How To Fully Fill A Pilot Con-40 Cartridge/Converter Fountain Pen

Getting a full fill on a Pilot pen with a Con-40 converter can be a challenge, so Brian Goulet wanted to show you his best techniques. If you have a Pilot or Namiki fountain pen and want to use the Pilot Con-40 cartridge/converter for filling with bottled ink, you definitely want to watch this video all the way through.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:22 Explanation of different Pilot Converters
1:46 How the Con-40 converter works
3:01 Basic filling method
3:39 Step-by-step full filling method
5:52 Full fill alternative methods (additional supplies required)
If you want to see how to get a full filling on a Pilot Con-70 converter, check out our other video showing how here: • How to Fill a Pilot CO...
SUBSCRIBE to our KZbin channel: bit.ly/GP-YTsubscribe
LINKS TO PRODUCTS FEATURED:
Pilot Con-40 converter: www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
Pilot Con-70 converter: www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
Pilot Falcon fountain pens: www.gouletpens.com/collection...
Pilot Custom 74 fountain pens: www.gouletpens.com/collection...
Pilot Vanishing Point fountain pens: www.gouletpens.com/collection...
Pilot Custom Urushi fountain pens: www.gouletpens.com/collection...
Pilot Iroshizuku ink (Kon-Peki featured in this vid): www.gouletpens.com/collection...
Pineider Pen Filler: www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
Visconti Traveling Inkwell: www.gouletpens.com/products/v...
Goulet Ink Syringes: www.gouletpens.com/products/g...
ABOUT GOULET PENS:
Brian & Rachel Goulet started The Goulet Pen Company in 2009 and you can see the evolution of our mom and pop into a full-blown company through this channel. We run a dedicated online store with fountain pens, ink, paper, and other fine writing accessories. Our goal with this channel is to provide fountain pen fans at all levels of experience with comprehensive product reviews, round ups, and how-to videos to answer all the fountain pen questions you may have. Shop at www.gouletpens.com.
FOLLOW US:
Instagram: / gouletpens
Facebook: / thegouletpencompany
Twitter: / gouletpens
Pinterest: / gouletpens
Sign up for Emails: shop.gouletpens.com/newsletter
Blog: blog.gouletpens.com/

[@michaeldonoghue9015]

Even knowing all this stuff already, I derive a shameful amount of satisfaction watching these videos and pretending I am new to this ☺️

[@deelirious]

No shame, just enjoy it

[@Gouletpens]

haha, no shame at all! If nothing else, it makes it a better reference for you if you come across someone else you need to share the information with, just pass the link to this video to them -Brian

[@yangyu67]

Same here 😂

[@carolyncoppola974]

Great video! Thank you! I needed this! I’m a beginner so this will help! Although, judging from the order I’m about to place - you’d think I knew what I was doing! I do like re-filling the cartridges but it seems tricky with the stopper for the Pilot cartridges. Do you just leave the stopper in the cartridge? I have made a resolution to try various methods, and see what works best for me. I’m ordering another Metropolitan ❤️❤️❤️❤️ along with cartridges and converters. Love the Pilot Iroshizuku inks - beautiful! Thanks again Brian! ✍️ 🖋

[@uihcmoht]

lol

[@radicalxedward8047]

Pro-tip: make sure if you’re using the ink syringe at work that people know you have a thing for fountain pens otherwise they will absolutely assume it’s a drug needle cause they don’t know the difference. It’s happened to me at 2 jobs now lol luckily my bosses knew so they explained it to HR and it didn’t become a big thing.

[@madgy85]

I simply don't refill my fountain pen at work with a syringe for that reason alone. I refill my fountain pens with a syringe in the safety and privacy of my own home. I use a cartridge at work to refill my fountain pens and I use a syringe to refill my fountain pen at home.

