Filling Your Fountain Pen Using an Ink Sample

[@heathergleiser]

Ink Shot ink well is hands down my favorite way to use samples. Poured half a vial in it, stuck my Lamy converter in, and got a full fill easy as pie. I wouldn’t go without one ever again.

[@darrelmorris808]

Yes. Everyone should own an Ink Shot.

[@Kimberley_Veronica]

Ink syringe is my best friend. I just wish I could use on my TWSBI Eco’s

[@EricFell]

I swear by the Ink Miser Ink-Shot inkwell. I dump the vial in, do the thing, and pipette the rest back into the vial. I also use a bit of poster tack on the bottom of the inkwell juuuuuust in case. Can't recommend it enough! I'm nowhere near as cavalier with my ink as, say, someone who just puts a full converter down on a table horizontally like some sort of hotshot F-14 pilot buzzing the tower!

[@Gouletpens]

Absolutely! The Ink Miser products are awesome! - Drew

[@dacksonflux]

I just like the fact that they're funnel shaped at the bottom. It helps me get every drop 😁👌

[@Zahrah.M]

do you have advice on filling a TSWBI Eco? I found the sample vials I have (not from your company, I'll admit) are too narrow to fit in the nib 😥

[@dacksonflux]

One suggestion could be The mini ink well/holder things that are used to help fill pens. They look like tiny cones sitting on a small stand. On the goulet website they're called ink miser ink shots.

[@heathergleiser]

Ink Shot ink well for sure. I use it for all my Twsbi pens and it’s saved me from inky fingers ever since.

[@linsefton454]

I got one of those ink miser things and the nib on my twsbi iris still dosent fit!!

[@lefthandedclogger]

For piston fillers, there’s a great hack for adding a rubber gasket which lets you tip the whole thing upside down and then fill. Fills a TWSBI or other piston filler completely! Search “Goulet Pen Co Ink Sample Vial Hack” I believe.

[@a22lotti]

The pencil hack is interesting... but I imagine only useful for people who don't have an ink syringe handy. It still gets the pencil inky and probably also the sides of the converter... syringing it is much neater and has the same effect. Similar idea to the syringe: the Pineider Snorkel (actually have one) fits onto several types of converters (more or less securely, though) and is basically a syringe needle that can get all the way down there. Speaking of, an ink syringe needle actually fits onto standard international converters. Same effect. Most other converters I have on hand (Lamy, Sailor, Sheaffer) are too wide at the top, though.

[@lindacooper2579]

Great timing! I was just struggling with this a few days ago. I’m going to give the syringe a try, have never done that. Thank you!

[@lefthandedclogger]

I tried the ink sample vial hack with the rubber gaskets that y’all mentioned in the pencast a few months ago - game changer for filling a piston-filler from a vial! But for cartridge/converter pens I use an ink syringe and it works beautifully.

[@Gouletpens]

Yay! - Drew

[@crouserm]

Yep! All in my experience! I will say that I have found that to fill completely with the syringe, one can carefully fill the converter, and use it to (carefully, over a non-porous surface) fill the feed, and then top off the converter. With certain converter-feed combinations, that Goulet doesn't carry anyhow, this is a certain leak into the barrel. Thanks, Drew!

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks for watching! - Drew

[@sunnycharacter]

I set my ink sample bottle into a shot glass on a silicone mat. It is less slippery and won’t tip over. Alternatively, I can use a ink syringe to refill a cartridge.

[@ladyredl3210]

Do they make Drew’s shirt in a dress? Because if so I want it

[@mizquilter]

I have a few (many) samples and didn’t know how to make the best out of filling foundation pens. This video at least gave me info on what to expect from the sample! Thanks. Easy peasy!

[@Gouletpens]

Yay! Thanks for watching! - Drew

[@Howtomantv]

Ink samples are fun. I think I might actually have an addiction problem... and I see I'm going to have to get myself a syringe... But I'm surprised by how often my goulet samples are not perfectly (or sometimes even close) to representative of the bottles I buy subsequently. Not sure if it's a mixing problem or even an ink pulled in error and mislabeled.

[@marykerr936]

I just wanted to say that holding the sample vial with one hand to keep the vial on a slant as you insert the pen is much easier than it seems like it would be! Even as Drew demonstrated the practice and described it, I wanted to shout out, "just try it! ... it's easy to do and it works!" I also like how the bottom of the vial has a cone shape that lets you get every drop of ink out. And, those vials are my favorite way of taking a few ink colors with me when I travel. Just tuck them into a Zip lock bag as Brian suggests in an older video! PS Drew's 3 inked pen rule is hard to follow (I manage 4 or 5, keeping my 2 Pilot Parallels always inked and a pocket/purse pen, leaving me only 1 desk pen if I allow myself 4 inked pens ... ;) It's a good principle to aspire to for sure! Btw the Pilot Parallels and the Kaweco Sport always write immediately even when they haven't been used in a month or so.

