Am I missing something re: piston fillers?

[transknition]

I've had a couple of piston fillers over the years (I remember one being an early TWSBI; not sure about the other), and I really didn't like them. Internal pistons are okay, I have some sort of Noodler's pen with that and it's fine, but I like to write with my pens posted and piston fillers don't seem to go well with that. I'm always worried about turning the piston by accident. Is it just me?

[mmahany]

I've had a couple of piston fillers over the years (I remember one being an early TWSBI; not sure about the other), and I really didn't like them. Internal pistons are okay, I have some sort of Noodler's pen with that and it's fine, but I like to write with my pens posted and piston fillers don't seem to go well with that. I'm always worried about turning the piston by accident. Is it just me?

I think your experience is too isolated . There are plenty of piston-fillers that are nearly impossible to accidentally purge.

Some pens are designed in a way where the cap intentionally acts as a fulcrum when posted (the cap contacts only the piston filling cap). Other pens (Montblanc 149 for example) are designed in a way where the cap only contacts the barrel rather than the filler cap.

My advice: Try some different brands before writing off all piston fillers. There are plenty on the market that avoid the issues concerning you.

[tandaina]

Most of my piston fillers have a blink cap that covers the piston knob, there is *no way* to turn it accidentally.

My pens that don't have blind caps? They don't just turn accidentally, they aren't that loose! A piston filler should move smoothly but should not be so loose that it can be accidentally moved.

[Jon Szanto]

What they said.

[Silverbreeze]

Err just a point
The Original Poster may have a habit of twisting the posted cap while thinking

TWSBI broke me of mine

[Quantum Sailor]

The twsbi mini actually has threads to post the cap on it and it's a piston filler. The 580 you do actually have to worry about it but that's the only pen I've had that had cause for concerns.

[tandaina]

Somehow I missed that. I'd say, stop twisting, that's the easy solution. Play with the cap.

[reprieve]

I love my TWSBI Mini because of its threaded barrel end. It makes posting so easy and secure! My biggest issue is that a lot of pens just don't post securely--the caps fall off of the barrel. But over the years, I stopped posting most of my pens and so it's no longer an issue for me.

To your point, though, I can only say that none of my pens--modern or vintage--have pistons that engage that easily. Even my modern Pelikans, which turn very, very smoothly, require a bit of force to actually engage the piston. Have you had a problem with this? Or is it just something you worry about? If it's the latter, I'd say stop worrying and enjoy your pens! Unless you're twisting the cap on and off pretty forcefully, it's just not likely to happen.

[sharmon202]

I have a Pelikan demostrator I hate, one reason because it twists so very easily, barely touch it.

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

It's a problem with some piston fillers, not with others. Some, like the Noodler's Konrad, have a blind cap specifically so you can't accidentally open up the floodgates of Baystate Blue. I just attempted it (over a sink) with my Lamy 2000 and there was no problem, so some pens are designed so that the posted cap does not grip the piston. Similarly, I have no issues with my Pilot Custom 823: the cap does not grip the piston mechanism nor does it do so in the Pilot Custom 92. Pelikan m200 also safe.

As you say, however, my TWSBI pens all make it easy to purge the pen. My Noodler's Nib Creaper can do it, but only if I really jam on the cap.

So, by my unscientific sample, the only brand with a real issue is TWSBI. Noodler's Nib Creapers can have the issue, but only if I really post the cap tightly. Other posters may be able to comment about other brands of piston fillers which I don't know.

[Lady Onogaro]

It's a good question, though. Few of my piston fillers are postable, save for my Pelikans (M200s and 150s). The caps fit on them so that I don't think I would accidentally turn them. But I can see how it could happen.

[Kaputnik]

I did have that posting problem with my TWSBI ROC 100 (a version of the 540). I prefer to post, but it's easier to remove a posted cap by twisting it slightly, and if you absentmindedly did that the wrong way with the TWSBI, the knob would turn and you could dump a little ink. Plus, it was a bit long and ungainly posted anyway. Haven't used that pen in at least two years, I think.

On the other hand, this is no problem at all on my Pilot Custom Heritage 92, Lamy 2000, Pelikan M205, or even the Reform 1745, all of them piston fillers that are easy to use posted. I've never accidentally twisted the knob this way, and none of them have blind caps.

[Runnin_Ute]

I have a Pelikan demostrator I hate, one reason because it twists so very easily, barely touch it.

I don't normally post, but this isn't the reason. In fact, I was going to suggest a Pelikan because the do post nicely. I just don't do it.

[Jeph]

I am really missing the problem. Most of my pens are piston fillers. I prefer piston fillers over anything other than the Sheaffer Vac (Plunger) and some exotics like the Condid Bulk Filler. The only one that posts such that moving the posted cap can move the piston knob is an old Pelikan 100N with a shrunken cap so it posts on the knob instead of the piston housing as designed. That is only because I am not (yet) to the point where I am willing to modify the cap to fit normally again.

Also, the TWSBI 540 (probably what you are talking about) and 580 were never designed to be posted. You could, of course, but not only does that risk cracking the cap lip but and it also holds onto the piston knob. I still love the TWSBI 580, great value for the money, but I don't post it (at least not on purpose.)

[transknition]

Okay, so it was the TWSBI (540 I think) that was the problem. I actually (before reading the replies here) ordered two TWSBIs -- a 700 Vac and a Mini. You all say the mini posts with no problems. I'd heard that elsewhere, so I want to try it. When I was reading reviews of the Vac it sounded great so I thought I'd try that too.

Thank you all so much for the replies!

[carlos.q]

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[Lady Onogaro]

Okay, so it was the TWSBI (540 I think) that was the problem. I actually (before reading the replies here) ordered two TWSBIs -- a 700 Vac and a Mini. You all say the mini posts with no problems. I'd heard that elsewhere, so I want to try it. When I was reading reviews of the Vac it sounded great so I thought I'd try that too.

Thank you all so much for the replies!

The TWSBI Mini has a really nice posting feature, and if you like posting your pen, I don't think there is a better choice of postable pens for you. I really like mine.

[VertOlive]

When I first got my Mini TWSBI, I messed around a bit too much with the piston end and the dog had blue spots for a while...

[Ian]

The only pen I have that you can expel ink from when unposting is my Visconti Homo Sapiens Steel Age. I discovered it was possible within the first five minutes of unboxing it. Luckily it went all over my hands rather than on my clothes or furniture. I have trained myself to always rotate the cap clockwise while unposting. I use the pen almost everyday at work. It writes beautifully and is built like a tank so I don't have to worry about it getting damaged. If you find a pen you love, it's worth learning how to live with it.