Let's talk pens!

[ToolJoe]

I have gravitated towards Pentel pens lately. I carry a pastel colored click pen I call Miami Vice in my car. Also, have a couple non click RSVP pens at work. No clicker and pretty comfortable. Also, pretty cheap to replace if one takes a dump. All of these have readily available refills as well.

[BePrepared]

I have the Zebra F-xMD --- it's very similar to the F-701, looks the same but is (almost) all metal.  Zebra say the F-xMD is good if you are a surgeon or work in a pie factory, because all pieces of the pen are metal and will show up on X-ray if you loose it!   

I know people have modded the F-701 using the clicker part from the F-402, to get a metal clicker mechanism.  But the F-xMD has that now.  The only plastic piece I can see is an insert in the tip that stops the refill from rattling.  I replaced the Zebra refill with a space pen refill, and had to slightly enlarge the hole in this plastic piece to get a smooth action.

The F-xMD is the middle pen in the picture below.  From top to bottom I have a Uni Style Fit 3 colour pen, a black Uni Style fit 5 colour pen, then the Zebra F-xMD, a 5 colour Pilot Coleto (with some tape holding it together because I stepped on it one day), and a black Kuru Toga mechanial pencil.



My favourite pens are the Uni Style Fit Meister 3 Colour and the 5 Colour Multi Pens.  The pens take gel ink in a wide range of colours (see refills in the above picture --- each in a sealed tube) and widths 0.28mm, 0.38mm and 0.5mm, and also there are black/red/blue Jetstream ink refills --- these ballpoint inks are creamy smooth.  I carry the black/red/blue ink version every day at work in the 3 colour pen, along with the 5 colour version (is slightly wider) with more colours (highlighter type colours) for marking up documents and making tiny notes in margins in a nice thin 0.28mm brown or blue/black.

Here are some variations in the Style Fit family.  I think you can even get a pencil insert.



Here are some Coletos:



Coleto refills have a needle point and although I have heard good things about them, I found the gel inks smeared a little when wet, whereas the Style Fit gels were less prone to this.  The Coleto clicker is part of the refill and coloured to match the gel colour.  Whereas the Style Fit clicker is part of the pen itself.

And finally, the Kuro Toga mechanical pencil.  This is excellent!  Here's my spare, ready for when/if Ioose my current one.

[mrynnr]

Where’s a good place to buy the f-xmd?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BePrepared]

I got my F-xMD from https://www.cultpens.com/ (I'm in the UK).  The space pen refill for the F-xMD was a Schmidt 4889M Megaline Pressurised Ballpoint Pen Refill Medium Blue Single (SM16179-BU-1)

[MadPlumbarian]

I soooo want this pen, it’s a cool looking bolt but it’s solid aluminum, just a simple piece of stock drilled out to fit a ink cartridge with spring and a back end, but I love it cause of the knurled grip! But I think the guy who was making them just stopped.. my luck.
   The other thing that got me thinking was running out of ink while out, that would be my luck, so what about a pencil? Well they break, but what if protected, so how about a bullet? Same idea of a fisher space pen, doubles in size when time to use, I had one, no clue where it is, but I thought there cool, never dried up ink, won’t break, and are smaller, only downer is erasable.. if not a worrie, I saw these two, both heavy raw aluminum, like OMG those are cool..
JR

[Vladimir]

I carried Zebra F-701 as my edc last 4-5 years and I also wanted to mod it with F-402 clicker but I simply couldn't find one locally, and eBay shipping was as much as twice the price of the pen itself.
So, when Zebra produced F-xMD and my local distributor got them in stock I immediately bought one.
This is my edc pen set-up:
Zebra F-xMD, Staedtler 925 25 mechanical pen and small Sharpie.




Some of my other pens that I use occasionally:
Parker Jotters, Zebra F-301, Zebra F-701, Space pen and Field Notes graphite pen-I also own and use Inka pen but I forgot to include it in the photo.