[@idunasgarden9361]

The corgi shirt!!

[@sharlenezuhlke1561]

Goulet also sells a snorkel that works great for some converters.

[@patoeme]

Thks drew i use the sample vial to try new inks

[@lissapensandthings]

😂 i struggled many times with my new twisbi until i figured out i needed to tilt!

[@MrGyges]

At last ! , science has come to our aid. Thank you professor Brown

[@Gouletpens]

LOL my pleasure, but Professor Brown has his own KZbin channel! - Drew

[@sajjadhusain4146]

I don’t remember ever buying ink samples. They are just a cluttering nuisance. I always buy full bottles. Because I always feel certain of what I will like or won’t. However, some ink bottles are annoyingly designed and shaped in ways that make it frustrating and futile to try to fill pens when the bottle is running low on ink. Large nibs have no luck at all. So, I’ve had to resort to drawing out ink from the bottle with a syringe and filling empty vials with it. But it’s still a pain to try to fill from a vial especially with piston fillers.

[@evanbasnaw]

Look into the Ink Miser Ink-shot. It's a little cone stand and it's a great way to get the ink to the pen if your bottle isn't a good shape. There's 2 versions. I use the one that is standalone rather than the in-bottle version.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

@@evanbasnaw …Cool. I really should have thought of that and got one a long time ago. A stand-alone one would be my preference too. Vials with that narrow opening are just as frustrating as inconveniently shaped ink bottles. So, thanks much for the timely tip on how to remedy the problem.

[@nancymcnee2707]

Waving around those uncapped converters made me fear for your lovely corgi shirt! Thanks for the tips, Drew!

[@Gouletpens]

Haha! Thanks for stopping by to comment! - Drew

[@mariafagerlundStylophile]

Hi all Pen lovers, Goulet pens in particular! How do you fill say a piston filler with the syringe? Does that require that the nib unit is removed?

[@joanwerthman4116]

Before I use a syringe I dip the nib and connected converter into the sample bottle so the feed can soak up some ink. Then I wipe it with a paper towel or tissue which I also use to avoid getting my fingers so ink stained it looks like they’re tie-dyed, although at this point my hands stay pretty clean. If I have the rare date where I want to make sure my hands stay spotless, I use the Pineider ink filler. But usually I’m too lazy to dig it out when a little ink staining on my hands is sort of a badge of honor.

[@RJayRoberts]

the Pineider ink filler is another good way. Picked one up recently. Useful for filling from bottles too. generally neater.

[@fossilimprint2954]

Fascinating, you learned me today!

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks for stopping by! - Drew

[@723snoopy]

Love this video. Is there a way to make the ink sample more full or the bottle smaller to reduce plastic use?

[@ciannacoleman5125]

Personally I like the 5ml size. I reuse the bottles as on the go ink wells & in some cases refill them from funky shaped/almost empty bottles.

[@karenholden4740]

Great tips Drew Thanks

[@Gouletpens]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching! - Drew

[@elizabaum]

This is super helpful, thank you!

[@allanpritchett3578]

Just got a few Goulet samples and the sample holder in the mail today

[@ronhori]

Great tips, Drew. I also learned ideas in the comments.

[@MrMaelstrom07]

How to fill twsby vac mini "manually" aka without dunking the nib?

[@jolandanvt2379]

Am I missing something? If seen ppl use tubes / o-rings to fill a twsbi eco from sample viles, but you can take out the nib and the feed on an eco right?. Everytime I clean my eco, I take out the nib and feed, and use an ultrasonic cleaner. So if you can take out the nib and the feed, why not use a needle to fill it? Am I missing something? Or should I be worried for taking out my nib?

[@debcarroll8192]

So helpful! Thanks!

[@neemancallender9092]

Good vid I use vials as ink reserves when travelling, a full vial gives me a months use for a daily journal and drawing

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks for watching! - Drew

[@530nm330Hz]

I've been using pipettes instead of syringes. (Mostly to fill CON40s.) Any thoughts on the relative merits of those two approaches? One thing I noticed from the video is that it looked like with the syringe you didn't have to be as careful as I have been with the pipette to make sure the air in the converter has a chance to escape while the ink is flowing in.

[@dacksonflux]

The syringe puts more pressure behind the ink so you can literally shoot the ink all the way to bottom of the converter. My biggest problem with pipettes and why I use syringes more is that some converters are too small for a standard pipette to fit into. Con40s have bigger openings so it's not as much problem with them. The air and ink sticking to the side/top will get you though. 🤣 You know you're dealing with a fountain pen enthusiast when they have ink on their fingers.

