a standard ink cartridge - a new twist

there is an age old question, how can i refill my standard ink cartridge and reseal it back just it like came out of the factory?

over the years, a couple of solutions appeared, from super glue, to hot glue, blue tack, plasticine, scotch tape or plainly, forget it.

in comes the most unforseenable hero, one which i had by purely only grace and mercy from the LORD that i could have observed, the daiso ink cartridge.

granted, the daiso pen is famous enough. it cheap, it is smooth, it is good and it looks like and is a fountain pen. but every one though very lightly of the cartridge. even me.

however, this cartridge could be one of the few rare cartridges that can be totally dismantled and assembled back again. this means, you can take the ball out, seal it from the inside, add ink and seal the back again. all without any external aids to keep them in place.

this is getting naggy, so just according to the number for the instructions to do so. and enjoy! :)

 1) ah, the famous daiso pen...



2) but did you realise that the cartridge is even more fascinating? on your left is the standard boring cartridge, on your right, the daiso cartridge. notice anything different?
 

3) now do you observe something? no?
 

4) how about this....
 

5) this cannot be any more clearer....
 

6) now, to fully dismantle the cartridge, this tool is very important. just insert and push.
 

7) or, a pen knife will also do the trick by inserting it in from the rear break lines and push. but i don't really like this method.
 

8) to assemble, put the ball in again, and push it in until you feel a click. that click is important, it means it is seal. pour your ink into the rear, then cap it back. 1 new cartridge reporting for duty. with your choice of ink. how about putting stormy grey into it? 
 
9) now, the special tool in question, it comes from a standard staple. see the part that supports the string ? the metal rod came from there.

So, what can you do with this? How about filling it with your favourite jherbin ink, carry it on airplane and fly around the world without a care for bottles or leakages or even losing the cartridge?

 Or keep your ink samples as such? :)


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(update : 29/Jul/17)

daiso has changed their fountain pen and their ink cartridge, and it is with a heavy heart that i announce that the sealing is no longer possible. it can still be disassemble, but the ball can no longer keep the ink behind when you seal it from the back. in theory, you can still seal it from the front, but that leakage also means that any shaking can force the ink out from the front again.

to differentiate, look at the length of the neck. the longer one is the new version which cannot seal.