Manly Writing Utensils

[DIY_Guy79]

Everyone needs writing/drawing utensils. A man in his garage or at work needs the best writing utensils. Just like any other tool, you want quality, durability, and top notch functionality. An enjoyable writing/drawing experience can improve everything from mood and concentration to basic handwriting. Here are my go to pen & pencil. I love both and very highy recommend.

For a regular pen, I recently got this Zebra F-701. Its all stainless steel very robust with a good quality feeling weight, and very nice to write with. My local walmart had it for under $6 which is a steal for how great of a pen this is. And you can use Parker pen refills in it.

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And for a pencil, I have tried Rotring, I've tried the higher end Pentels like the graph gear 1000.. But my all time favorite and absolute go to is the regular old Pentel Sharp. Under $5 at walmart if they have them. And various prices under $10 online. I'd suggest a heavier lead for marking rough surfaces like wood. They make a 0.9mm version.

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Do you have any preferences/suggestions?

 

[Matt XYZ]

And for a pencil, I have tried Rotring, I've tried the higher end Pentels like the graph gear 1000.. But my all time favorite and absolute go to is the regular old Pentel Sharp. Under $5 at walmart if they have them. And various prices under $10 online. I'd suggest a heavier lead for marking rough surfaces like wood. They make a 0.9mm version.

Do you have any preferences/suggestions?

I concur on the standard Pentil pencil P205, can't beat it for the money. It's all I used for as long as I can remember. I have them mailed to me in Germany and when I deployed to third world countries. My engineer OCD goes into overdrive when I can't find one and have to use a pen or other mechanical pencil.

 

[softailgarage]

If your looking for a manly pen, CRKT sells Tactical pens, you know, in case you should have to stab an editor in the throat . They come in Titanium, Tungsten & Aluminum, some designed as a bolt action so it can be used if there's ever a break down with the rifle your using to fight off all the autograph hounds . They run around $25-$40 on Amazon

 

[speed bump]

I've used a used a Zebra M-301 since I was probably in 4th grade. I'm not sure if they are manly but they disassemble into more pieces than most pencils so they got me through a lot of boredom.

 

[vavet]

Idk how manly they are, but I’m a big fan of the Pilot G2=gel ink pens. I like how easily they write, requiring little downforce to create a bold line. I also like click type pens so I can pull them out if my shirt pocket and start writing as a one handed operation. I prefer the extra fine 0.38mm tip, which I usually have to order through staples.
I use them at work and have a different color for each day of the week to help me keep track of when I took each note.

 

[matt_i]

My latest fave 0.5mm pencil is the Pentel Graphgear 500. I've tried almost every other one I could buy.

For pens I like the TUL (its a long U, like TOOL I think ) medium point, great flowing ink.

I do have a lot of love for #2 pencils still, been thru the various Dixon alternatives which are nice but my local Meijer started selling "America's Pencil" made in TN and I've been buying those. I think I have 5 pencil sharpeners between my house and shop

 

[mitusa]

Idk how manly they are, but I’m a big fan of the Pilot G2=gel ink pens. I like how easily they write, requiring little downforce to create a bold line. I also like click type pens so I can pull them out if my shirt pocket and start writing as a one handed operation. I prefer the extra fine 0.38mm tip, which I usually have to order through staples.
I use them at work and have a different color for each day of the week to help me keep track of when I took each note.

I use a pen every day at work and after work.......I won't buy anything but the Pilot G2 pens..I personally like the blue Bold 10. They make a bold mark and it's important for me that they are easy to see....and find when I look for them on a sheet of paper.

I've had people ask to use them and then ask what kind of pen it is (wanting to know so they can buy one). Easy glide and enjoyable to use.

And they cost only a little over a dollar apiece!

 

[Handyandy23]

What's the COO though?

 

[tanukiboy]

I like the Rotring Four-in-One -- black ink, red ink, blue ink, and 0.5-mm mechanical pencil. You choose the one you want by pushing the button with the corresponding icon facing upward. I keep one in every bag and briefcase.

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[bushmechanic]

I was so ready to post the Zebra F701...

Beat me to it in the original post.

 

[Spacey_G]

This is my favorite pen: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B072Q8ZR5K?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

It's nice and slim, quite comfortable, and high quality. It takes Pilot G2 refills, although I have Precise V5 and V7 refills in mine. I like the way they write a little better.

