Writing Instruments

[BDA_ABAT]

<sortofoffsubject>One of my good friends who had horrid handwriting started buying and collecting nice pens, supposedly in an effort to improve his handwriting. It didn't work, but he had some lovely pens. </sortofoffsubject>

Would be interesting to see how many folks into fountain pens are righty vs lefty (handedness, not politics).

As a lefty writer, I just can't use a fountain pen without smearing. Can't even use a rollerball-type pen. When I absolutely need to write in ink, I stick with a fine point Mont Blanc. Otherwise, it's keyboard all the way.

Bruce

 

[stymie miasma]

I quite like my Lamys

Rotring are rather attractive also!

http://www.lamy.de/en/
http://www.rotring.de/www.rotring.com/index.html

 

[Vertigo-1]

Quote:

Originally posted by CaptBubba One a side note, Sensas are awesome. I have yet to get a cramp from writing with them. I kind of dislike the twist-advance on the mechanical pencil though, and I know it is only a matter of time before I loose that little cap that goes over the eraser. So far I have managed to keep it by not using the pencil's eraser, but I'm not sure how long that will last.

I used to be really into Sensas, and adored their pens and pencils. I have the original AMX collection which had the Stealth and Carbon Nickel Fiber, along with the Noir pencil. However lately I've discovered that the grips on all three seem to be outputting this slight film over the grip. It's slick and slippery if you rub your fingers together after touching it, but wiping it with water takes it away so it's not oil based...but in five minutes it's back. I've noticed this same film on Sensas that have been on display for a long time in stationary stores. I've stopped using Sensas because of this.

Anyways I was wondering, have you noticed this happening on yours? Or any other Sensa owners out there for that matter? I've mentioned it to Sensa and they say to just send it in for a grip replacement, but I think the problem lies within the quality of the grip itself, and will eventually show up on the replacement.

 

[eric343]

PhD .5mm mechanical pencils for me. I LOVE that triangular grip, and they're so very nice and thick... (I have big hands)

 

[RMSzero]

I usually write music with a piano, but sometimes the mood strikes me when i pick up a guitar and I use that too . . .

. . . oh wait . . .

 

[daycart1]

I still have a big lump on my right middle finger from using wooden pencils on problem sets as an undergrad at MIT (more than 20 yrs ago!!). Ouch. Now I always write directly onto the keyboard.

 

[PianoBlack]

Related (Off)-Topic: Have any of you seen The Pillow Book? The one line that sticks in my head is, "You're not a writer--ypu're a scribbler!" *in tone of indignation*

The lost art of penmanship... and the ultimate sign of its fall is the closure of the Zanerian College of Penmanship, Columbus, OH, the only penmanship-centric college, in the 60's.

I'm a scribbler...even when I do Chinese calligraphy. I tend to forget proper strokes and flow--and try to pass off miscellaneous inkspots as ...ART. Or a Chinese character.

 

[Gergor]

Quote:

Originally posted by Vertigo-1 I used to be really into Sensas, and adored their pens and pencils. I have the original AMX collection which had the Stealth and Carbon Nickel Fiber, along with the Noir pencil. However lately I've discovered that the grips on all three seem to be outputting this slight film over the grip. It's slick and slippery if you rub your fingers together after touching it, but wiping it with water takes it away so it's not oil based...but in five minutes it's back. I've noticed this same film on Sensas that have been on display for a long time in stationary stores. I've stopped using Sensas because of this. Anyways I was wondering, have you noticed this happening on yours? Or any other Sensa owners out there for that matter? I've mentioned it to Sensa and they say to just send it in for a grip replacement, but I think the problem lies within the quality of the grip itself, and will eventually show up on the replacement.

I am just thinking about buying a lower-end Sensa, your comment worries me a bit. Does anyone else have the same problem? I went to a local store, and they only carry cloud 9 and stylist, anyone has any comment on these particular models?

 

[Gergor]

Just realized that only stylist use gel refills, what's the difference between gel and regular?

 

[Vertigo-1]

All of the typical Sensas use Fisher space ink ball point refills. The Stylist was made specifically to hold the Parker gel ink refill...which happens to be the exact same cartridge style as Parker's ball point refills, so you can actually just turn it into a ball point if you want. Which is exactly what I did with my Stylist.

IMO Parker ballpoint refills are the best out there, and when they finally made a Sensa that could take those, I just had to get it.

Gel ink = rollerball ink pretty much. Dark, wet, and somewhat thick lines. Ballpoint = dryer, thinner lines. I dig ballpoint when I have to use a pen.

The Cloud 9 uses Cross refills, which are pretty good refills too except for the "scribble a bit to get it going" thing. If you've used a Cloud 9 vs. the Stylist then you already know the Cloud 9 is much lighter.

As for the slick grip problem, the pen's not dying or anything, it's just a bit annoying to have your fingers feel slick after using a Sensa if you're the type that likes to keep your hands squeeky clean. i.e. if you don't like getting oil on electronics. Whatever the film is, a bit of water gets rid of it...temporarily.

And on the side...current favorite writing utensil:

Yafa Executive Pencil

 

[pennylane]

Mechanical pencil. .5 mm. I make lots of mistakes writing. Nice to be able to erase.

 

[stuartr]

ah, I love when threads rise from the ashes.

I like .5mm mechanical pencils, but when I write in my journal, my favorite is refillable rotring isograph drafting pens -- they are extremely fine -- .25mm. They rock. Unfortunately they don't sell them anymore in the U.S. (that I can find anyway). I get them when I am in Japan.

 

[usc goose]

i don't really care for pencils. and i lose too many pens to use anything too classy but i like a good .7mm rollerball pen. after all when was the last time you wrote a girl's number on the back of your hand in pencil?

 

[kentamcolin]

Stipula Duetto with oblique nib, or a glass pen are my favorites for fine writing.

 

[lini]

Quote:

Originally posted by Vertigo-1 I have a pencil box full of nothing but mechanical pencils.

Do you already have a Rotring with retractable tip, too?

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini