« Microsoft "fix" breaks PCs | Main | The new, improved Bleeding Edge subscription »
April 20, 2006
The best rollerball pen?
What with constantly taking notes and writing diary entries, Bleeding Edge is always on the look-out for the perfect pen. We've been through the expensive Cross/Sheaffer/Mont Blanc phase, and decided that they're really not worth the money. We've tried the Fisher Space Pen (not worth the money), and finally settled on throw-away roller balls. For quite a while we used the Artline series - largely because that's what the Financial Review offered in the stationery cabinet - but found them just a little scratchy.
When gel pens came out, we tried a couple, and although they were beautifully smooth - particularly when writing in a Moleskine diary - they tended to dry so slowly, that the ink often smeared.
A couple of weeks ago, while doing our usual prowl through the pen racks in a newsagents in Chapel St, we came across the Uni-Ball Jetstream. It comes in .7 and 1mm versions,. We bought the thicker one. We've since bought several more. It has our vote as the best pen on the market.
Uni-Ball have used a new solvent in developing the ink for Jetstream pens. Rather than using aromatic solvents which are employed in most ballpoint pens, the Jetstream ink provides what the manufacturers call "new rollerball ink". They say it provides superior "ink lubrication".
What we noticed is that there's much less friction at the ball tip, so the line flows beautifully across the paper.
And because it dries in roughly one second on most paper, it doesn't smear. That will make it particularly popular with left-handers. (We know about things like that because we've got a left-hander in the family.)
The other thing we like about the pen is that the barrel is rubberised, so that it feels very comfortable to grip. From memory they cost about $4.30. The only irritating thing about them is that they're refillable, but the local importers aren't bringing refills into Australia. They say the sales volume doesn't justify it.
Posted by cw at April 20, 2006 11:05 PM
Comments
I find the most comfortable pen to write with is a
heavy one. I bought a Parker once ($14.50) for this attribute, passed it around a room full of women to sign with and it didn't make it all the way back to me, so I only buy cheaper ones now, none of which have any noticable weight. I'll try a Jetstream next time to see how heavy it is.
Posted by: Bonnie at April 21, 2006 10:07 AM
Nice find. Might have to try one when I'm due for a replacement. Always on the lookout for left-hander friendly pens. Don't suppose there's any chance of a left-hander friendly white board marker?
Posted by: Matt Vickers at April 21, 2006 11:26 AM
Left hander friendly books would be nice. My diary has to be a ring bound type so I can get over to the left of the page without bashing the other pages. I also have a Papermate at least 10 years old and still used most days.
cheers, Paul
Posted by: Paul at April 21, 2006 06:32 PM
I've been user a Fisher Space PEn for a couple of years now and I like it. I've got one with a stylus tip on the lid for my PDA. I find it comfortable to write with
I also use a Rotring (that cost a pretty penny) and it's good but it uses very small refills and I tend to go through them quite quickly. But it is a 4-in-1 so I can load it up with two blue refills as well as the pencil and stylus.
Pens are quite a personal thing. I have friends that swear by a particular brand/type that I can't comfortably use and vice versa.
Anthony
Posted by: Anthony Caruana at April 21, 2006 08:44 PM
The best cheap pen I've found is made by a Korean company called Dong-A. I like the Dong-A U-Knock. It's the smoothest inexpensive writing pen I've ever used.
Posted by: Isaac at January 9, 2007 08:24 AM
Has anyone here EVER used a Space Pen to the very last bit of ink (resin?) left in its refill? I've been through 3 or 4 of these and the story is always the same.
They start off wonderfully - black, bold - almost "wet" looking in quality, smooth and creamy to use. About two to four months into it (I don't use it daily but keep it in my pocket for when I need a pen handy like at church or for signing my name) and it starts acting like it's out of ink.
I finally have to draw circles on a page to get it going again - and again, and again and finally, I give up and replace the refill. Each time I do, I break the previous one in half (expecting to see it's empty) only to find the pressurized vessel has another inch of ink left in reserve!
Posted by: Mason Ewell at November 3, 2007 03:25 PM
It's no secret that I love myself a nice writing pen. I often go to pen stores and drool over the $500+ instruments, but when it comes to my personal collection, I like to keep it in the fifty dollar range. When I write, I like to have something pretty in my hand, something a little heavy, but not something that I am afraid of breaking or losing. Fountain pens are my favorite-- I have about four or five each filled with a different color ink. Each day, I choose different one for my work so I can remember what I wrote when.
Anyway, Daly's is my favorite on-line pen shop. (The brick-and-mortar location is in Milwaukee.) The prices are already pretty reasonable, but right now they having a great sale . Also, the customer service is great. When you call, you talk to a real person who will not treat you like you are crazy just because you are in tears over purchasing the wrong cartridge.
I am jonesing for a new pen, but truly, I can't say I deserve one. I have not written 100 words since returning from MacDowell. Sigh. I am not blocked or anything, I have just been ripping and running with the new job, still trying to get my apartment unpacked, recovering from a really aggressive haircut, etc..
But if I were to get a new pen, I would get a Sensa!
Posted by: Diane Howes at November 3, 2007 03:32 PM