Awesome physics lesson. My Ultem is eyedroppered with no issues to date …. But I like understanding How Things Work so that any future burps or cap splats don’t just feel like random acts of a capricious pen god! Using the pen itself as a pump to pull ink back out of the fins is SO COOL 😎
I used Platinum Preppys as eyedropper pens for years, and never once had a problem with making a mess. Using an eyedropper pen is definitely not "intrinsically messy". The biggest problem with using an eyedropper pen is remembering not to let the ink get too low, because when it does, the heat from your hand makes the air in the barrel expand and force more ink out. So, even though the barrel holds a lot of ink, you can't necessarily use all of the capacity before the pen starts to flow too heavily. This problem is of course easily solved by refilling the pen.
I've noticed the same thing with my piston fillers. My EF nib will start to write like a medium to broad when the ink volume decreases to a certain level. A quick refill makes everything normal again.
I make drawings with different fountain pens, sometimes using normal inks - sometimes waterproof inks, previously using cartridges, converters or with piston FP, it was a bit annoying, since I found this system (eyedropper), it is much easier to concentrate on very large drawings.
Wonderful work! Keep it up. Your pens are amazing and so are you for designing such a beautiful modern pen with all the right vibes. Next would love some swag from your company.
Great vid, great meeting you and Scott. I look forward to more face time, whenever. Hoping you had a great show in Los Angeles and will want to come back next year. Fun vid. I love eyedrppering pens.
I have an ultem ēnsso and suffer mightily with the siphoning effect. It may be marketed as a pocket pen, but with this video, I finally understand why that’s a major no-go. I’m sad I can’t carry in my pocket, but at least your video finally exposed the mystery behind my frustration. Thanks brother.
I just got an Ultem Big Six as my first eyedropper pen, and this video was a lot of help to let me know I wasn't losing my mind when things didn't immediately start working out! It's a lovely design, and hopefully one day can pair it with an even better Schon (or gold) nib!
Thanks for the vid. Can't wait for the delivery - ordered yesterday. Looking forward to try to install the FPR ultra flex EF nib with polymer feed from the GoodBlue co.
I’m pretty brutal on my fountain pens. I carry them in my pockets, my laptop bag, my purse, my car. They get tossed around quite a bit. I think of any mess as simply a part of using such awesome writing instruments. 😁
This checked all my boxes. I am compelled to do understand how the things that I use, operate in every detail. Much appreciated and one day, I will buy one of those fountain pens because using cartridges just makes garbage and converters always leave more to be desired. I bought one of your aluminum screw top pens as a gift about 8 years ago. Regrettably, I never had the chance to use it. Glad to see that business is humming.
lol I don’t use silicon grease. I just use ptfe tape, never had any leaking issue on my Kaweco metal pens (I use neutral ph ink, had no problem with oxidation, 2 years of use). I work in a very hot manufacturing environment and don’t really have burping problems.
I make drawings with fountain pens and waterproof ink and often use large formats of 40 by 60 centimeters or larger, when using conventional pens I must load the pen several times and this distracts because I lose the workflow, something that is less frequent with the eyedropper system.
For me eyedropping has increased flow and consistency over C/Cs if kept over the critical ink level (different for all pens, nibs and feed combos). Too many times have I had air bubbles in my cartridge/convertor that ruined my writing.
When you fill ink in eye dropper you need to remove extra pressure by inverting and closing that spills one ore two drops of ink out from barrel.. Eye droppers are so common in India..
Hello @Schon Dsgn, I got more curious after i made my own ultraflex with an eyedropper pen which needs more ink flow regardless of what type of feed we use (plastic, ebonite), this requires a huge inkflow which a cartridge converter couldn't keep up with which is why i have to EDC my pen, i got curious and observed my pen very closely before and after i used the converter. -- basically there is no burping when i used a cartridge converter even after i dipped the body into hot water 90degC, EDC'ing the pen burps it just with the body heat. -- i am assuming the hot air is escaping between the pen body and the converter without contacting the ink inside the converter or even cartridge. Do you think adding a secondary barrel Just few millimeters smaller than main barrel inside and cutting a needle hole on the outer barrel would let the hot air out. this would solve both ink capacity and burping issues with the pen. Guess we just need to have a screwable secondary barrel inside the main barrel of the pen body, let me know what you think of it.
