Moleskine Pens?

As unhealthy as many people see my obsession with faux-leather over-priced Italian pocket notebooks, its pens that is my secret addiction. I would love to hear what types of writing instruments people use with their Moleskines.

What pens or pencils do you use when writing in your Moleskine?

I have a variety of pens that I use but the ink is almost always the same. Pilot G2 .7mm archival ink. You can pick up Pilot G2 pens for about $1 each. You can pick up a very nice Pilot Dr. Grip Gel at just about any grocery or drug store. There really isn't a need for a big fancy $20 to $50 pen, but there are some real nice ones out there.

I've spent more money than I want to admit on fancy pens by Rotring and Waterman but there isn't any real reason to use anything more than a Pilot Dr. Grip Gel.

So, what type of pens, ink, or pencils does the rest of the Moleskine community use?

Image: pilotpen.us

Comments

[Fazal Majid]

I use a Faber-Castell mechanical pencil, thick lead (1.4 mm). The thick lead makes all the difference, and glides on the paper, and the stubby, cigar-like shape is quite comfortable to hold.

If you like a thinner pencil, try the Yard-O-Led ones (1.1 mm), but they are much more expensive as they are made of sterling silver.

And for me the main attraction of the Moleskine is not the faux leather, but the amazing rigidity of the cover, which makes writing possible in almost every situation.

[Paul]

I usually use the same G2 from Pilot, but I also have a Tombo Object that is nice every once in a while.

[Justin]

I have a Rotring 0.7mm pencil - black with a round barrel - I have not seen anything quite like it. With a matching Fountain Pen.

And a Faber-Castell 2B with a funky yellow/blue sharpener cap.

And a few Lamy Safari fountain pens with blue, black and purple ink. And a titanium Mont Blanc that leaks too much now.

My only concern is that one will get lonely if I don't use it often enough....

[Mike]

I've heard people haven't had a lot of luck with fountain pens and moleskines. I found this to be the case with my Lamy fountain pen so I switched to the Pilot G2 gel inks.

Still, I am considering a Waterman Phileas fountain pen with black ink just for fun.

For pencils I use a Rotring 600 .7mm mechanical pencil for my walk around companion to my Rotring 600 rollerball (with Pilot G2 .5mm gel ink) and at home I use a Rotring Core .7mm pencil that came free with my Rotring Core Rollerball. I may have to pick up one of those Faber-Castell's though.

If I spent the time writing that I do surfing around looking at pens, I'd be Stephen King.

[Justin]

My Safaris have a fine nib and the ink does not usually bleed through the paper. However, I do mostly use the pencil.

I have not really searched for pen-enthusiast sites - are they out there?

[Armand]

Hi Justin:
Penlovers look pretty extensive. There was also some discussion about pens at MetaFilter last summer. Mike Shea should have some more suggestions.

[boxx]

I've been using a Stylist for writing in the ruled notebook. For drawing in the sketchbook i use either a Pilot Better Retractable or a Koh-i-Noor Rapidograph Depending on my mood.

[Justin]

Those Rapidographs look like the ones I used for Tech Drawing in high school. I had an 0.35, 0.5 and 0.7 but think mine were either Rotrings or Staedtlers.

Mmmmm haven't thought about those pens for ages - thanks for the reminder.

[TPB, Esq.]

Because I use my moleskine on the road, I wanted something waterproof and quick-writing. Also, I'm left handed, so I needed something that would not smudge.

I use two pens, therefore. I use the Uniball Vision Medium Blue Waterproof/Smudgeproof Rollerball and the Papermate Flexgrip Ultra Blue Medium ballpoint. I tend to prefer the Flexgrip, because its ink supply lasts longer.

I wish, though, that I could find something with a wider barrel.

[Mike]

I am really far from a real "pen guy". I picked up a couple that I like and some that I don't and really wish I had just stuck to a Pilot Dr. Grip for the most part. If you want to hear the real pen-guys, go to the alt.collecting.pens-pencils.

[Libby Meyer]

I too worship at the alter of the Pilot G-2 pen. I always have at least three with me at all times so I never have to take the chance of having to write or draw with another kind of pen.

[Thomas Roessler]

Mostly Pilot Gel pens, and plain, old-fashioned pencils. (The mechanical ones are reserved for different purposes -- mostly because I prefer soft pencils for the Moleskine, but harder ones for mathematics.)

[Niklas]

I use a Lamy Safari fountain pen - amzingly, since universal wisdom seems to indicate that it's a bad match with moleskines. I have no problems though. The Lamys are a pretty smooth write.

[Fredrik]

I like the "Cross Ion":http://www.cross.com/ionpromo.asp since it fits in any pocket and is very comfortable to write with. Unfortunatly the ink needs some time to dry, so it isn't optimal for Moleskine use.

Lately I've been using a cheap 0.1mm Staedtler pen for sketching and writing. Nice, but not stylish.

[Morgaine]

For my diary I use a pen by Jean-Pierre Lépine most of the time, see: Morgaine Le Faye Net: Blog

[Tej]

I use a Lamy Al-star fountain pen for when I am sitting down and writing, and a cheap Papermate ball point if I am in a bus or car or anywhere I don't have a hard surface. I don't have problems with either.

Model 26 - LAMY AL-star graphit fountain pen

[Michael]

My lovely new chunky black Lamy Safari fountain pen is my choice too. I am having to learn not to write too fast though or else the ink seem to stop flowing every now and again. Perhaps I need to change the cartridge (or just let the ideas come more slowly).

Pleased to have found your site.

[cody]

i use either

these

or these

"le pens"

i've had really good results.

[Mike]

I ordered a set of those Zig Millennium Markers for some color acid-free markers. This site is really starting to cost me money.

Why oh why do I not follow my own advise and stick to Pilot G2s and a wooden pencil?

[boxx]

I used the 'le pens' for a while too, since we stock them at work. I really like them, except for the fact they are not water resistant. The C and Y Stylust i mentioned above. It has the same style of nib and ink, but seems to be more water resistant.

[cody]

i'll have to check those out, it's time for me to get a new pen anyhow.

[Lohr]

I use a Rotring Core fountain pen, fine point (I have very spidery handwriting)and with the J. Herbin "Poussiere de Lune" ink... Since Shaeffer stopped making its burgundy (or bordeaux/granate) ink, Poussiere de Lune, with a few drops of purple ink added, is my favorite notebook ink... The Rotring Core is large-ish, but it writes remarkably well in my notebooks...and rarely bleeds through.

[Pragmatik]

Pilot G2 -- the Extra Fine .05 point. Same for pencils. However, for the more adventurous days, I prefer my Fisher Space Pens, especially the tiny bullet pen. Nothing matches the go-anywhere Geist of the Moleskine as well as the bullet pen. It can survive more than the revered littleb black book, to be sure. It can be baked and frozen.

