My Safari is fun to use. I write a letter home once a week to my folks, and practice almost daily on my cursive. I am leary of throwing it into my work bag, or carrying it around in uniform though. I'm looking at this http://www.levenger.com/Pelikan-Tradition-R200-Rollerball-Core-6961.aspx Pelikan Rollerball, and its screaming "buy me!". Can anyone validate this purchase for me!? Or are most of you die-hard Nibsters.
Rollerball Fans? (I ask while ducking behind my desk)
- Thread starter AirForceMX
- Start date
I have a few non-FP tools in my briefcase, because 1) at the risk of speaking blasphemy, a fountain pen is not always the best tool for the job, and 2) variety is sometimes the spice of life. I have a Caran d'Ache ballpoint clipped to my planner because of it's thin profile, a Retro 51 Tornado rollerball in the briefcase because it writes like butter, looks great, and isn't too expensive to loan to a friend, and a Fisher Space Pen because it's fairly unobtrusive in a pocket and can write on anything, upside-down and underwater. That being said, probably 90% of my writing at home is done with a FP, especially since discovering The Nib.
With respect to the Pelikan, it would be both practical and useful in a business environment, but I'm one of those guys who won't risk anything at work that would upset me if it disappeared. If that were mine, and it walked away, I'd be upset. Just my $0.02.
With respect to the Pelikan, it would be both practical and useful in a business environment, but I'm one of those guys who won't risk anything at work that would upset me if it disappeared. If that were mine, and it walked away, I'd be upset. Just my $0.02.
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I carry around a rollerball pen as part of EDC along with a fountain pen. It's good to have for paper that doesn't take to FP's like thermal paper or receipt paper. Also, it is essential to have when people ask you to lend a pen, as I'm not in the habit of handing over a FP to newbs who will trash it. I wouldn't throw that Pelikan in a work bag but it looks mighty fine for use in the uniform. I use disposable Pilot Precise's for the work-bag and carry around a Waterman Hemisphere RB for the pocket.
It was a great, ok, mediocre movie.
Kidding aside, a fountain pen is not always the best choice. Rollerballs certainly have their place in any gentleman's writing arsenal.
Kidding aside, a fountain pen is not always the best choice. Rollerballs certainly have their place in any gentleman's writing arsenal.
I reach for my Waterman Carene roller ball much more often then my Carene fountain pen. Both feel the same in the hand (same size same weight). The roller ball just seems to be the one I grab most of the time
Get the roller ball. You know you want to
Get the roller ball. You know you want to
- Thread starter
- #6
I'm a big fan of the Pilot Precise pens as well! Well I am gonna go ahead and pull the trigger on this bad boy. Pics to come soon!
I have had my eye on monteverde rollarball but I've tried snipping pelikans before
Like to have a pen I can hand people that isn't one of my FPs
No need to duck, rollarballs are no goose around here
Like to have a pen I can hand people that isn't one of my FPs
No need to duck, rollarballs are no goose around here
hey, for a really cheap good pen, Zebra F-701. Got mine at Staples.
Rollerballs are very handy.
I like the ones that I have.
Nothing wrong with a Rollerball.
I like the ones that I have.
Nothing wrong with a Rollerball.
Yes, I always have a roller ball or a ball point with gel ink with me for check writing, filling out documents, etc. I don't have to worry about the fountain pen ink being permanent and such. Right now I'm using a Monteverde roller ball and a Parker with a Fisher refill.
I have mainly been using my TWSBI and a Waterman rollerball, lately. I prefer the fountain pen, but the rollerball is a good little work-horse pen.
I have a few rollerballs that I've acquired over the years. My new favorite is the Franklin-Cristoph B&B Essential. I have the refillable one that interchanges with the FP. Very sturdy, solidly built, and writes extremely smoothly. The big bonus is that you can use all the various inks that you have, especially the colors that are not available for most rollerballs.
I do find that a FP fits most all applications. I do carry a "61" Ballpoint or a Stainless Jotter for loaning to non FP users. I have even been known to use it a few times myself. I also have a capless schmidt refill that fits the pen and it acts just like a rollerball with the click feature of a ballpoint
Jonathan E! Jonathan E! Jonathan E!