 

[Toold_up]

I like space pens. I have a Mead Fat lil notebook with one of these in the spine:
https://www.spacepen.com/shuttleimprintcap-o-matic.aspx

Great for quick notes and it will always write no matter how it's stored. I hate picking up a pen and having to scribe circles until it finally starts writing. Oh and it's made in USA (so is the notebook)

 

[rlitman]

When I used to put pen to paper a lot, I preferred my Sheaffer Pen for Men.

Is that manly enough for you?

 

[LOW1]

Want a "manly" writing instrument? Get a black Sharpie. Want something a little more fru-fruish? Get a blue Sharpie.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I agree with many of the suggestions. I did drafting in the 1960s. I have a few Stadlers i really like. I still have and occasionally use the Schaefer fountain pen from my youth. My wife gave me a $500 fountain pen for my birthday. It is too beautiful for me to feel comfortable with using it. I will make a point of trying it out later today.
I have lots calligraphy pens i have not used for decades. It is time. Thanks for the thread.

 

[Tyberius]

For a pencil I prefer the OHTO Super Promecha Drafting Pencil in 0.7 mm (thanks Gregor)

 

[Larryjones]

Nice to have a good pen and pencil but someone always wants it more than me. I got tired of losing good writing instruments and started getting a bag of Bic crystal pens and a box of Ticondroga yellow pencils. Just simplified my life a little bit.

 

[bdbecker]

For a pencil I prefer the OHTO Super Promecha Drafting Pencil in 0.7 mm (thanks Gregor)

F-ing Gregor...

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[MoonRise]

My current day-to-day pen is a Pentel Ener-gel metal bodied click-top from Staples.

Decent feel in the hand and the gel ink flows pretty smoothly and nicely.

https://www.pentel.com/collections/energel/products/energel-bl407-alloy-config

Used to like the Uni-ball ink pens, but the pen bodies were not as nice. Either skinny plastic bodies or a gel squishy-grip that seemed clunky in the pocket although decent to grip with. The ink was pretty nice though, quick drying and water and fade resistant.

 

[vavet]

Nice to have a good pen and pencil but someone always wants it more than me. I got tired of losing good writing instruments and started getting a bag of Bic crystal pens and a box of Ticondroga yellow pencils. Just simplified my life a little bit.

I worked the parts counter at a dealership for a while. I mostly worked in the back with the technicians, but occasionally I worked the front counter dealing with the public and our salespeople.
A young man (19 or so) and his mom came in one day looking for a part. We got to the point in the part search where I needed a VIN to figure out exactly which part he needed. I asked him to go out to the car to write down the VIN. I even gave him my pen to do that. He comes back in chewing on my pen. His mom fussed at him...but at that point, it's kinda too late.
Ugh!

 

[rlitman]

I worked the parts counter at a dealership for a while. I mostly worked in the back with the technicians, but occasionally I worked the front counter dealing with the public and our salespeople.
A young man (19 or so) and his mom came in one day looking for a part. We got to the point in the part search where I needed a VIN to figure out exactly which part he needed. I asked him to go out to the car to write down the VIN. I even gave him my pen to do that. He comes back in chewing on my pen. His mom fussed at him...but at that point, it's kinda too late.
Ugh!

I haven't carried a pen in many years, but that was another thing I liked about fountain pens. I had no worries about lending a fountain pen out, because I'd never let go of the cap.

 

[bushmechanic]

For a pencil I prefer the OHTO Super Promecha Drafting Pencil in 0.7 mm (thanks Gregor)

Ah, the pencil for a man who drives a Saab and combs his *****.

That thing looks pretty cool.

 

[APEowner]

I've been using a Rotring 600 Trio with 0.5mm gel ink refills for close to 20 years now. I'm on my third one. I love the heft and the fact that I only have to carry one utensil instead of two pens and a pencil.

 

[Git]

Ever hear of Pilot FriXion pens?

They use heat sensitive ink that makes it easy to erase.

Ever hear of RocketBook?

They make a series of wire-bound notebooks and the pages have some sort of plastic coating on them. When used with a FriXion pen, the ink dries in about 15 seconds but you can then later erase a page with a wet cloth.

