Kaweco Sport Converter, is it worth it?

I got an official converter for the Kaweco Sport, just to find out, is it worth it?

[@isabellarozendaal]

For me the converter is worth it because I mostly use this pen at my desk. The ink capacity is tiny, but I can quickly dunk the pen into the bottle, pull it up, wipe it down and keep going even in a middle of a zoom meeting. I got tired of having to go to my ink cleaning station and breaking out the syringe.

[@mysteradio]

what about _eyedroppering_ ?

[@blackcatvision_]

Thank you for sharing. I bought it to try it. My main goal for buying it is to reduce the waste of plastic and fill my sports easily with different inks.

[@johnbunyan5834]

There is an alternative: the Kaweko rubber converter, which costs less, here in England. I have 2 Sports , as pocket pens, and use both converters . I find the rubber squeeze converter easier to use. I have always filled each pen with their own inks and refill both every 2 weeks , or so. That way, I don't run out of ink and always have good strong colours. For longer writing sessions, I use different pens. And , yes, I do turn ink bottles upside-down before refills. I have been doing that since my first bottle of Quink Washable Blue , some 70 years ago. Stop press : I have just ordered a third , green, Kaweco Sport M with a gold clip and a mini squeeze converter ( only £2.69 at Pen Heaven, here in England; cf: Pens and Tea ), from Pen Heaven. This I shall use exclusively for a green ink.

[@sumedhabiswas840]

Yeah, I was about to comment the same..we get it in India too

[@CRAZY6256]

I just tried the converter for the first time and it was easy and painless. Doing my part for the world. LOL

[@Kammitoes]

I had to laugh at your comment "reasonably expensive at $8". I just went to buy one off Amazon Australia and the price is $25. My first thought was...hmm, someone has a sense of humour. Thanks for the review...I think I'll continue to use a syringe and refill my cartridges instead.

[@JohnGMeadows]

You inspired me to get out my Kaweko Brass Sport, which I haven't used in a while. It is looking old and tarnished, just like me :-)

[@matapexland]

Tip! I took a spring out of an old clicky ballpoint and put it in the bottom of the barrel. This holds the cartridge in place even when the nozzle gets old and isn't snug anymore. My converter will develop a vacuum sometimes that halts ink flow, then I need to push the plunger a bit to get it going again. Due to this, refilling carts is more convenient for me.

[@SageHarrington]

The converter vacuum phenomenon happens to me too! Kind of annoying. Thanks for the tip about the spring

[@markhayes789]

Very clever.

[@tiramisucocolands7952]

I was wondering who i got the idea from, and now i came across you again. Thank you, it really helped me when i got my first Kaweco last week 🤗

[@TheMyxfall]

By the way, I fixed that by putting the small ball you find in cartridge (that also acts as the seal) inside my converter. That way the ink gets pushed by the ball !

[@MrJungleman1]

Good one. Liked the cat’s cameo appearance in the end. She seems to like fountain pens too. ☺️🐈

[@craftyklaus]

I got the squeeze type converter and use it for one reason only: It's got a much tigher, more secure fit than the standard cartridges. Why is this important to me? Well, I carry my brass sport all the time and everywhere in my pocket. It's subjected to bumps, vibrations and whatever else one goes through. Standard cartridges have become dislodged - and a mess ensued. The converter has yet to fail me. It has its drawbacks with the smaller amount of ink and its fiddliness, but I fill it with a syringe and that's good enough.

[@TeamFish15]

Yeah, I always shake my ink bottles, regardless if they’re shimmer or not, just to make sure in case any particulate whatsoever is mixed back in.

[@BGazzah]

I like to change the ink I'm using often - depending on mood - so I do like to use the wee small converter. The place in the UK I bought my sports from gave free converters with the pens, and were cheaper than most other places for the pens anyway.

[@frankbruno7122]

Kerry.. great to see you.. and your yard! Here in Colorado.. it was 100 f degrees last weekend.. then we had 5 inches of wet snow this Tuesday.. I want the summer breeze outside your window.. Hey, I do like the Little converter.. simply because you can soak that feed well.. I know you can dunk the nib and feed.. I think the flow of the converter is preferred.. I don't mind changing my inks.. I would like a Dia but hope that one uses a normal Schmidt converter.. always shake my inks a bit too.. thanks for the work you do for us!Frank from Boulder,Colorado, US

[@ejboshart0161]

I'm planning on getting one of these converters with my Kaweco Sport for the ease of use. Plus, I tend to get bored with ink colors really quickly (I revisit them later, but in that moment I want something new) so a smaller ink capacity doesn't bother me at all.

[@jimbolt5170]

To shake or not to shake? I give the bottle a quick shake, when I think about it. Funny, when I first started using fountain pens over a decade ago, there was a school of thought that the bottle should never, ever be shaken. The thought was that if there was any detritus in the liquid, it would settle to the bottom and that’s where it should be left. If that was true, there should have been a similar school of thought that we should never draw up the last 5/32 (precisely) of an inch of ink because of said detritus hanging out down there.

[@muscidae]

Ha! I do the "quick spit shine" after filling, too. And I do shake my bottles gently before inking. Some inks I haven't used in a year or more, and who knows what happens in those bottles. Inks are a clever mixture of pigments; they may need mixing after a while.

[@randy-9842]

Have you tried using a Monteverde Mini-converter. They're about the same size and I think ( _think!_ ) they'll fit nicely. Plus, they're only about $2.50.

[@sushanart]

Awww...love that kitty! ❤️😇 I'm not convinced by the Kaweco yet, but on the other hand your enthusiasm turned me around regarding the Benu's so you never know! 😆

[@amyfeigt6715]

After watching several of your videos about the Kaweco Sport pens, I finally got one! & love it so much that I have 2 more arriving tomorrow.😂 I already had a Lilliput, but I like the Sport better. I've not gotten a converter yet since I have a ton of the small ink cartridges including some empties that I can fill with bottled ink for variety. I have a feeling that I won't be stopping at 3 Kaweco Sports, they're just so dang handy to keep in a pocket! Also, love it when Miss Parker makes a cameo! She's a doll! Hubby & I have 3 cats & our black cat (Professor Lupin) has a similar personality 😊

[@michellestephenson1680]

I like the converter because I like to change inks frequently! I fill it using a syringe, though. And I do swish my inks. Not vigorous shaking unless it is shimmer/sheen.

[@dgtlsthlrd]

I have several of these because I have several Kaweco pens now. There is the squeeze bulb converter too but I didn't care for it. It's true that these don't hold a lot of ink but I like not messing with carts. No wasted carts in the trash. Considerably less wear and tear on wear the carts connect to the nib because I take the converter off a lot less. I like the converter for sure. I've never worked up the courage to dropper fill a sport but I've certainly seen it done. I have a Kaweco Supra and that will take a Kaweco standard (or any other standard I suppose) converter. As long as you have the extension bit in, without it, its cart only.

[@EastLancsJohn]

I feel like I'm ahead of the game for once. I eye dropper fill my Kaweco Sport pens, and because they have clear plastic barrels I know the colour of the ink and how much I have left. Today I was using my Kaweco Sport highlighter with its wide italic nib, but it wasn't as effective as a normal highlighter. I shall persevere with it. Thank you for your videos.

[@beautisk7315]

This was so useful! I was debating whether to purchase the converter due to my recent Kaweco Sport purchase, but after your review, think I’ll give the syringe method a try before purchasing the converter. I bought a purple cartridge pack so will try filling those up upon emptying them. Thanks again for testing the converter out on our behalf! :)

[@tonis6780]

1. the Converter you can use also for nib cleaning 2. cartriges is more extensive as bottle of ink.

[@Elfmain]

I always get your videos on my front page so I assumed I was subscribed... huh, I guess not! I got a converter for my Kaweco sport when I first got it last month and sometimes I use that when I don't want to fill up a pen with too much ink and other times I use the cartridge it came with, so it honestly depends on if I'm in a mood to fill ink sooner. I find that it's really good in my more flighty moods when I'm stuck between using ink A or B. Thank you for the video!

[@ccahua]

Great overview/review, Kerry! How timely, i just popped in this very converter when i found your video. Important note: This converter may not be compatible with Kaweco AL or AC Sport Fountain Pens produced before 2016 which I learned the hard way - included my older black AL Sport and Sport Classic Guilloche, neither fit. Grr!! that feeling when you get the wrong part on unboxing. I wrote the converter off and advised others that it was junk, don't bother. But the latest Coral Collection Edition came in today and after a year in the doghouse pen tin, unused, the piston fit perfectly without jamming. Now the converter gets new life and is so easy and convenient just like you showed instead of reaching for a syringe and cleaning up. There are not many direct syringe fillers like this converter: Conid, Morrison vintage are the only ones that come to mind so this is something special!

