11 ms·
Rotring 600 Ballpoint Pen
- treetalker 1y agoI have several Rotring 600 (and 800) pencils. They're great and super grippy. If you have sweaty/slippery hands while writing, the Rotring 600 pen might be right up your alley. As pencils go, though, lately I've been fond of the Uni Shift 0.9 mm. It's inexpensive; retracts for pocket carry; and I've never broken a lead with it. My only real complaint is that the eraser is minuscule and can't be reliably adjusted once the initial usable part is gone.
- LargoLasskhyfv 1y agoYawn. My Lamy Unic has a telescoping tip. https://unsharpen.com/pen/lamy-unic-ballpoint/ https://unsharpen.com/pen/lamy-unic-ballpoint/
- antonvs 1y agoOne advantage of the Rotring is that they haven't been discontinued, so you can actually buy one for a reasonable price.
- gorgoiler 1y agoHah, that is indeed a fine looking writing instrument. I have the fountain pen from the same range. It has a similar hinged pocket clip and the machining is beautiful. I’ve found many interesting products via HN recommendations. Do you have any more interesting pens?
- pivic 1y agoThe next step could be Montblanc ballpoint pens, but that's a very different level where it comes to money; the writing experience is far beyond that of most ballpoint pens at a sub-100-USD range. Then there's fountain pens, which is a whole new ballpark... If that interests yourself, I recommend these brands: Platinum, LAMY, Pelikan, Sailor, Montblanc, Pilot, and Nakaya, in no particular order.
- xz18r 1y agoI have a 600 and 800 mechanical pencil. Love them, the feel can’t be beat - only by the (significantly cheaper) Pentel Graphgear 1000.
- elromulous 1y agoLove the rotring pencils. If you haven't already, give the Alvin Draft/Matic a try, imho it's up there along with them.
- bobek 1y agoLove Pentel Graphear 1000, have multiple distributed throughout the house/workshop and backpacks :) The other I really like is UNI Kuru Toga, the plastic one (shrug). The twist mechanism actually works; it is slightly wider thus more comfortable (for me) for longer writing sessions.
- ykonstant 1y agoThe twist mechanism really does work, but unfortunately it is easy to damage (for me). I damaged two kuru togas in the span of 6 months, very frustrating. The twist still works, but it is very wonky.
- barrenko 1y agoIn my case - as my basic Kuru Toga died last week, the plastic of the casing just under the mechanism / just at the end of the body next to the rim broke down - because of the pressure i'm assuming, still a great pencil. I'm buying the advance one next.
- prpl 1y agoGraphgear 500 is also excellent, though without a retractable tip. I think those who like the grip of a rotring would prefer it over the 1000.
- kstrauser 1y agoThat's a very nice pen and I get the appeal. However, I've recently discovered Uni Jetstream pens, and I don't see ever buying anything else. There are nicer pen bodies out there but I've never used a pen that does a better job of putting ink on paper, reliably, every time, without ever skipping in the slightest, not requiring any significant pressure, working on every kind of paper, and drying instantly. For me, it writes as nicely as my fountain pens but with all the convenience of a ballpoint. They're also about $3 each, depending where you buy them, so they're dirt cheap as far as nicely-working pens go.
- joshvm 1y agoJetstreams are great. Worth pointing out that you can buy refills in various form factors, including Parker style that'll fit the Rotring 600: https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-SXR-600-Jetstream-Ballpoint-Pen-Refill-0.5-mm-Black/pd/25439 https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-SXR-600-Jetstream-Ballpoint-Pen-... I also recommend the 800 mechanical pencil which has a very satisfying twist-retract tip.
- kstrauser 1y agoWhy? Why would you do this to me? Sighs and busts out the credit card. Edit: it’s on its way. Curse you.
- dillydogg 1y agoThe discovery of the jotter style refill led me down a path of trying many different inks for my Rotring 600. I ended up liking the OHTO ceramic rollerball quite well, partly for the ink, and also for the appearance of the nib, which I think suits the Rotring 600 nicely
- anthonyko 1y agoAlso a big fan of the Uniball, perviously was using Signo DXs, but have switched over to the Uniball One. I think that slightly thicker barrel helps with my handwriting. Also love the wire pocket clip. https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-ball-One-F-Gel-Pen-0.5-mm-Faded-Green-Body-Black-Ink/pd/33269 https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-ball-One-F-Gel-Pen-0.5-mm-Faded-... I do like the Rotring pencils over the pens, but still prefer Uni as I feel less bad about losing a Uni Kuru as it is cheaper and still has knurled grip. Also has a fun rotating lead. https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Kuru-Toga-Roulette-Mechanical-Pencil-0.5-mm-Silver-Body/pd/6548 https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Kuru-Toga-Roulette-Mechanical-Pe...
