Another pen suggestion thread...

Originally posted by Robert Marotz
Some background info...

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.
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Robert,

Have you thought about technical or drafting pens. Although I EDC either a Rotring S600 or Itoya ZooM, I've been using Rotring Rapidoliners and Koh-I-Noor Rapidographs for my artwork and for most of my everyday writing for the past decade. Both are refillable (but the Rotring is much easier and cleaner), available in different point sizes and very precise. The finer the point, the less likely it will bleed. I prefer a .18-.20 mm point for writing. It's been my experience that heavier paper stock (25 lb.+) tends to resist bleeding and blobbing but don't know if they still make college ruled loose leaf that heavy. If you would prefer disposables, Sakura Pigma Microns are inexpensive and come in different point sizes and colors.

Dayuhan
 
For several years now my main "desk" pen and stylus have been a Sensa Classic Carbon and a Sensa Zephyr Venetian Blue. (I do far more writing on my Palm than on paper these days.)

I prefer something less bulky for carrying around, so I prefer multi-pens for that. I have finally settled on a Monteverde Carbon Fiber Quadro fitted with pressurized Fisher multi-pen inserts (black and red), a Rotring stylus insert, and a .5mm pencil. Strangely, I get better writing performance from the Fisher multi-pen cartridges than from the full-sized cartridges that fit the Sensas, which tend to skip and blob a lot more. Wish I knew why!

Recently I've switched from the Sensas to the PenAgain Ergo-Sof, a very strange pen that is designed for pure ergonomics. It took me a day or so to get used to the thing, but now that I have there is nothing else that comes close for simple comfort, even the Sensas. I have one for a pen and one for a stylus.



For the sort of writing you describe I would suggest a PenAgain with a broad Fisher insert.

On a different tack, I also love fountain pens. Although I haven't found any with outstanding grips, the smoothness of their writing does help compensate. And, let's face it, they're just plain fun to write with. :) I've had very good luck picking up some good, but not collector-level, fountain pens on eBay.

--Bob Q
 
I have an original Rotring 600 RB that I absolutely love. The only thing is that I also like a thin BLACK line. So I use a MontBlanc fine black refill with about 1mm shaved off of the shoulder of the tip end and about the same cut off the plastic tip in tail end of it. It's smooth, thin, BLACK and sturdy. (I'm out in the field a lot, and I was afraid of even dropping my Meisterstuk RB on gravel, much less pavement.)
 
That PenAgain is an odd critter. Is it possible to write quickly with it, or is it better for the kind of slow measured writing you use a fountain pen for?
 
I'll concur with the "odd critter" statement. It is very intriguing, but still looks freakin weird.

What other kinds of refills would fit in one of those PenAgain things? I'm reluctant to go with pressurized carts.
 
The PenAgain takes standard multi-pen refills, so you can put just about any kind of cartridge you like in it.

Despite the strange looks, you hold it and write with it just like a regular pen. The difference is that it requires almost no force to hold or manipulate. It works very well for quick writing.

--Bob Q
 
Another vote for Rotring 600 RB. I've been using Itoya refills which are very smooth, very thin, and very cheap.
 
Originally posted by Joe Talmadge
Yes, exactly! Must ... have ... one
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I ordered one of those funny lookin things, purely out of intrigue and curiosity. Was simply too hard to resist! :D

My search isn't over yet, but I'm happy that I finally purchased something.

I spent like 40 minutes at my university's bookstore today browsing around the pens. Lots to choose from, but sadly none of the pens suggested here were to be found. Didn't really dig up anything that really struck me, but there wasn't much here in the $5+ category.

I've thought hard about fountains and stuff but many are simply very bulky, a trait that I am not terribly interested in with my already-cluttered pockets. Of course, I did buy that PenAgain thing...:footinmou

The search continues!
 
You just can't beat the old style Rotring 600. The Parker Gel refils work great if you don't like the ball point. I have several Mont Blanc's that just sit in a drawer since I got my Rotrings. They just feel great, are balanced well and are the perfect kuboton in a pinch. Slim design and fit perfectly in your pcket without taking up a ton of room. A guy by the name of Torsten Schrage sells them from Europe on eBay. Typically around $20 plus shipping. I have purchased 2 sets for myself and one for my father from him and no problems at all.

Torsten Schrage Email : TorstenSchrage@t-online.de
 
My EDC pen is a no-name aluminum barrel multi-cartridge pen bought at the Sharper Image for around $35. The 4-in-1 pen came with 0.5 pencil, blue ink, highlighter (orange), and a plastic tip stylus (for PDAs). I have since substituted a black ink cartridge (Fisher) for the highlighter. The barrel is knurled near the tip. It just about covers all of my daily needs. I have seen a similar--if not identical--pen being sold at Radio Shack in the PDA accessories area for under $20.

I sometimes supplement the above pen with a Pilot G-2 07 (Black Gel Ink) for signing documents--makes a nice bold statement. It's light and replacement cartridges are easily found and reasonably priced.

I also have Watermans (the Edson is to die for) and numerous gold-plated Crosses (even one with a small BMW badge that used to be my favorite). But they're mostly for show. However, many LEOs carry Cross pens for its secondary function.

Here's my recommendation on an important feature to consider when buying your EDC pen: If you see the benefits of a one-hand opening pocket knife, then you should also see the benefits of a one-hand operating pen. Necessary? No. Convenient? Yes. I hope this helps.
 
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