[@kaylalyons4461]

Shaking ink for me causes a lot of air bubbles so I like to invert my ink bottles a few times. However, I don’t own any ink that actually benefits from me mixing it up 😂 If I get shimmer or glitter ink you will *definitely* see me vigorously mixing the bottle to mix up all the mesmerizing shiny particulate.

[@MDisaster]

Even with inks like J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor I can get the particulates suspended in the ink with a few gentle twists of the wrist, avoiding bubbles. Though having said that, certain inks, like those J. Herbin ones, seem much more resistant to bubbling than others, such as Pilot Iroshizuku inks.

[@cindyskimmyhorn4779]

It just looks so small and cool. I’m gonna try one. Yes, shaking ink is just a habit I guess lol. Oh and I love your vacuum filler trick, I use it every time.😊😊

[@iliassakalak]

Excellent presentation as always!!

[@billthomas8205]

Great review as always. On the shaking question, I don't shake my bottles, as I don't want to have sediment or gunge clogging up the feed. Not that all inks do sedimentalise (?!), but best to be safe!

[@abrazor]

I use the converter. Compatible cartridges are expensive and refilling cartridges is messy. I can change out the ink as often as I need to whatever I want and to be honest I have not found it to be too little in volume, but I haven't written a tome with the pen anyway, at this size pen it is best for making quick notes.

[@MarcellHobbs]

I own four Kaweco converters. Love the ease of using my bottle inks.

[@marlenyr7121]

Thank you for a clear how-to video. Others I've seen only frustrated me but yours is perfect. I'm just learning about fountain pens and using converters and I'm hooked. I have a beautiful Kaweco sport ftn pen and I got the converter so I can use any ink I want (w/o syringe conv) and I guess I'm doing my small part in not adding plastic ink cartridges to the landfills.

[@jennym8204]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who keeps putting on the cap instead of the body. Thanks for this post. I love my kaweco sports and think I'm giong to get one.

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

I've heard that the cartridges can get loose inside the pen; ending the ink flow. So I'd definitely order the converter.

[@kylehazachode]

I like the non plunger international cartridge converters found all over amazon (twist-style or hooded plunger). They hold slightly more than the official cartridge converter and I can add a tension spring inside my kaweco pens to keep any cartridge nice and secure. Any worn cartridges can be revived by barely melting the end of the cartridge with a lighter and quickly reseating the cartridge back into the pen’s feed.

[@tiantuatara]

I bought the converter when I bought my first Sport (which is an AL Sport and so more expensive). I didn't have any cartridges at the time. Since then, I tend to use cartridges in my multiple Sports because of capacity. Also, since I have more than one Sport, I don't feel like I need a converter for each one.

[@archivist17]

At least it's cute! I just checked what I have in my Sports currently. My 'Skiceline' Frankenpen is eyedroppered. My classic, which I use for red ink, has the cute little converter, which I got cheap. This is because I don't need a large ink capacity, and don't want to leave it too long between changes/cleaning. My third (the inverse of the other Frankenpen) is currently uninked. I have one other converter, which I may use for my Cult Pens Mini. Ftr, I do have a pack of Kaweco Pearl Black cartridges, but don't use them so much, even though I have a few other pens that take Standard International Short. In answer to your question, I always give a bottle a waggle before opening, even though I don't have anything like shimmer.

[@eatmelily]

Thank you, I just ordered this pen, and it will arrive tomorrow. This is the first of your videos that I have watched...I Must say, what a Sweet Kitty!!!!!!, She is Precious....That alone got you a Subscribe from me, LOL....I'm a bonafide Cat person, so it doesn't bother me to hear her playing...Btw, I almost ordered the converter, but I held off because the Pen and clip combo were 23 dollars, and the converter was almost 11.00!!!!!! I just buy a Syringe....Thanks again for the video....