- joecool1029 1y agoThe rotring 800 0.5mm pencil has been a workhorse for me. My conditions were that it can handle being carried at all times and not stab me in the leg. It's even survived going through clothes washing machine. The one part I had some minor annoyance with is the ring below the control to adjust tip retraction would loosen up when carried awhile. I originally used a bit of superglue which came out in the wash. Now I've added some loctite so it will probably never loosen again. Other than some finish wearing off it's been great for years. Edit: oh I use pilot neox F graphite in it. Feels like writing with HB but it doesn't break as easy as I write with pretty heavy hands.
- DocTomoe 1y agoI've been using the rotring 800 mechanical pencil for a while now ... until it randomly broke down (no, I did not treat I strangely in every way or form). I'm using the - much cheaper - Kuru Toga Advance now ... which rotates the graphite slighly whenever I lift the pencil from the paper, leading to a sharper tip and thus a sharper script. Plus, I am a lot less concerned with losing a 5 dollar pencil as compared to a 50 dollar pencil.
- hanief 1y agoI'd like to try this, but it is quite expensive compared to Zebra Sarasa or Pentel Energel. The metal body is interesting, I wonder how different is the weight and feel to pens with plastic body.
- neom 1y agoI love the Zebra F-701. I'm also going to try the pen in this review, but wanted to give a recommendation to the F-701, as someone who hates to write, I like that pen.
- teamonkey 1y agoI use one and it feels very heavy, almost unnaturally heavy, and indestructibly solid. Not at all uncomfortable once you get used to it, but the first time I pick it up after a few days my reaction is still always “wow that’s heavy”.
- spragl 1y agoThe difference in feel is significant. What is best is a personal preference. Some people like their pens to be as light as possible. Personally I far prefer the solid weight of my Rotring 600s. So I recommend that you try it out.
- chihuahua 1y agoI had the fountain pen version of this in the 1980s. It seemed very sturdy, as if it was machined from a solid piece of metal.
- ktzar 1y agoI 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.
- neilfrndes 1y agoI agree :) My daily driver is a Pilot Vanishing Point. It's a fountain pen with a form factor of a clickable ball point pen.
- bayindirh 1y agoVanishing Points are nice pens. I have an all matte black one. Also, pens tipping gets polished according to your handwriting over time, making it completely yours. I also like Lamys. Most of their pens look simple but they’re work horses. Esp. Safari Umber. I’m a bit too deep in that rabbit hole. :)
- WillAdams 1y agoI wish I could find a faceted VP --- still kicking myself for not buying one when I had a chance a couple of years ago.
- avian 1y ago> 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 lasting they are not in my experience.
- bayindirh 1y agoI have multiple pens which are a decade old, incl. a Metropolitan and Safari, and write like day one despite being used frequently. I also have a couple ones older than 50. They also work. Clogged ones generally need a good flush with a fountain pen flush.
- LoveMortuus 1y agoI've only had bad experiences with Parker pens and refills, they just don't flow and fill the line as nicely and constantly as Pilot Hi-Tec and other Pilot pens. I paid more than 20€ for a Parker pen with refills and it was worse than a 3€ Pilot V5 Hi-Tecpoint (which is my current favourite, I have it in black, red, green, blue and pink colours).
- ykonstant 1y agoParker refills are a nightmare. I have tested both the Indian brand and the French brand of QuinkFlow several times, and they are all horrible. Atrocious. I got some Monteverde, Pelikan and Schneier refills and they work well. If you can get a compatible Monteverde, it is great. Schneier is also very nice, but hybrid. Pelikan has the pelikan blue style, you either love it or hate it. QuinkFlow... ok, whoever says they are fine, send me that legendary "fine" refill I keep hearing about.
- iosjunkie 1y agoIve had good luck with ‘Monteverde Capless Gel Ballpoint’ refills for my Rotring 600s.
- selcuka 1y agoPilot V5 Hi-Tecpoint has been my favourite for the last ~20 years. I'm not a heavy user, so one pen lasts for years as an added bonus.
