r/pens 14h ago

Discussion What makes a pen worthed?

1 Upvotes

So since im a student I use a lot of disposable pens.

And recently ive gotten into a few Japanese pens, but while inquiring about them I was told that the difference between a expensive pen is mostly the build and feel, ink and writing experience is 10%-20% better at most.

Ive tried a few uniball, pentel and pilot pens. I do like them a lot although I want to know, is a pen that costs 5-10 times more than a disposable pen really that much better or is it more about slight refinements?

How do you guys use your pens? What do you like about them?


r/pens 7h ago

Question Hörner G2 Ballpoint Refills

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0 Upvotes

Has anyone used Hörner G2 refills? Was looking for a good green refill for a jotter or a rotring 600. Came across their website but can't find much in the way of reviews.

I tried the Fisher refill and it was good but a bit too dark for my liking. Will probably try a Monteverde next but at €10 for a 3-pack I might pick up a pack of these Hörner to try too.

Any other recs would be appreciated. The Monteverde seems to be the only gel refill I can reliably find in green.


r/pens 3h ago

Question Energel in Lamy 2000 Multipen?

0 Upvotes

Would the Pentel LRN5H multipen refills work well in a Lamy 2000?


r/pens 13h ago

Other Lost pen🫩

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0 Upvotes

r/pens 2h ago

Question How do I reassemble this pen?

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1 Upvotes

Bought this cool skull pen a few months ago, left it in my pocket and ran it through the wash by mistake. Took it out to find it in pieces and I can't quite figure out how to put it back together. It's a twist mechanism I'm fairly sure, I suspect I may be missing a piece.


r/pens 6h ago

Discussion Help me to choose my platinum 3776 century

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0 Upvotes

r/pens 4h ago

Question looking for recs: i actually love the drag/friction on a basic bic round stic, but want an upgrade

5 Upvotes

i’m looking for some pen recommendations that match a pretty specific writing feel.

​i actually really love the basic bic round stic.. like the cheap ones you find in literally every office.

​i realize smooth pens are super popular, but they just don't work for me. i've tried stuff like the sharpie s-gel and other super silky gel pens with dark ink streams and water based ballpoints that feel very "lubricated:. while they look nice, they feel way too slidey on the page and my handwriting ends up super messy because there's no.. resistance? i guess?

​the bic gives me that nice paper resistance/drag that gives me way more control, which makes my handwriting look noticeably much cleaner.

​what i'm looking for:

​pens with good tactile feedback/friction on the paper

​preferably something with a slightly darker line or a nicer pen body than a disposable bic, without losing that controlled drag feel

​anyone have any ideas?! thanks

edit: budget of around $30 max ideally!


r/pens 10h ago

Question opaque white technical pen ink?

1 Upvotes

I have a Reform Refograph 1.0 mm pen and thought to try some white ink with it. Got some Rapidograph white universal ink, but it was translucent when writing on black paper. Does anyone have a recommendation for opaque white ink for my tech pen?


r/pens 3h ago

Question Dent in lamy Al-Star cap

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1 Upvotes

Is there any way of getting this dent out, lamy support said it would be $25 which is basically the value of the pen?


r/pens 7h ago

Question Rollerball/Ballpoint pen for Product Design/Film Major

1 Upvotes

My son is starting at Parsons School of Design and Eugene Lang in late August. He is doing a BA/BFA dual degree in product design and cinematography/film studies. I want to get him a pen that will feel special but is classic and under the radar. More of an "if you know" type of pen. I have looked at things like the Lamy 2000 , super nice, but it's more fitting for a general-use pen. I have looked at designer pens up to Cartier, but he really didn't like them, and they seem fancy but not really nice writing instruments. I am leaning toward a classic vintage Montblanc, but I am open to suggestions, possibly a special edition. Any input on a reliable, quality, good-feeling pen that will also feel special is highly appreciated. This would be more of a sometimes pen, as he has several art pens for drawing or mass note-taking.

Edit: I would prefer a vintage option and am willing to go to the $300-$400 USD range at the top end of the budget, but also don't need to spend that much.


r/pens 11h ago

Question Uni-ball One 0.7 skipping is ungodly

3 Upvotes

Is this normal? I did a google search and the results say to hold at a different angle. I'm not sure I can do that. Maybe the pen just isn't for me. Which is unfortunate because the black is BLACK and I love it.

What's the blackest gel ink I can get that doesn't skip so bad?


r/pens 11h ago

Question Pukka Gel Pen Screw Refill

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3 Upvotes

I was gifted the gel pen as seen, with screw-into-the-pen refill. Besides the environmental factor, I really do like the pen itself. On their website this pen was stated refillable but I am struggling to find a refill to replace. I've also contacted pukka, no response. My search suggested various refills including the Pilot G2 but none actually fits, because the original ink fill is a screw-into-the-pen type :(

Help? Any steer to a potential screw-into-the-pen refill would be appreciated. TYIA


r/pens 3h ago

Other Mitsubishi (uni Power Tank) for the win

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4 Upvotes

Noticed this at work today. Over a minute between writing and highlighting so they all had a chance to fully dry.

I highly recommend the uni Power Tank if you need to highlight your writing! I won’t be using anything besides it from now on (unless some people here know other refills that fit the F-701 with the same ink qualities).

