Montblanc Rollerball

[davidoff82]

Hello,

 

Can someone please tell me their experience with Montblanc Rollerball refills. How long do they last and how is it to write with them...

 

 

[Cordovian]

They write really well and don't dry out quickly like some brands. My wife has had one in her pen for over a year now. She doesn't use it much but it starts up perfect every time she does use it.

[I like mango cheesecake]

I have the MB 163 RB and the MB refill lasts about 6 pages or so, Not much. I got so fed up at buying $7 refills each time I stopped using that pen for the longest time till someone told me that Monteverde refills fit perfectly and last way longer. I've had the same refill in there for 2 years now.

[torstar]

I've never been happy with a high-end rollerball refill, if you can't see the ink level, you are getting fleeced....

 

the cheap refills work just fine, find a compatible and put it in

[Matlock]

I use Monteverde, much better than MB and last longer.

[davidoff82]

thank you for your response...

 

I am mostly interested in fine black refill, anyone have a sample how it writes???

[macball]

They can last indefinitely if you fill them up with ink. This is a topic that has been discussed several times in this forum, including instructions on how to do it with photos. Basically, buy yourself a bottle of MB ink of the colour of the refill (Royal Blue -> blue, etc). Pop the plastic top off with needle nose pliers. Saturate the sponge inside the refill with ink using a dropper or syringe (over a sink). Allow time for the sponge to soak up the ink. Push the plastic top back on. I have been using the same black and blue rollerball refills for years.

[ncpenfan]

I would second Macball's post.

 

you can even change the color of ink if you don't mind getting your fingers inked.

 

After taking the back off of the refill, just pull out the sponge and rinse it out in water. You can then refill with any color you want.

 

I currently have a refill filled with Noodler's Black Swan in English Roses, another with Noodlers Ottoman Azure, and one with bulletproof black.

 

I have been using the same refills now for over a year!

 

I also end up writing quite a bit, and once I notice the ink flow start to diminish, I inject ~0.5 ml into the sponge, and I am good to go for another 2 weeks or more.

 

prior to doing this, I was using up a refill every 2-3 weeks.

[torstar]

Why bother with the problem of ink stains and leakage when you can buy 12 gel refills for a clean and dependable product that is more reliable and just as good as a $12 refill?

[Matlock]

+1

[davidoff82]

Why bother with the problem of ink stains and leakage when you can buy 12 gel refills for a clean and dependable product that is more reliable and just as good as a $12 refill?

 

Ok I know I can buy gel refills, I have tried to write with gel refills but it is not the same as with liquid ink, but there isn't any good looking pen that can take gel refills, all good ones like montblnac, parker and pelikan take their own or schmidt refill, that has liquid ink, and my handwritting feels more comfortable when i use liquid ink

When I am out of my rollerball refills, I use uniball deluxe with liquid ink

[davidoff82]

I would second Macball's post.

 

you can even change the color of ink if you don't mind getting your fingers inked.

 

After taking the back off of the refill, just pull out the sponge and rinse it out in water. You can then refill with any color you want.

 

I currently have a refill filled with Noodler's Black Swan in English Roses, another with Noodlers Ottoman Azure, and one with bulletproof black.

 

I have been using the same refills now for over a year!

 

I also end up writing quite a bit, and once I notice the ink flow start to diminish, I inject ~0.5 ml into the sponge, and I am good to go for another 2 weeks or more.

 

prior to doing this, I was using up a refill every 2-3 weeks.

Whick rollerball do you use???

 

I am between Classique and LeGrand, can't decide

[torstar]

 

Ok I know I can buy gel refills, I have tried to write with gel refills but it is not the same as with liquid ink, but there isn't any good looking pen that can take gel refills, all good ones like montblnac, parker and pelikan take their own or schmidt refill, that has liquid ink, and my handwritting feels more comfortable when i use liquid ink

When I am out of my rollerball refills, I use uniball deluxe with liquid ink

 

Fair enough.

[torstar]

 

Ok I know I can buy gel refills, I have tried to write with gel refills but it is not the same as with liquid ink, but there isn't any good looking pen that can take gel refills, all good ones like montblnac, parker and pelikan take their own or schmidt refill, that has liquid ink, and my handwritting feels more comfortable when i use liquid ink

When I am out of my rollerball refills, I use uniball deluxe with liquid ink

 

sorry, posted twice...

Edited May 12, 2015 by torstar

[macball]

Whick rollerball do you use???

 

I am between Classique and LeGrand, can't decide

The LeGrand has a larger refill and therefore a greater capacity than the Classique. A more appropriate question would be which size pen do you prefer to write with. Most people prefer the medium sized LeGrand, which is the same size as the classic 146 fountain pen.

 

I would also echo ncpenfan's post that the rollerballs out of the package seem to last a short period of time. This is in contrast to a rollerball refill that has been filled using the method described, which lasts for MUCH longer. Perhaps this is because they have not been completely filled at the factory or they have partially evaporated post-manufacture. The performance of a user-filled rollerball is amazing. I also have "topped up" a refill prior to a trip. The technique is no more complicated than filling a fountain pen and unless you are changing ink color or manufacturer does not lead to ink stained fingers.

[davidoff82]

The LeGrand has a larger refill and therefore a greater capacity than the Classique. A more appropriate question would be which size pen do you prefer to write with. Most people prefer the medium sized LeGrand, which is the same size as the classic 146 fountain pen.

 

I would also echo ncpenfan's post that the rollerballs out of the package seem to last a short period of time. This is in contrast to a rollerball refill that has been filled using the method described, which lasts for MUCH longer. Perhaps this is because they have not been completely filled at the factory or they have partially evaporated post-manufacture. The performance of a user-filled rollerball is amazing. I also have "topped up" a refill prior to a trip. The technique is no more complicated than filling a fountain pen and unless you are changing ink color or manufacturer does not lead to ink stained fingers.

 

Can you tell me the thickness of lines in fine and medium, I actually write with fine nib

[macball]

The rollerballs are finer than their equivalent FP nibs. The fine is more like an EF and the medium is more like a F. Both of these were filled with MB Royal Blue. Just as in FPs, rollerballs might have different writing characteristics when filled with different inks. Buy yourself a couple of each and see which one you like better. Then experiment by refilling them with different inks.

Edited May 13, 2015 by macball

[davidoff82]

The rollerballs are finer than their equivalent FP nibs. The fine is more like an EF and the medium is more like a F. Both of these were filled with MB Royal Blue. Just as in FPs, rollerballs might have different writing characteristics when filled with different inks. Buy yourself a couple of each and see which one you like better. Then experiment by refilling them with different inks.IMG_2932.jpg

Thank you very much, I will buy both of them and try...

 

Is there a big difference in weight betwwen Classique and LeGrand rollerball???

[TinyTim]

What about the fineliner refils? How long do they last ?