[@MichaelRector]

I am glad I got the converter for my Kaweco Brass Sport. Honestly it is the perfect size for the amount of writing I do. Obviously this is personal preference. I only fill my full size converters maybe half way. I think the only issue I've had with the converter so far is that it occasionally pops out and I have to repeat it. Luckily I haven't had any ink drain into the body of the pen.

[@OdE-ObjectosdeEscrita]

Nice to watch a video on the Kaweco converters. I confess I use mine mostly for display purposes 😀: I like to see them inside my transparent Kaweco Sport when not in use because of how they look. I don't really use them a lot. I prefer to fill with a syringe. There is also a rubber, kind of bulb filler converter, cheaper but holds even less ink inside.

[@TheresaRobertsonLROL]

Lol. I just used my saliva to clean the edge of the section! Then I came across this video. Awesome. I love your videos. I always look forward to your new postings.

[@hellper198]

Yes, I too give my fountain ink bottle a little jostle before filling my fountain pens.

[@jaquelinedeponce5251]

Okay I was to about to throw it away but under a magnifying glass I noticed something blue further inside the ink housing body of the pen. I got an awl from my sewing room and upon insertion out splashed blue ink onto my opposite hand. Apparently someone had inserted a blue ink cartridge backwards and returned it 😂. I managed to pull the stuck cartridge out. I was able to immediately fill up the piston converter with on sepia ink. Voila! I was able to screw the ink housing onto the nib. My $125 dollar manicure was ruined blue ink on my left hand, black pearl on the other and sepia ink on several other fingers 😅

[@vatiammatri2660]

Thanks, this was really helpful!

[@Inazarab]

I like these a lot and I use them in a lot of different pens. I prefer the plunger-type piston to the twist kind. You can get them for $2.50 from Truphae when I found that I got like 8 of them lol.

[@strshooter7399]

I have 2 Kaweco sport that are plastic and 1 recent AL “special” something Sport ~ “Golden Expresso”. I couldn’t be happier. Small ink capacity is just a way of life with these pens unless you eye dropper the plastic ones. I have a fair number of eye dropper pens of several manufacturers. I put a “red” paper dot on the barrel so I always know which pens are eye droppers. Of course, just treat all fountain pens as a eye dropper negates an accidental opening of one and spilling ink everywhere. Open them straight upright with the nib up over a paper plate and you’ll never be sorry. I also turn the ink bottles upside down several times prior to inking. Gently after ensuring cap is on securely. Any pen in your pocket/purse, etc... will bobble around enough to “shake” the ink in a pen, so inverting a bottle’s worth isn’t going to cause issues with the ink (IMO). Nice video 😎

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

I have both and I eye dropper fill a few of them as well. All in all I prefer the eye dropper method as I tend to like to dedicate certain inks to certain pens and when I do use the converter I syringe fill to get the full fill on these tiny little things. Loved seeing your cat! She’s so precious!

[@mhsvz6735]

Thank you for another excellent review! Yes, I shake before filling (great minds think alike).

[@tapio_m6861]

I've been using the converter for a few years now, but now I'm starting to get fed up with it. It's just so fidgety with it being so small. I bought syringes and will continue inking up my pens with those. Hopefully less messy as well.

[@louizelimepips3517]

I shake the ink yes 😁 I like the mini converters. Especially with a full bottle of Diamine 😀 the small ones😀 I just hold the converter in it and hold it in place with left thumb and pull with my right hand. It fills it up fully.

[@autumnjohnson2739]

My favorite guest star ever

[@nelsondcunha3156]

Then is better use the cartridge with that one, if we want more ink in it. Is hard to me to find a long cartridge for my Parker fountain pen and I don't have a syringe yet. Sorry my English is my second language.

[@simonsimons9287]

Not sure if it makes a huge difference but with the converter you are also filling the section with ink so if your pen has run dry it may be worth factoring into our discussion?

[@evelienvanerven5826]

I'm personally considering this one because I don't have very good experiences with cartridges in some of my pens, where it takes over 24 hours of having the pen be stood nib-down before my feed is finally fully saturated. I like to switch inks often and whenever I ink something up I want the feed to be completely dry to prevent watering down the ink. Using a converter like this means that, upon inking, the feed is already saturated and ready to write with instantly. If anyone does have any tips for getting ink to flow from fresh cartridges, please let me know. I'm mainly having trouble with my Waterman Allure, perhaps that's just a quirk of that pen, but it's something I want to have figured out before I get a Sport that doesn't take my SI converter.