[@radicalxedward8047]

@@madgy85 people do the same thing over insulin needles. It’s just where their mind jumps cause they don’t know any better. It’s not a big deal and that’s how people learn. But at the same time, getting a perfect fill at work just isn’t necessary. So I started just leaving a small bottle of my favorite ink at work.

[@bikkies]

I can definitely see that. I think by now everyone at my workplace knows I'm that weird obsessive guy with weird obsessive habits and weird obsessive paraphernalia. I could probably pull out a bong and they'd shrug it off, thinking it's just some other odd accessory of mine. (Maybe that's a video idea for the future, using a bong as an external ink reservoir for a Preppy...)

[@jjpuck2]

I have a plastic syringe that has a bulb at the end. It is pretty cheap, and it isn't usable for other substances. I got it with a cheap china pen that has been actually very usable. Paid less than $5 for pen and bulb/syringe filler on eBay.

[@jean-marievanheerden4925]

I enjoy freaking out new colleagues with my ink syringe and needles 😂

[@nilsmafr]

A fulfilling filling. Thank you, I really disliked my half-full con40.

[@brettthorndike1079]

Yes same here

[@emmaythegray]

Yup, same!

[@pianoin69]

Yuppers.

[@nesdi6653]

Honestly

[@laotianking]

Just tried it the first time without this video and got maybe 35% 😢

[@michaelmedlinger6399]

Thank you, Brian! I was frustrated with the Pilot converter because I couldn't get it full. I should have gone to Goulet Pens right away! The fountain pen community would be so much poorer without you, Drew, and the entire crew at the company!

[@danielmccann4055]

Hey, Thanks. I just bought one of your pens and thought, " What is this thing now?" Very useful. Much appreciated from a total Newby.

[@forester2845]

Holy moly, I got so excited when I see the title! Got the metropolitan for months, and always wonder why the con-40 takes so little ink. Thanks very much for this video!

[@Gouletpens]

You're very welcome! -Brian

[@melissam0ss]

I know this is an older video and this may be a TLDR COMMENT but I’d like to share something with you presently (April 2024) I’ve recently fallen back in love with fountain pens and, wow 🤯, am I out of date! The last pen I used, and recently found again, is a Speedball with a 1.9 stub nib! It’s cool because it has the same exact ink window as the Lamy Safari’s! I had no idea Fountain Pens were a HUGE THING again! YAY! And I’ve learned volumes from THIS AWESOME CHANNEL! Have been (literally) binge watching all the Pencasts and so many others for over a month (trying to catch up) I’m commenting because this video is so timeless and HELPFUL! I have (purchased from Goulet Pens) Sailor Compass, Pilot Kakuno, Platinum Preppy, 3 Lamy’s (Marron Lux, LTD White (black clip & nib & Demonstator-Black clip& nib) Twsbi Diamond 580 clear and Twsbi eco, Visconti Mythos Mirage Poseidon…plus inks, papers, cleaning tools more things…I’m overwhelmed with how to remember which pens use which converters and/or cartridges. I’m saving empty cartridges from all the different brands that only use proprietary innards to refill. SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO KEEP INNARDS AND PENS together but separately (if that makes sense 😮) so I don’t end up putting (trying to put) the wrong inserts in the wrong pen and damaging something. Need ideas for how to or where to store all these pens and their innards together but not mix up the innards. What are the blue slot things inside the drawers of Brian’s huge Ikea cabinets??

[@danieldoherty5034]

This was so helpful. My ink was always running dry before, and it was probably because I was only managing to fill it with a tiny amount. Thanks, sir.

[@rekozma]

I want to remind everyone the GOULET is your #1 place to source all your Pilot pen needs. I can't speak on any other pens they sell but I can say from personal experience that every Pilot pen I have purchased from them has been well above my expectations. As a lefty I want to thank Brain and all his staff for the wonderful experience I have had in the past. And I'm looking forward to future purchases in 2021. Maybe even a new brand. But Pilot is for sure my very favorite. Today's carry was a special 74 green with a gold fine nib. Ink was Pilot Iroshizuku.

