That's a nice one for sure. Great color. Pilot Namiki makes excellent nibs no matter the price range.
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That's a nice one for sure. Great color. Pilot Namiki makes excellent nibs no matter the price range.
I ordered a set of three Zebra F-701 pens from Amazon the other day for misc EDC use (don't have it yet, but it's the one in the upper pic) then because the ink cartridge that comes with it is not great shakes I ordered several other Zebra and Uni Jetstream refills that can be modified to fit it. I got those from JetPens, and while there I couldn't resist getting a Fisher Backpacker "Space" pen. That one's also a candidate for EDC use. The 701 is a long-time favorite for hard-use and lot of folks have tweaked it in a number of different ways.
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So...I too read about the 701 and the way people hack them. I modified one to fit a Parker G2 cartridge - you've got to pull the plug off the end of the cartridge, and file down the back side of the pen's tip to keep the cartridge from hitting when you push the clicker. When you pull the back plug off the cartridge do NOT ovalize it, AT ALL. It's a tiiiiiight fit in the Zebra, and it works, but not if you ovalize the cartridge. At least, it works on mine. If you don't shorten the tip of the pen the cartridge will either not extend/retract, or it'll stick when you push the button. Oh, and you have to remove the plastic piece inside the tip.
What pissed me off, I got the new 'all-metal' version, the packaging even says 'all metal inside and out' and that effin' thing is FULL of plastic from tip to clicker. There's a plastic piece inside the tip, the clicker mechanism itself is plastic, and there's a plastic tube inside the body. The collar around the clicker and the tip both thread into the plastic tube.
Mostly disassembled
https://i.imgur.com/4sVoQ2Zh.jpg
The plastic tube that's bonded inside the tube.
https://i.imgur.com/zs7SkMJh.jpg
Plastic clicker mechanism
https://i.imgur.com/YBwpaQ1h.jpg
Modified tip to work w/a Parker cartridge. Stock on the left, shortened on the right. FYI that metal is cheap and soft as hell, use a hand file, not a power tool.
https://i.imgur.com/0TM9hhPh.jpg
After filing down the back side of the tip you need to open up the interior a bit too, I used a cone-shaped attachment on a Dremel.
https://i.imgur.com/1UhtGllh.jpg
I use a cheap Lamy Safari when I'm "writing".... works well, has been refilled numerous times with my reusable syringe cartridge. Nib is fine. Noodler's ink looks good on paper. About $35 for pen, syringe cartridge, and ink, all told. I have had it three or four years. Not quite daily use, but I am getting my money's worth if I think about buying a new three pack of such and suches every six months.
Rotring makes a nice ballpoint with very good ink called the Rapid Pro. There is also a matching mechanical pencil conveniently retracts its point mechanism inside.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....L._SL1500_.jpg
Is Dustin really an engineer or a CIA operative?
I have a 500 series mechanical pencil. It is great. I can't remember when I got it but at least 20 years ago. I was terrified of dropping it and breaking off the point, but one day I did actually drop it and the point stuck in the wood floor like a throwing dart. So no worries I guess. But I would like one where the point retracts into the body of the pencil.
Other pens I'd like to add to the collection:
Kaweco Lilliput fountain pen and a Kaweco Sport fountain pen - Lilliput is metal and the Sport is plastic or acetate, but both are cool easily carried pens that are made full size for writing by attaching the cap.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/7...4c76e07514.jpg
https://www.penchalet.com/images/pro...0648-Black.jpg
Spalding & Bros. aluminum pen set - I have the older translucent acetate set, which is nice and a fountain pen from the aluminum line (not the best nib) but this set is cool.
