Possibly dumb questions about pens and pencils

[Sgt_Strider]

Is it really worth buying the more expensive pens that are in the $20+dollar range? I usually buy the cheap pens every year at Staples, RCSS, or Office Depot. I often lose my pens and pencils which is why the cheap ones. This year I'm thinking of maybe doing something different. Is there a compelling reason why I should buy "expensive" pens and pencils other than the fact that it'll look nicer?

[Oni-kun]

No there is no reason at all. I used to buy expensive pens in highschool. But when I started to have to pay for my own stationary i stopped buying them lol. I don't even buy pens to be honest. I just go to job fares and other festivities (such as Yorkfest at Yorku) and get all the free stationary they give out lol. When I run out I buy a box of cheapo pens. Sometimes pens that are too cheap have crappy ink and for random reasons they may stop functioning, but thats the REALLY cheap ones. Carry a couple and if it fails toss it and use a new one. I've never really had BIC or Papermate ones freak on me. But the crappy storebrand ones kinda suck. Don't waste your moeny buying pens.

[Bmp5]

Well it depends.Before i lost my parker pen and pencil,i used them like for 4 years plus.I paid like 25 bucks each but i did not spend any on my black parker pen and my pencil.If you find them very comfortable and you know how to keep things,then it might be good.

[jayehs]

i got all my stationaries from work :P

[Eyies]

In engineering I pretty much only use pencil.. I have 3 or 4 really nice japanese mechanical pencils which I've been using for a long long time.. and other than that, I use the Papermate cheap pens, (around $2 for 20 or something like that)

[M@rk]

I use the expensive Sanford line of pens/pencils, Parker, Cross, and Sheaffer at school and home (they were all gifts). I never lose my stuff, so it's worth it for me.

Along with being comfortable, they're durable and don't break every 2 years like the cheaper ones.

Mainly, I just like them, and feel confident relying on them for life-altering final exams :cheesygri

[Sgt_Strider]

I use the expensive Sanford line of pens/pencils, Parker, Cross, and Sheaffer at school and home (they were all gifts). I never lose my stuff, so it's worth it for me.

Along with being comfortable, they're durable and don't break every 2 years like the cheaper ones.

Mainly, I just like them, and feel confident relying on them for life-altering final exams :cheesygri

Lucky that you're one of those people then. Back to school sales start soon so I guess I'll see what my mood is like.

[Siefer999]

get what fits you hands and budget.

i have a thing for zebra pens, theyre cheap and feel good in my hands. i occasionally lose my pens or have them stolen from me at work by my dirty co-worker-bast@rds but they are only like $2 pens so its nothing really to get mad over

i also like bic round stic pens (or anything in the round stic family). theyre even cheaper and write smooth

get whatevers in your comfort level

[hello1214]

go to job/university fairs...free pens/pencils/highlighters/flashlights/paper...basically free stuff

[dmdsoftware2]

I use the expensive Sanford line of pens/pencils, Parker, Cross, and Sheaffer at school and home (they were all gifts). I never lose my stuff, so it's worth it for me.

Along with being comfortable, they're durable and don't break every 2 years like the cheaper ones.

Mainly, I just like them, and feel confident relying on them for life-altering final exams :cheesygri

At UofT for the math and CS courses, if you don't write in pen then you cannot detest the midterms or term exams results. So, if the marker made an error (adding mistake or deducted marks incorrectly), you have no recourse action to take if you wrote your exam in pencil.

Final exams are always different. They photocopy them if you request to see them.

[gq_fuzion]

go to job/university fairs...free pens/pencils/highlighters/flashlights/paper...basically free stuff

amen to that
true RFD style

[SamInfinity]

Is it really worth buying the more expensive pens that are in the $20+dollar range? I usually buy the cheap pens every year at Staples, RCSS, or Office Depot. I often lose my pens and pencils which is why the cheap ones. This year I'm thinking of maybe doing something different. Is there a compelling reason why I should buy "expensive" pens and pencils other than the fact that it'll look nicer?

I just hit frosh week and get pens and hilighters from all the stands. That way, I don't care if I lose them. $20+ is kinda steep for a pen. I consider gel rollers at 2 or 3 bucks a pop a luxury already.

[eh^]

get what fits you hands and budget.

i have a thing for zebra pens, theyre cheap and feel good in my hands. i occasionally lose my pens or have them stolen from me at work by my dirty co-worker-bast@rds but they are only like $2 pens so its nothing really to get mad over

i also like bic round stic pens (or anything in the round stic family). theyre even cheaper and write smooth

get whatevers in your comfort level

I use those too Zebra pens are the best !!!!

[shawn99]

I have a lot of pens that stopped working, majority have 3/4 of ink left. I think there is wax build up or ball point mechanism is broken.

I tried heating up the ends with a lighter but it doesn't help most of the time, any suggestions?

[bernZ]

Paint thinner has worked for me in the past.. dip the end of the pen into paint thinner, and leave it for a bit.. it usually works for me.

I use a semi expensive cross ion pen at home, but that's only for writing really important stuff like home essays and the such. At school, just the regular mix of pens and pencils - nothing expensive, whatever gets the job done for me works.

[red_roses101]

Is it really worth buying the more expensive pens that are in the $20+dollar range? I usually buy the cheap pens every year at Staples, RCSS, or Office Depot. I often lose my pens and pencils which is why the cheap ones. This year I'm thinking of maybe doing something different. Is there a compelling reason why I should buy "expensive" pens and pencils other than the fact that it'll look nicer?
omg man, don't buy the crappy pens/pencils...once you go to high quality pens...you'll never go back. high quality pens are the way to go...most people say the pens are good for 5 mins, but are meh after that...so they try crappy pens and then go back and are like wow!!! BS. buy the quality pens and pencils son.

