# Recommend a good pen that always writes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 20, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352 "2010-07-20T15:25:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/21 "2010-07-21T15:31:42Z")
Grilled (pan or charcoal), broiled, poached, fried, baked, roasted, or boiled on the stovetop. Never microwaved. ---
**Author:** ![eno801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@eno801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eno801)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/22 "2010-07-21T15:38:05Z")
I got a fisher space pen refill and stuck it in a parker pen (comes with adapter) works great. as an aside I hate that damn rubber/gel they put for better “grip” on most pens nowadays. hard to find one without that crap. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/23 "2010-07-21T15:57:31Z")
I’m another G-2 fan. I used to be a Uni-ball snob, but the Pilot G-2 has won me over. StG ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/24 "2010-07-21T16:30:39Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Would you please explain this? It makes absolutely no sense to me. I would think the ball and its fitting are radially symmetrical and thus left- or right-handed could make no difference. Left handed people push the pen tip instead of dragging it like right handers. Many (most) of the liquid ink/gel pen will start skipping within a few minutes of use. The old style (thick ink) ball-point pen won’t do this. The alternative for me would be a “thick ink” pen like a Bic Atlantis or a nice Cross pen. Writing with a Pilot Precise V5 is like writing with a fountain pen only without the mess. Artists love the consistency of the pen. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/25 "2010-07-21T16:52:57Z")
I’m no professional, and I almost never buy pens. (I got enough at trade shows, etc.). But after I found a [Uni-ball Jetstream 1.0](http://www.penreview.com/penreview/uni_ball_jetstream_0) in a parking lot, I had to buy 3 more when it ran out. Compared to generic pens, it’s very light and smooth, and (despite the review), they’ve never run out on me. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/26 "2010-07-21T17:12:17Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Left handed people push the pen tip instead of dragging it like right handers. Hadn’t thought of that. I’m a lefty and hadn’t experienced any problems, but then again I hardly ever use that type of pen. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/27 "2010-07-21T17:21:43Z")
_“Cause sometimes I write in bed and I have to turn and lean on my elbow to make the pen work.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/28 "2010-07-21T18:08:20Z")
Another for the Pilot G2. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/29 "2010-07-21T18:43:57Z")
> [@eno801](#): > > I got a fisher space pen refill and stuck it in a parker pen (comes with adapter) works great. as an aside I hate that damn rubber/gel they put for better “grip” on most pens nowadays. hard to find one without that crap. I’d like to try this. Is there a specific Parker I need, or any of the Parkers? For instance, I kind of like [this](http://www.amazon.com/Refillable-Ballpoint-Action-PAR1739146-Category/dp/B000Y8L69W/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=office-products&qid=1279737754&sr=8-7)one. ---
**Author:** ![eno801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@eno801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eno801)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/30 "2010-07-23T17:14:34Z")
as long as it takes this type of refill [http://www.amazon.com/Ballpoint-Refills-Parker-Medium-PAR30316/dp/B00006IE9R/ref=pd\_sbs\_op\_1](http://www.amazon.com/Ballpoint-Refills-Parker-Medium-PAR30316/dp/B00006IE9R/ref=pd_sbs_op_1) it should work and it seems cheaper if that is what parker refills are going for. I got mine for $4.39 at office depot. ---
**Author:** ![eno801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@eno801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eno801)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/31 "2010-07-23T17:28:10Z")
hey look it’s online [http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/856608/Fisher-Space-Pen-Refill-Black-Ink/?cm\_mmc=Mercent-_-Google-_-Pens\_Pencils\_and\_Markers-\_-856608](http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/856608/Fisher-Space-Pen-Refill-Black-Ink/?cm_mmc=Mercent-_-Google-_-Pens_Pencils_and_Markers-_-856608) too. I’ve seen some 2-packs too, but I know for sure the single refill has the little adapter to put on top for parker pens. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/32 "2010-07-23T20:51:46Z")
Add me to the Pilot G2 fans. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/33 "2010-07-24T00:07:39Z")
The Uni-ball Vision line of pens is relatively cheap and they work great. I never have a problem with ink flow or the pens drying up after long period of disuse. My current fave is the [Sharpie Pen](http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Product/Sharpie_Pen.html), which has a nice feel with great precision and consistency. It also is generally slightly cheaper than the Uni-ball. I have no idea how it holds up over long periods of use and disuse, though. It is not a ball-point, which may be a plus, depending on your pen preferences. Looking at the above recommendations, I will be another person to suggest the Pilot Precise V5 (or V7). I have used those pens at work and they rock! I believe they are a little more expensive than the others though. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/34 "2010-07-24T05:43:19Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I have a Pentel pen that I got from some promotion (it has “Kaiser Permanente” printed on it) and I use it for writing notes at my desk and such. > > Sometimes it sits for days, capped or uncapped, and I never have a problem with it writing right away. Never have a problem with it smudging, either. I’ve been using it for at least a year, maybe two. > > Looking at the Pentel Web site, I would say the pen is [the RSVP Fine Line](http://www.pentel.com/catalog_product.php?id=83). I, three or four or something, like the Pentel RSVP. I’ve been using them for years. A few years ago I found some short ones that came with a key chain thing and a hole in the top for it to go through, and used them for a couple years until I lost part of the blue one, and had to search and search until I finally found some more (black ink and red ink sucks! and the green is kind of cool but sometimes you want a normal color…now I have green AND blue on my key chain, and all is well). But they’re good pens–comfortable, write well, not expensive, and having a pen on your key chain comes in handy soo often! ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/35 "2010-07-24T19:23:02Z")
A good fountain pen is lovely, but my go to is the Uni-Ball Vision, with green ink–that’s just a personal trademark, of course. Probably 7mm, but I’d have to have a look–I’ve not been doing too much hand-writing lately. The Pilot Precise is also nice, but I tend to wind up bending the tip long before I run out of ink–sometimes from drops, sometimes (perhaps) from the fact that I tend to use too much pressure when I’m writing. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/36 "2010-07-25T02:24:15Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Don’t put pens in the microwave. They have small metal parts that could spark and start a fire. I think I might have figured out why your pens stop writing…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/37 "2010-07-25T02:53:54Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > _“Cause sometimes I write in bed and I have to turn and lean on my elbow to make the pen work.”_ Take the pen! ---
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352/38 "2010-07-25T03:30:13Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > > [@acsenray](#): > > > > Don’t put pens in the microwave. They have small metal parts that could spark and start a fire. > > I think I might have figured out why your pens stop writing…😃 I figure the ink is like engine oil, with greater viscosity when warmed up. 44 seconds is still too long but only requires one paper towel for cleanup. Next time I might try putting it in a little pan of water to distribute the heat better and prevent sparking 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-pen-that-always-writes/547352.md?page=1)