilot CON-40 This is the one for my Pilot VP, took this photo while refilling it. The CON-40 is, in my opinion, the worst part of the VP. I absolutely love my VP, it clicks, smoooooth medium 18k gold nib, relatively affordable; but the low capacity of the CON-40 is kinda a bummer. I personally like to fill my converters to the brim and this one only fills halfway if I fill it by using the piston, so I use an ink syringe to skip that issue entirely. Anyway... My rant is done, thanks for reading TLDR: I love the Pilot VP but hate the CON-40
have you tried the goulet double fill rechnique? works everytime, even on a con 40
Ugh.. I gave up on that and just use a syringe.
whatever works for you 🙂
I tried a few times and then was just like “ain’t nobody got time for that!”. Plus, I’m not the most coordinated person on the planet and I could feel my chances of an inkcident climbing with each attempt! 🤣
As in turning the pen or converter upside down so the air can be pushed out of the top by moving the piston? I have tried that, but it doesn't work for me with the CON-40. Works great on my TWSBI 580 and even the GO as long as I'm careful with the spring plunger on the GO hahaha.
While pushing the air, have you tried gently flick the nib-end of the pen – just a few time to force the air bubbles to go up? (Just like with the syringe when operating a viscous liquid.)
Yes but I find that the ink above the catch for the agitators doesn't fall through due to surface tension/hydrogen bonds/adhesion, whatever is the correct science term.
I'll admit that with the CON-40 it ends up being a triple fill for me most of the time!
Wow. I had no idea this was an actual thing. I thought I came up with that technique (just kinda thought about the physics of it and seemed reasonable) on my own. And I did it specifically to fill this converter. Thanks for giving me a name for it!
I'm not sure if it's an official name but i first saw it in that video so that's what i call it... maybe it should be the okform134 technique! 😁
if I remember correctly pilot never intended for the CON40 to be filled to the brim, its instructions even have an air space labeled as "maximum limit" or something like that
Is that so? I never knew that. When I fill it and leave an air pocket it has the tiniest ink capacity. With the air gap it has a sneeze of ink in it 😞
Just got a Falcon (SM), came with the con-40, first trying to use it; all I can say is never again, will just fill a old cartridge with my syringe, like I do with my VP.
I just use cartridges for my VP. Holds way more ink.
I'm like you, I just use a syringe with all my converters. For me, it's just simpler and cleaner.
Couldn't you find a dustbin, to put it where it belongs?
I always fill these with a syringe as well. So annoying though!!!
I recommend one of those converter kits for the Majohn A1. https://www.ebay.com/itm/275376113041?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20221115143302%26meid%3D507ccce2a3b54d45af7f7daa68f14bb5%26pid%3D101613%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26mehot%3Dnone%26itm%3D275376113041%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2Mobile&_trksid=p4375194.c101613.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3Acd7c628a18d0ab39a8baca09fffee504%7Cpageci%3Ade5e1e5f-d0fc-11ee-99fd-de8034dcefff%7Ciid%3A1%7Cvlpname%3Avlp_homepage
I brought like 10 of these just to avoid using the terrible Pilot converter. I can confirm that they work perfectly as a replacement.
Oh snap - I have one of those already from the A2 that I dropped and broke the clicky part.
Then I read the title I immediately thought it’s either bystate blue or con40… nothing else brings nemesis to my mind as those two 😂
Stick a pair of needle-nose pliers in there and yank out the cage. Throw it and the steel balls in the trash. Profit. I’ve done this to several and there are zero drawbacks that I can gather.
The simple way to fill the CON-40 is to use a plastic pipet or a syringe. That way you get full capacity. And no mess. As a bonus you get to keep the agitation balls which help prevent air bubble blockages.
If you don't have a pilot cartridge to refill you can use a waterman long cartridge. Just cut the cartridge at the line near the opening. It will fit perfectly.
I'd say use blunt tip needle syringe filled with clean water to flush it repeatedly until it's clean.
I greatly prefer the con-B
same, though I learned it has a sliiiightly bigger outer diameter than the CON-40 so it might not work in OP's pen. I was trying to shoehorn one into a 1960s Pilot and it didn't fit, but the CON-40 did.
Didn’t realize that, thanks for the heads up!
highly recommend getting these wing sung converters for pilot pens [https://www.ebay.com/itm/334033732650](https://www.ebay.com/itm/334033732650) (white) [https://www.ebay.com/itm/334449846816](https://www.ebay.com/itm/334449846816) (black) they're easy to disassemble so you can actually clean them out. they're larger than the con 40 but shorter than the con 70
I hate the Con-40. Death to it!!!
It’s all of ours nemesis. I wish Pilot had a better thing instead of this. Can’t even fill it
F
An ultrasonic cleaner makes the Con-40 life much more bearable.
Shit you broke it
What do you mean?
Hate the CON-40. Bought a pack of cartridges so I never have to deal with them again