I have a J. Herbin rollerball that takes international cartridges. It is a nice LITTLE pen. Not great for extended writing but great for just jotting a note or two.
BLASPHEMY!!! STRING HIM UP BOYS!! just kidding just kidding...I actually have a pilot evolt that is one of those multi pens with a red ball point + blue ballpoint + mechanical pencil that i keep in my pocket. Good to use when at work as im sometimes in the warehouse etc where im not at a desk. Its a relatively cheap pen at $12, and my brother got it for me specifically as a carry pen that i wouldn't be to hurt if i lost.
i use RB and BPs in addition to FPs. JMO of course but the reason to invest in a Pelikan is the quality abd consistency of their FP nibs. you can get a nicer "shell" for a RB than a Pelikan for less money. but if the style rocks your boat, go for it.
I have no real opionion on this question other than i really have t given them a good try. I have a MB pen that uses that refill. Am looking at buying one a replacement. Which one?
One pen that always does go with me is a little bullet style Fisher Space Pen. There are occasions when its ability to write at any angle, and on almost any piece of paper or cardboard comes in handy. I use fountain pens almost all the time, but I'm not fanatical about it.
And of course, rollerballs tend to write better than ballpoints. I keep several Pilot G2s around, sometimes carry one with me. I even refilled one with a Montblanc refill, you just have to trim off a little bit of the plastic end piece with a razor blade to make it fit. Writes very nicely, although the Montblanc refill turned out not to be water resistant, unlike the original Pilot one.
Whatever makes you happy, and it does look like a nice pen. When it comes to fountain pens, I've reached the point where I've paid over $150 for one, and even considered one in the $200 range, though I thought better of it. I haven't reached the point, though of understanding paying $145 for a pen that isn't a fountain pen. With a fountain pen, I tell myself that I'm paying to get a first rate nib and a filling system that I like. With a ballpoint or rollerball, it's mostly the refill that determines performance; the pen is just a holder for that. I can understand shelling out for one that feels comfortable in the hand, and is reasonably attractive, but I don't get paying fountain pen prices for one. And with the cost of refills, it will cost more to use than a fountain pen.
Still, you're buying to satisfy yourself, not a bunch of strangers on the Internet.
Added note. With almost any black or blue ballpoint refill, you can assume that it's water resistant and suitable for writing checks, etc. You can't assume that for rollerball refills. Many of them are water resistant, some are not, as I found out with the Montblanc refill mentioned above. If it's important to you, then always test it for yourself.
And of course, rollerballs tend to write better than ballpoints. I keep several Pilot G2s around, sometimes carry one with me. I even refilled one with a Montblanc refill, you just have to trim off a little bit of the plastic end piece with a razor blade to make it fit. Writes very nicely, although the Montblanc refill turned out not to be water resistant, unlike the original Pilot one.
Whatever makes you happy, and it does look like a nice pen. When it comes to fountain pens, I've reached the point where I've paid over $150 for one, and even considered one in the $200 range, though I thought better of it. I haven't reached the point, though of understanding paying $145 for a pen that isn't a fountain pen. With a fountain pen, I tell myself that I'm paying to get a first rate nib and a filling system that I like. With a ballpoint or rollerball, it's mostly the refill that determines performance; the pen is just a holder for that. I can understand shelling out for one that feels comfortable in the hand, and is reasonably attractive, but I don't get paying fountain pen prices for one. And with the cost of refills, it will cost more to use than a fountain pen.
Still, you're buying to satisfy yourself, not a bunch of strangers on the Internet.
Added note. With almost any black or blue ballpoint refill, you can assume that it's water resistant and suitable for writing checks, etc. You can't assume that for rollerball refills. Many of them are water resistant, some are not, as I found out with the Montblanc refill mentioned above. If it's important to you, then always test it for yourself.
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goodness you have me looking at them there clicky pens again
well done
I hate you
but not really
well done
I hate you
but not really