- max51 1y agoMost of the best pens refills are made by japanese companies (eg. Pilot, Zebra, Uni-ball, etc.) and Parker style is nonexistant in that country. If you look at any "top XX best pens" lists online, the vast majority is not avaible in Parker. And when they are, they usually have fewer color and size options. It's very disapointing to see brand new nice pen designs that only support Parker refills.
- TheSilva 1y agoI 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?
- radicalbyte 1y agoI've tried everything under the sun and they all smudge. Roting pencil it is.
- neilfrndes 1y agoI found iroshizuku inks faster drying than the other brands I've tried. Paper matters a lot too, I've experimented with many and finally settled on Rhodia.
- Telemakhos 1y agoI’m a fan of Parker’s iroshizuku inks too. I don’t know why, but ink from a bottle seems to end up not drying inside the pen like cartridges do.
- lou1306 1y agoI have good memories of the Parker ones. But honestly I started using a (refillable) Pilot V5 in uni and never went back. It only really smudges if you leave the pen in the same spot for quite some time (very rare). But writing is a breeze and the black is _actually_ black.
- phosfox 1y agoI'm also left-handed and I find this uni jetstream to dry pretty quickly: https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Jetstream-Standard-Ballpoint-Pen-0.5-mm-Black-Ink-White-Body/pd/3232 https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Jetstream-Standard-Ballpoint-Pen...
- criddell 1y agoI 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.
- dfee 1y agoSince we’re all sounding off on preferred pens, the Pilot Precise v5 is my go to (blue). Seems it’s laughable to some out there, but’s been trusty for me! https://pilotpen.us/Product?0=40&1=36&cid=271 https://pilotpen.us/Product?0=40&1=36&cid=271
- kstrauser 1y agoThere’s nothing laughable about that! I adored those in math classes where I was adding tiny notes around things. They were my favorite for a while.
- yumraj 1y agoI had Rotring 600 pencil - absolutely loved it, best I’ve ever used. But, its tip is very fragile so after it bent I got a Pentel Orenz Nero , it’s close enough, has retractable tip and lead auto advances. It has become my current favorite. Fun fact: Orenz Nero is a palindrome.
- quectophoton 1y ago> I had Rotring 600 pencil - absolutely loved it, best I’ve ever used. > But, its tip is very fragile I came here to say this. I have a rotring 600 mechanical pencil with non-retractable tip, and it bends if you even look at it funny. It can be straightened again if you insert a sewing needle so it was not a big deal, but it was unexpected how easy it bends. Heck, I have to treat it even more carefully than my smartphone. Not that I treat it rough or anything, but I have to be very conscious of where I leave it, lest it rolls off and falls off a height of a few centimeters. Other than that I don't regret buying it, it's been a few years and it still feels nice to use.
- radicalbyte 1y agoI use a Rotring 600 3-in-1 and it's excellent. Although I prefer the way Uni Kuru writes as it rotates the lead as you write making everything very even. Having a very good pencil + two coloured pens in your hand is just awesome.
- bravesoul2 1y agoSell me this pen. Ok you win.
- qwertox 1y ago11 years ago I bought a Faber Castell - Essentio Ballpoint Pen, Carbon Black - #148888 [0], 22€ at that time, and I absolutely love it. I use it every day, just for writings something on post-its or on labels. One of the few grips that don't get sticky over the years, feels good in the hand and looks nice. The clip is of metal which does stick to magnets, so it's easy to attach to places like a monitor or a lamp. [0] https://www.fabercastell.com/products/essentio-ballpoint-pen-carbon-148888 https://www.fabercastell.com/products/essentio-ballpoint-pen...
- orlp 1y agoMy favorite pens are the Frixxion pens. You can erase them, and it actually works well.
- Biganon 1y agoThe ink from Frixxion pens disappears with time. I found out the hard way when I went to re-read my MLaw notes a few years after writing them.
- numpad0 1y agoI've heard that they sometimes reappear when frozen, though not sure if that applies to natural discolorations as well.
- synecdoche 1y agoI like them too, but they get empty quickly. Only a fraction of the cartridge is ink. The majority is plug gel and pressurised air. Apparently that’s required for it to function properly.
