Longhand writers: cheap pen recommendations?

I use the Papermate Medium "Grip" pens (they look like a typical slender pen, only it has that nice bit of gription to hold on to). When I spill my coffee (and other various and sundry things), it doen't smear or bleed. I buy them in bulk during the back to school sales. I like them because, typically, those pens with the grips at the end have a fat barrel . . . and I don't like that.

I had a nice Cross pen and pencil set. Lost the pen though and haven't found anything to replace it and I'm too cheap to spend more than a couple dollars for a pen these days.

Skipping? Like skip to my lou my darling? maybe you just had a bad ink cartridge. Mine wrote perfectly, which is why I was so upset when it was lost (stolen).

I have a pilot Dr Grip, blue, med point thats perfect. Not expensive, has lasted me a year so far, has refills, no running or smudging and my fingers don't get sore.

I love my Cross pen, too. Right now, my favorite writing pen reads "Residence Inn Marriot", but it's also a Bic.

My favorite pen is Precise Rolling Ball V5 Extra Fine tip by Pilot. They do not work well if you do carbon copies such as checks.

Try the Pilot one. Its very smooth. I write very fast and this is the pen that works best for me. I know what you mean by the skipping...its annoying and slows you down.

MeowGirl said:

I wonder whether I'm holding my pen in a weird way. Cross pens (and I've had several) skip on me. Bics skip. Fine tip pens feel scratchy instead of smooth as they write. I can't get used to the feel of fountain pens. Yeah, I know, I'm picky.

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Maybe you're holding it at too much of an angle and the ball isn't making proper contact with the paper. You could be dragging the edge of the pen along the paper.

My least favorite pen are the roller balls. They are too responsive for my scrawl. With my technique, the pen always touches the paper, but my pressure on the pen tip determines if it will print or not. So with roller balls I get this horrible smear as I write.

If a ballpoint or rollerball pen is skipping, you can often fix that by running it across a window or mirror a few times. Usually the culprit is something caught in the ball, either a clot of dried ink or a little bit of paper.

IceCreamEmpress said:

If a ballpoint or rollerball pen is skipping, you can often fix that by running it across a window or mirror a few times. Usually the culprit is something caught in the ball, either a clot of dried ink or a little bit of paper.

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I just shuddered thinking about the sound metal on glass would make.

My suggestion? Buy a Lamy Safari fountain pen, EF nib, with convertor, for $25 or so at swisherpens. Get a bottle of Noodler's Black to go with it.

Sure, it's a bit more than a couple of bucks for a throw-away, but it'll change your life...

willietheshakes said:

My suggestion? Buy a Lamy Safari fountain pen, EF nib, with convertor, for $25 or so at swisherpens. Get a bottle of Noodler's Black to go with it.

Sure, it's a bit more than a couple of bucks for a throw-away, but it'll change your life...

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I tear the paper with fountain pens. I was so glad when the ballpoint pen was introduced.

Shadow_Ferret said:

I tear the paper with fountain pens.

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Then I suspect you're using it incorrectly. Or you've had some crappy fountain pens.

http://www.pilotpen-store.com/product_detail.asp?T1=PIL SW10-BLK

Pilot Razor Point. Always on hand when there's engineers around. I love this pen.

Pilot P500 Gel Ink Rollerball Pens. Seriously. I love these things; I can't write with anything else.

The 500s have an extra fine tip, the P700s are thicker.

Get them at Staples in a pack.

I have to have my Pilot G-2 gel pens. They are not cheap but oh how I love them. I did recently find some RoseArt x500 gel pens 3 for a $1. Those work almost as well as the Pilots.

willietheshakes said:

Then I suspect you're using it incorrectly. Or you've had some crappy fountain pens.

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I have a heavy hand. Not only do I tear the paper, I tend to bend the nibs.

I'm currently in love with Liquid Expresso extra fine tip, black.

Shadow_Ferret said:

I just shuddered thinking about the sound metal on glass would make.

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It hardly makes a sound, actually. Says hypersensitive-hearing perfect-pitch girl.

Shadow_Ferret said:

I have a heavy hand. Not only do I tear the paper, I tend to bend the nibs.

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<shudder>

I think it's hilarious that you say you want one that doesn't run, yet you love Papermate Ballpoints.....they're all about running. Show me a finger that is not speckled with Papermate ink.

Ok...now on to business...and this is coming from a medium ball point finatic...

I use either the Pentel RSVP in Medium Point when I'm not so serious about getting a lot written...

When I'm on a roll and have a lot to say, I use the Precise V5 Rolling Ball in Extra Fine. It totally rocks. It glides well yet still maintains a relationship with the paper. And no running.

Zebra F-301 pens don't run and feel great in your hand. They have a steel barrel with a finger grip, and the ink doesn't skip.