A real tool, A PEN? Which one do you guys prefer?

[jshultz78]

Crayons

 

[Stephenw]

I like the Zebra F-701. It is mostly steel so it lasts a long time, but is inexpensive if lost. The retraction mechanism is plastic and eventually wears out.

I use fine blue ink cartridges because I fill out a lot of government paperwork.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

It's interesting the BLACK INK versus BLUE INK on documents. I assume they want you to use BLACK to make it hard to identify the original document versus a photocopy?

I make pens as gifts and find it a fun hobby. Of course you need tools for this hobby too . . . I prefer making pens out of acrylic blanks as they really POP as opposed to wood blanks. I have a hard time getting good wood for pen turning without paying big $$$ for them . . .

Below are some of my creations. My daughter started busting my chops - what are you going to give as gifts after you have already given them a pen? Another pen or a magnifying glass - of course.

I keep all of the odds and ends in my Craftsman Crown Logo machinists chest - to bring my post to official Garage journal OT status.

Cheers

Jim

 

[jvitez]

I write a lot at work. My main pen is a Pelikan 400N in green which uses easy to obtain Parker refills. I have to write on triplicate papers so I need a pen to which I can apply some pressure.

I also regularly use one of the these two fountain pens when I'm writing on something at work that doesn't require "carbon" copies: a Parker IM, or Lamy Nexx. They both have steel nibs. Gold nibs are silky smooth wonders and much preferred over steel nibs which feel quite a bit more scratchy, but I need the strength of a steel nib in case I use it on triplicate papers.

A colleague makes fountain pens as a hobby. He honed the Parker IM's nib for me which made a definite difference in smoothness. I'm going to continue to use nice pens until we go fully computerized.....the horror!!!!