I loyally get mine at The Writer's Edge. The owner is a really really nice guy, and the way that he does business will amaze you as much as the Space Pen or Moleskine.

[Edelmak]

I am a huge fountain pen fan (see Pentrace.com for a great pen site) and am currently using a Dunhill AD2000, Pelikan M805 or a Nakaya with Private Reserve ink (DC Super Show Blue). Typically a F or XF nib.

[gary]

I use a Pilot Namiki Vanishing Point fountain pen...most amazing fountain pen I've owned. Switched the nib out for a fine point, and i'm wondering if I'll ever write with anything else. Always on the look out for a quality mechanical pencil, but haven't found THE one to use just yet...

[PK]

I also use a Pilot Vanishing Point fountain pen with the fine nib with great result. See my writeup. I was a big fan on gel pens but I find that they are too oily on the Moleskine, and the ink will smudge off to the opposite page. I also use a Zebra 0.5 fine ballpoint as an alternative.

[SK]

I'm selling all my pens on ebay and using only my Dr. Grip Gel and Sensa rollerball. Sensa rollerballs can use a G-2 refill with 1/16 trimmed from the end.

[Jerry]

I use a hand-turned wooden fountain pen with Ryman ink cartridges - no problems with ink bleed - and the pen glides over the creamy smooth moleskine paper ;-) Sometimes when I need a really fine line I turn the pen over and use the nib reverse way up.

Cheers
Jerry (Canberra, Australia)

[Halsted]

I'm using a Monteverde Olympia fountain pen with black Waterman ink cartridges, and it's utter heaven writing in my Moleskine. Gel ink proves to be too slimy for the paper for my tastes, but YMMV.

[Annie]

So.... just for clarification:

The Pilot G2 works just fine, yes? It doesn't bleed through the thinner pages of a Moleskine ruled notebook?

[Il Postino]

I've always used G2s with my notebooks. No prob there.

[Colin Gregory Palmer]

I'm tremendously picky about the kinds of pens that I use, and was rather annoyed that my favorite type bleeds through the pages of the ruled notebook.

I'll look into the G2 pen. Anyone know where I can buy them in London? I haven't seen them in the stores by me. Send me an email if you know where to go.

[Mike]

The Pilot G2 ink (I prefer the .7mm but others like the spidery .5mm) doesn't bleed through on either the journal or the sketch book. You can get G2 pens just about anywhere. Grocery stores, drug stores, stationary stores, and office supply stores all have them.

There are a few different Pilot pens that are built around the G2. The G2 pens themselves run about $1.20 a pen in packs of four or about a buck a piece for 12. The Pilot Dr. Grip Gel costs about six bucks and its worth every penny. It has a rubber grip up at the top and a nice thick base. Yesterday I found a pen called the G6 which is a thicker G2 pen with a rubber shaft. It ran about $3 a piece.

I've used G2 based pens for about six months now and I love them. They're cheap, they write well, they use archival acid-free ink, and you can find them just about anywhere. If you're a snob you can put G2 ink inside of both Rotring and Waterman Rollerball pen casings. It's hard to justify the extra money, however, when a $6 Dr. Grip does the job just fine.

We won't know for about five hundred years if the ink is really archival or not but in the mean time we must trust the logo on the package.

[Kashif]

I usually use a Zebra F-402 fine ball point pen, but I am about to order some G2's to try them out. Other than my Zebra I use a Cross Classic and the Cross Vice (gel on one side, highlighter on the other) pen. The Cross Classic needs some time for the ink to dry and it leaves spot marks if you don't let it.

[beleg]

I use a Rotring ArtPen with a EF tip, and a Rotring 600 Fountain Pen Silver, with a Medium gold tip (a wonderfull -yet heavy- gift)
I've never used much Gel-based pens, but I think i'll try one ... G2 it is ??

when I draw or sketch, I have a set of Faber Castell PITT pens, and these are GOOD stuff !

[Michael]

I've watched and waited for my time to wax lyrical on this topic. I use a Xezo Stealth fountain pen as my go-to pen. I always carry a Cross Ion in my pocket for general purposes. I also keep a Uni-ball Vision Elite on hand because they are great pens with the added bonus of being a very fine point, which I have found is better for the small-ruled lines of the Moleskine.

I used the Pilot G-2 for a while, but the retractable tip caused the ink to leak all over, leaving nasty stains in my pants.

Fountain pens are The Sauce, followed by rollerballs. I don't even sign my name with ball-points.

For all of the gel ink users out there, don't despair... Just blow on it for a second, and your pages will be dry. The same goes for fountain pen ink.

Nintai--> patience

Michael D. Wamsley
The Buchtelite
Opinion Editor

[Jay Moynihan]

Moleskine plain, Parker 51 (original ones) with fine to medium nib, or mech pencil, or Sailor Innovation Gel pens (closest to fountain pen i have used)

[Shells]

I use a Parker Vector with washable blue, but I water the ink a bit to pale it back. But when that's inconvenient to carry, I use a Pilot G2.

I loved a beautiful but cheap wooden ball-point pen from Germany - the barrel was all one piece - which I used for five years and re-filled it with the inside of a Laknok pen.

But I lost it and I really really miss it.

[Dan Goldenberg]

I love fountain pens and my current favorite is the Namiki vanishing point with a fine nib. It's a very practical pen, you click the end like a ballpoint and the nib retracts.

[Jess Taylor]

vintage fountain pens. and those thin black disposable rollerball pens with bright blue ink; you know the kind. and pencils. whatever's clever, right?

[Steve]

I mainly use a G2 as well. I used to have a Rotring technical pen, but the cartridge in it decided to leak all over the place and I threw it away *slaps head* so in a couple months I'm getting another one. I'm liking the clean designs of the Lamy line also. This place is costing me too much :( Hah!

Steve

[Drew]

Right now, I'm using my Sheaffer Legacy with a Stub nib adjusted by Sherryl Tyree and Joel Hamilton. The ink is Noodler's Squeateague by Nathan Tardiff. I have a new favorite ink! This is great stuff. I still wish the Moleskine paper had a little more sizing in it to prevent bleed-through. But the form-factor is all the encouragement I need to convince me to keep using them, even with bleed-through fountain pen ink.

[Andy]

I use the Pilot P-700. For day-in, day-out reliability and long lasting ink supply, it works for me. No problem with bleed-through in my Moleskine. Happiness.

[Hugo G]

I use fountain pens especially Pelikan. Of course, bleed through is a big problem of Moleskine paper but it appears less when you refuse using blotting paper. Furthermore you have to chose various inks. I think only a few make bleed through so it is not impossible to use a fountain pen in a moleskine.

[michael t]

I have been using Moleskines for a couple of months, I have found that .1mm pens like Rotring and others give a nice feel while writing, plus I like the sound of the pen on the paper. It has a very "anti-high tech" feel and sound. The ink drys fast and is permanent.

