i'm not talking serious drafting pens here, i just need a nice plain-old writing pen i can carry around in my pocket for quick note-taking, sketches, etc. I'd like to get something re-fillable, but not so expensive that it's a tragedy if i lose it.
I think that a Rapidograph is definetly my choice, they are outstanding and refillable to boot, but at $17 a pop, it is a minor tragedy when I lose one. My second choice would be a Hai-Xin fine point. They aren't refillable, but I get them 10 for $1 at an art supply store in Manhattan. They are seriously good do it all pens and come in black, blue, red and green.
bic..old school style. Rapidographs suck for sketching, it'd be like sketching with an exacto knife. also any time you bump up to refillable ur looking at a 15$+ pen.
The [http://www.spacepen.com/Public/Home/index.cfm]Space Pen[/url] is great if you like to write and sketch in ballpoint.
[http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/products_id/429]These[/url] are also excellent, they give you the fine, even line of a rapidograph without that scratchy feel.
cap on the pen? ok. no other set of pens has a more extensive assortment of lineweights than Sakura Microns. my only issue is price and loaning them out to people, and their not understanding how to use them and make them last longer - you know, not squaring the tips into useless sticks of nothing.
i like the sanford uniball vision exact in whatever the finest point is. never scratchy, pretty cheap (i get them online from staples). discovered it at an architecture firm a while back and now i'm ruined for all other pens.
microns are good pens but i find they tend to explode/leak when taken onto a plane. i've had two micron pens ruined by this. but when they're not used on a plane they're pretty good, especially for drafting. pilot make good pens for note taking.
I had a Lamy "Swift" for a few years. It took a lot of abuse (sitting on it, drops onto hard floors) and had a few dents even. But after I lost it (bound to happen) the one in the shop I looked at to replace it seemed lighter and less sturdy. The sales assistant claimed that the pen hadn't been redesigned, but I think the metal is thinner or something.
For me, everyday pens should be clickable. The 4 color Bic is pretty cool, in a sort of hyper-functional, French design classic kind of way.
But I'm happy to have received this new clckable pen designed by Hani Rashid and produced by Alessi. It's weighted much better than any Lamy I've used, and has some good grips bits, with 3 ink cartridge options.
"LE PEN"... hands down!!! they are super cheap, and are great for writing and drawing. they are also nice and thin.. and just plain simple pens.. try one out... you can find it in some art supply stores and the sciarc supply store.
I'd say stick to the Precise you linked us to. My pens are being "borrowed" all the time. I couldn't imagine having to worry about my beloved pen all the time.
I have to second architphil:
The LAMY pen is fabulous. I received one as a gift when i was abroad from my mates, and still have it today. It's refillable (refills - 5 in a box - box costs about $2.50). The pen can range in value but if you find it only you can get it quite inexpensive.
I ordered myself another one just recently + some refills.
I just discovered another great pen over the last few days. It's the Staedtler Mars professional. These are fantastic. They have an aluminum barrel, the cap threads on so it won't open and leak or break in your pocket, they make very fine lines, come in a few sizes from .25mm-.7mm and they are refillable. Best of all they're pretty cheap for a re-fillable pen. I just discovered these on sale in the pathetic 'drafting' section and staples; they are $10.99 for the pen, 4 refills and a nice carrying case. Not all that shabby, eh?
I also just discovered a nice pen at Staples, but in the regular pen section. The Staedtler liguid point 7. Not refillable, 4 pack was about $6. Similar to the Precise above, but vith very smooth writing, dark black ink, nice feel. It's .7, I usually like much finer, but this one doesn't bother me. I've noticed the thicker the liner, the faster you can write/sketch. I have this awesome little .25 pen from Japan and you have to write so slow for it to take. You can't sketch with it. Anyway, that's all.
The Japanese design collective, Muji makes some great pens as well, and like everything else they manufacture, they are dirt cheap. They make click point pens, in a few different thicknesses and a few ink colors, including some good ones like pink and green. They are refillable, and they write very smoothly. I prefer the Muji pens for any writing that I do, and while they do a pretty good job for sketching, they aren't my first choice for that. It's hard to go wrong because they are so inexpensive.
