Are gel pens the smoothest writing?

[kissing]

Indeed. These days, I find myself preferring ordinary, waxy ballpoints over Parker's Gel ballpoints.

 

I think Parker has overdone the "The less friction there is, the more better it is" thing It's too slippery, and I feel as though the pen is skittering all over the page lol. It seems to tire my hands as I have to try control the pen harder.

 

Of course, this is nothing to worry about with my trusty fountain pens

Edited November 28, 2007 by kissing

[Iridium]

I know how much people love the G2. Actually, I've been using a G-2 07 in my field pouch for when I'm inspecting and it's been working very good. It's only skipped on me twice. Ironically the other G2 it was packaged with performed so horribly that I threw it away in disgust.

 

Similarly, the last two-pack of Uniball Signo 207s I bought contained one pen that has always written perfectly, and another that skips both randomly and every time I write a few sentences without pausing. Needless to say, I eventually threw away the latter--while I don't mind fussing a little with fountain pens that can be adjusted in various ways, a disposable gel pen is not worth the effort.

 

I wonder if my left-handedness is at fault?

 

I doubt it because this happens to me, too, and I'm right-handed. The radial symmetry of the G2 and all gel pens probably makes it inherently less of a potential factor, as well.

[captnemo]

I know how much people love the G2. Actually, I've been using a G-2 07 in my field pouch for when I'm inspecting and it's been working very good. It's only skipped on me twice. Ironically the other G2 it was packaged with performed so horribly that I threw it away in disgust.

 

Similarly, the last two-pack of Uniball Signo 207s I bought contained one pen that has always written perfectly, and another that skips both randomly and every time I write a few sentences without pausing. Needless to say, I eventually threw away the latter--while I don't mind fussing a little with fountain pens that can be adjusted in various ways, a disposable gel pen is not worth the effort.

 

I wonder if my left-handedness is at fault?

 

I doubt it because this happens to me, too, and I'm right-handed. The radial symmetry of the G2 and all gel pens probably makes it inherently less of a potential factor, as well.

 

One positive note on the Signo 207, I believe the ink is bulletproof or nearly so, but I have not tested this myself.

[Iridium]

One positive note on the Signo 207, I believe the ink is bulletproof or nearly so, but I have not tested this myself.

 

I haven't gotten around to conducting extensive tests as of yet, but it seems to be quite bulletproof against common household chemicals. However, like Noodler's bulletproof inks, it is somewhat vulnerable to being partially scratched away. I don't know what it is, but it's as though the paper is slightly weakened by these inks. It's not as big a deal as it may sound, really, but this doesn't happen with the Gelly Roll, for example, and the latter seems even more bulletproof overall (I can't make it run or scratch it off with less force than plain paper). The tradeoff (not necessarily causal) is saturation (taking only black into account here): Noodler's Black is easily the darkest, the Signo 207 is significantly grayer (but still much darker than many other types of ink), and the Gelly Roll is somewhat grayer still.

[kadymae]

The crappy experience is with the Pilot G-2. I know people love them but whenever I buy one I always have skipping problems with it.

 

I loathe G2 and G6 pens. I've yet to have one that didn't skip or fataly jam after a day or three.

 

For gel based witing, I love medium Zerbra Sarasa pens.

 

They are the only ballpoint I purchase. Smooth, hassle free writing every time.

Edited November 28, 2007 by kadymae

[Tony the Tiger]

Maybe I'm just fortunate, but I've never had a problem w/ a G2 clogging. If anything, it's a little wet, especially smearing the "stickynote" that I place on patient's charts, after I've written with it. I recently tried the 207, and I would have to say it is a slight improvement over the G2. In my very limited expereince w/ FP's so far, I have yet to find one that is smoother than a gel. I know it's out there, waiting on me to find it. Maybe the Phileas I ordered this week, or the Music nib Sailor I'm watching. Of course, if you have a "buttery smooth" recommendation, to "pop my cherry" so to speak, let me know.

[chibimie]

The line of discussion toward the 'oily-ness' of gel writers seems to remain oblivious to what I wrote earlier about the Japanese distinguishing between gel writers and water-based roller/ball-tipped pens. The latter tend to be free of the 'slippery-ness' (real or imagined) associated with some gels.

Edited November 28, 2007 by chibimie

[Viseguy]

kissing hits the nail with "slippery, not smooth"! When I need an SP (slippery pen), I tend to reach for a uni-ball, particularly the Signo gelsticks. In the RB category, the uni-ball Vision Elite 0.8mm blue-black or black is tops, IMO.