[@MyNameIsPetch]

I gave up and just syringe fill a disposable cartridge now. Much happier than when I used a Con-40

[@yadie7]

Same, makes it much easier to fill the converter in my VP

[@MarshaLove0723]

I use the CON-40 in demonstrator pens, but refill the Pilot cartridges for the solid pens.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Same here!

[@Lalupin464]

Ditto

[@fr1sket363]

First time i've seen someone mention the half filling step, that's the part i think i've been missing. I'll have to give that a go and see if i can get the mythical full fill!

[@Archosphere]

These more recent videos, are why Goulet is my Pen Company. For someone who has always wanted a fountain pen (but thought they ere ALL too expensive), and was recently gifted a Lamy Vista, these series are PRICELESS! (even some of the goofy ones). ...Although I still made a mistake buying a Goulet Flex Nib, because the nib wont fit on my Lamy Pen, 🤔 I guess I'll just have to buy the Silver & Black Conklin Endura ...to fit the NIB. 😄

[@ailevin07]

I refill cartridges and converters using the syringe method, though I use disposable transfer pipettes. They are cheap are very reusable for the same color ink. One trick for reducing the mess is to use a clean empty ink sample vial. During the step where your have partially filled and are drawing the ink back into the converter, put the empty vial over the nib before you start pushing the air back through the feed. The vial keeps any of the bubbles that may be bursting from spreading the ink. Once the air is out you remove the vial and go back to the ink bottle to complete the fill. I discovered this technique working with vacuum pens and piston pens.

[@13noman1]

"Practice a few times in a safe area" is superb advice. I'd been living with partial fills til I began 'experimenting' with this approach. It's been a bit tricky for me to reliably gauge when ink is "just starting to show' on the expel air phase...with the expectable results! Ah well, inky fingers are the sign of a FP fan!

[@fgb3126]

Brian I didn't know this! I find my converters always filling too little and just accepted that is the price of doing business. Now I am going to try this on all of my converters. Incidentally, I found this video of yours somehow while looking at the Namiki Falcon page.

[@user-pp4jk5qw8n]

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for!

[@thenotoriouspie]

oh my god this was amazing. i was so bummed when i got my converter and i was getting almost no ink. thank you so much!

[@arabesquejacob8176]

This was SO helpful! I just bought a Pilot 40 converter and I thought it was just not working properly. Thank you 🙏 so much for all your informative videos! Much appreciated!

[@OtherDianne]

Thank you, Brian. I didn't really know how to get that converter more full. This is much appreciated!

[@jpee300]

Great video! No nonsense around it. Very informative and answered my question on how to fill the convertor fully. Keep it up!

[@christophere.zambrano9970]

So so so helpful. I’ve had trouble with this for years and had never figured out how to address it until this video. Thank you!

[@jjpuck2]

I enjoyed the video, and it encouraged me to try a few different things depicted. Thanks for broadening the knowledge of the whole community. I appreciate the chapter settings and the links to add to the knowledge base quicker.

[@Artdog17]

Thanks for this very useful, well-organized video! You offered me two tips that will improve my Con-40 refill results!

[@pauladavies9809]

Learned a lot! Thank you for doing this video, I have just started my collection of fountain pens and am enjoying them so much. Thanks again and keep up the informational videos!

[@sadmanislam5111]

Thank you @The Goulet Pen Company for the helpful video. This actually increased the ink in my piston converter pen 🖋

[@amexjam55]

Thank you very much for this video. Steps 6-8 were really helpful in fully filling the converter.

[@timmackinnon5547]

One of the best videos I have watched. Knowledge, honesty (pretty much any pen for that matter) and directness. Got to point fast. Stayed to the end because it was pleasant but had my answer early on. Thanks.