The Saint Grial of fountain pens is the one that enters ink through the back so the ink onnly travels one way. Is there any like that? I am an eyedropper fan. Thank you.
Depends if it is the black engineered plastics or a metal pocket six pen. if metal, then, no. If the plastic, technically yes, but we do not recommend it unless you like a very wet pen :) up to you!
Good question. It will not hurt the feed but it will effect the way it works. If the Feed gets too much ink inside it, or in places it shouldn’t be, it can perform differently and or create a situation where a leak occurs. After shaking a nib to start a pen it’s often a good idea to blot the underside of the feed and write a bit to make sure it’s stabilized and ready for use!
Fountain pens always make me feel like a mix of wizard, physicist, and a mad scientist.
I prefer a drafting pencil.
@@forteandblues Pencils certainly have their place. I like them. I just don't tend to reach for them first.
Hi Ian would really be interested in a video of the entire process of making a Ultem
Awesome physics lesson. My Ultem is eyedroppered with no issues to date …. But I like understanding How
Things Work so that any future burps or cap splats don’t just feel like random acts of a capricious pen god! Using the pen itself as a pump to pull ink back out of the fins is SO COOL 😎
This pen looks so beautiful!
Wow I love the red ring as well. I may purchase this model soon.
I'm so happy to know you.
I concur
What an excellent video! So simple yet so informative! Thank you!
Thank you for this very informative video! Most of my fountain pens are metal, so filling the barrel is not applicable. Still, good to know!
I used Platinum Preppys as eyedropper pens for years, and never once had a problem with making a mess. Using an eyedropper pen is definitely not "intrinsically messy". The biggest problem with using an eyedropper pen is remembering not to let the ink get too low, because when it does, the heat from your hand makes the air in the barrel expand and force more ink out. So, even though the barrel holds a lot of ink, you can't necessarily use all of the capacity before the pen starts to flow too heavily. This problem is of course easily solved by refilling the pen.
I've noticed the same thing with my piston fillers. My EF nib will start to write like a medium to broad when the ink volume decreases to a certain level. A quick refill makes everything normal again.
I make drawings with different fountain pens, sometimes using normal inks - sometimes waterproof inks, previously using cartridges, converters or with piston FP, it was a bit annoying, since I found this system (eyedropper), it is much easier to concentrate on very large drawings.
Learned so much about eyedroppering physics! Great vid Ian!
I truly appreciate you taking the time to demo this 👍🏼 🚵🏼🦎
No problem!
Wonderful work! Keep it up. Your pens are amazing and so are you for designing such a beautiful modern pen with all the right vibes. Next would love some swag from your company.
Great vid, great meeting you and Scott. I look forward to more face time, whenever. Hoping you had a great show in Los Angeles and will want to come back next year. Fun vid. I love eyedrppering pens.
Dude you have the coolest pens. I'm going to buy one now. Cheers bro!
Thank you for explaining the physics behind fountain pens! I REALLY appreciate this video! :D Thank you!😃
@@jynclr you are so welcome!
I have an ultem ēnsso and suffer mightily with the siphoning effect. It may be marketed as a pocket pen, but with this video, I finally understand why that’s a major no-go. I’m sad I can’t carry in my pocket, but at least your video finally exposed the mystery behind my frustration. Thanks brother.
Great Video selling some pens currently to get a ultem cant wait to get one.
Really comprehensive. Finally feel like I understand whats happening!
Thanks for the video!
And your work in general :)
Very effective explanation of what going on in there.
I just got an Ultem Big Six as my first eyedropper pen, and this video was a lot of help to let me know I wasn't losing my mind when things didn't immediately start working out! It's a lovely design, and hopefully one day can pair it with an even better Schon (or gold) nib!
Glad the video helped! I appreciate the support
Thanks for the vid. Can't wait for the delivery - ordered yesterday. Looking forward to try to install the FPR ultra flex EF nib with polymer feed from the GoodBlue co.
Thank you for your video on eye dropping!
You could also prime the feed by dipping the nib into the ink bottle and start writing!
