Rollerball Pens

[TimmyBoston]

I am a big fan of Rollerball pens. I find ballpoints to be too light in color (or at least the ones I've used were) and I make a mess with fountains. So I've settled on Rollerballs.

I own a Waterman Carene Rollerball, which I really like, but it was an annivesary gift and I'm reluctant to take outside of my home for fear of loss.

So I'm looking for a good rollerball(s) that will look nice, work very well and I wouldn't be afraid to carry.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Also if anyone does have a high quality ballpoint they enjoy, those recommendations would be appreciated as well, thanks again.

[Stauff]

I'm a huge fan of the Caran d'Ache Ecridor pens. made of silver and rhodium plated brass, hexagonal body, very reliable, 40's style look. Come at around 75 Euro, so decent to say the least, but not catastrophical to use or lose.

[DoubleE]

Tim:

I like my Pelikan 200 rollerball (and fountain pen). It's a great writer and it's not that expensive......in fountain pen terms anyway.

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=6456

[Woknblues]

fisher space pens... I got a great deal on a bullet (20 bucks) from this great vendor on ebay.....the refills last about 10 times what a regular ball point refill lasts, so the money is saved in about 6 months.... Kinda like the DE stuff upfront is pricey, but then blows away the cartridges later on.......

http://stores.ebay.com/Cyber-Space-Pens

they write in all conditions, wet cold, hot, zero gravity (write in bed upside down, etc.) and ON almost everything. and feel and look great.....the ink actually is "sheared off" rather than oozing, like other ball point cartridges..... the cartridge is pressurized. at I believe 25lb/sq.ft....

All colors of ink, too.

for 100 bucks, the millenium and mars editions are guaranteed FOR LIFE. NO REFILL NECESSARY as the whole chamber is pressurized and full of ink. If you don't lose things, this is your ticket.

[TimeZero]

Tim,

What is it about the Carene do you like? Is it its weight, size and balance, or do you like the line it lays down? Or do you simply like the way it looks? Those variables will make it easier to suggest the pen you'd really like.

For example, if you really like the Carene's line, any Waterman rollerball will work for you, including the Charleston (a beautiful pen, designed in a "vintage" art deco style to honor Waterman's "Hundred Year Pen" of the 1940s), or even a Phileas. Both use the same Waterman rollerball refill.

If you're more into the weight, balance and feel of the Carene, you'd probably prefer something with a little more heft but still easy to manage, something along the lines of a Visconti Van Gogh Midi.

There are loads of good rollerballs out there - it's just a matter of finding the one that will work best for you.

[murchmb]

Try a Rotring 600 RB, if you can find one. Clean, heavy, and a bit tactical looking. I use a Uniball Signo RT Gel 0.38mm refill in mine. Very fine line and great for writing in a small planner. Plus, it can be used as a kubotan in self defense situations. :smile:

[Doc4]

I know not this thing you call rollerball. Illuminate me!

[jakuda]

I like the waterman rollerball Expert (I or II) bodies, but the waterman rollerball ink sucks. Here's a tip, buy the Pilot G2 rollerball ink refills and they fit perfetly in the all waterman bodies (as well as Rotring and some other brands). The G2 refills are pretty cheap too.

Waterman Phileas is a cheap alternative ($20-30 online or on ebay roughly)

[CincyDawg]

I like the waterman rollerball Expert (I or II) bodies, but the waterman rollerball ink sucks. Here's a tip, buy the Pilot G2 rollerball ink refills and they fit perfetly in the all waterman bodies (as well as Rotring and some other brands). The G2 refills are pretty cheap too.

Waterman Phileas is a cheap alternative ($20-30 online or on ebay roughly)
I agree. I've got both Waterman's as well as several Mont Blanc's and some others. The Waterman Phileas is a nice pen at a reasonable price. I also use the G2 refills.... can't beat the price and I prefer them to the Waterman ones

[TimmyBoston]

Tim,

What is it about the Carene do you like? Is it its weight, size and balance, or do you like the line it lays down? Or do you simply like the way it looks? Those variables will make it easier to suggest the pen you'd really like.

For example, if you really like the Carene's line, any Waterman rollerball will work for you, including the Charleston (a beautiful pen, designed in a "vintage" art deco style to honor Waterman's "Hundred Year Pen" of the 1940s), or even a Phileas. Both use the same Waterman rollerball refill.

If you're more into the weight, balance and feel of the Carene, you'd probably prefer something with a little more heft but still easy to manage, something along the lines of a Visconti Van Gogh Midi.

There are loads of good rollerballs out there - it's just a matter of finding the one that will work best for you.

What I really like about the Carene is it's weight, but I'm not looking for something as heavy. I like to keep a pen in my hand as I'm doing things at my desk and the Carene weighs me down to much for constant use.

I was at Paradise Pens the other day and I wrote with a Conklin Glider and Aurora Ipsilon and I really like both of them as well as the Waterman Charleston.

Does anyone have any firsthand knowledge about any of these pens?

[catatonic]

For carry pens, I am a fan of very low price...so my choice in rollerballs is the Parker Vector. If you take care of it, a dark blue one can look mighty fine.

Just as an aside for ballpoint fans, I use the Parker Jotter as well. I just like Parker's pens, simple and efective. :)

[Sam]

I got a Retro 51 rollerball for Christmas, hexagonal body.

[lonestar]

Tim, try a Parker Duofold. I own 2 of them and would highly recommend them.

In addition to being a great pen, the company is outstanding. i dropped my 10 year old Duofold a couple years ago and the barrel cracked clean through. I boxed it up and sent it to them with a letter asking for repair. About 3 weeks later my pen showed up in the mail, repaired, cleaned, and with a new refill in it... no charge!

A month later i was in NY and stopped in at the Fountain Pen Hospital, and scored a limited edition navy pinstripe.

give them a try, you won't be disappointed.

Ray

[tabacman]

For carry pens, I am a fan of very low price...so my choice in rollerballs is the Parker Vector. If you take care of it, a dark blue one can look mighty fine.

Just as an aside for ballpoint fans, I use the Parker Jotter as well. I just like Parker's pens, simple and efective. :)

Do you use Parker Rollerball refills in the Vector or refills from another brand?

[catatonic]

Do you use Parker Rollerball refills in the Vector or refills from another brand?


I only use the parker refills, no exceptions.

[jakuda]

What other brand refills fit in Parker rollerballs?


Do you use Parker Rollerball refills in the Vector or refills from another brand?

[MJB]

Lamy Safari--about 20 dollars if not less. Refill not too pricey. Good feel.

[jakuda]

I just received my new Waterman Carene rollerball at a steal of a price from Ebay ($45 new shipped). Good form, good feel. The Waterman rollerball ink doesn't seem as bad as I remember it to be, but I still prefer the Pilot G2 refills.

[BrianP]

I was given a Montblanc Boheme roller ball a couple of years ago and use it as a carry around pen at work. If I lost it, I would definitely replace it with the same. I never thought I would be attached to a pen like that but here I am.