Your Favorite Writing Instrument

[GrooveWarrior]

Pen, pencil, ball point, gel, etc.

Inspired by this hilarious letter to the Uniball Pen Company from Mitch Hedberg got me curious about your favorite writing instrument.



I'd love to try the Uniball Gel Impact now.

When I'm at my desk, I use the Pilot Dr. Grip. They are about $7 a piece, but it is a great pen.



When I'm walking about (I'm a high school principal), I clip one of the following to my lanyard with my ID on it (which is a great way to always have a pen with you without the worry of ruining a shirt or a pair of pants).
Either the Pilot G-2 Mini Gel Pen

Or the Pilot Precise V5




I know it's a nerdy topic, but I have found that people in offices are very territorial and specific about their pens. Until I started listing them, I didn't realize they were all Pilot pens. I guess I should write them to see if I can get an endorsement.

[Selta]

Fountain pens are my choice... I'm still soul searching for the one I like best, though.

[neuman]

Sucker for a Dixon Ticonderoga wood pencil in the 2.5 hardness

[geeza]

1) Uniball
2) Dr. Grip
3) Pentel mechanical drafting pencil

[UnsungZeros]

I love pens!

I'm very fond of the Pilot G-2 pictured above and the Uniball Vision:

[James Hart]

I dislike pens... almost always use a Mechanical Pencil.

My current pencil of choice is a Staedtler 0.5

Amazon.com: Staedtler Mars Drafting Technical Mechanical Pencil,0.5mm width, 92505BK: Office Products

but only because I needed to replace my old Alvin Draft/Matic which I accidentally bent the tip of and couldn't find any locally. I think I'll order a new one this week... the Staedtler is nice, but it's not an Alvin.

Amazon.com: Alvin & Co. DM05 DRAFT/MATIC MECH PENCIL 0.5MM: Office Products

[Cabazon]

I'm a big fan of the Zebra F-301. The only downside is that the threaded connection is plastic-metal, so it's easy to break.

[Munjibunga]

Uni-Ball Micro, Blue.

[()smoke()]

felt tip, varying sizes, blue with fine point has been my choice lately

[ShredderMaximus]

I dunno, but I can tell you what my favorite "instrument" for writing in snow is...

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I've got a couple Parker ball points that get used day to day, will often end up using freebie pens too. A decent pencil is always a winner too, but most of my work needs to be in ink.

Are there any decent mechanical pencils out there? They tend to feel cheap and I'm not a fan of the ultra fine points.

Not a fan of gel inks anymore, kept smudging the ink when writing.

[SoonerMatt]

and

[MEKer]

Interesting little scene during the '60 was when we spent through NASA, literally, tons of dollars to develop a pen that could write in zero gravity conditions. The Russians had no such problem. They used a pencil. <forehead slap>

[fjadams]

Sharpie Ultra Fine point. Think I have at least one in every colour they make.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by MEKer

Interesting little scene during the '60 was when we spent through NASA, literally, tons of dollars to develop a pen that could write in zero gravity conditions. The Russians had no such problem. They used a pencil. <forehead slap>

Sadly that is just a myth :P

[Selta]

I have a couple zero-G pens, but they just go unused and look cool.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Are there any decent mechanical pencils out there? They tend to feel cheap and I'm not a fan of the ultra fine points.

The previously linked Alvins are very nice, and come in 0.9mm size too. We used those at ERAU in my drafting courses. I think I still have mine, but I don't use pencils much anymore.

Anyone here into Calligraphy and can recommend a good place to start with that?

[Elrend]

Sometimes, you just wanna grab hold of some good hard wood.

[ryco]

For writing I like those old cartridge pens, but haven't seen any around for years.
quite a mess if they spill, but you can't beat the line!



For posters really like Rub•A•Dub Laundry Markers. They don't run or bleed and dry quickly. I see Sharpie® has bought them out.



Also like pencils! Really like General Supreme #1 for writing, but have a couple of nice sets of Faber-Castells 8B-6H for art.
Used to be a mech/architectural draftsman in ye olde days and my dad was a cartoonist, so really appreciate hand art!

[Time Monkey]

just the standard cheap ass bic that you get 355532 of for $5