[ThePeacent]

I didn't know we had a pens thread.
I've been toting around the Space Pen for 4 months now and I am very happy with it. Fits perfectly on my single-side-pocket Leatherman leather sheath

[Don Pablo]

I'm looking to get a raw brass Fisher pen.

[ThePeacent]

favorite one carried today, as usual

[ToolJoe]

I have started using Bic ballpoint pens that use refills. I bought a two pack of 1.6 mm pens and they didn't work the best so I called BIC and they said send them back and we will replace it free of charge. I got a package back a few days later with a self address envelope with a pack of new ballpoint pens and a coupon for up to a certain amount $$$ wise off of BIC stationary. Just wanted to give a plug to some great customer service. I will be using BIC pens going forward..

[Aloha]

Thats great to hear.  Unfortunate they didn't work out tho I"m sure you'll find something.  Have you tried the Zebra 701?  The 401 and F701 are pens I enjoy. 

[ToolJoe]

I haven't tried those. They sent me some Atlantis 1.6mm model pens which are really nice. I got a pack of 1.0 mm refills so I'm going to stick with these..

[chrono]

I have a thing for mechanical pencils, especially those made in Japan or Germany. Pentel is my go-to brand. I don't have favorite pens, simply because they are no longer made. I miss the old Papermate Write Bros stick pen with dark navy blue ink, medium point. Don't know why they no longer make them.

[ToolJoe]

Does anybody have experience with all weather pens? I'm thinking about one since I write outside in the rain sometimes and a regular pen doesn't hold up..

[Don Pablo]

Grant swears by his Fisher Bullet. 
And I'm getting my second one soon.

[MadPlumbarian]

Grant swears by his Fisher Bullet. 
And I'm getting my second one soon.

I love fisher bullets, although I lost the first, and this one I have cracked but still works for me..
JR

[Don Pablo]

Grant swears by his Fisher Bullet. 
And I'm getting my second one soon.

I love fisher bullets, although I lost the first, and this one I have cracked but still works for me..
JR

They're pretty tough.
It took a pair of pliers to break mine! 

[ReamerPunch]

Just saw this. What a pen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HowiuvlzjdU

[Don Pablo]

Just saw this. What a pen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HowiuvlzjdU

Why are pens with screw-on caps so appealing? 

[MadPlumbarian]

That’s nice, it’s just like mine that I got, but metal vs plastic, although I got mine for like $7 and that was for three, there’s even a pencil just like it and that’s metal, which kinda made me thinking, if it’s a pocket pen and the ink not only explodes ok cause it’s contained in that casing, but if it runs out? At least the pencil won’t do either.. mines only to write notes, so big deal, I’d really like a one piece solid pen and I like the bolt action, but again the ink can leak into the pocket, so I guess I’ll just stick with what I got..
JR

[Don Pablo]

Plastic? Bleh. 

 

[MadPlumbarian]

Plastic? Bleh. 

 

Oh I’d love something solid metal and not thin walled, but for now if I lose one of those plastic ones it’s no big deal..
JR

[AimlessWanderer]

Like with multitools, I don't really have any loyalties when it comes to pens. It either works for me, or it doesn't, and the name that's written on it is less important then the function and comfort.

Top Photo Attached:

I keep two pen pots, one upstairs and one downstairs, and they both have similar things in them. Scissors, propelling pencil, traditional pencil, refillable pens, disposable pens, bullet marker, italic marker, paper knife/letter opener, can all be found in each pot. Also in one of them is my two fountain pens, and a syringe for refilling the cartridges. I've found this far more efficient than using converters - in fact one pen only has a converter, and I refil that with a syringe too. I also have a tub of spares, and have way more pens than necessary. They just seem to accumulate, with no real intention to own more - where have we come across that problem before.... 

Middle Picture Attached:

Here's a sample of some of the pens. On the left hand side at the top with the clips to the left, are disposable pens that I have multiples of.