[@sathishrao7926]

I bought one only because it looks cute !

[@tadeobiologo]

I have one installed in my favorite SPORT, which is a Navy blue. I don't think it is well suited for filling with emptying bottles.

[@Richard_Barnes]

Am a definite cat person 🐈 I’ve been looking at the AL Sport’s for a few days now. Almost narrowed my choice down. 😂 almost......

[@tiramisucocolands7952]

Does the converter improve the quality of ink flow? I have one with F nib and it's dry as hell.

[@Capozzi3]

Hello! Do you recommend the lilliput or the sport? And why?

[@Annie-lt4bf]

Hello there! Just had a beautiful Kaweco Sport pen for Christmas but the cartridges that have come with it do not fit☹️. There seems to be something inside the body of the pen preventing it closing. Anyone had this issue? If so, how have you fixed it?

[@Symphing12]

I usually shake my inks so as to mix all the components together. I wonder if a plastic Sport can be eyedroppered?

[@jennstns9]

Yes it can. Just use some silicone grease on the threads and it works perfectly.

[@neilspector9221]

Or just use cartridges. You can get a box of 20 Diamine International Shorts for like 9 or 10 bucks. Good Ink, plenty of ink choices. Many companies produce these ink cartridges.

[@maxstuder6477]

I like the converter, but find it hard to fill all the way - so I do it with a syringe. I do not shake my ink bottles. Maybe I should?

[@johnbunyan5834]

Just invert the ink bottles, a couple of times( first checking that the lid is secure ). It is not necessary to emulate Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lot Of Shaking Going On (:- )

[@sajjadhusain4146]

I don’t like using cartridges most of the time, so I was pretty keen on these small converters for my many Kaweco Sport pens. But the ridiculous ink capacity of these converters, half that of the cartridges, and costing $6-$8, is definitely a big let-down. I bought a few of them, and I don’t even use them anymore. I often, not always, shake my ink bottles before opening them for a pen refill.

[@alekana6875]

Does a Kaweco sport pen takes standard international LONG ink cartridges? I mean does a long version of standard International cartridge fits this pen? I'm considering buying this pen, but I would like to use it with Pelikan esentstein ink cartridges. I think they are only in long version. Can you advise me on this issue?

[@cmcasadoiro]

As far as I can tell, they don’t fit, sorry!

[@sofiamelo8980]

❤️🐈

[@cesspresso]

I definitely shake my ink, even when it’s not a shimmer

[@beaconoflight3225]

Comments 3 years on? do you still use it? is it still working? thanks :)

[@kuaraba]

its 8 Bucks, that's not even a question IMO... for a hobby that you can easily drown hundreds of dollars in for fancy pens, 8 bucks is negligible. If that means that you can easily use any ink you want, it's a buy. If we're concerned about cost, we could just use dollar store rollerballs for the rest of time and still be cheaper than ANY fountain pen

[@jonpaul391]

The video messed up at the end for me

[@wilsonfish1340]

You could weigh a eye dropper converted pen to figure how full it is.

[@gabriellef3351]

I can't seem to 1. Get it draw ink up and 2. Get it to fit into the pen where i can screw the base on. Ideas anyone?

[@TonyThimble]

Pens, tea and cat.

[@markemsworth4235]

Is it worth it?....begs the question...worth what?...is it "like" 8 dollars or approximately/roughly or actually 8 dollars?

[@gardnerwebb3749]

Ink shaker from way back.

[@matistysk79]

Hate this converter, U do not get ink enough in the converter. I could only fill it half. It s so tiny so it dont last very long to the next refill. I would prefer they would have a piston system included in the KAWECO sport. I have 2 KAWECO sport pens and I love to write with them. The nibs are so smooth, real pleasure.

[@TheRaginghalfasian]

another video i saw, the dog was lapping water on her video,... thats what our pets do if our children wont disrupt us

[@peppylemon1717]

youll need it when you dont want to use kaweco inks

[@StopFear]

Apparently I just dropped it? What’s so funny?

[@chrisbliss2034]

Kaweco?---- it's a nowayoh! Too ridiculous to comment, though,err, I just did. Invest in s syringe, people. 😄