I need a good ballpoint, which one??

I like Cross Pens, and carried the Morph for awhile, it just didn't fit my hand very well, also I MUCH prefer a click top, why I carried jotters and Dr. Grips for so long. As far and made it the USA goes I'm with ya there the only foreign pen companies I like are Waterman (France, and prob my favorite overall) and Lamy (German, kinda like the Porsche of pens, and the do work great, especially if you want a multi-pen) other than that I like Parker, Cross, and Sheaffer.
 
I'm pen poor, but they seem to propagate prolifically around here. The Lamy 2000's are nice and I've several of the different models.. pencils, fp's and the multi pen. You may want to consider the limited edition wood 2000- very nice solid and beautiful pen. Someone made mention of the Caran d'Ache...here are some great pens too. Check with Arthur Brown Pens in NYC and ask about the Caran d' Ache bp's they have for (it seems $12). Lots of different colors and their goliath refills go and go. I like giving them to friends as it gives me a chance to order different colors to see the ones that are going to join my herd! best wishes
 
I like the looks of the Caran d'Ache, how big are they? I want a pen at LEAST as big as a Waterman Expert, or I could stand one the size of a Parker Sonnet if I really liked it, are the Caran d'Aches that good?? Also do their refills outlast a Parker? Thanks for the good info guys, I really want a GREAT all day bp, but don't want to buy one of everything on the market to find out which one I like, that's what makes this site so great, get to learn the opinions of others before spending money on items that can be expensive and you may not like after buying.
 
Mr. Spydiefan, The Caran d'Aches really are a good deal....made in Switzerland and metal (aluminum?). Maybe not as big as your looking for, but try one with a broad refill or drop a line and I'll put one through for ya to try. They are sweet and a bargain. Best wishes.
 
Daniel said:
I prefer the Parker refills-rollerball and the gel ball refills. You won't believe how smooth they write.
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No question that rollerballs writes smoother than ink, but I think he's after ball points.

If you like the feel of a Lamy, you should try a Dupont or a Dunhill. They have similar balance and heft.
 
402 was the model that Neo showed. And that's what I have. For the money (3.99), it is much more durable and reliable than other low end ball points I've owned. The stainless steel barrel feels solid. And the clip doesn't stretch the way my Parker Jotterball did leaving me without a solid clip to my dress shirt. That said, unless you have a need to write on nonpermeable paper, I'd switch to rollerball. It's been said before, but just let me repeat. When writing checks, oil based inks present a risk to the check writer that their checks may be "cleaned" that the water based inks to do not. Oil based inks means ballpoint. Waterbased inks mean rollerball (or fountain if that is your preference). In any case, the Parker Sonnet Premier is my writing instrument of choice, less than $80. Brass frame, laquered finish, gold plated, it's stylish, durable and feels good in your hand. Goldspot and Penwa are good choices for dealers. I went with Goldspot because they provided faster customer service. But, hey whoever gets back to you faster.
Below is the Parker Sonnet Premier in green, $70. For a laquered finish, also comes in blue, black and red. Ballpoint? If inexpensive, zebra, o/w, I put the ballpoint version of the Sonnet premier below the rollerball. Go rollerball.

Kref

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Please explain more about checkwashing, my first hearing of it. Also, what is non-permeable paper. Isn't a GEL PEN impossible to get off surfaces once on? I can get a Parker Gel for a Sonnet or a Sensa, just curious, I also thought ballpens were permanent.
 
are typically found in ball points, that when you write a check, they can remove the ink with a solvent and then forge over the the check. Whereas with waterbased ink as is usually in a rollerball or fountain pen, this isn't possible. I don't know about gel based inks. The advantage of ball point is obviously it doesn't dry out the way a rollerball wlll if you leave the cap off. Most people think a fountain pen or rollerball writes smoother however.
 
Krefcenz said:
I don't know about gel based inks. The advantage of ball point is obviously it doesn't dry out the way a rollerball wlll if you leave the cap off. Most people think a fountain pen or rollerball writes smoother however.
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Real easy answers here. Gel is the intermediate between the ball point's oil based paste and the rollerball's/fountain pen's waterbased ink. The idea was to suspend the ink in gel so that it doesn't evaporate as readily. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how permanent gel based ink is.
 