Strangely, these are all labeled 0.7 but the uni is noticeably thinner, especially when writing with more pressure than I used in this example. I’d go with a 1.0 on the uni to make it more easily visible.

(Reposting, something happened to the image on the first post)


r/pens 11h ago

Question so uhh... kinda new to this whole pen thing, really. I got the energel 0.5 and Jetstream sport 0.5. I want good pen recommendations. :P

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17 Upvotes

r/pens 14h ago

Picture Uni ZENTO GREEN INK

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21 Upvotes

The Uni Zento is finally available in green!!!!!!!

Euro style refill, as with all one colour Zentos

Price is the same as standard models

I only found them in 0.7

Found in Singapore Popular bookstores

Currently not available as refills (for me), so you might have to buy the entire pen for now


r/pens 23h ago

Picture The Grimsmo Saga is definitely one of my favorites!

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25 Upvotes

r/pens 9h ago

Review Impulsive purchase

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25 Upvotes

I bought this fountain pen for ₹50 at a local stationery shop. It has a hooded nib and it looks so bright and colourful! Writes well too ✨


r/pens 12h ago

Question Searching for fineliner(/brush pen)

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2 Upvotes

I really like how the Pilot 0.4mm Finliner writes when it is brand new (almost like a really hard and short brush pen). But sadly this characteristic doesn't hold up and is gone after aprox a week of writing with it.
Link Pilot 0.4mm Fineliner (https://www.ttpen.com/products/pilot-fineliner-marker-pens-0-4mm-fine-point-black-blue-red-ink-5-pack?srsltid=AfmBOor7P8j2XIv2riHHVApYhcthSv2yb6D99edeicoRLlgu7uV5vXHl)

My writing example is with an already used one that soon will loose the brush pen aspect.
I would like it to be a little more variation in stroke thickness than shown in the pic.

Do you guys have any recommendations for me?


r/pens 4h ago

Pen Identification So this is why I was curious about the Uniball Zento Signature

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10 Upvotes

I have a Montblanc M Rollerball. Has to be my favorite pen to use when writing. Awesome at the desk. Not so much out in the auto shop when I teach. Especially with students asking for a pen to write or sign. Made that mistake once already.

So for most things especially to lend out I use a Pilot G2. Most people are familiar with them.

Every pen here under writes infinitely smoother. I also found the line thickness variation to be interested.

I like the way the Zebra G450 wrote out of the inexpressive ones,personally. I like the weight of it as well.

This whole thing started because I got the zento for cheap but hated the. 38 tip. Ordered. 5 and. 7 refills as well as a one instead of a zento. And while in there on jetpens.....might as well get some others. And I really want to compare it to the Montblanc. Because Zento has a magnetic cap like the Montblanc. The weight is down low like the M. But not nearly as much. I like the clip of the zento the best. Maybe I'll switch in the. 7 I have for it and see how that writes.

Worse comes to worse I pass it on to others.


r/pens 11h ago

Picture My first fountain pen

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247 Upvotes

Was at an Art Supply store yesterday with my family and these were at the register. Decided to get one and give it a try.


r/pens 5h ago

Question Searching for a specific pen from 1998-2000ish.

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13 Upvotes

I realize this is a totally bizarre request. When I was in middle school, my sister bought me a pen from Starbucks that was my absolute favorite pen. Stupidly, I lent it to my crush in 7th grade and he never gave it back (there is definitely a life lesson there).

I am wondering if there is any way to locate this pen. From what I remember, it looked like the diagram below - the gray parts were a matte silver color (maybe a little lighter than in the drawing). The blue parts were kind of rubbery material - kind of like a gel grip, but a more firm. You could twist the top part to retract or reveal the tip of the pen.

If anyone can find this pen, 27 years later, you would be my absolute hero! It was so satisfying to write with and had such a nice weight and balance. I've never found anything that's come close to it.


r/pens 20h ago

Question Looking for a blue ink like the blue Pilot V5 ink.

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5 Upvotes

r/pens 22h ago

Question Need recommendations, please

11 Upvotes

Years ago my husband got a nice pen from a job, that I ended up taking and using until it died. He has joked with me a few times that I owe him a new nicer pen with his name engraved on it. So for his birthday coming up I’d like to do just that. I know nothing really about good pens. The two most expensive options at my local office supply store are an A.T Cross Coventry and the Jotter XL. Are either of these a decent option or should I be looking to get something online? Realistically we’re both blue collar so this pen will just be for making notes/doodles and sitting at his PC desk. Not looking to spend more than $100 since I’ll still have to figure out engraving it after too! Thanks for your time and suggestions!


r/pens 23h ago

Question Hexagonal gel pens

3 Upvotes

I feel like I’m searching for a unicorn. I’m looking for a pen like Le Stylo from Paper Republic, but ideally a little slimmer and takes euro needlepoint refills, not Parker. Also not interested in anything heavier than ~25g. Does this exist? Nothing on jetpens fits this criteria. Alternatively if a Parker gel refill less than .5mm exists, that’d be perfect.


r/pens 9h ago

Question Anybody know how to buy more of these?

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9 Upvotes

It’s me new fav, it’s about to run out and I can’t find it! All the brand info has long since worn off. It writes so smooth!!!!