[@JenniferHRoss]

This is great - thank you so much. I was surprised and pleased to see the converter with the little agitator balls when I purchased my Pilot Falcon EF. So this is great timing.

[@Von_D]

It was a really messy process doing it this way, but hooooooooly moley, does it ever work! Thank you Brian. Cheers!

[@6boys1girl]

Life changing video, I always thought that the pens should hold more ink. Off to practice. Thanks so much Brian!

[@Angel_Santiago27]

What an excellent video! Just what I need to know and understand, thank you very much!

[@stewartobrien7447]

Great instruction that you may not feel you need until you are filling the con-40, but valuable any time!

[@anjas3149]

All the info you can possibly need in one place. Perfect. Enjoyed it a lot.

[@Gouletpens]

Sweet! Glad to hear it -Brian

[@xianated]

Yes! This is how I do it, and I also use the agitator balls to help bring the ink down too. Appreciated the breakdown of the pilot converters available.

[@ziolan8970]

I just filled it all the way, shot the feed ink upwards, and then filled it again. I’m glad there’s a better way to do this.

[@chadmiky88]

Very helpful. First attempt with a con-40 today.

[@CzarAlexis]

This was so helpful. Thank you very much for sharing

[@johnandrewmunroe]

Incredibly helpful. Thanks so much!

[@horseshoe_nc]

I'm glad you made this video. I've tried to explain this method in text, in Goulet Nation and one other group. Your video explains it much better.

[@deliciousrose]

I just bought Pilot Kakuno as my first fountain pen and been wondering if the converter only meant to hold small amount of ink in it. Thank you for the video, now I don't have to refill my pen every 3-4 days.

[@briandabbs7882]

just came across this, the half filling part was new for me - good tip - I have been using the syringe to fill the convertor already. Thanks for the video!

[@PlanitSarah]

Thank you thank you! I just bought my first Vanishing Point and your video helped me immensely!

[@LydiaKrow]

Thank you - this was very helpful in my decision to get the CON-40 for my metropolitan pen. I appreciate the tips on a good fill, as well!

[@marymendiola]

Omg! This worked like a charm. I’ve had my con-40 for years now snd this is the first time I’ve seen it full! Tysm! 🙏🥳

[@KemApak]

As always great advice and fun video. Thank you for sharing.

[@Equinox051256]

As someone who is getting back into using and collecting FPs (a lot has changed since the early 80s) I appreciate the excellent resource vids you continue to post Brian. Thank you so much!

[@user-mv7bm5oo6q]

Thank you so much for making this video as this was very helpful. I’ve just bought my first fountain pen with a converter a couple of months ago and haven’t touched it until watching this video, as I had been having trouble getting ink in the converter and after following your steps for a full fill I finally can draw ink.

[@vincentlangel8555]

I have to comment that you do such an excellent job teaching the public about fountain pens. The friendly and genial way you present your material, holding inexpensive products and expensive products in the same light, makes me want to buy from you. I just got into the fountain pens a couple weeks ago (and I’m loving it) and I already put in an order for another pen, inks, and paper from Goulet Pens. Thank you for all the helpful and amazing content!

[@mirrorknight12]

This video has given me hope for my con 40

[@3cootes]

This was an immensely helpful video, thanks so much 😊

[@brettthorndike1079]

Great advice/help...Thank you Goulet Pens

[@ritwijmishra-writer6278]

I had refilled my 149 a few hours before I got notified of this, and I must say it was of immense help to me. I refilled it again according to the instructions in this video and it helped get rid of both the air bubbles and any imprecision that I as a casual human am not free of while trying to fill the barrel to its optimum ink capacity. Do thank Mr Goulet for me!

[@oscarmedina1597]

It’s good to see you in a vid, Brian.

[@jeanpaulfarley9966]

Thank you for this video, I just purchased a E95S and the tips you give on filling it completely will come in handy since the converter is rather small. I already tried it with another (standard international) converter and it works very well!