I’m pretty brutal on my fountain pens. I carry them in my pockets, my laptop bag, my purse, my car. They get tossed around quite a bit. I think of any mess as simply a part of using such awesome writing instruments. 😁
Fine Thoughts About Eyedropper Fountain Pen & Their Regular Problem .
I'm really interested in how you started a pen company, as I'd love to make my own one day
This checked all my boxes. I am compelled to do understand how the things that I use, operate in every detail. Much appreciated and one day, I will buy one of those fountain pens because using cartridges just makes garbage and converters always leave more to be desired. I bought one of your aluminum screw top pens as a gift about 8 years ago. Regrettably, I never had the chance to use it. Glad to see that business is humming.
thank you very much for this very detail info about how the pen works. it hard to find this kind of infos. kudos sir. 👍👍👍
Long live American enterprise. I'm a fan now. Thank you.
lol I don’t use silicon grease. I just use ptfe tape, never had any leaking issue on my Kaweco metal pens (I use neutral ph ink, had no problem with oxidation, 2 years of use). I work in a very hot manufacturing environment and don’t really have burping problems.
I make drawings with fountain pens and waterproof ink and often use large formats of 40 by 60 centimeters or larger, when using conventional pens I must load the pen several times and this distracts because I lose the workflow, something that is less frequent with the eyedropper system.
For me eyedropping has increased flow and consistency over C/Cs if kept over the critical ink level (different for all pens, nibs and feed combos). Too many times have I had air bubbles in my cartridge/convertor that ruined my writing.
Could you speak on the reason for the price differences between US Ultem pens and Ali express pens?
When you fill ink in eye dropper you need to remove extra pressure by inverting and closing that spills one ore two drops of ink out from barrel.. Eye droppers are so common in India..
Thank you Sir!
Hello @Schon Dsgn,
I got more curious after i made my own ultraflex with an eyedropper pen which needs more ink flow regardless of what type of feed we use (plastic, ebonite), this requires a huge inkflow which a cartridge converter couldn't keep up with which is why i have to EDC my pen, i got curious and observed my pen very closely before and after i used the converter.
-- basically there is no burping when i used a cartridge converter even after i dipped the body into hot water 90degC, EDC'ing the pen burps it just with the body heat.
-- i am assuming the hot air is escaping between the pen body and the converter without contacting the ink inside the converter or even cartridge.
Do you think adding a secondary barrel Just few millimeters smaller than main barrel inside and cutting a needle hole on the outer barrel would let the hot air out. this would solve both ink capacity and burping issues with the pen.
Guess we just need to have a screwable secondary barrel inside the main barrel of the pen body, let me know what you think of it.
what Nib size line is this? I know it's a no. 6 JOWO nib but is it fine, medium, bold, extra fine? Thanks.
The Saint Grial of fountain pens is the one that enters ink through the back so the ink onnly travels one way. Is there any like that? I am an eyedropper fan. Thank you.
I just found your channel. 👍👌
Helpful, thanks!
I was a happy eyedropperer until my first disaster. Perhaps others share my experience.
Can I eyedropper the black short body pen (with custom grind Monoc nib) I bought on Saturday at the SF pen show?
Depends if it is the black engineered plastics or a metal pocket six pen. if metal, then, no. If the plastic, technically yes, but we do not recommend it unless you like a very wet pen :) up to you!
@@Schon_DSGN Thank you, I found the information on your site. Happy to learn that the full-size pen can accept a Schmidt converter.
Have you just had it sit with something like baystate for a couple days?
That would be the ultimate test, wouldn’t it?😁
Would shaking the pen hurt the feed???
Good question. It will not hurt the feed but it will effect the way it works. If the Feed gets too much ink inside it, or in places it shouldn’t be, it can perform differently and or create a situation where a leak occurs. After shaking a nib to start a pen it’s often a good idea to blot the underside of the feed and write a bit to make sure it’s stabilized and ready for use!
Oh lawd, made the mistake of eye dropping homemade iron gall ink. It started to rot and smelled like death and poop when I wrote.
Wana trade a pen for a drawing from a mangy old MICA alum?
wish your hands didnt take center stage.......hard to focus on your excellent info!