[bob]

I use a Pelikan M400 with a fine nib, and Waterman black ink - no bleed through to speak of.

Of course, it kind of depends on your style, but I think the right nib/ink will be fine.

I'd like to try the Noodler's Legal Lapis - it's permanent. It's waterproof once it's dried on paper, but water soluble until then. It's designed for fountain pens.

http://www.pendemonium.com/ink_noodler.htm

[Stephen]

I always have a pen in my pocket - always. Without my pen I feel like I've left my watch off, or something...

A favourite pen has to have only three main attributes:
1. One must like the way it writes;
2. It must be identifiable by others as Yours and Special (i.e. it is not a stationery-cupboard issue pen);
3. It must not be irreplaceable or hugely expensive ( It's with you always - what if you lost it ... !? )

Beyond that, it can conform to all your personal tastes in a pen.

But a pen chooses you as much as you choose it:

For a pen is a friend, an extension of your personality, and it is your confidant, your secretary (as in secrets), the keeper of your thoughts, your intelligence, and your ideas, in a way that a pencil, a keyboard or a PDA can never be.

Your pen holds in it's silent, gentle barrel the words that you will write, and it holds them secretly and carefully until the time comes for you to choose them and loose them onto the page. It writes your name (even on a credit card chit) with love and care, in the way you wish to appear to the world. It makes the notes you want to make; sometimes the notes you wish you could make. It does what you wish your hand to do. It makes you feel as you wish to feel.

Choose a pen that does this as you wish, as you would like, as you would wish to be and be seen. Choose a pen that flatters you.

Whether a G2 or an Ici Et La, choose your pen wisely.

[Jerry]

I have recently switched from my old wooden-barreled fountain pen to my new Waterman with a fine nib - still using Ryman ink cartridges and still no problems with bleed. Maybe the Australian Moleskins have better paper? Or is it because I use the squared paper? Anyhow I have yet to experience the bleed problems described elsewhere

Cheers
Jerry

[Mike]

I just bought a Rotring Freeway for $20ish from Executive Essentials. Its a nice solid metal pen, very utilitarian, with a good hefty weight but a slim size. I was worried that the cap would fall off the smooth back but it stays on well. Like all of my rollerballs, it uses a Pilot G2 ink. It is a good step up from the Pilot Dr. Grip, it's not as flashy as a Rotring Core, and its not as expensive as higher-end pens. Its more utilitarian than classy. If you want a pen to pick up snobby women without breaking the bank, you probably want to go with a Waterman like the Phileas ($30ish) and the Expert ($80). Anything higher than that and you should probably use a fountain pen.

Speaking of, has there been any more luck with a fountain pen that doesn't bleed through Moleskine notebook pages?

[david izunna]

hi,
i will like to know the price of this rotring drawing pen set of 8,
including the shiping charge to nig with fedex. pls i will like to
get ur rply as soon as posible. thanks david izunna

[Thomas]

When time is not the issue: pencil, Faber-Castel HB (259) hand-sharpened with dux pencil sharpener (check out www.manufactum.de).
At work it's Rotring Newton fountain pen and Rotring Newton mine-pencil 0.7 or 0.5 -
The Fountain Pen doesn't leak.
For q quick write I have the small Fisher Pen (the space pen, got it at Staples) which is really the greatest travel combination (pen is black, book is black, writes everywhere).

[Penny]

I have many.. their name is legion. I have the Nakamiki Vanishing point (f) fountain pen. Also the Safaris - fine - (in zoom zoom colors,) and my favorite of the week: my mini Spalding. Fits in a legenver's office pocket pad, or clipped to the Moleskine de Jour.

I have to tell you, this site is like the mothership calling! My whole life I have been addicted to pens and paper (well, there are worse vices, or so I tell myself.) I always thought I was unique and weird. I see now I have found my people. =D

[IL Postino]

Welcome home! ^_^

[Ethan Kalfus]

Parker has just come out with a revolutionary new refill that fits in both its ballpoint and rollerball pens. Called the "Parker Gel," it is the same size as its old ballpoint refills but is a rollerball and a very good one too. Which of course means it makes any ballpoint pen that takes a Parker refill into an instant rollerball. They do not bleed through a Moleskine page and come in both blue and black, depending on your preference. Now you can bring that old "T ball jotter" into the 21st century!

[Alia]

Actually, Ethan, the Parker Gel refill has been around for a while -- I know, as I've been using them for at least 3 years. (Every pen I own that can take one has one!) They come in more colors than blue and black, too. I've spotted green, red, and purple, and there may be more. They're very nice to write with, but like most gel inks, the refills don't last long. I keep a refill or two on hand to prevent having to stoop to nasty office ballpoints.

They do not fit all rollerball pens. For example, no dice with some of my Retro 51 pens. They do not fit in older models of Sensa pens, much to my disappointment, but they do fit in the new version. They fit in pens that take a Levenger ballpoint, and in the Rotring Skynn ballpoint -- a highly recommended pen for those who are writer's cramp prone -- in MonteVerde ballpoints, and, of course, Parker ballpoint pens.

So, like all pen refills, shop with care, buy in bulk, and, if possible, ask your pen-pusher if you can test out a refill in your precious pen before purchasing.

I use the sketchbook moleskine, so I have no input on bleed-through issues, but I can say that the Parker Gel ink works well coated in fixative, marker, colored pencil, graphite, and/or watercolour.

[Daniel]

My favorite pens are the black uniball vision elite ones with .5mm points.

[Reuben]

Don't pens show through the pages more than pencil?

[Joe Zairo]

I too have spent the kids lunch money on fine pens (just kidding) and have a drawer full of them, but over the last few years the Pilot G-2 has become my favorite. I wish I could find a really nice silver or chrome retractable pen that would accept the G-2 refill-anyone know of any?

[Antigone]

It seems like moleskines really don't love fountain pens...;-(
I own a moleskine sketchbook and unfortunately I also write in it. But the thick paper is so water-resistant that every fountain pen's ink just doesn't get soaked into the paper... kinda looks like writing on plastic.
I ordered a plain moleskine notebook yesterday, but now I'm afraid I'll only be able to use evry second page due to the bleed-through...*sniff*

[Jeffrey Windsor]

I use my Parker Sonnet in my grid-ruled mini Moleskines all the time, and have done so for years. The ink bleeds through enough to provide a patina of a palimpsest, but it does not interfere with legibility.

I would default to a pencil, but none of my fountain pens are a serious problem for me.

[Angelina]

I try and use anything but a pen.

Mostly, I use a Pacer pencil with .5 and .7 infills in B or 2B gradient and illustrate with crayon, charcoal, chalk and watercolour. If I'm on the road, I stash my notebook in a clear, resealable bag and set my writing by way of waterproof spray. I have used fountain pens in the past but find them a hassle to refill and maintain as well as being an unnecessary expense.

