Ink capacities
I measured the ink capacity of some of the cartridges, converters and integrated fillers for you.
All data provided is provided without guarantee for accuracy. Ink capacities may vary with production variances. Where I could, I measured a few specimen.
The process
I weigh the items full and empty and assume the difference as ink capacity. Before weighing the empty item, I will allow it to dry until either no droplets are visible or at least 24h in the open air (all caps / accessories removed). I use distilled water for filling so volume to weight is as close to 1g/ml as possible.
If possible, I provide an empty weight.
Cartridges are filled to a point where they are reasonably safe to handle (std.int just below the point where the ball sits, Pilot converters to the metal mesh, etc.). I try not to fill them above the point where the vendor would fill them.
If the cartridge has a reservoir, I measure its volume separately.
If possible, I weigh the full original cartridge before opening it.
Converters are filled using their built-in filling mechanism directly out of a glass of water. I start filling them that way to give the ‘min’ value. I dump them and refill them using a syringe with the same rules as the cartridges to get the ‘max’ value. A small difference between these values means the converter works efficiently.
Integrated fillers – unless otherwise specified – are measured without accounting for feed absorption.
Where I can, I take off the feed and nib unit (TWSBI Diamond 580).
Where this is not possible I saturate the feed with water for the empty weight. Then pull a filling in 3 turns to get to a point where one would normally fill it and take the full weight.
Cartridges
| System and Name | dry weight | full capacity | inc. reserve | OEM fill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAMY | ||||
| LAMY T10 | 0.91 g | 1.20 ml | 0.20 ml | |
| Parker QUINK | ||||
| Full size | 1.05 g | 1.40 ml | 0.15 ml | |
| Half size | 0.50 g | 0.55 ml | – | |
| PILOT | ||||
| petit1 | 0.54 g | 0.63 ml | – | |
| standard | 0.81 g | 0.86 ml | – | |
| namiki | 0.80 g | 0.80 ml | – | 0.77 ml |
| Platinum | ||||
| standard | 1.15 g | 1.20 ml | 0.20 ml | |
| Sailor | ||||
| standard | 1.59 g | 1.05 ml | – | |
| Standard International half | ||||
| Caran d’Ache chromatics | 0.55 g | 0.81 ml | – | 0.81 ml |
| Diplomat OEM | 0.54 g | 0.80 ml | – | 0.80 ml |
| Faber-Castell OEM | 0.52 g | 0.82 ml | – | 0.80 ml |
| Faber-Castell erasable | 0.49 g | 0.84 ml | – | 0.76 ml |
| Kaweco OEM | 0.55 g | 0.80 ml | – | |
| Montblanc | 0.56 g | 0.84 ml | – | 0.76 ml |
| Online SUPER TINTE | 0.55 g | 0.80 ml | – | 0.68 ml |
| Pelikan (cheap bulk) | 0.46 g | 0.85 ml | – | |
| Pelikan 4001 ‘design print’ | 0.50 g | 0.84 ml | – | 0.74 ml |
| Pelikan 4001 | 0.48 g | 0.82 ml | – | 0.75 ml |
| Schneider pastel | 0.50 g | 0.86 ml | – | 0.79 ml |
| Waterman | 0.52 g | 0.70 ml | – | 0.68 ml |
| Standard International full | ||||
| Online LAMY/Std.Int. univ. | 1.05 g | 1.25 ml | 0.10 ml | 1.20 ml |
| Pelikan 4001 | 0.95 g | 1.35 ml | – | 1.30 ml |
| Waterman | 1.00 g | 1.45 ml | – | 1.30 ml |
| TWSBI | ||||
| Swipe | 1.10 g | 1.55 ml | – | 1.40 ml |
| Misc. | ||||
| Fonte Nymph | 0.86 g | 0.95 ml | 0.10 ml | |
| You Ping (Jinhao connector) | 0.65 g | 0.80 ml | – | 0.77 ml |
Converters
| Make and model | dry weight | mechanism fill | top up fill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jinhao | |||
| Cheap, unlabeled, ridges | 1.50 g | 0.75 ml | 0.80 ml |
| Branded, coarse threads, no insert | 1.85 g | 0.65 ml | 0.70 ml |
| Branded, fine threads, insert | 1.95 g | 0.65 ml | 0.70 ml |
| LAMY | |||
| Z27 (black, no pins) | 2.15 g | 0.70 ml | 0.80 ml |
| Z28 (red, locking pins) | 2.16 g | 0.70 ml | 0.80 ml |
| Parker | |||
| Deluxe piston | 2.65 g | 0.55 ml | 0.55 ml |
| PenBBS | |||
| Black Rim Long | 2.15 g | 0.70 ml | 0.80 ml |
| PILOT | |||
| CON-40 | 1.45 g | 0.40 ml | 0.45 ml |
| Platinum | |||
| cheap push/pull | 1.32 g | 0.38 ml | 0.43 ml |
| standard | 4.11 g | 0.55 ml | 0.65 ml |
| Sailor | |||
| mini | 2.75 g | 0.25 ml | 0.40 ml |
| standard | 2.90 g | 0.45 ml | 0.50 ml |
| Standard International | |||
| Diplomat twist | 2.45 g | 0.70 ml | 0.80 ml |
| Kaweco Sport piston | 1.65 g | 0.40 ml | 0.45 ml |
| Kaweco Standard twist | 2.60 g | 0.70 ml | 0.80 ml |
| Pelikan twist | 2.45 g | 0.70 ml | 0.80 ml |
| TWSBI | |||
| Swipe spring | 3.12 g | 1.15 ml | 1.50 ml |
| Swipe twist | 4.15 g | 1.40 ml | 1.50 ml |