Uniball Signo 207 and Gel Grip (not shown)
Zebra Marathon gel pen
Offbrand (?) gel pen
Zebra Z-Grip
Papermate Flexgrip Ultra

Below that are branded pens, the likes of which are used as corporate giveaways or souvenirs. Some of these are really nice to write with. Five of the six shown are refillable, and there's a couple of others floating around somewhere too.

On the right hand side, from the top, clips to the right, are a few of the markers.

Sharpie Fine Point bullet marker
Berol Italic marker (Medium and fine)
Manuscript Italic marker (M & XB)

Below those, clips to the left, are an assortment of refillable pens.

Airpress Tombow
Rite In The Rain click pen
Offbrand ballpoint
Messograph
Parker Jotter
Zebra F-301
Olivewood pen which has a matching mechanical pencil

Bottom Picture Attached

My fountain pens are a Parker Vector calligraphy set, and a cheapo Lamy Safari clone. The Diamine Grape is the only ink I have at the moment, aside from the couple of Quink cartridges left in the calligraphy set. I hope to add a few more Diamine inks, as I've been very happy with this one in both pens.

[gustophersmob]

Randomly picking one of the pen threads to ask my questions:

I just picked up a zebra f-701 and did the f-402 clicky mod and added a space pen refill as well.

After doing some more reading, I learned that the smooth part of the barrel and the knurled grip section are two separate pieces and the inside liner is plastic (I knew that part from doing the mods). Just curious if anyone has ever had a problem with breaking these pens, specifically any of the plastic parts?

They're so much cheaper than any of the popular machined pens available that even if they do break they'd still be cost effective, but I'm just curious. Plus I don't really love plastic in my edc items, if avoidable.

Pic is of the modified pen.

[pfrsantos]

Plastic? Bleh. 

 

Oh I’d love something solid metal and not thin walled, but for now if I lose one of those plastic ones it’s no big deal..
JR

Anybody knows this Pablo O'Brien?!

 

 

[Don Pablo]

Plastic? Bleh. 

 

Oh I’d love something solid metal and not thin walled, but for now if I lose one of those plastic ones it’s no big deal..
JR

Anybody knows this Pablo O'Brien?!

 

 

Does he live in your area? Pablo sounds like a Portuguese name.   

[Mechanickal]

Plastic? Bleh. 

 

Oh I’d love something solid metal and not thin walled, but for now if I lose one of those plastic ones it’s no big deal..
JR

Anybody knows this Pablo O'Brien?!

 

 

Does he live in your area? Pablo sounds like a Portuguese name.   

Yes, I know him.

Like mags has said earlier:
A little immature but we miss him.

And he was the one who was called "The Bender".
He is the actual origin of "Pabloing".

He probably left in shame...

[gustophersmob]

What do you all think of this?

I'm not 100% satisfied with my recent zebra mod, mainly due to the plastic internals. So I was looking at other machined pens. Came across this CRKT/Ruger collaboration which is a licensed copy of the Fellhoelter tibolt in aluminum.

It is a nice weight, seems well made. Best part is its under $30 on eBay. Don't care much for the Ruger branding, though all 3 of my firearms happen to be rugers. Just prefer a plain look.

Just can't decide if it's worth $30 when I get my normal pilot G2 pens for free at work.

[gustophersmob]

With my LCP.

It also matches my other main edc items

[BePrepared]

Check earlier in this thread, for the F-xMD

I have the Zebra F-xMD --- it's very similar to the F-701, looks the same but is (almost) all metal.  Zebra say the F-xMD is good if you are a surgeon or work in a pie factory, because all pieces of the pen are metal and will show up on X-ray if you loose it!   

I know people have modded the F-701 using the clicker part from the F-402, to get a metal clicker mechanism.  But the F-xMD has that now.  The only plastic piece I can see is an insert in the tip that stops the refill from rattling.  I replaced the Zebra refill with a space pen refill, and had to slightly enlarge the hole in this plastic piece to get a smooth action.

But the F-xMD is silver/metallic.  So maybe if you get G2 pens at work, look at Kickstarter for pens that take a G2 refill?