Syringes for fountain pens

Now and then, you get recommendations to use syringes to refill your spent cartridges. This usually follows by a string of syringe recommendations that to some extent, is very dangerous and has a disclaimer that says, you put yourself in danger not covered by insurance. How is that so? and what are the different uses for each different types of syringes. In this post, I will have them explained.

First the syringes.  on your left, the insulin syringe, the middle, the cosmetic syringe, and the right, a bigger needle and bigger volume syringe, sometimes used for blood extraction.



















First, the big syringe. This could by far be the easiest to get from some pharmacy, and recommended by some people. I personally do NOT recommend this syringe. Firstly, it comes with a needle point which is very dangerous. To introduce bacteria into your blood stream accidentally while cleaning your cartridge or refilling it is not worth it from any point of view. Besides, this syringe isn't smooth. it will take a sudden jerk to get it moving. In short, control is tough. avoid this even if you have a blunt point needle. if you really must have a needle point syringe, read on.

Add: Needles, why are they dangerous? Aren't they as dangerous as a sewing needle at most?
A sewing needle is a full needle; there is no cavity inside the needle. thus, the amount of bacteria and virus that can hide in the sewing needle is limited and can be cleaned easily. bacteria, fungus, virus like dark and moist places as we all know. new injection needle will be clean, but as we inject new ink and water, there remains the moist in the needle. No one ever clean dry a needle isn't it? Expose to the environment, these living things live and multiple inside the needle. when you accidentally prick yourself, these gets into contact with your blood stream, and they get a fresh supply of nutrients. all hell breaks loose.

Add:28Nov2015: another big con about this syringe is the needle is friction feed. a couple of times of fit and removal is fine, but as it wears, be prepared to get a fountain of ink spilled when you depress the piston, for the force can force the needle out of the syringe due to lesser friction. Thus, do not use this needle!




Followed by the cosmetic syringe. This is a syringe which i recommend for normal users. blunt needle, long needle, and a very smooth syringe with a considerable amount of volume, it fits all purposes and can even the farthest end of your long international cartridges. It is cheaply found at daiso in this volume and a much bigger one, but i find that a little hard to control. Again, this is the type of syringe i will recommend. Why put yourself in danger?












And finally, the insulin syringe. Sometimes, we do really need to put ourselves in danger. As a collector and a researcher for fountain pens, this syringe is actually what i used more often for experimental work.

Why?

Before I answer that, first, this is a small volume, sharp but soft(very very important) needle), and smooth syringe. It comes in long or short needle and can be purchased at most pharmacy stores. It is as dangerous as the first syringe, however, because its needle is much thinner than the first syringe, I actually use to to ensure that the ink i refill into my cartridge or converter is not filled with impurities or ink clog which can harm the pen. This syringe has sucked the impurities and clogged itself, or even manage to bring up an ink gum  which i can flush it out easily. imagine if this impurity goes into the pen feed. I sometimes use this syringe as a preliminary test for pigment inks too although it isn't supposed to conclusive. I usually avoid pigment inks except hero carbon black. That ink won my heart. But i digress....



So, I hope this is helpful.