I used to buy those little yellow note pads (8" x 5") by the case, and I had a ton of them laying around. Problem is I would be working on something and when I came back to it at a later time, I could never find what I had written down! Now that I have switched to RocketBook, I only have one notebook and when I need a fresh page, I just erase one. Also, they are designed to be used with your smartphone camera - take a pic of the page and it gets saved to the cloud

Not for everyone, but I really like mine (also saves on paper)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZXWVZ3X/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Coggles]

I’m all about the Dixon Ticonderoga! The nostalgic smell of a [emoji3579]


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[DIY_Guy79]

I’m all about the Dixon Ticonderoga! The nostalgic smell of a [emoji3579]


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Ticonderoga are my go-to traditional #2 pencil. Cant beat em. Used them exclusively for art and school for years. Great quality graphite and the soft eraser was always a big selling point of them for me. Then I got spoiled to using a mechanical pencil and always go with my Pentel Sharp P205. Still keep a pack of the Ticonderoga's on hand though.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Only on this forum lol.

I use whatever I can find, I always have a sharpie on me. He'll the last pen I signed my check with had a ******* feather on it

 

[FakeNewsRealHP]

Zebra F-701 as op mentioned. Bore the tip out a little and rock a fisher spr4b BOLD refill. Coupled with my pocket moleskin in my EDC. Even though the inner body is plastic the full outer stainless steel looks good and will stab the F***k out of something s few times before it falls apart.


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[Copymutt]

Huh?,
This and steel marker for welding.

Wrote name and phone # in the dirt today cause the only instrument available was A STICK.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Depending on the job I like the Milwaukee markers, a flat pencil, paint marker (I use yellow the most but also keep other colors. Wax markers also come in handy.
My favorite is a green crayon.

 

[KamiCrit]

Space pen or bust. Really enjoy the all metal construction ones.

Marker wise, Milwaukee ones are really good. Prefer them over sharpie.

Tried using the Starrett pocket scribe (70B), can never see the lines marked with it on steel. I think I need a bigger one that I can lean on more.

 

[fasteddie]

Zebra F-701, carry it every day. I buy the cheap F-301 just for the refill and throw the barrel away.

 

[B17E1943]

I like these.

 

[lilcraigford]

My everyday pencil is a Pental PS315 that a coworker gave me when I found myself empty handed one day. It looks just like the P205, the difference being the sliding for the lead (according to google). I didn't realize it at first, but I have to say I've grown quite fond of it.

I also have a lineup of Zebras - an H-301 highlighter, F-301 pen and three M-301 pencils (a 0.5mm and 0.7mm with standard lead and a 0.5mm with "non-photo blue" lead). I keep these in a case with a Mono Zero retractable eraser, a regular Sharpie and a General 301 pocket rule.

What I'd really like is a set of Alvin DraftMatics...

 

[rk_tek]

Pen, red Lamy Safari loaded with red ink. I also have an aluminum Embassy Pen from CountyComm that uses space pen cartridges. It was great for construction bc I could mark wet wood and it showed better than pencil, and I could use it for notes also. For everyday writing though it smears a lot. That’s why I switched to fountain pens. I rarely use a pencil. Milwaukee marker >Sharpie for shop work.

 

[Jazz1]

I always had a Zebra forget the model but it would write upside down at -40 which was critical for that job

 

[trpearcy]

I have a Microtech Siphon II, and it’s amazing.
The craftsmanship and finishing is perfect, and it’s been a very nice pen for a long time.
For day to day writing out in the garage, I either use the Microtech, or a retractable Jetstream .7

 

[HenryAZ]

Space pen or bust. Really enjoy the all metal construction ones.

Fischer for me also. In my desk, the original astronaut pen. In the shop, the the M4B non-reflective military matte black

 

[HenryAZ]

Space pen or bust. Really enjoy the all metal construction ones.

Fischer for me also. In my desk, the original astronaut pen. In the shop, the the M4B non-reflective military matte black. They all seem to come with the medium point cartridge. I order and replace them with the fine.

 

[Jeff95TA]

A Staedtler 925 25-05 is my everyday go to pencil. I like the knurling on it.

Anything over 0.5 mm feels like I'm writing with one of those giant pencils you had in elementary school. Maybe I'm exaggerating a little.