Pilot Fountain Pen Converter (CON-70)

For me, the Pilot Custom 743 just may be the perfect pen. Substantially the same design and the same nib of the much-vaunted Custom 823, but with a converter instead of the vacuum fill. I don't want a converter so small that I have to fill it after practically every writing session. Still, to paraphrase a 16th Century Italian playwright, 'One should do with lovers exactly as one does with ink colours*: Have many, enjoy them one at a time, and change often.' The CON-70 strikes the perfect balance between ink capacity and change frequency. It fills just fine through the nib and the button, but I find it less messy and more efficient to fill from an ink syringe (easily found on Amazon; I use a 1" needle). Filling from a syringe can lead to dry starts with cheaper pens or different converters, but with the CON-70 and No. 15 nib of the Custom 743 the ink flows immediately and it always writes like a dream without issue. I've seen some people recommend a different converter for each ink colour to avoid transfer issues. I simply use a longer syringe (3-4" needle that can extend to the very back of the converter, pictured) and completely flush out the nib and converter with water between fills. That can leave small water droplets in the CON-70 that could (in theory) dilute the ink in your next fill; you can either blow it out with compressed air or I just leave it to dry overnight. If you want to refill right away, it will likely be just fine a bit wet, or just have a spare CON-70 in reserve (hence why you are here!) The Pilot Custom 743, paired with the CON-70, more than live up to the hype. Happy writing! *the original quote says 'clothes' here. But it holds true for fountain pens, so Guarini will forgive me.

This was super easy to use in my Pilot Kakuno. I prefer converters to cartridges. It holds a lot of ink, and the ink flows smoothly.

This is the best converter they make

I got the CON-70 to go along with my Pilot Custom 74 and I've been using it for a good few months now. I've decided to write this review in two different sections. Lets start with the cons. Cons (heh get it... cons): - The first thing I disliked about this converter was the price, it feels like too much to spend on a converter - My biggest peeve with this converter has to be its cleaning. Cleaning this converter is such a pain. Any time you want to switch inks, in particular from black to a lighter color, you pretty much have to completely take apart the converter and clean it out. There are a few videos on this process on YouTube you may want to look at when you need to do this for yourself. I've found that just flushing with water a few times will not completely clean it, a soak and sonic cleaner may get the job done without taking the pen apart though. That pretty much sums up my negative feelings on this converter. Now for all the things I love about it! - Its a piston filler!! That alone is a pretty awesome addition to any beginner collection of fountain pens. - It has a massive ink capacity. If this is going to be for your every day writer and you need massive amounts of ink or you just hate refilling your pen then this converter is amazing. - It has a clear base so you can see the amount of ink you have left. I have a love hate relationship with this converter. I love it because its beautiful, big, and fun to fill. My only real problem now that I have it on my pen is that I wont switch colors as often because of the hassle of cleaning out the converter. If you're getting this for a pen that you are going to be using every day and not changing the color on a lot I couldn't recommend this converter enough. If you're going to be changing ink a lot you may want to go with something like the CON-50.

Don't know why some people don't like these. They hold more than regular converters and are quite easy to clean. The push button is easier and clear than twisting the knob on conventional converters. Almost like a Vac fill. Just hold the pen vertical. With the same hand, push the button a few times and you are done. Easier to fill and cleaner.

using with pilot kakuno.... had zero issues. I bought syringes to refill with after reading some reviews saying the pump function doesn't work. mine worked fine. I ended up with quite a few air bubbles in mine. ... but it writes smoothly. far better with my new hongdian ink than the namiki disposable cartridges. I think the problem may also be removed by taking more care when filling it. i.e. making sure the nib is completely submerged... holding the pen either straight up and down, or at a slight angle. relieving the depressor very slowly.... I need to experiment.... I just pumped it 5 times at first and it barely filled it. did it probably 5-8 more times and then I felt one pump with slight pressure that wasn't there before and stopped. it definitely looks full. even if I do wind up having to use the syringes I'd be happy with this set up .. but unless I find out the airbubbles can't be fixed and are an issue I don't think there is anything bad to say. al

The CON-70 converter is the most ink you can put into your Pilot fountain pen (except for piston filler or vacuum filler pens). CON-70 = 1.06 ml Cartridge = 0.90 ml CON-B = 0.62 ml CON-40 = 0.61 ml The CON-70 converter works similarly to a vacuum filler. Pushing the button down pushes the diaphragm down towards the mouth of the converter, and creates a vacuum behind the diaphragm. Near the end of the stroke, the diaphragm breaks contact with the interior walls of the converter tube, causing whatever in front of the diaphragm to get sucked back behind the diaphragm. When it's installed in the pen, and the nib is submerged in the ink bottle, it will cause some of the ink to get drawn up behind the diaphragm. Pushing the button down quickly (and then releasing it) three to five times will get you a nearly completely full filling. A little bit of air will always be there, but it should be less than a 5th of the total volume. I use mine in my Pilot Silvern pen; that pen comes with a CON-40, but you CAN put a CON-70 in it...as long as you remember to point the nib up before screwing the back of the pen back on. It's a little bit too long for that pen, and the button gets pushed in just a little bit. But since air rises to the top of a liquid, only air and some bubbles will come out of the nib. Just wipe it off, and write on.

Its awesome how much ink this can hold but i bought a Pilot metroploitian a day after thinking im gonna put this in that pen. Oh no. It dosent fit in alot of pilot pens. Im sorry Pilot but its, man i cant come up with a word that wont get censored. Its ridiculou/confounding that we have this Con-70 or the Con-40, so Super big or Super small! You know there's in-between sizes? They had the Con-20/Con-B and discontinued it. Which held way more the con-40 and fit in everthing. "Ugh!" Just make sure its compatible with your pen and look up the Con-40/Con-20 situation. So buyer beware. It will fit in a Kakuno and i love it in that pen.