Inky T O D - As An Ink Aficionado...have You Ever Been Caught With A Ballpoint?

[brunico]

No. There isn't a ballpoint in the house. I can do newspaper crosswords with fountain pens, I can sign receipts with fountain pens, I can complete triplicate forms with fountain pens, I'm happy to lend my fountain pens... so why on earth would I need a biro?

 

I've coped without one for over twenty years. And the biro users who borrow my fountain pens seem to cope, too. And even cope with the fact they're all italic, without kvetching that they're too sharp, or too broad, or too scratchy, or not flexy enough, or inferior to a custom grind, or the line variation isn't worthy of them... and why couldn't I lend them a sodding Parker 51? You know, like you sometimes hear round these parts...

 

If there really is something that requires a biro - something for which a fountain pen is actually impossible, rather than merely impractical - then whoever requires it will already have offered me a biro with the company logo on. And when I really can't use a fountain pen, it's on something like a film canister, and then a sharpie does what a weedy little biro can't even begin.

 

I appreciate some of us really do need biros. But I sometimes see people raising the need to carry a biro to a universal law, and this simply isn't the case.

Edited August 29, 2014 by brunico

[CaptainBA]

I was gifted a Fisher Space pen which is handy as a knockabout pen in the car, work bag, or traveling.

[abstract49]

I have a Lamy rollerball that is very nice to look at and can be used like a ballpoint where the pressure is needed. It doesn't get much use as it is too nice to bang about in the car. My sis-in-law gave it to me, along with one of those Parker pens that looks like a fountain pen at first glance, but really isn't; I haven't yet figured out how I might use that one. It's really pretty, just not a fountain pen.

 

I keep a ballpoint in the car for noting mileage when I fill the tank, but strangely enough, when it won't start up sometimes, I pull out a TWSBI Diamond 580 F, with Diamine Monaco Red, and it works fine on the crappy pump receipt paper. Who'd a thunk it?

[Kuscer]

I always carry a ballpoint with me for various reasons:

1. If people need to borrow a pen

2. If I need to write on particular surfaces like wood or plastic or paper that just doesn't go with fountain pens

3. If I need the type of oily ink that ballpoint has

...

Like you I carry a rather-expensive-for-a-ballpoint, attractive, quality ballpoint.

Dingan

[gammada]

I want to buy me a fisher, but always keep close my Cross Century Classic bp and a couple of Bic Diamanté Grip pens. One in the desk, one in the car and one in my pocket. I extremely enjoy writing with fountain pens, but I definitely think FP are not always the best way to go -specially when there's the potential risk of losing them!

[carretera18]

 

 

Very nice. I hope I made you laugh. I didn't actually kick him out of the car, but I did tell him he'd be the Inky TOD.

 

Amber,

 

You made me laugh for sure. You're a great person!

 

[amberleadavis]

I have a bag of BIC Crystals for tracheotomy needs but I won't write with them. They are no longer sterile if you write with them.

 

 

 

ROFL

[amberleadavis]

 

Amber,

 

You made me laugh for sure. You're a great person!

 

[T4TEXAS]

I have a Padrino Fiore Orange Ball Point Pen from Paradise Pen and an Acme ball point also from a friend. I always carry the Acme in a Levenger note thingie and sometimes also the Padrino, for which there is no shame. I went through the store's stock of that color of swirled resin (or whatever) to select it.

 

Just two months ago I went through the fountain pen drawer in my desk and have been working to get the five pens working again. Have not used any of them regularly since the 90s. Two are running, one will be soon, and another at the Dallas Pen show. The last will go to Italy later for tweaking. Consequently, I have only recently started carrying a fountain pen again. As I get them running it will be the usual to carry one, with one of the bps as backup (or for someone who asks to use my pen). At home I am already using two FPs daily. Much prefer them.

[Arkanabar]

I recently got a brass-bodied Fisher Cap-O-Matic in military matte black. Amazon beats The Writer's Edge (Fisher's official retailer) on price. I am filling in outguides (coated cardstock) all day long, and all too often the only available surface is vertical. No way a fountain pen does that. I want a Parker Jotter to replace it, but am having a hard time finding a local retailer. The capomatic is just too slim for me, and adding a foam/sponge rubber pencil pillow has made it too fat. Anyone want to make suggestions as to what I could use to give it a little bulk, instead of a lot? I've tried tape, but it tends to be uncomfortably wrinkled.

I also keep a fistful of the el cheepo house-brand office supply stick pens on my desk so that my coworkers can use those.

[KaB]

I do have a few cheap ballpoint in my bag for work. Not to write with them. Ever. But all to often, in a meeting, a client will have forgotten to bring a pen. Then they look at my pouch of fountain pens for a borrow.

Ain't gonna happen.

But I'll offer them one of the ballpoints. Doesn't matter if it's not returned either.

[Newjelan]

I have a Jetstream ball point with me at all times. I never use it but I regularly lend it to people for their use. I'm surprised at how often people comment in how much they like writing with it. What rubbish are they using the rest of the time?

[FountainPenCowgirl]

I always carry one, usually one of the Uni-Ball BLXs (enjoy the colors, in that format as well as the gels). Gels tend to be my non- fountain essentials, but my writing arsenal is legendary. Only thing I don't carry is pencil. Blech.

 

I also have a beloved Cross Townsend Lapis Lazuli, purchased at cost, with the proceeds of an article sale in the 1990s. Gorgeous and oh so special. Tends to go missing, sometimes for extended periods. Currently found. Since I looked it up out of curiosity a year or so ago, and saw current value, I've been afraid to let it leave the house,

[william2001]

I carry a ballpoint pen because I don't let everyone to use my fountain pen.

Only my family members and few other trustworthy people can.

-William S. Park

[Mr. Pink]

(In fairness, I will point out it was NOT some cheap disposable, but a perfectly respectable very attractive ball point).

Amber, ALL ball points are disposable. My wife just gave me a "nice" Cross bp that she found in a drawer. No idea what to do with it.

[amberleadavis]

Amber, ALL ball points are disposable. My wife just gave me a "nice" Cross bp that she found in a drawer. No idea what to do with it.

 

 

[Yaakova]

I carry gel roller-ball pens for use on forms, checks, and anything else printed on paper of questionable weight and quality. I use fountain pens for journaling and note taking. A Rhodia Dot Pad may stand up to fountain pen ink, but insurance forms printed on 20 lb. laserjet paper usually don't fare as well.