Every STEX fountain pen comes with a converter (Schmidt, or Kaweco on the pocket-size 100C), so you can fill it from any bottle of fountain pen ink, and it also accepts standard international cartridges for travel. Here is how to do both, cleanly, the first time.
What you need
- Your pen, with the barrel unscrewed from the section (the part that holds the nib)
- A bottle of fountain pen ink
- A paper towel or soft cloth
Before your very first fill, flush a new pen with a little clean water to rinse out any manufacturing residue: draw water up with the converter, push it out, and repeat two or three times.
Filling from a bottle with a converter
- Push the converter firmly onto the section, if it isn't already fitted. It should seat fully, with no gap.
- Twist the converter knob so the piston moves all the way down, towards the nib. This pushes out the air.
- Dip the nib in the ink until the whole nib, and the breather hole in the middle of it, is under the surface. Hold the pen upright.
- Slowly twist the knob back the other way. The piston rises and draws ink up through the feed into the converter.
- Lift the pen out, hold it nib up, and turn the knob a fraction forward until a drop or two returns to the bottle. This clears air bubbles and fills the feed.
- Wipe the nib and section with a paper towel, then screw the barrel back on.
You'll usually get a converter about two-thirds full. That's normal. To get more ink in, repeat steps 2 to 5 once more.
Using a cartridge
- Remove the converter by pulling it straight off the section.
- Take a standard international cartridge (short or long) and push its narrow end onto the section's spike with a firm, straight press. You'll feel the seal give.
- Screw the barrel back on.
- Hold the pen nib down for a minute, or write gently on scrap paper, until ink reaches the tip.
Keep a spare cartridge in your bag when you travel, and keep the converter safe at home for when you're back with your bottles.
Converter or cartridge: which is better?
| Converter | Cartridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Ink choice | Any bottled fountain pen ink | Limited to cartridge colours |
| Cost per page | Lower | Higher |
| Mess | A little, while filling | Almost none |
| Best for | Home, desk, trying inks | Travel, quick swaps |
If the pen won't write
- It's new or hasn't been used for a while: dried ink may be blocking the feed. Dip just the nib in water for a minute, then try again.
- Ink skips on the downstroke: you may be holding the pen rotated. Keep the nib's engraved side facing up and write at a comfortable angle of roughly 40 to 55 degrees.
- The line is faint: the converter may be mostly air. Turn the knob gently forward until ink beads on the nib, then wipe.
- Still nothing: flush the pen with water, as described in our fountain pen care guide, and refill.
Travelling with a filled pen
Changes in air pressure on a plane can push ink out of a part-filled pen. Either fly with the pen completely full or completely empty, keep it nib up in your bag, and uncap it nib up after landing.
Next steps
Not sure what ink to put in it? Read choosing ink for a metal fountain pen. New to fountain pens altogether? Start with your first fountain pen. Or browse the STEX fountain pens, each fitted with a Schmidt nib and converter.
Questions people ask
What cartridges fit a STEX fountain pen?
STEX fountain pens accept standard international cartridges, short or long, which are made by many ink brands and sold widely.
How often do I need to refill a fountain pen?
It depends on the nib and how much you write. A converter typically lasts several days to a couple of weeks of everyday writing; a broad nib uses ink faster than a fine one.
Can I mix different inks in a fountain pen?
Don't mix inks of different brands in the pen. Flush the pen with water before switching to a new ink.