I've been intrigued by the Kaweco, but when I discovered the Pilot Kakuno at 1/2 to 1/3 the price, I kinda forgot about it. very similar on paper and the nib is the same as the low-mid level pilots, which is to say solid, and a little fine for a M nominal, and I don't mind if I lose it at around 11 bucks. I'm sure I mentioned it above (no clip so pocket friendly) and it posts like the little Kaweco's...
https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Kakuno-...ds=kakuno&th=1
Attachment 110932
My father - a Chemistry Professor for years - always had 2 or 3 of these Koh-i-Noor Rapidigraphs in his shirt pocket with a small notebook. Usually one with blue, one with black and one with red ink. His shirts often had ink stains, and there were often sessions spent disassembling things and soaking them in an ultrasonic cleaner and trying to get the hair-thin wire back into the nib without putting a kink in it. They were finicky about the type of ink used, and he was often putting water-proof ink in the pens to make transparencies to go on the overhead projector for his lectures. So you know, failure was inevitable. Did he use the right ink? Did he wear a pocket protector? That's my dad!
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/32/5c...df46a8708e.jpg
Also if you ever come upon an excellent vintage fountain pen of some value, but when you try to write with it, the pen snags and gouges the paper, the nib may have worn (and worn out) into the hand angle of the previous owner. The tips can be out of alignment or even one worn shorter than the other. The nib can be rebuilt almost completely. Well worth it if the pen is a nice one.
if you have some spare cash (quite a lot) consider Namiki in Japan. The bodies are made from Japanese lacquer, and the Maki-e models are highly decorated by hand. They are made to order, and I found the nibs come up a bit finer than expected, so if you like rich handwriting you need to go large.
FYI there's a deal on the Machine Era brass pen on Massdrop right now :: Massdrop: Community-Driven Commerce
I thought I'd mention my latest "favorite thing" discovery - the Schmidt 8127 rollerball cartridge.
All I can say is "wow" - it just about rivals a fountain pen in intensity and line quality. If you think you like gels like the Pilot G2, you owe it to try the 8127. If the 8127 is a bit too wide for you (advertised at 0.7 mm) you can always go with the 8126, which is a teeny bit narrower.
My 8127 came in a Retro 51 Tornado I recently got. See lower link for what Jet Pens offers there. I got the Joker, as a fun "Friday pen" but there are plenty of other neat designs.
Note that the 8127 comes in two lengths, the long "S" and short "P."
Schmidt Capless Refills
Jet Pens - Retro 51
I decided that I like the 8127 so much I ordered a few more refills (given how much ink they put down I don't think they're going to last very long) and I'm going to put one in my Karas Render K, which should be a very easy swap.
https://www.fahrneyspens.com/Galleri...221c-Large.jpg
https://karaskustoms.com/media/catal...l_colors_2.jpg
It's not everyday you see an article about a pen store in the paper:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local...=.74036c20bb47
I picked up a Tactile Turn Glider on sale a little while back, the titanium version. I like it. The first one they sent me was jacked up tho, stainless steel body w/a titanium end cap and some burrs on the bolt. Quick e-mail swap and a few days later I had a replacement that was perfect and I sent back the 1st one.
https://i.imgur.com/E7xwaIq.jpg
Machine Era is updating their brass 'original' pen w/a clip...I'm getting in on the kickstarter for it. Now it won't roll off the table haha
Machine Era | Markup
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/01...g?v=1560195384
That's nice. I have bronze and brass (and Ti and aluminum) Schon Dsgn pens and really love the way the bronze developed a patina. The brass hasn't as much, though I don't use it as often.
Yeah, the brass just sorta darkens up over time, and not drastically (at least mine hasn't yet). Mine when it was new vs recently ::
https://i.imgur.com/W43CYdxl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/f72uIVul.jpg
Got the rollerball version delivered yesterday just in time for 7/4.
https://www.lamyshop.us/media/wysiwy...ge/USA-Pen.jpg
Tactile Turn Movers & Shakers on Drop/Massdrop now. $20 off for the titanium and copper models. I have a stainless Shaker, the one that takes a Parker style refill. I'm getting a copper Mover, the longer version that takes a Pilot G2 cartridge, which I prefer. If anyone is interested in a stainless Shaker....make me a reasonable offer. It's in like new condition.