[john]

you can't go wrong with a hefty Sensa Stylus fine point... very comfortable and rather inexpensive at $18 compared to other pens of its' quailty.

[Peter]

I use a Cross Ion pen it's small, uses gel ink, and comes with a clip so you can add it to a keychain, laynard (cord) to wear around your neck or better yet - attach it to your Moleskine elastic band. It's always close at hand.

http://www.cross.com

Niklas mentioned it above - Jan 24, 2004, I have never had a problem with the drying time. None of my pages are smudged.

[Peter]

Oops, it was not Niklas it was Fredrick...sorry ; )

[Kesham]

Waterman Phileas fountain pen. One of the best fountain pens for the price. I have found them for as little as $25.00. I bought one in Paris and it seems to work fine in the Moleskines. Try the blue ink.

[Antigone]

I do also use a Cross Ion and can't complain about drying time, but it's ink seems to... smell. Badly. Has one of you made similar experience?

[m6ttl]

I'm also a fountain pen fanatic--I could count eighty or so in my various cases and cabinets. Here was the test I did to determine the perfect compliment to my pocket M notebook (blank): I sacrificed the last pages in a near-complete notebook to test various inks and nib sizes from my collection. One combination that I'm VERY happy with is my trust Lamy Safari fountain pen in fine nib using the stock Lamy black ink refills. This combination absolutely will not bleed through the paper of my notebook. As a bonus, the Lamy writes wonderfully and isn't expensive.

[John]

Yup, I've had that experience. Cross Ion ink stinks. The black smells so badly that I can't stand to use it.

And Cross told me that, while it's acid-free, it's not archival safe. And at $3 a refill, it's not worth it.

Viva la G2!

[Enoch Soames]

I dug an 80's-era Sheaffer Targa with a fine nib out of the back of my desk drawer recently, and discovered it's a great match for the Moleskine. Brass barrel, nice heft. I use Waterman or Private Reserve ink, and haven't noticed any bleed-through at all.

[Stephen]

I've found a good pen, the Uniball Signo RT.

Mine's a 0.7 (there's a 1mm too), and you can get 'em in black, blue & red. The gel ink is deep, like a G2, but the pen is nicer to hold and is a bit more compact in your pocket. It writes very nicely and doesn't bleed through my moleskine's paper either.

http://uni-ball.hbi.ne.jp/catalog/show/product.php?no=70

[DAC]

Like most here, I use the G-2 and am happy with it. But I only use it here in the house. I have a travel pen that I love. The Zebra Pocket Pen. Only 4" long and skinny as the elastic strap on the notebook. It's ballpoint, but then I only use the pocket Molsekine. The best part is the the pen clips inside the notebook, on the expandable pocket in the back.

[Amr Malik]

I use a Cretacolor 2B Graphite pencil on my pocket M. Also a Staedtler 0.1 mm pigment liner pen. I do a lot of diagrams in my notebook and find the 0.1mm quite handy for fine diagramming/drawin on the small scale.

Cheers

[scaupaug1@aol.com]

http://members.aol.com/scaupaug1/ETERNITY/1testPAGE.jpg

http://members.aol.com/scaupaug/ink/index.html

Noodler's Black was made originally because the first order requested a "fraud proof" ink (ie: unusually permanent when dried upon cellulose paper such as moleskin) as well as being able to do his crossword puzzles with his fountain pen on newsprint without feathering or bleed through to the other side of the page or into any other boxes of the crossword puzzle. The result was Noodler's Black ink (www.NoodlersInk.com). If you try it on moleskin, artist sketch pads, legal pads, newsprint, college rule, all the way to the most affordable plain copy paper at a major stationary store or wal-mart....it won't come out once dry, and it won't feather.

[scaupaug1@aol.com]

Noodler's Ink LLC research with writing machines has found that the fountain pen mechanism used to feed "ink ball" pens - a kind of ball tipped stylographic dating back to approximately the WW II era - is the only fountain pen technology to exceed the Parker 51 and Sheaffer Snorkels (previously THE state of the art in fountain pen technology since the 1950s) in word count per given volume of ink.

Furthermore it has been found that due to this extremely efficient word count, the "ink ball" fountain pen (which only has the ball as a source of evaporative losses, and utilizes an extremely frugal feeding mechanism yet still maintains a wet and smooth dark line) is technically a better buy for the active writer than any other roller ball pen, fountain pen or otherwise - on the market. If one takes into account the permanence and extremely large ink chamber possible with the Kaweco Sport "Ink Ball" pen - it is even competitive with most cheap ball points from Taiwan and China after all costs are tabulated based on word count measures!! Yet - it is super smooth (even smoother with the colored/lubricated inks of the Noodler's "American Eel" series that are particularly well suited to such mechanisms - they write like "greased lightning"!).

Instead of using branded rollers at major stores and spending money on multiple pens or their disposable refills and the costs of their entire mechanisms...as well as the disposable nature of their designs which lay about in landfills for extreme periods of time - just buy a single Kaweco Sport "ink ball" pen with a transparent barrel (no need to use or waste money buying cartridges! ink in a glass bottle always is a far better bargain than ink in plastic cartridges)....apply some candle or bee's wax warmed until pliable in your hands to the inner point/section threads for a seal...and fill the pen as if it were a 100+ year old fountain pen...the old fashioned way...with an eyedropper! Fill ink holding the barrel's open end up until the level reaches the inside thread area, screw on the waxed thread section - and the pen will write for a surprisingly long time for a roller before requiring a refilling. Provided one keeps refilling every time the pen becomes 3/4s empty (due to physics, the warmth of your hand will expand air in the barrel at that point and push more ink forward than is demanded by the ball - which will decrease your word count per filling...so, to avoid this - just refill each time it becomes 3/4s empty).

Unfortunately, many retailers want you to buy an expensive pen - and the Kaweco Sport ink ball is NOT expensive. Few retailers carry it, fewer stores (so one does have to look about search engines and web sites a bit to find one at a good price - price should be $5 to $10 range, but keep in mind each time you refill it is the equivalent of most $2+ roller ball pens entire ink word count, so the savings add up over time before the pen eventually wears out), but when using Noodler's Black ink this pen is just about the most permanent and bleed through/feather resistant pen on earth...super smooth and frugal with its use of this ink to the extreme. A little bee's wax or candle wax for sealing, an eyedropper, and Noodler's Black - with this word count champion - can write more UV light proof, water proof, bleach proof, feather and bleed through resistant lines than any other combination available.