[@Kitsunobu]

New user of converter here and I searched for many tips to fill it (Cross classic century) properly and as full as possible. Your video, and tips, is the best I found: tried it and it works marvelously well. No ink on fingers on my first day, glad you helped me... Thank you VERY much!

[@horseshoe_nc]

Thank you for making this video. I stumbled across this method on my own, not long after I got into fountain pens. I've tried explaining it text a few times, but it ended up sounding more complicated than it really is.

[@PauloRuvalcaba]

Great quick tips! Thanks!

[@user-vt3jy1yj2n]

It changed my life! Thanks!

[@evayaaasantewaa448]

Someone sent me here, and I just have to say: You are a champ.

[@lafayette9410]

I'm new to fountain pens and have found your videos both informative and enjoyable in their own right. I found a Preppy at my locat art store to get going then after writing one time (enjoyably enough) I ordered a Metropolitan. I ordered a spare box of cartridges but love the concept of a converter and filling directly from the inkwell. I see it as the modern dipping of a quill, giving a certain experience to the writing but with modern efficiency.

[@marjoriedybec3450]

This was super helpful. I just got my new Pilot Prera and now have the Australian Rose-colored fingertips to prove it.

[@cookiemonster974]

Love your videos, Brian! Keep it up!

[@contactsaavy]

Thank you just got a couple of con 40s and was struggling to get a full fill :)

[@Vendavalez]

I kept getting half fills and was about to attempt something like this but didn’t have the opportunity to do it in a place where I could make a mess, so I hadn’t tried it yet. Good to see that the idea was sound.

[@lulugolde6177]

I can at last fill up my pen, thank you Boris!

[@johnhockey87]

Thanks so much for this....I was convinced my con-40 was faulty and was using disposable cartridges!

[@sluggytube]

Thank you! Those converters have been driving me crazy

[@andreasilver24601]

Late to the fountain party as usual, but I'm loving it and now have three pens and playing with different inks. My first pen is the Kakuno with fine nib and bought a con-40 to use my iroshizuku inks and this video was super helpful. Especially explaining the priming aspect. Even though I got ink all over my fingers, I'm super happy. Thanks for this video!!

[@vvtj0402]

Just bought my first kakuno!! I’m happy to know this stuff before using 🥰🥰

[@angelr.sanchez2925]

Very helpful, thanks for the information

[@jillam7039]

Thank you SO much!!😊very helpful and informative

[@ernestfasanya6311]

Just picked up a Pilot Silvern Koushi and had exactly this problem. Once again Mr Goulet to the rescue. And he even showed how to do it with some kon-peki, my favourite! Thanks very much indeed. A lot less frustrated now.

[@jason11286]

I finally bought a Vanishing Point (one of my Holy Grail pens) from you early in September and the only negative was the dang Con-40 only filling halfway. I needed this video! I now have a full converter.

[@ninagraci110]

You've done it again Brian ! Solved a huge problem with this ill conceived converter. Why oh why make it this complicated? You've been my Pen Guru for over a decade's worth of help with pen + ink problems. Thank you for solving this tedious problem. Nina, Waving from Toronto.

[@criscavi19]

Clear explanation, thanks!

[@NCcrumpet]

Yay! Thank you so much. This was driving me crazy.

[@lunavarion]

This took me a few tries to get it right. For any, like me, who kept failing, the trick is in doing step 6 correctly. Listen very carefully.

[@MrsBee-uo2lc]

Helpful and stait forward tips! Loved it!

[@Gouletpens]

Awesome! -Brian

[@neemancallender9092]

well done 👍 This method is as old as the hills And effective

[@janicegreving4668]

This was So Helpful. My brother gifted me a beautiful Pilot Vanishing Point (in Hot Pink!) for my birthday and I did not know why it was so hard to fill it up with ink. Now I understand about the Con-40 cartridges and will start using this fill method. Thank you so much!!!

