Writing Type - Fp, Bp, Rb, Gp...

[Kuscer]

Hey guys

I know this is the fountain pen network but a lot of people also own, like and talk about other writing types. So which types do you like and why? What brands and models do you use?

 

Ok, I should probably start. I have owned a few Parker rollerballs but in time they all started to spill when I pulled the cap off. I have two of Parker's ballpoints and the ink flow and quality is really good. But I still use them very rarely compared to my FP's. I have two Parker's, a Lamy Safari Vista, Pelikan's (quite a few ), a Faber-Castell and a Bic fountain pen (I'm looking for a better new one).

 

Please share your thoughts!

Regards,

Dingan

Edited August 23, 2014 by FP189

[PabloAU]

When I'm not using fountain pens, my preference is for ballpoints with Parker-style gel refills (Monteverde, Parker or Visconti refills).

 

I can make good with my Waterman rollerball using a slightly-trimmed Uniball Signo gel refill, but I'm not a fan of rollerballs in general. They combine the drawbacks of liquid ink with the drawbacks of a BP tip - the worst of both worlds...

 

I also have a Fisher ballpoint handy for those times when I need to write on plastic, coated paper, underwater, on the moon, etc.

[casualmerlinconstant]

I've come to the grudging conclusion that sometimes a ballpoint is just more convenient and not an insult to morality.

I still can't stand them for long periods of writing tho.

Lately been thinking of getting a quality bp for short notes.

[Namru]

A pencil.

[Runnin_Ute]

I have a number of Parker bps (45, jotter, latitude,classic among others), two or three Cross bps, 2 Sheaffer Sentinels, a Waterman Hemisphere rb with Pilot g2 refill (perfect fit), 2 Staedtler/Mars 700 technical pens for extremely fine work (< .2 mm), mechanical pencils (P45, P51 Special, other Parker, other brands)

[PAKMAN]

If not using a FP I prefer a mechanical pencil to a ball point. I do have a Pelikan M800 size set of FP, BP, MP and the BP has a Parker gel refill in it.

[casualmerlinconstant]

What's a Gp?

[Kuscer]

What's a Gp?

Gel pen. I kind of made that one up

Edited August 23, 2014 by FP189

[ParkersAndPaper]

Sometimes you just need a ball point. The university where I work still does paper add/drop forms (finally went to on-line registration), these forms have five sheets. Fountain pen just wasn't made for these types of forms. Likewise I often use a ball point to mark in text books. For these tasks I revert to a Parker Jotter with gel refill.

 

For other tasks that require writing, and a fountain pen just isn't practical, I use Ticonderoga pencils or for notes while broadcasting (I work in radio too), I use a mechanical pencil.

[legitimate3]

I use a G2 or Signo 207

[kaissa]

Pilot G2 bold refill, Pelikan Rollerball refill again in bold, Visconti Gel refill, Parker Gel, Parker Quinkflow, Goliath B, MB bold refill and in the very worst case BIC 1.6 mm. I enjoy them all, but nothing compares to FP for me.

 

[Vgimlet]

I love my Pilot G2 pens with XF refills. Before I got into fountain pens those were my go-to pen.

 

I also am quite fond of mechanical pencils, also Pilot, and I have at least 20 of them between here and work. .05 is my favorite lead.

[Tanzanite]

Here is another thread on the subject:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/260137-what-pens-do-you-use-besides-fountain-pens/

[Moshe ben David]

I have all of my fp in carry sets which normally include a bp/rb; the bp in some cases has a gel refill rather than an actual bp refill; the set will also include a mp. I have a thing about the tiny erasers so many mp have, so in those sets I also include a 'stick' eraser like those made by Pentel.

 

Whereever possible, the sets include bp/rb and mp which are matching from the same manufacturer as the fp; e.g., Duofold sets or a Pelikan set. In most cases I've simply matched up pens and pencils which appeal to me in the same carry set.

 

I still prefer using a pencil when I'm doing any sort of calculation, hence the mp. The bp/rb is for when some sort of form is in the offing OR if I'm presented with paper which won't work with the FP OR as a backup if the FP runs dry.

 

Besides Parker and Pelikan bp/rb and mp I have a liking for those made by Retro 51 and also the Caran d'Ache 849 bp.

[BrandonA]

I like fountain pens.

 

I use other pens when fountain pens are not the best choice.

[Lou Erickson]

Sometimes you just need a ball point. The university where I work still does paper add/drop forms (finally went to on-line registration), these forms have five sheets. Fountain pen just wasn't made for these types of forms. Likewise I often use a ball point to mark in text books. For these tasks I revert to a Parker Jotter with gel refill.

 

For other tasks that require writing, and a fountain pen just isn't practical, I use Ticonderoga pencils or for notes while broadcasting (I work in radio too), I use a mechanical pencil.

Have you considered a manifold nib? They were, in fact, made for that job - carbon copies. Modern carbonless copies work the same. If you have an Esterbrook, there are manifold nibs commonly available, and they do work. I've seen manifold nibs on Sheaffers, too.

 

I admit, the most copies I've made with one is three, but there were no problems.

[Davis19942003]

I love all sorts of pens, from fountain pens to mechanical pencils.

 

But I have never used a roller ball pen, are they refillable?

[Kuscer]

Depends; if you buy a really cheap one you can't take it apart to refill because you are expected to rather buy a new pen than to refill it. If you buy a more expensive one (say $25+) you can refill it as many times as you like.

[william2001]

Obviously, I like FP the best, but if I'm not using them, I use a ballpoint.

Ballpoint is cheap (not all, but many) and I don't care if I drop it, crush it, bite it, or... you name it.

-William S. Park

[tinysnail]

If I'm not using my fountain pens, I'll use a Bic Z4+ Roller in the 0.7 size for labelling things (front of notebooks, etc) or Bic mechanical pencils for homework or exams. Love the feel of wood pencils (Staedler, Dixon Triconderoga, etc) but I like the consistent line I get from a 0.5mm mechanical pencil lead. I keep a Fisher Space Pen on me because it was a very sweet gift, but I haven't really been in a spot where I HAVE to use it.