A couple web sites for your information:

http://members.aol.com/scaupaug/ink/index.html

www.NoodlersInk.com

When looking for the elusive "ink ball" pens, be sure the barrel is clear plastic (both to see your ink supply as well as to increase the odds that it is the right model) and be sure to ask the retailer that this pen uses fountain pen ink (cartridge form, though there is no need to buy cartridges if you seal the chamber with bee's wax....you not only avoid the costs of cartridges and the waste of tossing out so much plastic for so little ink but you expanded the ink capacity several times over per filling!). Some Kaweco Sport roller balls have complete refill units - these are NOT the refillable models and are not ball tipped fountain pen feeding mechanisms. The WW II era based design is the clear barrel "ink ball" model.

[Platofish]

I've been using Moleskines for a few years now (3, maybe 4). I usual have 3 or 4 on the go at all times: large line, plain and sketching versions, and a small plain pocket version.

In the written versions I tend to use a variety of pens. I have a smallish Montblanc fountain pen, with a fine nib, that I bought on e-bay. It doesn't bleed through too much, certainly not as much as a medium weight rollerball. I like the feel of the fountain pen, and the fact that I have to write somewhat carefully.

The other times I use a trusty rotring pencil. Its one of those multi-purpose mechanical pencil/pens. So, I can write in pencil, highlight in red or blue ink.

Yip. Reading this, its a sad addiction.

[Mike]

I officially switched over to a Lamy Safari and a Waterman Expert 2 fountain pen loaded with the Noodler's black ink mentioned above. I finally found that perfect balance between a truely durable long-lasting and the tradition of a fountain pen. The $35 cost for the fountain pen, converter, and a bottle of Noodler's is a bit more than a bic but it lasts far longer and is much more fun to write with.

You will definitely need to use blotter paper. I use a sheet of paper that I stick between the pages I write with as I switch pages or close the notebook up.

I still carry Pilot G2s as a backup or a loaner pen, but my pens of choice are my Lamy and my Waterman Expert. I may invest in a piston-filling Pelikan pretty soon.

I love that Noodler's ink! Thanks for stopping by, Nathan!

[Mike]

My mom showed me an article about the new Pilot Permaball pen. It's marketed as the world's first permanent ink-ball pen. I think its more of a ball-point than a rollerball. It's a sealed case, non-refillable capped pen that runs about $1.50US. It writes nicely, a bit broad. It has a rubber grip and a nice snap-on cap. Not a bad pen. The site labels it as: "Acid Free/Archival Safe permanent ink is non-toxic, water-proof, fade-proof and smear proof".

Lets match it up to Mike Shea's Pen Criteria:

Acid free - yes
Fade proof - yes
Archival safe - yes
Waterproof - yes
Cheap - yes
Replacable - yes
Refillable or fills other fancier pens - no
Sex appeal - low
Traditional - low

As a ballpoint pen, its permanence is the selling point. G2's, however, can fill up a variety of other fancier pens such as Rotring and Waterman. G2's are also available in more locations...I had to go to three stores to find the Permaball.

The Pilot Permaball has two big advantages to G2s or fountain pens. The Pilot Permaball doesn't smear at all, even right after writing, and it won't blot over on the opposite page of a Moleskine. The ink drys immediately.

If you are looking for a nice cheap ballpoint pen that won't smear, won't blot, writes well, feels good, and meets Mike's archival standards, this is the pen for you.

If you like the G2 but don't like the way it bleeds over from page to page or the way it smears, give the Pilot Permaball a try.

I'm really happy to see so many pens that are now advertising their permanence over long periods of time. Between G2s, this Pilot Permaball, and Nathan Tardaff's excellent Noodler's ink, we have some of the best pens and inks in the history of the world. We're far ahead of the days of books burned from iron gall ink and parchment faded from water and light.

[Mike]

One thing I forgot to mention, the Pilot Permaball has a VERY thick line, something along the lines of 1.0 or .9. It is much wider than .7mm G2s.

It's a nice pen but I'm sticking to my Noodler's loaded fountain pen.

[Mike]

Based on a lot of recommendations, I ordered my most expensive pen yet, the Nakimi Vanishing Point Fine. I can't wait to fill it up wth Noodlers and see what it writes for me!

[idkel]

I like the Zebra PocketPen. It's tiny, but writes well. Clip it on the moleskin and you barely know it's there. Like to travel light, you know. Plus, after spending too much money on the moleskin, it's affordable.

[Lucky]

After seeing a post about the JetPens by Pilot, I just had to order one... or a few, which I did, and I was amazed by the fine points they produced and the smoothness of the gel. I'm a sucker for a thin writer.

[Ed Svoboda]

I just finished an article at my site about what I found works in terms of inks and fountain pens in these wonderful notebooks. Ink that dries quickly helps a great deal. The article can be found here: http://fountainpenforum.com/e107/content.php?article.23

[Kisane]

I'm a newbie to Moleskines. Just got my first one a month ago. So far, my Pilot G-TEC-C4 has been great. It's fine enough to sketch in the notebook and does not bleed to the next page. The G-2s are great too. Heard that their refills fit Waterman's rollerball pens. Any particular one or all them??

[johnny]

looks like they're carrying the Pilot G2 in 0.38mm at jetpens now -- www.jetpens.com

it's a bit more than $1, but i haven't been able to find this size in the us ANYWHERE

[deadmuse]

The Waterman Phileas Rollerball pen does indeed take the G2 refill. I just bought one to go with my set of two Waterman Phileas fountain pens and the G2 refill is a snug fit whereas the original Waterman catridge rattled around against the casing.

Mike Shea has done some testing with G2 refills and discusses other models which take the G2 refill at his website. I recommend looking through this and other articles for some valuable ideas.

http://mikeshea.net/articles/001249.html

[Patrick]

I used Pilot G2's until I discovered the Uniball Jetstream SX-210.
It is so much better than the G2's, that I gave away all my G2's to other people. I simply did not use them anymore.
The point of the Jetstream is 1.0 mm, the writing is 0.7 mm (weird).
The pen writes very smooth, the ink dries extremely fast and is very durable.
And top of the bill, the pen is quiet cheep.
For me, the best pen I ever used.

[Tobias]

Reading Scaupaug's suggestion about filling ink directly into the barrel of Kaweco ink-ball pens gave me the idea of filling ink directly into the barrel of cheap Tesco's fountain pens. These pens are available for £0.97 at Tescos in England, and have clear plastic barrels. I tried filling some with Private Reserve Tanzanite and Avocado inks, and they write beautifully. Much more smoothly, in fact, than my Lamy Safari. The ink capacity is huge, too. They write quite a wet line, but the ink doesn't soak through the pages of my journal (which is Moleskin lookalike from WH Smith). Thanks for the good idea, Scaupaug.

[Neil]

just curious to know if anyone else uses the Uni-Ball Vision Elite, 0.5 and 0.8 ? i can't say enough good words about these, and for once, i can actually use both the fine and the extra fine tip versions of one pen.

[Johnny G.]

