Parker Gel Refill

[pvector]

How is the Parker Gel refill? Length of writing? Smooth? Smudges? Thanks for the info, parker regular refills are getting expensive for poor student like me.

[dennis_f]

As it happens, I'm currently holding a parker black BP refill in my hand, and I have one each of the Parker Blue BP, Blue gel, and Black gel refill in pens right in front of me as I type this.

 

The gel refills tend to run out much sooner than the ballpoint refills. In the amount of time that I go through one ballpoint refill, I'll go through 3 or 4 of the gel refills... so if you're looking to save money, the BP refills are more economical.

 

As for line quality: I haven't tried the .5 (fine) gel refills, but the medium refills (.7) are a bit smudgy... though this is typical for a gel refill.

 

And colour: the blue gel refill matches the blue BP and blue RB fairly closely. It's a bit more saturated, and therefore appears darker.

 

The black gel refill is a true black unlike the BP refill which appears more grey, and the BP is glossier when dry. However, the BP refill has a bit more shading to the line, whereas the black gel is solid. I find the BP refill is a bit easier on the eyes than the gel refill.

 

Hope this helps,

D.

[kaissa]

How is the Parker Gel refill? Length of writing? Smooth? Smudges? Thanks for the info, parker regular refills are getting expensive for poor student like me.

 

Parker gel refills last for about 600 meters. A regular or the new QuinkFlow refill lasts for 3500 meters so they are more economical. QuinkFlow writes smoother than a regular refill and costs the same but nowhere near as smooth as a gel. Caran d'Ache's Goliath refills last for about 8000 meters which makes it the most economical. It is a smooth writer but less smooth than a QuinkFlow. I bought mine for $6,75 so not the cheapest to buy but cheapest in the long run.

 

Regards,

[nxn96]

Over time, I've used many Parker bp, gel and rollerball refills, and have found the gels to be the overall best in terms of writing quality. As others have noted, the gel refills run out much faster than do the bp refills, but seem to last longer than do the rollerball refills (and don't have the "blop" on the paper that rollerball refills often do).

 

While I think the Parker gel refills are pretty good, I wouldn't say they're the reason to buy a Parker over another type of gelpen. I use them because I like Parker pens and happen to have a number of vintage Jotters, various cap-actuated pens and some of the newer "twist" pens. What I've actually had the best luck with is using an Inoxcrom refill in a Parker; both the "standard" and gel ink refills. I've found them to be very smooth writers that seem to last longer than do the Parker refills themselves.

 

Hope this helps.

 

PS: I realize the rollerball refills don't fit into a ballpoint pen, but am just citing my experience with it as a point of comparison.

[RayMan]

I like the Parker gel refills in terms of reliability and performance, but G2-style gel refills are just as good and seem to last significantly longer. Of course G2 refills are not compatible with pens designed for Parker refills.

[trickster]

What's the black Quinkflow like? Is it nice and dark, and do you still get the blobs?

 

My favourite Parker-style refill is the Pentel KFLT8 -- medium nib, smooth as silk, does not make holes in lousy paper.

[Julio]

Look at the Monteverde Parker style refills. More colors, more options.

[pvector]

thank you all for weighing in, I have considered the monteverde, but they only came in blue last time i was in the store, this store has them in blister pack and without the blister pack which is cheaper, but i cant find myself trusting this store with buying unpacked goods. This store in question is Montgomery Pens in NY, and sell most of their stock unpackaged. I have been considering the switch to a lamy edc bp, as the refill lasts 8000m as well, but their refill is more expensive. In my experience, parker refills have a tendency to start fading at a certain point even though its not empty. I have the gel refills that are in package with some new ss jotters, but have not tried them as well. Thanks again.

[torstar]

good refills

 

awful greasy though when you open up the pen

[pvector]

good refills

 

awful greasy though when you open up the pen

 

lamy?

[rminj]

How is the Parker Gel refill? Length of writing? Smooth? Smudges? Thanks for the info, parker regular refills are getting expensive for poor student like me.

 

I really like the dark blue color and smoothness of the blue gel refills. I use them in my Parker and Parker compatible

pens.

 

They do run out much much soone than a regular ink Parker. I consider this the cost of the writing with a gel and putting ink on the paper (instead of leaving it the refill and pressing harder and harder to get it on the paper).

 

The only other thing I dislike about the Parker blue gel is it very un-waterproof. It seems to smudge with the slightest

water.

 

For non-gel I prefer the regular Parker broad blue. I have not tired the Quink-Flow yet. My larger local store (Staples) has re-stock their refill stand with the regular refills..not Quink-flow. The gels are there also and remain the easiest gel refills to come buy.

[jniforat]

I love the .7 blue gel refill. But it's so NOT waterproof . Anyone know of a color with same properties but a bit more resistant to water??

[KarloT]

Have not tested water resistance of the Parker gels but I like the color. It is close to PR American Blue or Noodler's Blue Eel, both very nice shades.

 

I still keep a Jotter handy in case I run out of ink or someone needs to borrow a pen. So far, everyone who's used the Jotter likes the writing feel of the gel cartridge.

 

The ballpoint refills on the other hand, I can live without.

[torstar]

good refills

 

awful greasy though when you open up the pen

 

lamy?

 

varies among pens, haven't used a lamy rollerball for the parker gel refill

[PaperDarts]

I agree about the Parker gel refills not lasting as long as a ballpoint - but the writing experience is so superior, in my opinion, that they're worth it. I use the black refills - a very satisfying dark black. Incidentally, the refills do fit more pens than Parkers. I used them in a Pelikan ballpoint pen for years.

[torstar]

a ballpoint is a ballpoint

 

a roller ball is a roller ball

 

a fountain pen is a fountain pen

 

why are people insisting on comparing the 3 in ways such as the amount of ink lasting in a fill?

[rminj]

why are people insisting on comparing the 3 in ways such as the amount of ink lasting in a fill?

 

I was interested in the thread but am not complaining about how long they last..the ink actually goes

on the paper instead of staying in the refill/pen.

 

I was complaining about the Parker blue Gels not being water resistant in the least. I don't need waterproof but

really some resistance would be nice. In that regard the blue Cross selectip Gel is vastly more water resistant

while being a near match in color and writing experience to the Parker blue Gel (perhaps better) I have a Cross Edge and its a great writing experience... the pen is no where near as durable as any of my Parker compatible pens though.

 

Any suggestions for a more water resistant Parker type Gel refill would be great.

[pvector]

i have no idea whats going on in this thread, ive started it with the intention of finding out how long a parker refill last, like how lamy claims their refill last 8000m, was just curious about the length of parker refills

[rminj]

I apologize for hijacking the thread in anyway...In that regard I have no idea how many meters my refills write.

 

I use the Parker Gel refills and only do occasional writing.. The refill can last me 1 to 1.5 months.

 

I use the Parker Regular ballpoint ink refill. I can get a good 3-4 months out of it. It is not as good of a writing

experience as a Gel but is much much better than say a Cross ballpoint.

 

I have not tried the Parker Quink Flow regular ballpoint ink yet.

 

I don't find the regular ballpoint ink to smudge at all..it is water resistant or archival. The Parker Gel dries fast and does not smudge; but the slightest amount of water will smudge it.

[pvector]

french refill exploded, theres a gap between, these seem unreliable