I LOVE Muji as is evident by the huge box of Muji stuff I brought back. But I've never been a fan of their pens. I have some little 84 yen gel rollers that are nice for writing, but never liked their expensive pens. But Japan has 28394823948234 sweet pens at 982349834 stationary shops that you can't go wrong.
Muji is brilliant all around. I have their plastic shelves, which I love, they were so simple to put together and very sturdy for being plastic. The notebooks with the pockets are deceptively simple but useful. The pad/keychain, business card holders and paper trays are all things I get a lot of use of as well.I'm most impressed with how they keep the prices so low.
I had a real problem addiction last summer. I'd see a Muji, go in and just start buying. I love the little notebooks for 100 yen, the plastic sheet covers, little carbon paper pads. Everything. Brilliant.
Jan 7, 07 8:36 pm ·
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i need a good pen.
i'm not talking serious drafting pens here, i just need a nice plain-old writing pen i can carry around in my pocket for quick note-taking, sketches, etc. I'd like to get something re-fillable, but not so expensive that it's a tragedy if i lose it.
something like: http://www.dick-blick.com/items/207/16/20716-3007-3ww-l.jpg but refillable, and maybe a sturdier tip.
anyway. post your favorite pens.
why not?
rotring 600 series fountain pen...hard to find. maybe on ebay
I think that a Rapidograph is definetly my choice, they are outstanding and refillable to boot, but at $17 a pop, it is a minor tragedy when I lose one. My second choice would be a Hai-Xin fine point. They aren't refillable, but I get them 10 for $1 at an art supply store in Manhattan. They are seriously good do it all pens and come in black, blue, red and green.
bic..old school style. Rapidographs suck for sketching, it'd be like sketching with an exacto knife. also any time you bump up to refillable ur looking at a 15$+ pen.
i just got these to LAMY pens for xmas... i'm really enjoying both of them...
LAMY AL-star
LAMY swift
also, do a thread search... i know that this has been discussed on at least one other occasion...
the best, but buy lots.
i'd second the rotring. amazing instrument. really. Hard to find and expensive, though. MUJI makes a pretty nice fountain pen for a lot less.
i don't know why, but i hate those micron pens.
wait, i remembered - the caps don't stay on the back end. pisses me off.
I use Rotring fountain pen...very inexpensive and last forever, ie if you like fountain pens if not look up ACME studio.
Acme studio has both fountain pens and ball points designed by various designers. Usually they are available at your local AIA bookstore
http://www.acmestudio.com/designers/designers.htm
my favourite is the one by Hani rashid and Marcel Wanders "crystal"
Great pens.
Pilot Razor Point. I get them by the gross.
The [http://www.spacepen.com/Public/Home/index.cfm]Space Pen[/url] is great if you like to write and sketch in ballpoint.
[http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/products_id/429]These[/url] are also excellent, they give you the fine, even line of a rapidograph without that scratchy feel.
Let's try that again:
Space Pen
Uniball Signo DX
cap on the pen? ok. no other set of pens has a more extensive assortment of lineweights than Sakura Microns. my only issue is price and loaning them out to people, and their not understanding how to use them and make them last longer - you know, not squaring the tips into useless sticks of nothing.
i like the sanford uniball vision exact in whatever the finest point is. never scratchy, pretty cheap (i get them online from staples). discovered it at an architecture firm a while back and now i'm ruined for all other pens.
microns are good pens but i find they tend to explode/leak when taken onto a plane. i've had two micron pens ruined by this. but when they're not used on a plane they're pretty good, especially for drafting. pilot make good pens for note taking.
I had a Lamy "Swift" for a few years. It took a lot of abuse (sitting on it, drops onto hard floors) and had a few dents even. But after I lost it (bound to happen) the one in the shop I looked at to replace it seemed lighter and less sturdy. The sales assistant claimed that the pen hadn't been redesigned, but I think the metal is thinner or something.
For me, everyday pens should be clickable. The 4 color Bic is pretty cool, in a sort of hyper-functional, French design classic kind of way.
