Paint pen/marker that can write vertically/upside down

[daithi]

Need to restock paint pens/markers at work.

These are the ones we usually get, Genpack "The Pumper"

https://www.grainger.ca/en/product/PERMANENT-MARKER-YELLOW-PIGMENT/p/GPK04010013

They kinda ****. They're not great on wet/oily surfaces although they advertise that they do work.

More annoyingly, they only really work writing "down". But often marking something on the side or overhead and they're just completely useless. I end up pumping a puddle onto something else and dipping the tip in like a quill and inkpot. Then eventually the tip falls out an makes a mess everywhere.

Any better options out there?

Also see some advertised as "solid paint marker" which would probably solve a lot of issues? Just wondering how they wear in. Are they like a tire crayon where the tip wears flat after a few uses and then you have to "sharpen" them with a knife?

 

[Beerhippie]

If you can live with white only, I find that Wite-Out pens work well. Finger pressure is the pump. They're pretty resistant to many things, including heat.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

Dykem Texpen marker will write upside down and on dirty surfaces. But it takes a while to dry

 

[daithi]

If you can live with white only, I find that Wite-Out pens work well. Finger pressure is the pump. They're pretty resistant to many things, including heat.

Like the stationary brand?

Dykem Texpen marker will write upside down and on dirty surfaces. But it takes a while to dry

I'll do some digging, see if any of our suppliers carry them

 

[Beerhippie]

Like the stationary brand?

Yep.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPCMPBS?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

Like the stationary brand?


I'll do some digging, see if any of our suppliers carry them

Look up pressurized markers and paint pens. They presurize to prevent gravity from allowing what ever is in the cartridge to sink away from the writing tip.

 

[Lorydr]

Whatever salvage yards use to mark parts.

 

[bonneyman]

Didn't they have some kind of pen like that for the astronauts? I remember reading about it being pressurized so it would write when upside down.

 

[Beerhippie]

Didn't they have some kind of pen like that for the astronauts? I remember reading about it being pressurized so it would write when upside down.

Fisher Space Pen. $10-15 online.

 

[bonneyman]

Fisher Space Pen. $10-15 online.

Cool!
Maybe it'd work if I crash upside down in a swamp and have to sign over my tools.

 

[FigN⋅m]

Whatever salvage yards use to mark parts.

I always thought they use grease pencils?

 

[Beerhippie]

Cool!
Maybe it'd work if I crash upside down in a swamp and have to sign over my tools.

They work under water, too!

 

[Lorydr]

I always thought they use grease pencils?

Very well could be. But if it works...I say try it. Probably better than a sharpie for dirty areas.

 

[neophyte]

Fisher Space Pen. $10-15 online.

Didn't they have some kind of pen like that for the astronauts? I remember reading about it being pressurized so it would write when upside down.

Fisher space pens, as has been mentioned.
You can buy full pens, or refills for certain other pen brands.
The refills come in a number of colors, except annoyingly, there is no white option.
The silver refills will write snd be sort of visible on dark materials, but you sort of have to catch the light sometimes.

 

[daithi]

True (not) or urban legend (definitely), but this thread is reminding me of the joke/anecdote of NASA spending millions on a pen that worked in space while the Russians brought a pencil.

 

[neophyte]

True (not) or urban legend (definitely), but this thread is reminding me of the joke/anecdote of NASA spending millions on a pen that worked in space while the Russians brought a pencil.

Graphite is electrically conductive, and a broken pencil tip could float around, get caught in a switch or wiring or other circuitry, and cause an unknown fault.
Also, the story is supposedly untrue, and the pen was allegedly developed independently.