The .05 is wonderful in the Moleskine. You're not alone:)

[Lionel Santoso]

Lamy Pico Matt Black

http://www.lamyusa.com/pico.html

[Cin]

After all these years, my favourite pen is a Pilot "Birdie" Fountain pen. This pen comes with a converter, so I tend to switch between different J. Herbin 'La Perle Des Encres' inks and the Pilot cartridges.

After reading about the issues other fountain pen users were experiencing, I was quite concerned about the effects it would have on the blank pages of my new moleskine, but I shouldn't have worried. No feathering whatsover!

[Craig]

I've been writing in moleskines for a few years and have never run into any problems with the bleeding problems which so many people have talked about. I usually use two different pens, one is a montblanc mozart series, which I received as a gift a few years back. The other I purchased from Pens by Ryan, which is a site that sells bespoke pens which are all handmade from various materials, including exotic woods. The FPs work great, writing smoothly and can use either cartridges or have an ink pump so they can draw ink from a bottle. These pens are absolutely gorgeous. I write with a Bubinga Gentleman's FP, and it is my new favorite pen. I take it absolutely everywhere.
http://www.pensbyryan.com

[bjorke]

Try the UNI "PowerTank" -- hard to find in the States BUT it comes in multiple colors, is pressurized like the Fisher, form factor like the G2, $3

[Johnny G.]

Bjorke, check out OfficeMax. They have everything Uni-Ball, and you can buy online:)

[-d-]

I think it was in Metafilter somebody suggested the disposable (and cheap) sakura microns

Has anyone used them?

[Christopher Meisenzahl]

Mostly use a Namiki/Pilot Vanishin Point fountain pen w/ Noodler's waterproof ink. Sometimes a Lamy 2000 w/ XF nib or Pilot G@ Blue Gel pen.

Chris
http://amateureconblog.blogspot.com/

[calzino]

io per scrivere nel mio moleskine uso una matia faber castel 2B o HB :) bel blog complimenti!!

[Brennan]

When writing in my moleskine, i prefer to use either a Lamy safari or my favorite: the Zig writer. It is actually a marker that has two different sized points (i use the finer of the two). As far as I know, these pens are fairly rare, but you should be able to pick one up at any good art supply store.

[Newton]

I really must join the chorus of folks extolling the virtues of Uniball pens. Although I make occassional use of Waterman, ACME, Zebra and Namikia VP pens (all of which work well and certainly keep the creativity flowing), I absolutely swear by Uniball. In particular, the Uniball Signo (207) gel ink (for ultra-smooth writing) and the Uniball Elite rollerball (for very fine and, in my opinion, swift writing) are the best bets. Very stylish in their design as well as extremely well-suited for Moleskine notebooks. In fact, I often wonder if Uniball pens were developed for Moleskine notebooks!

[Marcus]

I always have a Rotring 600 ballpoint (with a fine point refill) and a bal or blue Pilot G2. .5mm or the .38mm versions that you can get. I found mine at www.jetspens.com.

I'm hoping to get my handss on the G2 minis or the G2 Pro as soon as I can.

[Janne]

I'm currently using a modern Parker 45 fountain pen with medium nib, and Noodler's black ink. It works wonderfully with a plain Moleskine. No bleed through, and a really nice smooth writing experience. Parker's blue cartridges work well too, but the Noodler's is better. I have a sketch pad (not Moleskine) with heavy, not so smooth paper and that's not very friendly to this pen/ink. Somehow the ink flow is weaker and there is some skipping. But for Moleskins this is a killer combination. I have also used Parker medium roller ball. I like the pen, and it writes well, but the bleed through is pretty bad.

[Josh]

I use G2's to write in my moleskins. The bold, expressive ink creates beautiful letters which flow into beautiful expressive sheets in moleskin journals... a perfect combination. I like to think Mark Twain would have used G2's and moleskins.

[Enoch Soames]

If someone has already suggested this, forgive the repetition, but I've decided the perfect Moleskine fountain pen is a Namiki Falcon with a fine nib. No bleedthrough, a beautiful, clear, delicate (almost spidery) line. For the first week or so I thought it might be _too_ thin (and it is for most other applications) but for writing in a Moleskine it's terrific. FYI, Namiki is owned by Pilot; in Japanese pen tradition, their fine point is _very_ fine.

[edward]

hi there
i use a roting artpen i bought about 10 years ago.
unfortunately it cant use waterproof ink so i am thinking of buying a set of koh-i-noor rapidographs.
they dont sell them here in australia but there are quite a few sellers on ebay.
does anyone have an information about these pens in regards to sketching. i hope these are not like the Roting rapidograph pen which were perfect for techincal drawing but not so good for sketching. thanks
edward

[Bill]

Edward,

Order some Noodler's Ink, which is made for modern fountain pens. The Black, Eternal Brown, and Legal Lapis are totally waterproof once they dry.

Koh-i-Noor rapidographs are good for technical drawing, but like the Rotring they make absolutely uniform lines. No flexibility whatsoever in line width. If you are sketching you probably want a pen with a flexible nib. You could also try a Sailor Profit pen or a Sailor Super Script pen, both of which have 4-in-1 nibs, although these are mainly intended for writing in Chinese or Japanese characters. See http://www.pendemonium.com/pens_sailor.htm.

Best,
Bill Brandon

[Edward]

thanks Bill for your advice
the ink you mentioned sounds good
i bought some fountain pen ink in cartridges (schneider - a german brand) these cartridges are pretty standard and fitted the Roting art pen).
the ink flows well but every now and again it will stop and i have to squeeze the cartridge until i see some ink flow into the nib)
the ink is not waterproof.
anyway i also spent big and bought my first Moleskine- the sketchbook- cant wait to start working on it.

thx for your advice on the Koh-i-nor
i have seen quite a few sets of them on ebay
the blurb says they are ideal for sketching but they certainly look like techincal pens.
cheers
edward

[Roger Dismore]

As a custom pen maker, I love to put the Pilot G2 Gel cartridges in my Platinum rollerball pens. They do write the best! Anyone looking for a custom, stylish, comfortable pen with a Pilot G2 refill should please checkout my site: PenDesigns.com
Thanks, Roger

[Gerard]

Some here have complained about the G2 bleeding and/or smearing. The paper in the Moleskine planners is thinner than the traditional Moleskine notebook. How would the G2 work in the planners? Better ideas for the thinner paper?

[John]

Gerard, I have found that the G2 (while awesome) doesn't dry fast enough for the planners/diaries. It's hard to jot something down and then close the book up.

I like Marvy Uchida's "Le Pen" for Moleskines (when not using pencils). They are a little harder to find than G2s, but they are available online from places like MisterArt.com and eBay.

They are as rich as G2s, almost as cheap, last as long, and they dry faster than anything else. To boot, they come in a rainbow of colors. The brown is the nicest fall color I have ever seen: darkish brown with purple/wine tints. A treat!

[Drew]

I use a Dr.Grip Center Gravity pen, definitely the best pen I have ever written with. It rolls right along with incredible smoothness and absolutely no drag.

