So I've ordered my first fountain pen, a Lamy Safari. What kind of ink do I use? [more inside]
posted by Roman Graves on Apr 29, 2009 - 19 answers

Custom pen question. I need about 1000 custom pens "printed." Primary color of the pen itself should be blue or blue/green. Ink color doesn't matter. The problem I'm running into is it's for an organization which will not be using a CC. I need to find a cheap company who will do this by invoice/check only. Any ideas?
posted by Debaser626 on Jun 12, 2008 - 5 answers

Artisti: If you were going to buy a great pencil or pen or set thereof for someone who draws comic strips, which one would you get?
posted by pipti on May 20, 2008 - 14 answers

What's a good magazine subscription for a 30-something guy who is really into watches and pens? [more inside]
posted by sneakin on May 12, 2008 - 4 answers

Does anyone have direct experience taking a Rotring 500 fountain pen on an airplane in post 9/11 America? If so, your advice? [more inside]
posted by gyusan on Mar 11, 2008 - 8 answers

Will my art pens survive a plane flight? [more inside]
posted by COBRA! on Mar 3, 2008 - 8 answers

Graphic artist question: can anyone tell me how the old K&E Barch-Payzant lettering pens work? Do they hold a nib of some sort, or if not, what is the function of the knurled knob?
posted by fish tick on Feb 16, 2008 - 3 answers

Easiest and greenest way to put together a gift kit of green home office supplies? [more inside]
posted by bristolcat on Dec 12, 2007 - 3 answers

Does anyone know of a nice looking (read, formal/professional looking) pen with 3 or 4 colours? I really love this bic pen because it saves space in my pocket, but it really doesn't look right in a professional enviroment. [more inside]
posted by tiamat on Jul 27, 2007 - 13 answers

I need to learn about paper. Specifically, I need to know where, if you were trying to write a medieval-looking text (Like a prop Necronomicon for an amateur production of Army of Darkness), you would get that thin, wispy parchment type paper. [more inside]
posted by spiderwire on Jun 21, 2007 - 17 answers

Pentel no longer makes the porous-tip pen that my boss loves--the Fiber Pentel. They've discontinued the Tradio, too. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by Squid Voltaire on Jun 18, 2007 - 5 answers

Gel pens: Help me learn to make them perform consistently. [more inside]
posted by knave on Apr 10, 2007 - 9 answers

In the movie Breach, notorious spy Robert Hanssen obsesses briefly over a specific brand/model of pen. Anyone know the brand/model Hanssen preferred so much? [more inside]
posted by basicchannel on Feb 27, 2007 - 6 answers

Looking to buy some promo pens (yeah I know, very unoriginal) but I'm looking for cheep... cheeeeap ones. Minimum amount (at least 50) and minimum price (less than $100) Checked a few sites, but nothing has caught my eye yet. Recommendations ?
posted by Webbster on Feb 13, 2007 - 8 answers

The best commonly-available highlighter? [more inside]
posted by coolhappysteve on Feb 11, 2007 - 19 answers

As a left-hander, I've struggled to find a pen that writes smoothly but dries almost immediately so the ink doesn't smear when my hand passes across it. The the Uni-ball Jetstream fits this bill nicely. Some have criticized it as too smooth, but I like it. It offers me the smooth lines of a gel ink without the goopyness. Unfortunately, I'm also a devotee of weighty, elegant, well-made writing instruments. Though I've given up on using fountain pens for anything other than a signature, I can live with the size and style of a good rollerball design. Are there any high-quality pen bodies (Waterman, Pelikan, Montblanc, etc.) that will accept a Uni Jetstream refill? I've had trouble finding any information regarding the cross-compatability of refill cartridges, and I'm unwilling to buy another $100+ pen only to learn that the ink is unsuitable for me. Of course, if you can recommend a fountain pen that will fit the bill, I'd love to hear about it. But my experience has been that, even using extra-fine nibs and specialty inks, I have to choose between smearing the page or literally scratching my letters into the page.
posted by strunkl on Jan 3, 2007 - 9 answers

Why do pens almost always burst forth their precious ink when they get put in your shirt pocket or pant pockets?
posted by Effigy2000 on Nov 24, 2006 - 20 answers

MoleskineFilter: Can anyone recommend a non-gel ink, commercially available pen to use with my pocket Moleskine? [more inside]
posted by lonefrontranger on Jul 31, 2006 - 34 answers

I'm not sure if these even exist - but is anyone aware of either ballpoint or rollerball pens that come in brown ink? [more inside]
posted by tastybrains on Jul 11, 2006 - 12 answers

Is the ink in a roller ball the same or pretty much like that in pens using gel? If not, what is the difference. If yes, what advantage if any to a roller ball pen?
posted by Postroad on Mar 7, 2006 - 7 answers

Recommendations for a lighted pen? I'm looking for a ball point pen with a lighted tip, so I can write in the dark. I've searched the web and found many, but before I order one, I'd love to hear from the Metafilter pen fetishists. [more inside]
posted by evoo on Jan 9, 2006 - 6 answers

I saw someone in one of my classes that has this neat 5-color pen + mechanical pencil. I thought that it might be a fun item to add to my online store, and wanted to find the manufacturer. I found one of the pens themselves online at an e-commerce site, but I can't find any information on them. Can you help me find a manufacturer or distributor? [more inside]
posted by arrhn on Dec 6, 2005 - 7 answers

..French pens.. Anyone know if there is a way to buy French school-type pens online? What I'm talking about are the fountain pens with the blue ink cartridges and the corresponding eraser pens.
posted by shoesandships on Dec 5, 2005 - 7 answers

What are your favorite (preferably gel) pens for writing in a Moleskine that dry quickly and won't smudge or bleed? [more inside]
posted by aebaxter on Dec 2, 2005 - 35 answers

Please help me find this Parker ad billboard poster type thing. [more inside]
posted by Skyanth on Sep 11, 2005 - 2 answers

What's the best pen to sign the back of a bank/credit card with that won't smudge or fade? [more inside]
posted by zsazsa on Aug 22, 2005 - 17 answers

How do I remove a Pilot G2 ink stain from my pants? [more inside]
posted by redteam on Aug 12, 2005 - 12 answers

What's the best way to get air pockets out of a ballpoint pen? It's a lot harder now that the fool things are completely sealed. Sure, I could get a new $.05 pen, but it irks me to no end.
posted by DonnieSticks on Jun 26, 2005 - 3 answers

PenFilter: I'm looking for a semi-cheap and absolutely reliable italic-nib pen for everyday (medium-to-heavy) use. Any ideas? [more inside]
posted by terceiro on Apr 5, 2005 - 2 answers

Recently I've been writing in a notebook and finding it less distracting more productive than a computer. Problem is: pens. My hands always cramp. Writers: what are your favorite pens? I fancy me a fine point as well.
posted by xmutex on Mar 1, 2005 - 27 answers

Cleaning fountain pens. How? [more inside]
posted by archimago on Feb 17, 2005 - 6 answers

I'm looking for recommendations for comfortable-to-write-with pens. (MI!) [more inside]
posted by jennyb on Nov 4, 2004 - 16 answers

Searching for two drawing implements: Firstly, I want a pen with grey ink, nothing too dark, nothing too light. Something with a fine tip. Of course I could get this effect by mixing my own ink and using nibs, but I don't like using them. Secondly I'd like a marker or very broadly tipped pen of the black pigment ink variety to fill dark areas quickly and more importantly, evenly. I have a dying Staedtler jobby that has since been discontinued, I think. Any advice on brands, models and places to purchase them would be greatly appreciated.
posted by picea on Mar 30, 2004 - 6 answers