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Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen

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Re: Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen

#101

Post by criddell »

ktzar wrote: post #24

I still think that fountain pens are the pinnacle of writing stationery. One lasts generations and there's no consumables that need recycling or disposing of, if you use a rechargeable cartridge and buy ink bottles.

Fountain pens are great but that's only half the equation. You need to consider paper as well.

Because I'm usually using low quality paper, I mostly use ballpoint pens so that I can write on both sides of the page. Fountain pens can feel scratchy on cheap paper and the ink bleeds through.

Re: Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen

#102

Post by criddell »

TheSilva wrote: post #30

I am going to derail the conversation from the pen and into the refills. As a left-handed that refuses to twist their hand to avoid smudging everything: what refills brands offer the best dry time to avoid black or blue smudges?

I have some Zebra SARASA dry X20 pens that dry instantly. Even if I quickly scribble a bunch of circles then immediately wipe my hand over it, the ink doesn't smear at all.

Re: Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen

#105

Post by bronlund »

amelius wrote: post #89

Lol, the entire functional part of the pen is in the refill, except for the way you hold the pen. I see no reason to go evangelical/Apple about it.

I was thinking the same thing. Why pay $20 - it's still a Parker pen if you use a Parker refill. This has little to do with the quality of writing and is more about bragging rights and social signaling.

Re: Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen

#106

Post by jmhammond »

kstrauser wrote: post #15
cobalt wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

have you tried pentel EnerGel?

I haven’t! Tell me what you think about it.

Imagine writing smoothly like butter as clouds part and angels sing.

Unfortunately, it’s not water safe, but it’s great. My favorite feature is that it dries REALLY quickly, so I can left-hand without smudging.

Re: Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen

#107

Post by vel0city »

Foobar8568 wrote: post #84
radicalbyte wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're also horrible to use if you're left-handed and writing English or any other left-to-right language.

You need a fast dry ink and good paper. But yes with usual supplies, it can be problematic. My kid enjoys writing with fountain pain but her furnitures are given by school and they hand out a lot of printedpaper to fill..So no luck.

The problem I find is fountain pens are awesome in the dragging motion but really don't do well with a pushing motion. Writing left handed in a LTR world means you're constantly pushing the nib while a right hander drags the nib.

Re: Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen

#108

Post by Theodores »

radicalbyte wrote: post #83
avian wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a counter example, I'm left handed and write hundreds of pages per year in a left-to-right language and don't have issues with smudging lines with my palm. Maybe the inks I use dry fast enough (Parker Quink or Pelikan 4001) or it's the way I learned to write back in school.

You're probably doing the lefty-handed-curl. If you adopt a really weird writing position you can write without smudges. Depending on your body-type it's either easy and obvious or very uncomfortable. I'm in the latter group so I just use a pencil.

Euch. That lefty-handed-curl is a solution proposed by the right handed world. The correct way to write as a left handed person is to turn the page ninety degrees.

Re: Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen

#109

Post by tom_ »

avian wrote: post #31
ktzar wrote: post #24

I still think that fountain pens are the pinnacle of writing stationery. One lasts generations and there's no consumables that need recycling or disposing of, if you use a rechargeable cartridge and buy ink bottles.

> One lasts generations Multiple Parker Vectors I had typically lasted a few years of use each before the plastic windings between the pen head and the holder wore out or broke. My Pilot Metropolitan did the same just a few months back. I still have the high-end pens my grandfather used that, while mechanically still sound, I am unable to get the ink flowing through them. I love writing with fountain pens, but long l…

The stainless steel Parker Vector is much harder-wearing and available for under £15. Same nib unit as the plastic ones.

(I found them particularly good when used with the washable ink cartridges, never drying out even after long periods of disuse. The permanent ink isn't as good in this respect and the pens need more regular use.)

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