[J.D. Williams]

I really like the Uniball Micro ($0.50 apiece; I buy a box of 12 at Office Depot). A no-nonsense pen at an unbeatable price. I found one in a parking lot, picked it up and used it, loved the way it felt. I was shocked to find out how inexpensive.

However, I am seriously considering taking a look at the new Uniball Signo Bit, mentioned earlier this year in Wired, with its 0.18 mm ball. Very popular among school kids, the article said, who use them to write tiny notes between the lines of schoolbooks. The ball is so small that the pen requires special frictionless ink.

[Wolster]

After reading these posts I bought a Pilot G2. Maybe they are different in Australia but it was not a good writing experience. For low-cost pens, try the uni-ball eye fine. Comes in packs of various colours & writes beautifully. I also enjoy using my Lamy Safari fountain pen & have just bought a Waterman Expert fountain pen on eBay. I also bought on eBay a replica (better word than fake)Montblanc Starwalker rollerball. Great pen & is terrific with the optional fine liner refill in the moleskine.
btw. I have several moleskines in different sizes & have had no problems with the paper.
Wolster

[Pete Lenz]

The other day I was in CVS to pick up a one subject ruled notebook for a few papers I have to draft[I know, not a moleskine!] and I noticed that they had a Pilot G-6 pen. I've been using Pilot G-2 .07mm for quite some time now, they're the best pen I've written in a Moleskine with for sure. I decided to pick one up. It's got a fatter barrel which makes writnig a little less stressful on the hand[like the Dr. Grip-another good pen] It's a pretty good write. All you G-2 users should check one out.

[Alex Metzger]

Personally, I'm using a Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine pen, and I really like it. I have a bigger ruled moleskine, and the mark it makes is dark, and it's right on the edge of bleeding through, but it stops just short. I find it works very well until I make a mistake and have to blot something out. But I'm in the habit of just putting a line through and initialing (EMT) so it's not that big of a deal. I'd definitely recccomend it.

[thewhippet2003]

I have used a variety of pens. I love Space Pens, and Vanishing Points. Each have their uses. I also have had success with economical fountain pens. I am actually selling three such pens (a gorgeous Taccia Doric plus two handmade wood Pens By Ryan) in a beautiful display case. This is not a retail sale, but is from my own collection. If you are looking for a great value starter set of fountain pens, try eBay and search item 6590336341.

[David J]

I use fountain pens with my Moleskeine notebooks. My favorite is a Sailor 1911 with an extrafine nib. It will write small enough to fit 3 lines between the lines on the page and still be legible. A blotter page to go between the pages is needed to prevent marking the opposite page on closing, but it's not a big deal.

By the way, the Pelikan R458 is an ink-ball fountain pen as described above and uses a convertor or cartridge. They are available from Pendemonium. They have a heavy line, so aren't my first choice for moleskine writing.

[LCL]

does anyone have any comments on either the waterman laureat or the waterman hemisphere fountain pens? my mother gave me the unused laureat w/ medium nib and it seems like a really efficient pen as far as fountain pens go, but i'm new to the pen fanatic world and i was just curious about other people's thoughts...

thanks.

[Luz]

When not using a Cross mechanical pencil (thick lead) I use pens by Foray/0.7 which sort of write like mechanical pencils.

[ChainWhip]

For ballpoint/rollerball: Uni-Ball Signo 207 (bulletproof like Noodler's Black) - tried the G2, but it skipped too much on me. The Signo 207 is always consistent with the ink flow AND is super-smooth.

Fountain pen ink: Currently using Noodler's Black, Legal Lapis, Eternal Brown (all 3 are waterproof and chemically bonds to paper).

Fountain pen(s): Lamy Studio, Pelikan 805, Sheaffer Legacy 2, OMAS Arco Brown

[Deano]

Moleskine/Retro51 nirvana ... I've been wrestling with a thorny problem: I love Retro51 pens, I love my Moleskine (don't we all), but the Parker Gel 0.7mm refills I use in the Tornado are too thick and bleed through the regular Moleskine paper. The answer: cut down a Pilot G2 extra fine refill! The regular G2 refills don't fit, but by removing the wee black cap, cutting about 0.25" off the end and refitting the cap, the extra fine G2 gel refills work just dandy in the Retro51! Finally silky smooth Moleskine paper plus silky smooth Pilot G2 ink plus extra fine lines that don't bleed through ... ahhh Moleskine/Retro51 Nirvana!

[Larry K.]

I currently use an Omas Paragon with fine nib and Noodlers Black Ink. There is absolutely no bleed through! Noodlers Ink is the perfect combination for Molskine. Be sure to use a sheet of paper as a blotter insert. I love the fact that with Noodlers Permanent Black there is some mysterous alchemical reaction between the ink and paper fibers as the ink flows out to lock your words set in concrete!

[Gordon]

Like many, I'm finding the Pilot G2 0.7 almost perfect - no bleed, minimal smearing...

but I'm seriously tempted to get some ink for a Mont Blanc fountain pen (Xmas gift from years ago, never used) and trying it.

Any thoughts?

[Johnny]

Fisher makes a space pen refill for Mont Blanc roller ball pens (and others) that is thick and lasts a long time. The recent formulation (which is new, unless I'm crazy, since it's blacker, smoother and better) of space pen ink is great in Moleskines, too. You can get them online here:
http://www.penwa.com/fisher/refills.htm
If you scroll down, you'll see the one they have for Mont Blancs. If decide to try them, please let us know what you think:)

[Simao M]

I really like the look of the fisher space pen, but I hate the ink, is there any refill that fits in the space pen, but with the ink and nib like the pilot g2 0.5?

Regards,
Simao

[SG]

I am amazed that so many people like the blotchy writing, smears for days Pilot G2. I remembered not liking this pen very much, but had to go find one in my stash to remember why. Sure enough, with a G2 .7mm in a brand new Cahier, a short written word blotched, bled through (but not too much), and blotted on the opposing page. It's headed for the trash.

My heart belongs to the relatively new Pilot PreciseGrip Extra Fine. I am amazed there is only one other mention of it here. It has a silky feel on paper, a rubber grip with perfect "touch," writes a blotch-less line, and absolutely no smear, bleed-through or blotting on any paper I have tried it on. I can get them in bulk at BJs for less than a dollar each. I travel a great deal, and am sensitive to pens that even think about leaking on airplanes, and I can tell you that my good linen jackets are totally safe with this pen in the pocket.

Dump the G2. Move up to the PreciseGrip. It does not get any better.

[Dan]

I'm waiting for some new 'skines.

In the meantime, I've tried some Faber Castell PITT Artist Pens, and they're fairly amazing. The ink is waterproof, lightfast, acid-free, and pH-neutral. It's basically a disposable India ink pen.