- mamonoleechi 1y agothe erasing part is what frightens me ; putting your document near a heating device erases your writings (the heat produced by the friction of the eraser is what remove the ink when you do it manually)
- max51 1y agoThe ink gets its color back if you put the paper in the freezer
- fifticon 1y agoI am probably an uneducated cretin, but I have my preferences anyway. I am in Denmark, and in Denmark, you can get "sharpie pens" () from the brand LYRECO, which I am very fond of, particularly of their high quality and durability. There is a personal story (for me at least..) regarding them. More than a decade ago, I worked for many years for a specific company, which had its good and bad sides. One major upside, was that their employee equipment supply included LYRECO pens. So I basically had free access to black/red/blue LYRECO pens. I am not a career criminal as such, but simply through basic negligence, occasionally one of those pens would wander in my pockets, briefcases or binders, back to my residence, through no active ill will, and be left lying around some random place. Mind you, these are "cheap" sharpie pens, so I am probably not going to jail anytime soon because of this. However you choose to interpret or describe it, in the end some number of those pens, larger than 1, but less than 10, ended up in random places in my house/possession. Up until now, this is not a particularly ravishing story. But this is about to change (?). The issue is, those MF's won't stop writing! They ended up in my possession by now more than 10 years ago, but when I pull one of them out, they still write! So, a sharpie-style (sort of) pen, that still writes well more than 10 years later! Of course, they eventually dry out, when I exhaust them of ink through use. But the 10 years of age has not dried them out. And further, they appear very well provisioned with ink. This story could end here, but there is another twist: Of course, I quite love these pens, and I really would like my own supply. But here is the kicker: They are not available to civilians/consumers :-(. LYRECO only wants to trade with companies. So to be able to buy my own, I would have to start or register a company. (In particular, to fill out their online order forms, I have to fill in mandatory fields with numeric codes only companies have). So, at various times, I have filled out most of their online ordering forms, and stared longingly at the empty fields I have no numbers for. I have also, on other websites, started to fill out the registration form to start my own one-man company. But never completed it, both because I don't have a valid business case other than "I'd really like some of those pens, man!", and because having a registerered company requires you to follow certain procedures, like filing specific tax forms regularly, IE I could get into trouble and bother by making a "fake company". The last issue is, that I also am paranoid, speculating that maybe the late-stage capitalism monsters have arrived at LYRECO's offices in the intervening 10 years, and whispered in some guy's ear "You know.. we don't really have to make our pens THAT GOOD, we could ship shit instead and charge the same!" () I don't know what their actual type is. They are filt pens I guess, with the 'filt' sticking out of what I assume to be a steel tube.
- mrob 1y agoI think the Rotring 500 pencils are better than the 600s. They're very similar except instead of a full metal body, only the grip is metal, and the rest plastic. This makes them lighter, and moves the center of gravity closer to the tip, which makes them easier to control.
- alexalx666 1y agoThe grip part peels the skin off a bit, which paradoxically results in low end UX, I wish they've put much looser grid there
- amelius 1y agoLol, 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.
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- MisterTea 1y agoIt really feels more like an ad.
- bronlund 1y agoI 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.
- criddell 1y agoLike Don Norman says, attractive things work better. And there's always a good reason to go evangelical/Apple about it. A day you spend using tools that you love using is a better day than one where you are using tools that bring you no joy. As far as evangelizing goes, I'm much more interested in the things you love than the things you hate.
- amelius 1y agoBe careful to not love your tools more than the things you create with them. It's all in your mind. Simple tools are king. They allow you to be creative anytime, not just when holding the "right" tool.
- munificent 1y agoEveryone has a complex relationship with their muse. Fetishizing gear such that you use lack of the right gear as an excuse to not create, or spend all your time acquiring gear and not using it is definitely toxic. But, also fetishizing minimalism such that you end up with a process that is all self-flagelating toil and misery is also toxic. Everyone's gotta navigate the boundary between those themselves.
- WillAdams 1y agoStill raging that a Rotring Quattro is the only pen which I have lost (twice!) since I was a junior in high school over four decades ago. Did finally manage to get a replacement for the second one I lost, but if anyone ever sees a special edition Rotring Quattro as sold by Levenger w/ rubber coating for sale, let me know. That said, these days I just carry a Skilcraft B3 Aviator as a slimmer, more pocketable multi-pen option (though I'm on my second, broke the clip of the first and haven't worked out how to disassemble and replace it).
- synecdoche 1y agoI used a Trio-pencil extensively during my educative years. Beauty in writing and diagram drawing made it enjoyable and helped to focus. I still have it. With a nice patina. Still functioning.
- asymmetric 1y agoAlong these lines, does anyone have recommendations for a nice (as in: overpriced and pretty, just like with OP) setup for drawing/sketching diagrams, as a programmer might need to to do map out a problem? I'm thinking ~pencils~ (edit: felt-tip pens) in various colors, and good paper.
