Pen writing quality

[Daniel2025]

I've only had my hands on the Slimline Cross-style refills. I'm assuming this maybe what most pen makers start off with due to simplicity & cost.
I am interested in knowing whats next, in terms of upgraded quality of writing. For the last 30+ years I always carried a Pentel Medium point clear retractable.
For me these were great, On occasion in the offices at work I would see a pen that wrote so smooth, so slick. Never paid any attention to branding.
So thats my question, what pen kits make a great writing experience?

Thanks

Dave

 

[randyrls]

Dave; The pen contributes to the writing experience, mainly in the fit to the hand and weight of the pen. The pen ink fill is the most important part of a smooth and consistent writing experience. I always replace the ink fill with a Schmidt ink fill on ball points and roller balls. You can do this with a slimline too although I'm not sure that Schmidt makes a cross /slimline refill.

 

[Daniel2025]

Dave; The pen contributes to the writing experience, mainly in the fit to the hand and weight of the pen. The pen ink fill is the most important part of a smooth and consistent writing experience. I always replace the ink fill with a Schmidt ink fill on ball points and roller balls. You can do this with a slimline too although I'm not sure that Schmidt makes a cross /slimline refill.

Yes, thats what I'm looking for. A pen kit or a ink refill that writes really smooth.

Dave

 

[Todd in PA]

The pens I've come across use one of three refills Cross Style, Parker Style, and Rollerball. I think the writing quality increases in that order, but maybe it's a subject of opinion.

The slim lines use cross style, and while the writing quality and smoothness isn't top-notch, it's my go to when I'm underlining a book or writing on glossy paper, such as the price tags for my pens. It's an oil based ink and those refills last forever.

Next up is the Parker style most people here recommend the EasyFLOW 9000 as an upgrade to the regular refill. Most of your twist style pens, like the Sierras and Gatsby's use these. The EF 9000 writes a really smooth consistent line. Another option is the Quink gel refill. I bought some of those on Amazon and honestly was not too impressed.

Last up are the rollerballs. Rollerball ink writes really smooth. It's a water or alcohol based ink that flows out onto the page very nicely, But it's also an evaporating ink so these are your capped pens to keep the ink refill from drying out between uses. Most folks here recommend the Schmidt 5888 as an upgrade of the refill.

 

[egnald]

My personal preference for writing is a blue, bold point, Parker G2 Gel ink cartridge. So, I use them in my own and I usually put them in any rollerball style that I am gifting. I can't speak to the Cross style and Parker Style much since I usually don't use them myself, but I do build a lot of them, Parker Style in particular and for those I do keep Parker Style Gel ink refills for them - again, just a personal preference in ink types. - Dave

 

[Jarod888]

I honestly prefer the consistency of the parker style space pen refills.

 

[David350]

Dave, for a Cross / Slimline style pen refill upgrade, try the Monteverde refills. They are not quite as good an upgrade as the Schmidt 9000 is for the Parker style, but it is an upgrade to the standard Cross refills that come in the kits, IMHO. David

 

[duncsuss]

Try a genuine Cross refill. I think Staples sells them.