I think they're reasonably priced, $1.59 a pop at Blick. I was only comfortable using a superfine nib, which comes in black and sepia. So far, my testing on basic looseleaf paper is promising.

Also, has anyone had success with the Faber Castell bottled ink/cartridges?

This is my first time at this loverly website, and I too can attest to the warm, fuzzy feeling of finding you!

[JZ]

In addition to what SG mentions I would like to add the pocket clips on the G-2's break very easily.

[David Stuart]

The Namiki/Pilot Vanishing Point with fine nib is spectacular. They can be bought new on Ebay for @ $80. Replacement nibs(14K) in various widths can be had for about $20 and pop in. I write about 1200 legal pages a year with them. They don't bleed through because of the fine line. The new blue/black ink cartridges dry very quickly and , though not as permanent as Noodler's, aren't bad for travelling.
If you use a mechanical pencil, the Pentel Technica .05mm can't be beat with medium-hard lead. Easy on the hands and a great shaped grip.

[M.Melnicki]

INK-BALL // NOODLERS INK REVIEWS // PENS

Scaupaug's Feb 13 2005 post is really interesting. Let me inquire more: are you saying that bottle ink can be used in a ball-type pen? I've been wondering about this: are there any rollerball refills into which someone could inject bottled ink with a syringe? I couldn't find the pens that were recommended. And the wax trick isn't clear to me.

I just received a shipment of more noodler's colors -- the legal lapis and the iraqi indigo (from pendemonium.com) are BEAUTIFUL. I wasn't expecting them to be that nice. I will now be eager to write all the time, even more so to go back over my notes. I also got the eternal brown, which i'm not ecstatic about (it looks more greenish). Another color I got was antietam, very lovely orangey-red color. Redder than rust, a moderate darkness (i was trying to decide between it and tiananmen, which i heard is more like blood)... i'm addicted to all their colors, but it's so hard to judge from the pictures people have put on the internet. I had previously bought a sequoia from Noodler's -- stay away! it's practically black... Yuck, a waste (anyone in the SF bay area want to trade something for it?!!) I also have the beaver - a very nice brick red/brown. Beaver is a good descriptive name for it, I think! And the golden-brown. This is honestly my favorite color, but it is not very waterproof at all, and also looks totally different on different papers and with different size nibs, and also at different points in the writing... it seems like some of the dyes do not mix perfectly? (sometimes it is yellowish-gold, sometimes it is a deep warm dark yellow, sometimes a "golden brown" as it is described)...

Hey, can more people on here post their reviews of other Noodler's colors? I'm really in the market for a green.

When I get all my pens that I recently ordered (right now I have more inks than pens), I will perhaps scan a page of all of them compared to one another, but I really think opinions and recommendations are most valuable... And, of course, it all depends what your eye likes. Personally, I go for things that are unique...

And then pens (sorry this is getting to be a long post!), I just got into this fountain pen hobby, but my favorite so far is the Sensa Meridian... more expensive than what people on here seem to be recommending, but if you hound on Ebay (and grovel to some of the sellers) you can get one for a good price (i got one for 22 and another for 27, without shipping)... I'm hooked... but now everyone at the university thinks i'm a dork (as if they didn't already!)

cheers!

[M.Melnicki]

KAWECO SPORT INK BALL
(for best words-per-volume-of-ink, as cited above by Scaupaug)
okay, I found a link for one:
http://www.pencity.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/Kaweco/KawecoSportIceRollerball.htm?L+scstore+vwon7399+1139814304

I assume that the difference here is that these rollerballs take cartridges, not proprietary refills. Can one just fill the cartridge with a bottled ink? (instead of this "wax the threads" trick? And are there any other rollerballs that take cartridges?

Cheers.

[Simao M]

The lamy ballon also accepts cartridges, but I don't think the drying time is fast enough for me :\

[M.Melnicki]

Got my Kaweco Sport Ink Ball today.
I have to say that I don't like it, because it leaves a very thick line. It simply can't write in tight spaces. I haven't tried it with Noodler's ink yet; I just plugged in the cartridge that came with it. The ball is rather small on it, though. So, perhaps the thick line could be caused by the surfactant in the particular ink in that cartridge. I have a hard time believing that this pen gives superior words:volume efficiency. Maybe it's because I need to fill it up with ink completely using the beeswax trick? I'm not willing to waste any Noodler's on that, though. I'll take my class notes with this one, to empty out that cartridge. But I ain't touching my journal with it!!!

[Àngel]

I use a magnificent Tombow Zoom 414 2006 collection pencil,black pen & Palm pen ALL IN ONE to combine the most traditional Moleskine attitude with my high tech obsession.

[Bill the Learning Solutions Editor]

Several months ago, I bought a Kaweco Sport Ink Roller that had been modified by Nathan Tardiff so that it is now an eyedropper pen. He added two o-rings to the upper part of the section, and sealed the feed so there's no way anything is going to leak ink. When refilling the pen, I use a little silicone grease on the o-rings to keep them from drying out. Works like a champ, and a refill of ink will keep the pen writing for weeks. The pen uses either Noodler's Black, or Noodler's American Eel ink (keeps the ball lubricated). I use American Eel Blue.

The line from this pen is wider than the one produced by a medium width fountain pen nib, but not as wide as a broad nib. It is a "wet" line. However, the Noodler's does not soak through Moleskine paper; it does dry a little more slowly than regular Noodler's (I guess it's the lubricant in the Eel ink), so if I close the notebook right after writing, some of the ink will transfer to the facing page. I know that everyone has his or her own taste, but my experience has been very different from M. Melnicki's. I like the converted pen, and use it without any significant problems in my notebooks. I don't try to write microscopically small, so perhaps that's the difference.

I just checked the Swisher Pens site (which is where I bought mine) and found that he is no longer offering the converted ink roller, but he does have converted Kaweco roller ball pens and converted Kaweco fountain pens. The roller ball pen is at http://www.swisherpens.com/catalog/kaweco/kaweco-eyedropper-rollerball-pen.htm. I paid $14.75 for my converted inkball, and it looks like the price is the same for the rollerball. The eyedropper fountain pen is $19.25.

I don't know about that "beeswax trick" -- it would be interesting to hear from someone who has tried it.

[Desert Vox]

Lo and behold, my Lamy Safari is starting to leak ink at the upper nib. This only happens when I am using the convertor, not refill cartridges. Any suggestions. I love bottled ink and hate cartridges!

[LCL]

desert vox: save empty cartridges and refill them with bottled ink via a syringe. it works great.

Desert Vox, there are three options you could consider. First, try thoroughly cleaning and flushing the nib unit and the converter. This is the "free" fix. When you're cleaning and flushing the nib unit and converter, check to see whether the converter unit looks ok (I've had them go bad) and also look down into the nib unit to see if the little "spike" that the converter fits onto looks ok.

Second, hav