But I'm happy to have received this new clckable pen designed by Hani Rashid and produced by Alessi. It's weighted much better than any Lamy I've used, and has some good grips bits, with 3 ink cartridge options.
Damn Amazon no longer has the rotring 600...I love them
A former lecturer of mine was given a rare white one when he left foster's office in the 80s
"LE PEN"... hands down!!! they are super cheap, and are great for writing and drawing. they are also nice and thin.. and just plain simple pens.. try one out... you can find it in some art supply stores and the sciarc supply store.
Sanford Uni-Ball Micro
Love 'em!
I second the "Le Pen" , simple sleek design. Goes every well with the
black turtle neck wearing architect.
My second choice is the Pentel Sign Pen. This is a large felt tip pen good for large trace sketches.
Last but not least is the PMOP
Gotta love Pen-15!
sharpie ultra fine tip
or a uniball...havent used one in years though
gotta love a sharpie something about the way you the lines come out nice and dark and retain it when photocopied or scanned
How about this? The Omas Emotica.
http://www.omas.net/defaultIntroCat.asp?tree=11&usr=-1&codlingua=2&grc=17&grl=6#
I'd say stick to the Precise you linked us to. My pens are being "borrowed" all the time. I couldn't imagine having to worry about my beloved pen all the time.
Get a Lamy Scribble...its my favourite pen of all time...they retail for abt. $35 but you can get them for slightly cheaper...
I second the Precise!!!...Extra fine baby! Great everyday pens.
For my "fancy" pens...I love the Copics
I have to second architphil:
The LAMY pen is fabulous. I received one as a gift when i was abroad from my mates, and still have it today. It's refillable (refills - 5 in a box - box costs about $2.50). The pen can range in value but if you find it only you can get it quite inexpensive.
I ordered myself another one just recently + some refills.
Love my LAMY.
I just discovered another great pen over the last few days. It's the Staedtler Mars professional. These are fantastic. They have an aluminum barrel, the cap threads on so it won't open and leak or break in your pocket, they make very fine lines, come in a few sizes from .25mm-.7mm and they are refillable. Best of all they're pretty cheap for a re-fillable pen. I just discovered these on sale in the pathetic 'drafting' section and staples; they are $10.99 for the pen, 4 refills and a nice carrying case. Not all that shabby, eh?
I also just discovered a nice pen at Staples, but in the regular pen section. The Staedtler liguid point 7. Not refillable, 4 pack was about $6. Similar to the Precise above, but vith very smooth writing, dark black ink, nice feel. It's .7, I usually like much finer, but this one doesn't bother me. I've noticed the thicker the liner, the faster you can write/sketch. I have this awesome little .25 pen from Japan and you have to write so slow for it to take. You can't sketch with it. Anyway, that's all.
pilot v5. it's around 40pesos here. that's almost a dollar.
The Japanese design collective, Muji makes some great pens as well, and like everything else they manufacture, they are dirt cheap. They make click point pens, in a few different thicknesses and a few ink colors, including some good ones like pink and green. They are refillable, and they write very smoothly. I prefer the Muji pens for any writing that I do, and while they do a pretty good job for sketching, they aren't my first choice for that. It's hard to go wrong because they are so inexpensive.
I LOVE Muji as is evident by the huge box of Muji stuff I brought back. But I've never been a fan of their pens. I have some little 84 yen gel rollers that are nice for writing, but never liked their expensive pens. But Japan has 28394823948234 sweet pens at 982349834 stationary shops that you can't go wrong.
Stabilo point 88, fine 0,4
Muji is brilliant all around. I have their plastic shelves, which I love, they were so simple to put together and very sturdy for being plastic. The notebooks with the pockets are deceptively simple but useful. The pad/keychain, business card holders and paper trays are all things I get a lot of use of as well.I'm most impressed with how they keep the prices so low.
I had a real problem addiction last summer. I'd see a Muji, go in and just start buying. I love the little notebooks for 100 yen, the plastic sheet covers, little carbon paper pads. Everything. Brilliant.
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