[@530nm330Hz]

That's what the box of disposable latex gloves is for. 🙂

[@sunnycharacter]

@@530nm330Hz The glove are EVERYTHING! 😊👍🏼

[@pb4life597]

That shirt is ❤‍🔥

[@jimmybritt8405]

"Emotionally committing to a bottle of ink"? Not sure I've ever made an emotional commitment to a bottle of ink. :)

[@RayneBubble.]

maybe financially is what he meant. Although spending too much can be emotional 🫠

[@pamelabatchelor9204]

good advise I really enjoy my ink samples but I usually just use a dip pen I use regular ink bottles to fill my pens.

[@michellenowakowski8379]

I really need to know where you got your corgi shirt. Thanks!

[@Gouletpens]

Got it from Hot Topic's website, probably 7 years ago! - Drew

[@cynthiarichter792]

No tilting for me! I use the syringe only these days. Tried all these methods and found I am very shaky and lost a lot of ink. So...

[@lilit3307]

I was on the edge of my seat when you set the con-40 down on the table, wondering if the tension would break and ink would spill everywhere, just because the opening of that one is so wide! 😅 (Not from experience or anything 👀)

[@pointeplusplus]

I was just trying this a few days ago with my first ink order and was struggling, so I really appreciate the video! Have y'all thought of selling sample stabilizers, both vertical and tipped? I don't trust myself to not knock it over or to hold it like Drew did with that pinky finger 😅. I was thinking of making myself one by drilling holes in some wood I have around or using sculpy clay to make them

[@paulherman5822]

If they still made the Tip-Dip feeds like vintage Sheaffer's or vintage Esterbrook had, this would be much less of an issue.

[@evanbasnaw]

Tip-dip feeds would be great to make a comeback. Snorkels can stay in the past though. They're such a pain to use!

[@paulherman5822]

@@evanbasnaw Maybe only could make them from ebonite. Sheaffer's were. I think my Venus era Esterbrook Tip-Dip copy is possibly plastic however... They definitely need a comeback. Possibly from India, as ebonite there seems less expensive than anywhere else.

[@sajjadhusain4146]

I’d second both of your sentiments about a comeback of tip-dip feeds. And made of ebonite. I’d be mighty glad if it happened anytime soon.

[@gerardoriveranavarro45]

You may use a Miser cup. It is very handy

What's wrong with getting your hands inky?

[@Gouletpens]

Nothing at all! - Drew

[@viarnay]

Nothing like dipping the nib in the ink 😎

[@blackletter2591]

I finally found a use for glass pens.

[@mixeddrinks8100]

just get the pineider travel inkwell dump it in, easiest way, but the thing is expensive, the Pineider needle works too, also a bit expensive but works great if you have a lot of different brands or else certain brands have their own unique needles that works with their brand like Sailor, TWSBI.

[@JosephDickson]

4:14 using a pencil! 🤯

[@jackieshields]

The ink is cool, but nice Citizen! ⌚️🔥

[@Gouletpens]

Haha thank you! -Drew

[@melloy_lucy]

Ahh Wild strawberry is my favourite ink :3

[@Nhiya3Ericsmom]

I think I'll buy two samples of the same color and just combine them 😊 Still affordable enough for testing.

[@pomoster]

A pencil eraser! Of course! Meanwhile I'm stringing rubber bands around the converter, the vial, my fingers... sigh. Thank you for the tip!

[@GuagoFruit]

I always assumed the default was just use an ink syringe. It didn't even cross my mind to try the other ways.

[@mellow-jello]

Hear the mic drop, Inkshot! Unless you are out of pipettes, or lose the Inkwell, no need the fuss with other methods.

[@Gouletpens]

Agreed! - Drew

[@cannibalisticwolf3319]

But how will I ever fill my M800?! D:

[@Gouletpens]

I would recommend an Ink Miser! - Drew

[@debhan]

Or you can do like I do often and just just dump that whole vial into an Opus 88. 😀

[@evanbasnaw]

Don't forget if it's a highly-saturated ink (like a Noodler's) you can just increase the total ink volume by adding some distilled water. Turn that 2ml into 4ml and you can probably get 3 full fills out of one sample! I just got a whole fill from a few drops of Polar Brown in my Safari and barely noticed the difference in color by the time it came out the nib. I prefer to syringe-fill my converters even from a bottle, because I lose so much less ink to the feed as it gets wiped away. The only drawback is that you have to wait longer for the feed to saturate after you fill it. The Lamy 2k breather hole is very close to the tip and it has a large capacity so you can get a full fill with a sample easily with that pen as well. Today I'm trying out X-feather in my 2k Fine from a sample I got at Goulet.

[@AlanDayley]

And then some. 😂

[@JohnBarrow1961]

Ink Miser.

[@KellyB.-wi9nf]

Ebay: vintage inkwell "Scroll* *Scroll* *buy now* Problem: Solved.