Another pen suggestion thread...

R

Robert Marotz

Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Messages
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I've read some of the pen threads here before to see what might suit me, but never really got a clear picture of what would do the trick.

I don't really have much opportunity to try out good pens, just cheaper ones I can find at bookstores and the like for the most part.

Anyways, I'm a university student and do a significant amount of writing in my everyday life--classroom and outside. While I can get by with a cheapie, I would prefer something that I can carry with me in my pocket.

The biggest thing is comfort, followed by smoothness. I do around half of my writing in Chinese and I really hate big globs of ink or constantly scribbling to ensure that I get ink on the page. Of course I also hate having pens bleed all over the paper in an attempt to be "smooth." With the amount of writing I do, it is hard to avoid cramps and stuff but it would be nice to minimize the discomfort.

However, I also want it to be light and slim enough in the pocket that it isn't a burden to carry everywhere. I already have a lot of things clipped to and resting in my pockets, they're crowded enough. That probably rules out a decent fountain pen, though I'm not sure.

I'd like to spend under $40 too. Anyone know what the right pen for me is?
 
Originally posted by Robert Marotz
.....and I really hate big globs of ink or constantly scribbling to ensure that I get ink on the page. Of course I also hate having pens bleed all over the paper in an attempt to be "smooth."
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Originally posted by Esav Benyamin
Fisher Space Pen Ink Refills fit both of them.
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Sorry guys, but the Fishers are notorious for seepage. Can't blame them as it's inherent in the pressurized cartridge design. Of course, with as much writing as he claims, it might not be an issue if it's in use constantly.

The smoothest ball point, with a large capacity cartridge is made by Lamy, the Broad (don't get anything else) M16. Their Safari line is lightweight plastic with a triangulated grip for all day comfort. And under $20.

I know that Sal Glessar is a big fan.

http://www.lamyusa.com/

212.jpg
 
I've found that legitimate Fisher Refills RARELY have this problem, and even then, it goes away in a week.

However, the EVERSHARP/DIPLOMATS have this problem in spades.

Fisher Pen Chrome Bullet all the way.
 
I suggest you look for a pen that takes Parker ballpoint refils, you can find them at stationary stores, department stores, etc. try some out and find one that seems strong and feels good, or you may want to buy a cheap one just to try out the refils.

There are a lot of refils that fit Parker pens and a lot of pens that take Parker refils.

The original Parkers are very good as are their refils, Inoxcrom refils from Spain are good and cost less (don´t know if they are common in the U.S. though).

Fisher pressurized refils will fit with an adapter that usually comes with them.

Parker makes gel ink refils that fit, I haven´t used them, but in general I don´t like gel.

Edited to add:

Years ago I had a Fisher bullet which was stolen, looked for a new one but only found a copy that takes Parker refils, I´m using that one with Fisher refils and adapter.
 
I'll suggest getting a Sensa. I draw maps 8 hrs a day 5 days a week... and simply put, I don't work with out my Sensa pencil.

If your writing for long periods of time this is the pen for you. It uses space pen ink. I wish I could find something better (I don't like the ink buggers my space pen gets) but I'll live. And hey if I need to use a good pen I have a Rotoring fountain pen.

The only thing I want to point out they work best if you hold the pen like we were all taught in school.

You can find them cheap on ebay and as close outs for $30ish.

Get the Sensa and you'll thank me.

Later
Brian
 
Pilot


The only pens i'll use...I've got some watermans and parkers but you can't beat the pilot for smooth writing...i've been using it for years and will not use anything else for my exams...

I really want to use an expensive pen but i just don't think it'll be as smooth as my pilots...i buy 'em in 10packs...

I can imagine myself in a scene of A Beautiful Mind giving Mr. Nash a cheapo pilot pen...that would be hilarious...i could even afford to give him a ten-pack...
 
I too find that Fisher refills are not very smooth. I've gotten rid of mine, in pens that will take other cartridges.

Joe
 
Thanks so far for the suggestions, keep them coming!

Some background info...

It's not that I am writing 24/7, but I do write for at least 1-2 hours every day, usually longer and in long stretches. In-class essays and Chinese writing assignments can be tough like that, and certain classes require a rediculous amount of notes (and I'm a sparse note-taker!).

In traditional Chinese, some characters are "annoyingly" complex, implementing more than 20 strokes. This is a bit of a departure from standard Roman characters, where E is an example of a "complicated" character (using at most 4 strokes, usually 3 or sometimes 2). When writing those complex Chinese characters (want an example? Look up the character "wan" in Taiwan), a little glob or bleeding can turn 4 close strokes into a black unreadable blob! Granted my handwriting isn't that much better, but still legible :D

When I write, usually I am trying to make the characters fit into college-ruled paper. I used to have a medium point Pilot G2 gel pen that worked OK, but was a little bit bleedy and didn't really offer significant smoothness over, say, a Bic (gasp, shock, horror). I used one of those PhD multifunction things and found that it was bulky and not particularly well suited to any of its functions.

