Cartridge fountain pens allow users to easily refill ink, but you need to know how this installation process works for different types of fountain pens. That’s why we’ve created this guide on how to correctly install Parker fountain pen cartridges.
To install a Parker fountain pen ink cartridge, you need to disassemble your pen by unscrewing the barrel. Then, you can remove the old cartridge and apply pressure to mount the new one facing wide-side-down.
In this article, we’ll discuss step by step how to install different types of Parker fountain pen ink cartridges. We’ll also briefly discuss how you can use a converter to install an ink cartridge in certain pens. Keep reading to get the complete rundown!
Table of Contents
How to Install Parker Fountain Pen Cartridges – Step 1
The first step is to carefully disassemble the pieces of your Parker fountain pen. What’s convenient about Parker fountain pens is that they’re usually designed with a barrel that you can easily twist off.
Then, you can take apart the nib, feed, and section in order to reveal the cartridge mount piece. Next, you’ll need to remove the old cartridge from the section block and dispose of it.
Step 2 – Flushing the Pen
Once you have the pen taken apart, you should flush the nib, as well as the gripping section. Parker Pens recommends doing this to clean out any remaining residue from the old ink cartridge before inserting a new one.
You can flush these parts by drawing cool water up and forcing it back out. To get the rest of the liquid out, you may need to blow gently through these parts.
Then, you’ll need to make sure these parts are fully dried, which you can do with a soft, microfiber cloth. If necessary, you can complete this cleaning process several times before moving to the next step.
Once you have your pen taken apart, move the individual pieces somewhere safe to store them while you’re working. A cup or small dish will work just fine so that you don’t lose or damage them.
Step 3 – Positioning the Cartridge
Next, there are a few steps you should take to prepare the pen to accept the new cartridge:
- Position the part of the pen with the mount flat against a surface such as your hand
- Find the mounting piece connected to the new ink cartridge
- Position the wider side of the ink cartridge so it’s facing the mounting area on the pen
Once you have everything facing in the right direction and have the pieces you need, you can get ready to mount the cartridge.
Step 4 – Installing the Cartridge
Next, you can insert the cartridge and get it snug in place in your Parker fountain pen. Install it with the pen in your non-dominant hand and the cartridge in your dominant hand.
Don’t be afraid to apply firm pressure when you’re pushing the cartridge into its slot. Wait until you hear it sort of snap into place to know that it’s completely set in its place.
Step 5 – Reassembling the Pen
Finally, you can reassemble the pieces of your Parker pen. Make sure that the nib, feed, and section are secure and in the right places. You can refer to your Parker fountain pen care guide and tutorials if you need extra assistance in assembling the device.
The last step is to screw the barrel back onto the pen, securing the newly installed ink cartridge inside of the body. Once you’ve done so, you can scribble a few lines of ink onto scrap paper to get the ink flowing.
If your pen has a cap/lid, you can also snap or twist that over the top and into place to protect the nib.
Tips for Installing Ink Cartridges
Although the process to install an ink cartridge into a Parker fountain pen is pretty straightforward, there are a few tips that can help you. First of all, when you’re locking the new cartridge into place, don’t be afraid to really put pressure on it. Many fountain pen users who are new to the practice are wary of pushing too hard when they install ink cartridges.
But in reality, your pen needs to hold the cartridge securely in order for the ink to flow properly. This is why you don’t need to be overly gentle.
Furthermore, try to find ink cartridges that are specifically designed for Parker fountain pens. It’s easy to underestimate the risk of getting a low-quality or incompatible ink cartridge for a high-quality pen like a Parker. This could damage the mechanisms of the pen or lead to ink flow problems.
And finally, when you’re inserting the new cartridge into place, listen for a noise indicating that the cartridge has been punctured. This is completely normal and actually necessary for the ink to get released so you can write with your pen.
Alternative: Using a Cartridge Converter
As we briefly mentioned earlier, there is one other way to use and refill cartridge ink into Parker fountain pens. This method is a bit of a roundabout method for those pens that are not cartridge-style, but rather, piston or converter fountain pens.
A converter essentially allows you to refill bottled ink into a cartridge-style Parker pen. This doesn’t require the user to get a new ink cartridge and install it. However, it allows a regular fountain pen to take in all different kinds of ink by converting the pen into a bottled ink fountain pen.
Parker sells many affordable converter pieces for their fountain pens, including the PARKER Fountain Pen Converter – Standard Twist Fill. These are pretty affordable, with this particular once ringing in at just around $10.
- Quickly and easily refill your PARKER fountain pen with bottled ink
Final Thoughts
Owning a Parker fountain pen comes with a little bit of maintenance so that you can enjoy the smooth writing style it offers. If you’ve ever wondered how to install Parker fountain pen cartridges to refill the ink supply, this guide should help you get there.
Keep our tips in mind and follow our steps to safely and efficiently replace your pen’s ink cartridge when it runs dry.