Here's the drop :: Drop: Passions lead here (formerly Massdrop)
https://i.imgur.com/b8KP5wl.jpg
Tactile Turn has a new bolt action pen out that's the bombdiggidy. I got the full size (fits a Pilot G2 cartridge) in bronze, it's developing a patina pretty quick.
New.
https://i.imgur.com/mavwqxd.jpg
4 days.
https://i.imgur.com/hwajqdp.jpg
11 Days.
https://i.imgur.com/ukXsZ3N.jpg
Article in The Washington Post today about a guy making artisanal fountain pen ink in his shed:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local...608_story.html
Being a total pen nerd and Schon fanboy, I couldn't help but pick up one of his new Pocket Six fountain pens. It's, not surprisingly, excellent and I've enjoyed the odd looks at work when people realize I'm jotting down my notes with a fountain pen.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...00de58a9_h.jpg
I've been carrying a short Tactile Turn bolt action pen around for a few months now. If you want a pocket clip ballpoint/rollerball pen to carry around, it's hard to beat IMO. The clip is beefy and not the usual flimsy pen clip, and it keeps it in place, and it's easy to just quickly shove the pen in your pocket and the clip catches like it should. The bolt action is super fast to deploy (no cap to deal with). All titanium is fairly light. He makes three lengths, all available in copper, bronze, zirconium, and titanium.
Long = fits a Pilot G2 cartridge
Short = fits a Parker style cartridge
Mini = fits a mini Pilot G2 cartridge
Mine is the short, and I cut a Pilot G2 cartridge down to fit in it, and use a different spring. For fitting in a pocket I like the shorter length of the short (the bronze version posted earlier stays at my desk), but I haven't had good luck with Parker and Parker style cartridges. Pilot cartridges always work, and there's lots of sizes and colors to choose from. The mini size is new, and probably even better for carry, but I don't think there's as many color/size options for Pilot G2 mini cartridges, and you can't trim a normal one down to size without spilling the ink.
Bolt Action Pens – Tactile Turn
Depends on what kind of weight you like in a pen. I like a pen with heft and end up using my copper and titanium pens more than any of the others. The aluminum are very light, so if you like a pen with very little weight, that's the way to go. Otherwise, stainless.
Bock #6 . This is my first fountain pen in about 15 years and I had totally forgotten how nicely they write. This one has become my go to.
Chatting to a buddy last night had me reminiscing about my classic silver Rotring Newton ballpoint that I accidentally left with an ex-colleague when I left an old job. When I looked into it later that evening I realised that the value of the original Newtons has gone through the roof.
Suddenly I was buying up a replacement for my ballpoint (I found a good one at a good price on eBay). When that arrives my set of Newtons (Trio, Rollerball, Ballpoint, Tech Pencil) will be worth circa US$1500!
I would like to have less invested but I haven't found anything comparable to my Diplomat. Had it since about 1983. It does work best with dedicated papers. Lined notebook paper just won't do.
Listen up pen eliteistas I could use your advice. (not a joke) I got a free medium'ish rollerball pen with a tire pressure monitoring kit and it's wonderful. Best toss away pen I've ever had.
Suppose you admit to liking a few inexpensive pens and help a slob like me out? Glove up and hold your breath ;)
I have looked at some specs. and it appears that .7 or .8 is what I've got.
Not to sound like a total fanboi (even though I am), Schon Dsgn will have some rollerball converters for his Pocket6 fountain pen body soon. He's been showing them on Instagram. So if you're patient, you could get a super classy and compact pen to fulfill your rollerball dreams.
Muji makes the absolute best gel ink roller ball stick pens invented since forever. I have fancy fountain pens and lovely cartridge roller ball pens from France, Germany and Angleterre, but when it comes to writing I reach for one of these. Nice black ink without skip. They come in 0.5 and 0.7, in translucent plastic so you can see when you are running low on ink.
https://www.muji.us/store/stationery/pen-pencils.html
Faceted copper. You won't even notice the dog nibbles and you'll never want to put it down.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/02...g?v=1597420339
I hate you a little. Mom used to practice Calligraphy. Notes from her were a delight.