I was a little worried this would quickly fill up with bullet pen suggestions, even though I've read numerous times that they are less than stellar for writing ability (sorta like people recommending Spyderco knives in an art knife thread...). I may get one sometime but I don't know if it'll really be suitable for my writing needs.

I've been curious about the Sensa as well, I have some cheapie promotional pens that are ripoffs on some of the Sensa designs and have cushy rubber grips. I find that they're ok but not really good enough pens to warrant carrying around when my techniclick writes just as well and with better point control.

I mean I *can* get by with Bics or just a mechanical pencil, but I don't really want to for reasons of comfort and writing quality.
 
Originally posted by Robert Marotz
I was a little worried this would quickly fill up with bullet pen suggestions, even though I've read numerous times that they are less than stellar for writing ability (sorta like people recommending Spyderco knives in an art knife thread...). I may get one sometime but I don't know if it'll really be suitable for my writing needs.
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Ya, I agree, that's exactly where you are. You can either filter out the Fisher suggestions (again, I agree that there are much smoother choices), and maybe hunt down a pen forum as well.

I like space pens, they are "good enough", and writing at any angle is useful, but not for your purposes.

Joe
 
Originally posted by Robert Marotz
In traditional Chinese, some characters are "annoyingly" complex, implementing more than 20 strokes.
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I know quite well the pains of writing Chinese. Good thing my parents moved to the US from Taiwan (so I KNOW how much of a PITA Wan is). Roman alphabets are just so much easier on the hands. :p
Originally posted by Robert Marotz
When I write, usually I am trying to make the characters fit into college-ruled paper.
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OK, you'll loose some smoothness by going to the Medium from the Broad point, but it'll fit in College Rule.

I've tried lots of different ball points in my career, and it's real hard to find one that beats the Lamy M16's. The only one I like better than the Lamy is the Caran D'Ache inserts. Not sure who makes it for them, but it's almost gel like. Just too bad they don't last as long as the Lamy's.
 
Robert,
I believe that Sensa has a new line of cheaper pens you should be able to find them at a store like Staples. Don't know how they are but they have a demo model.

For me the magic in a Sensa is how it feels in the hand, not top heavy and the soft grip allows my fingers to twist the pen and not cramp up. By trade I a draftsman and by education and emploment I'm a cartographer. In fifteen years I've used lots of differant writing instruments and this is the one I buy for family and friends.

As for the space pen ink you can find fine points.

Do some research in the pen forums they should be able to give you some direction.
 
Hey Robert,

May I suggest a pilot "varsity?" It's about 3 dollars at a campus bookstore/grocery store, is a genuine fountain pen, yet is disposable.

VERY cool, I've only had one for a few days now, but am extremely impressed. Very fine lines, very smooth, little down pressure required, cheap, very functionable.

And I feel your pain, I'm in my second year of chinese. I'm trying to go engineering, so a foreign language isn't really required for me, but I thought, hell, I'm chinese so I might as well speak the language. And of all the classes I'm taking, mandarin-the not required one, is by far the most demanding. Go figure. ;)
 
Originally posted by tonyccw
...my parents moved to the US from Taiwan (so I KNOW how much of a PITA Wan is)...
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Hey. Shut the hell up.

My last name is Wan.

Not the same 'wan,' but taken out of context it was kinda funny. ;)
 
Originally posted by Midget
Hey. Shut the hell up.

My last name is Wan.

Not the same 'wan,' but taken out of context it was kinda funny. ;)
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Actually, now that I see your response, maybe it was the same Wan

:) :) (sorry, too easy to resist!)

Anyway, I've tried some refills for my multi-pen recently. Multi-pen refills are tiny and notoriously scratchy, but I recently found some refills that are really smooth. I'll check them out, but I think they're Lamy multipen refills.
 
Does anyone have experience with the Rotring 600? I was "this" close from buying the old version ballpoint for $32 but changed my mind at the last minute and got a 5 pack of Pilot G2's for $3 shipped on ebay.
 
Originally posted by mistakaroo
Does anyone have experience with the Rotring 600?
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I found Rotring BP's to be on par with Parker's offerings.

By old version, did it have knurling in the grip area?
 
you might want to try the rotring core fountain pen. i've used mine for a couple of months now and it is the easiest pen i have to write with(in-class essays, note-taking). the ink flows readily so that i can write for hours on end without feeling my hand cramp up at all, unlike some of the cheaper ballpoints. you should be able to find them online for $18-20 and they look VERY cool. mine is a medium nib and it write chinese characters perfectly, but depending on the size of your writing, you may want to get the fine nib model. happy hunting.
 
Originally posted by tonyccw
I found Rotring BP's to be on par with Parker's offerings.

By old version, did it have knurling in the grip area?
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I believe so. They're so rare these days.
 
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