Sorry guys, I'm just a bit confused, I know fountain pen and rollerball is water-based, ballpen is oil and thick, I don't have much experience with GEL. Rollers and fountains are definately smoother than a ballpen and I much prefer a fountain to others and regularly used them at home, have never really gotten into rollers but have a few. However, I usually end up using a ballpen due to convenience: no cap to fool with, no worry about splitting and expensive nib, etc. and long lasting refills. I'll tell you fountain and roller guys a trick that actually makes using a ballpen bearable, if you're using a pen that can be ordered with a broad refill, get it. I've used lots of Parker and Cross broad refills and the difference between them and fine or med is like night and day as far as smoothness is concerned, also it leaves more ink on paper so it comes closer (but no cigar) to making the print look like it was written with liquid ink.
 
I just ordered a chrome Fisher Bullet with clip, when it gets here I'll let you guys know what I think of it. I bought it just bc I've always wanted one as a novelty, it's not what I want for EDC. I've gone back to my Dr. Grips (just wish they didn't have that soft section and took bigger refills) for ECD for the time being, I think I'm going to get a Lamy 2000 or a Parker Sonnet or another Waterman Expert, I just can't decide btn these three.
 
I don't know anything about Lamy so I won't comment. If you do go Sonnet, be sure to get the Sonnet Premier and not just the regular Sonnet. You can tell the difference by the wide cap band on Premier (see pictures above). Expert is great also. Have held both. A couple of great choices.

Kref
 
i dont use expensive gold and silver pens , if you do this is not the post to be reading. i use pilot pens. pilot v5 is in my pocket from when i leave my house to when i settle down.
 
I've been doing some reading on check washing and have since switched back to carrying my Pilot Dr. Grip GEL with the G2 refill. BTW I've done some psedo-scientific testing on washing ink myself, just playing around. Water will wash out rollerball and SOME fountain pen ink, Parker Permanent held up just fine to water. I even tried soaking some writing in Clorox 2, guess what happenend, all the ballpoints washed away, as did all the fountain ink I tried but Parker Permanent. Oh and Pilot G2 held up just fine also. Does anyone know about just HOW permanent Parker fountain pen ink is, Also what about Cross ink (esp. cartridges) Don't have a Cross fountain YET. I want to try some Noodlers ink in a fountain (it is supposed to be PERMANENT on paper) but I haven't been able to wash Parker permanent fountain off yet, nor Pilot G2. Any chance a G2 would fit in the big Lamy? I'm losing my faith in ballpoints, even my beloved fishers washed away in clorox 2.

Anyway, would like to know more about Parker and Cross cartridge fountain pen ink and Noodlers ink (I'm now thinking of buying a 2000 fountain instead of ballpoint (will a G2 fit a Lamy 2000 roller or bp?) and filling with Noodlers).
 
Okay Doc..to be.......! Your gona own one someday anyway- trust me!
BUY yourself a MONTBLANC rollerball. YESSSSS, I know.....they're pricy. But, heres the deal................A secret, I didn't even know. The refills are MADE IN GERMANY...........THEY LAST forever....it seems. I'm in sales- and have had mine for 5-years. NO......don't get me wrong. I have bought and replaced refills.....since. But, they do last MUCH-MUCH longer and you get 2-refills for about $9.00 bucks at Staples or Office Depot. The rollerball sells for about $125.00. Oh- thats without insurance. Okay- well good luck. I have OWNED Cross and many of the other JUNK out there..........MONTBLANC is the way to go! Remember- the Pen is Mighty-er then the Sword!
 
Right now you can get made in Germany Twist top Titanium coated Fisher Space Pen on ebay. They fit all your requirements; nice and fat, but not too fat, twistie with a clip, good pressurized ink cartridge and finger grooves for a grip. And the going rate is about $20.00 right now. Bought one and liked it so much I just bought a second, which should be here in a couple of days. Hustle, though, they're out of production.
 
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