- _verandaguy 1y agoI can't speak for variously-coloured pencils, but I've had a lot of success with a grid-ruled moleskine (I usually went for hardcover, but after accidentally ordering a soft cover, I'm warming up to it) and a Rotring 0.5mm mechanical pencil with Pentel 2H leads. For colours, I tend to use the Bic 4-in-one coloured pen (the one with the blue bottom and white top), though I don't bring that out often.
- kstrauser 1y agoI mentioned in another post, but you need to try the Uni version of that Bic. I got a 3 color. I feels only slightly larger than a regular pen, and writes vastly better than the Bic. They’re more expensive in absolutely terms but still around $6.
- _verandaguy 1y agoDo you have a shopping link or SKU? I'm having some trouble finding it, but it sounds compelling!
- CharlesW 1y agoThey may be thinking of the "uni Jetstream 4&1 Metal Edition" with black/red/bluegreen Jetstream ballpoints, plus a 0.5mm Mechanical Pencil: https://www.amazon.com/uni-Jetstream-Ballpoint-Mechanical-MSXE52000A05-43/dp/B08L8X65TT https://www.amazon.com/uni-Jetstream-Ballpoint-Mechanical-MS... or https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Jetstream-4-1-Metal-4-Color-0.5-mm-Ballpoint-Multi-Pen-0.5-mm-Pencil-Gun-Metallic/pd/30580 https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Jetstream-4-1-Metal-4-Color-0.5-...
- bicx 1y agoAs a regular user of the Rotring 600, I recommend getting the EasyFlow 9000 refill for super smooth writing. It’s true that a ballpoint pen is just a vehicle for the refill, but the Rotring 600 is a pretty nice vehicle. All that said, I reach for my Lamy Safari first. I also have a Pilot Vanishing Point as my “grail pen”, and while it’s a cool fountain pen, I don’t love the feel on paper.
- cosiiine 1y agoI too have gone with fountain pens as my every day pen. There's zero waste with a bottle of ink and a cartridge. I find that the variety of inks to be superior too.
- bicx 1y agoTrue! I specifically use Noodler's Bernanke Black ink because it's fast-drying. I'm left-handed, and I can easily smear ink as I write if it doesn't dry quickly. Left-to-right writing definitely favors right-handed people.
- throwanem 1y agoOh, good grief, in that case you might want to start with a Pilot medium (roughly equivalent to a German no. 5 'fine') and work down from there. Without wishing to invite contumely on the sometimes extremely fractious topic that can be Noodler's inks, I will say my experience is that all the feed and nib throughput you can possibly give them will never really be too much, especially in Japanese pens.
- throwanem 1y agoI don't like the EasyFlow 9000 very well, because even on Clairefontaine paper it doesn't live up to its name. I have one in an Ohto Rays for the retro vibe, but it's the pen I keep in my bag to have something nice I won't mind giving away. Even compared to Ohto's stock gel refill, the EasyFlow just writes lousy. Try moving one nib size up with the Vanishing Point, especially if you're used to Western pens. Pilot's EF is sharp enough to draw blood and you'll never really break it in; the F starts out a little rough but wears in nicely. Too, the Vanishing Point itself I found a little big and heavy for real comfort, both in the hand and in a shirt pocket. The Decimo is mechanically identical but smaller and lighter, enough so that it's my go-to pen for almost every purpose, even sitting alongside a Parker 51 Deluxe.
- porridgeraisin 1y agoWe have this "Nataraj Glow" ballpoint pen in India that you can get for 1 INR a pop. I bought a whole lot of them (100s) during school many years back and still use them. I lost pens regularly but it really didn't matter since I'd go back home to 99 more. Since school my pen usage has dropped significantly, but I still find them lying around the house strewn about here and there for when I need them. Love them, never needed anything else personally. The best thing about them is that they don't dry out or break or leak easily, so you can treat your pens with neglect, disrespect and be generally forgetful, e.g, losing the cap, putting it in the washing machine, etc, without paying for it in any way. They are thrice as expensive (3 INR) now, but that's still throwaway money: https://www.amazon.in/Nataraj-Glow-Ball-Blue-Pack/dp/B0DF7YCDGS https://www.amazon.in/Nataraj-Glow-Ball-Blue-Pack/dp/B0DF7YC...
