Another regular - but less frequent - wallet drain for me has been pens…but not just any pens. Pilot Gel Pens. I’ve used them all at one time or another, but none compare to the G-series Pilot Pen, particularly to the 0.7 and 1.0 black ink versions. The latter are almost like a really fine sharpie marker point.
I have a rule that I can use up to three pens at any time, but all must be finished completely before any others can be used. They must be fully drained. There can be not a smidgen of ink left in them. And pictured below, you can see where this OCD-inspired obsession has lead me.
I know this is mighty weird, but I figured one obsession is fundamentally no different from another, and I figured I’d share it on the off-chance that someone here is as dedicated to using up their pens. :Sp
I too love the Pilot G-series, particularly the 0.7 & 0.5's. At work at least, I keep one 0.5 & one 0.7 beside my keyboard at all times (and make sure no one steals them) and I don't replace them until they are fully drained. I did actually request & get some of these as a Christmas gift one year (they thought I was strange for that).
I used to have an OCD "issue" with tracing over my writing until my writing looked "solid" or "continuous" without ink missing, but these Pilot G-series have pretty much cured me of that because I no longer see streaks of ink missing.
I use this model too. At home there are some arguments about them, my wife prefers the liquid ink models (can’t recall model names) and I am for the gel!
I am sure it’s just ear wax from the technician who assembles the pens
For some reason, with red pens (used for "redlining" plans during review at work) I prefer the Pilot Precise V5. And I don't like black ink at all. I like the fact that when using blue ink you can easily tell a copy from an original (well, at least on a black & white copy).
I have no idea about that yellow stuff in the ends. Let’s just go with the ear wax theory. lol
And I love the different colors, but because I work in and around law enforcement, the ink has to be black. So I abandoned all but that one some time ago.
I used to like the Pilot pens (I bought a box of G1 and V5) but then I discovered their fountain pens. I started with a cheap 78G, and moved on to the Pilot Custom 74. Nice big pen, smooth writer, and very tactile. A Prera and Vanishing Point (Capless) are hopefully on their way to me from Japan. A friend visited Japan recently and brought me back some Pilot made ink - Iroshizuku, which is wonderful stuff (but very expensive).
Pens are similar to flashlights in the sense that they both need “fuel” (batteries/ink), and we can spend an inordinate amount of time reading reviews of lights, pens, cells, ink. Although I don’t really need more than one or two of each, well, it’s nice to have a few dozen lights, and more than 10 fountain pens.
I only use the 1.0mm pens as they feel super smooth, I bought a box of them a few months ago as I write every day but have only used 3 until they ran dry so far.
So far the Energel X is my all time favorite but I would gladly try anything else if its under a few bucks per pen.
Oh yes, very similar.
Collecting them, buying pens and inks from overseas and waiting for them forever. . .
I love (budget) flex nib pens the most.
For Pilot:
I’m not so much into ball or gel tip pens, but I absolutely love my Pilot parallel pens.
So much fun for fraktur and other calligraphic hands.
I’ve been collecting tactical pens. None of them come with gel ink but the cartridges are easy to find. They look good, write good and make great self defense tools.
I will see your OCD obsession and raise you. Not only do I drain them, but I save the parts for repairs to others. Have you drained more than 1 refill in the same host?
I’m working on it now! Nearly got a .7 spent and three more newbies soon to have their life-blood sucked out of them. My cousin even made up an “all the pens in the world!” mock-supervillain in my honor. It has become my goal to drain all of Pilot’s black ink forever! |(
yes, 6 times. with a Zebra pen G-301. the refills go out in no time, but I like the pen, so I justified the refills.
I have since switched over to whatever gell I can scrounge up, but the zebra still is almost always in my pocket because it clicks almost silently, and I have a habit of clicking it all day long.
. 