[@MrBradso]

Thank you so much for your guide. I recently bought a Pilot Prera pen (which I have loved). I tried putting bottle ink in it for the first time tonight and could only half or 3/4 fill it. I was a little disheartened until I saw this guide. I now have a beautifully filled pen thanks to this walkthrough!

[@naomiartisan]

Woah a very helpful video. Usually I refill my converter without the pen nibs, hate cleaning the pen after refilling so messy. So I refill my convertor without the pen nib the cleaning is less messy but still messy. I really love the idea of the syringe, I going to use this method it feel less messy I think I will love it.

[@rangeldi]

That was tremendously useful info. Thanks a lot!!

[@Scouzeboy]

From Australia thank very much.

[@killaken2000]

I use the syringe method for filling converters and I think I learned it from watching an earlier video of yours. It works great especially if you already have a syringe or don't mind buying one.

[@HookahBurdar]

Oh, thank you so much! CON 40 converters look nice but, until I saw this video I never succeeded in filling them up to more than 50%, often only a third of their capacity (which as you say is already not that big)! That was a very useful tip indeed! Thanks again Brian!

[@baron24601]

Good info. I have up on these awhile ago and just refill an empty cartridge with a syringe.

[@utkarshbhangale4095]

Literally waiting for days to see brian in the vids...though i will never be able to afford these pens or converters 😂but just watching these videos are ASMR👍

[@paullambert7840]

Never say never. The pandemic has really curtailed my pen purchases, but I'll start saving up again once things improve. You can start a little fountain pen savings. I used an app that rounded all of my purchases up to the next full dollar. I was surprised how quickly I was able to buy my first (and so far only) grail pen. It was a painless way to save up over $1000 in less than 2.5 years. It wasn't all from rounded-up purchases. It also invested those savings in the markets. I invested about $800. The rest was just market value increases. It may not work out that way for you, but there are ways to save for these purchases.

[@utkarshbhangale4095]

@@paullambert7840 Good for you sir👍..could you please suggest me the app you use hope it will make me more motivated to save for my next grail pen. Thank you

[@paullambert7840]

@@utkarshbhangale4095 I have used Smarty Pig and Acorns.

[@jetipre1839]

Very well explained and demonstrated. (a bit messy if you are a neophyte) Thank you.

[@chimmy5181]

oh god this just solved all of my problems thank you

[@NikosGeorgosopoulos]

your videos, since your beginning, are very helpful. especially to novices. keep making them and all the best during this darn "thing" that shall not be named.

[@Gouletpens]

I'm glad to hear it! I always want to make things easier for people to use their fountain pens, new and veteran alike ;) -Brian

[@its.jessicadarlng]

Thank you for the tips and the tutorial! I was suffering with this converter really unable to get much ink in it at all and I really hadn't considered doing it this way i! Not to mention, I didn't realize my pen had come with another converter, one of the squeeze ones, as well!

[@marcocepollina8243]

Great video ! When I bought the CON-40 converter and try it the first time I got disappointed and thought something wasn't working right so I decided to see if any videos was made on the subject and...BINGO the video totally explain and solved the problem now I can have a "full fill" with the CON-40 :)

[@sathishrao7926]

Thanks for this video.. Using these for my VP.. Need to fill it every other day - I know the pain !

[@karlaguidry9013]

WooHoo! I’m off to try the Con-40 trick right now! I have stained my fingers for days trying to refill and for that only drew up a microscopic amount. Think I’ll invest in a syringe as well. Thanks! Great job with the video!

[@hamana2011]

Thx Brian was looking for this everywhere, and by the way nice plain background and overall video angle

[@managingmarlys]

Very cool thanks for the video, very helpful

[@thekanthalkid4273]

This was SUPER helpful!

[@karlforster4907]

Very helpful! Thank you,

[@mrmolis]

I'm new to fountain pens and converters. OMG, just learning about submerging the filler hole has been a game changer. 😂