- 0x_rs 1y agoThere's no mention of this in the article, so be aware there's multiple posts online about QC issues. Rotring quality has been going down over the years, or their name outgrew the actual quality of the product. Current generation of 600s especially suffer from: cracking of the body (0, 1); but most importantly for pens, the joint part that screws into the bottom and upper part of the pen is extremely susceptible to wearing out the thin and fragile upper part's threads, as they are two different metals. So you should be prepared to exercise your warranty if you purchase one. 0. https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/comments/1fzacf9/brand_new_rotring_600_came_with_a_crack/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/comments/1fzacf9/... 1. https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/comments/1439ru7/psa_rotring_600_crack/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/comments/1439ru7/...
- kps 1y agoThe original Rotring is gone; Rotring was bought by Newell Brands and is now just a label on copies made elsewhere. (They did the same with Parker and Waterman.) 20th-century Rotring is the real thing.
- ForOldHack 1y agoI had an old one and it broke, so I went looking for a new one,and it just felt cheap. Then I saw a pair at a flea market for $10, and only one had been used. I use a black rubber tape on them for comfort and it makes it less prone to cracking on the handle, and store them in a black box. ( Less UV ). I do keep going back by the store, and hoping their cheap ones get discontinued... But they are still. There. What are the best refills to use for them?
- MrSkelter 1y agoThis is correct. I have NOS Rotrings made in Germany. They sell for a pretty penny online. People who love the pens know the modern production isn’t the same.
- nabilhat 1y agoOh, that's a very specific crack. This is an extrusion error. The extrusion temperature is dropping too low while it's still over the internal die. The thicker peaks cool more slowly than the thinner flats, remaining at a weaker temperature longer, and they're pulled apart by accumulating contraction. These cracks usually aren't obvious until they meet a conflicting load. For example, tapping threads up the end without supporting the work correctly. It's not like this is a load bearing part, they could get around this issue with a little care. Holding the work in a hex collet during tapping is cheap, adds efficiency, and would solve the problem. Sending feedback to the extruder is free and usually effective. Or maybe the product is moving well enough on brand equity that it's not worth bothering.
- throwaway_edge 1y agoThere is a parker-style 0.5mm point refill from jetstream (Uniball Jetstream SXR-600) that I used in my Rotring 600. Thin point and dries instantly, very nice for taking quick notes. However for the last year I have switched to a Jetstream Edge 0,28 mm point pen which unfortunately does not fit the Rotring 600.
- nosrepa 1y agoI think I'm happy with my fisher space pens.
- hungmung 1y agoI put a Space Pen refill into my Tactile Turn bolt action pen* and I've been happy with it as a daily driver for about 5 years now. * If you want one that's got regular pen dimensions and will fit in a breast pocket, get the slim model with the short length.
- jscheel 1y agoI've had a Lamy Swift (palladium) for about 8 years now. It's a great pen with a unique clip mechanism. The Lamy rollerball refills are really nice, but they don't have a fine point version, so be ready for thick lines. I actually like the broad tip though. I just checked the Lamy website, and it looks like this pen has basically doubled in price since I bought it... yikes.
- Nickersf 1y agoI've had my Rotring 600 mechanical pencil for 10 years and I might need to add the ballpoint variant soon. I see some people mentioning that the new Rotrings aren't as good, which is a shame.
- mamonoleechi 1y agoIf you're looking for a super cheap pen, check french BIC pens: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=bic+pen&ia=images&iax=images https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=bic+pen&ia=images&iax=image... ; it's less than €0.30 ($0.35) and don't stop on the price ; this pen is amazing, it's actually one of the recommended tool, used by the super talented and proefficient korean drawing artist Kim Jung Gi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmqFbgKWoao https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmqFbgKWoao (not sure he uses it in this video) ; Kim is known to be able to draw anything from memory you can see him drawing with the BIC pen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30_IDH1TzFs&t=1231s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30_IDH1TzFs&t=1231s (video: Kim Jung Gi - What Kind of Pen Do You Use?)
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- agentultra 1y agoI went with a Sarasa Grand body and JLV-0.5 Sarasa Dry refills. Being left-handed I tend to smudge a lot. The fast-dry formula Zebra came up with is perfect. I get thick, precise lines and no smudging regardless of how fast I write. Those refills might fit this barrel, might be worth checking out if you're a lefty.
- jeffbee 1y agoI feel that modern manufacturing technology should have given us this combination of a few simple metal parts at far less than $60 by now.
- zeruch 1y agoI haven't bought a Rotring in decades (and the Rotring rapidographs I do have still hold up), and wouldn't at this stage given the decline in build quality since their buy-up from Newell (although I hear their APAC product is subcontracted to Holbein, which still has a great rep).