[Sgt_Strider]

omg man, don't buy the crappy pens/pencils...once you go to high quality pens...you'll never go back. high quality pens are the way to go...most people say the pens are good for 5 mins, but are meh after that...so they try crappy pens and then go back and are like wow!!! BS. buy the quality pens and pencils son.


son? lol you're actually funny for once.

[Explode]

I can say high quality is where its at. I took one from a funeral home the one for the signing book and it still hasnt run out after 2-2.5 years. Having a nice pen for work/school/home is a good investment. Just get in the habit of putting it in our pocket.

[Oni-kun]

If you're worried about a crappy pen dieing on you carry several at a time. Still cheaper and unlikely that all would fail at a time.

[PlayerOne]

if you loose your stationary all the time, then buy cheap stuff, if you can stick to a mechanical pencil for years, then buy smthing nice

expensive pens would be a good idea IF the refills aren't so expensive, it's your call

i personally don't write with a pen much, so i have a semi-nice pen and a nice mechanical pencil, to those that thinks there's no difference, you should really try it out first, there is a big diff

but wheather or not you want to spend the money to get a nice writing tool, that's what you gotta answer first

[Headhunter]

Get a set of $2-3 pens and pencils. They're of a good enough quality and durability that you can be productive with them, but not expensive enough that you'll get pissed when they are eventually lost or "borrowed permanently".

As for erasers, go for the white ones; the pink ones leave a noticable colour residue, and they harden a lot faster over time.

If you need pencil crayons, get a 16-pack of Laurentien.

If you need a flowchart template, the $6-8 ones in light green that follow IBM specs are the ones to get.

[jason9945]

In engineering I pretty much only use pencil.. I have 3 or 4 really nice japanese mechanical pencils which I've been using for a long long time.. and other than that, I use the Papermate cheap pens, (around $2 for 20 or something like that)

I love the papermate pens. I'm great at losing them though.

[Steveoph]

Something I remember from a while back, how to have the feeling of writing with a Montblanc Pen, for a superlow price.

http://www.instructables.com/id/EWAMSPFFCKEP2871N2/?ALLSTEPS

[deals4j]

I love the Papermate Xtend pens (I think they're around 1.50 or 2 bucks each) but they run out way too fast. As a cheaper alternative, the Bic Ultra Round Stick Grips (more like .15 or 20 cents each) do a pretty awesome job.

[will1087]

lol, no. Pens and pencils get "borrowed" all the time. Stick to those 50c pens that do the job.

Of course, make sure the pen is somewhat comfortable and you can write with it.

[Sgt_Strider]

I just remember what I wanted to ask you guys, but I completely forgot about it until today. Where can I buy a superthin tip pen? I find regular pens aren't suitable to write Chinese characters. I can write them big with no problems, but they aren't suitable for writing small characters. Where can I buy a pen, assuming such pen exist, that have a tip that is as thin as a 0.5mm pencil?

[CHINAdeals]

nice bics doesn't help you get the chicks

[mysticalenchantment]

i end up losing my pens at least 2 or 3 times a day...so i tend to stick to the cheap ones, although if i bought expensive ones i might take better care in not losing them...hmm...tough one, but im too cheap to buy the expensive ones so i guess its decided for me lol

[Jucius Maximus]

If you are taking university lectures, it is very important to have good pens. Not necessarily expensive, but good pens.

"Good" means:

1. Dries quickly, so you're not smudging your notes all over your hands and the page.

2. Ergonomic / easy on your hand, so you can sit there and write for hours of lectures each day.

3. Fine point. Especially important for engieering / math people because you are drawing all kinds of diagrams and equations. It's much harder to do this with a thick point.

4. Reliable, smooth ink flow. You don't want to be correcting your pen's mistakes as the lecture goes on.

My recommendation is the Piolet G-TEC C4 pen, available for $2.99 a piece at Staples. Dries fast. Extremely fine tip. Reliable. Looks really plain but doesn't tire out your hand. Sure, some people would balk at spending three dollars for ONE pen, but believe me, it is majorly worth it. I would never want to go back to cheapie pens.

[bmwmini]

Is it really worth buying the more expensive pens that are in the $20+dollar range? I usually buy the cheap pens every year at Staples, RCSS, or Office Depot. I often lose my pens and pencils which is why the cheap ones. This year I'm thinking of maybe doing something different. Is there a compelling reason why I should buy "expensive" pens and pencils other than the fact that it'll look nicer?

I think you should remove the word possibly from the title :D
If you keep losing them, buy cheap ones.

[greg123]

i got all my stationaries from work :P

amen, i love the government

[Sgt_Strider]

If you are taking university lectures, it is very important to have good pens. Not necessarily expensive, but good pens.

"Good" means:

1. Dries quickly, so you're not smudging your notes all over your hands and the page.

2. Ergonomic / easy on your hand, so you can sit there and write for hours of lectures each day.

3. Fine point. Especially important for engieering / math people because you are drawing all kinds of diagrams and equations. It's much harder to do this with a thick point.

4. Reliable, smooth ink flow. You don't want to be correcting your pen's mistakes as the lecture goes on.

My recommendation is the Piolet G-TEC C4 pen, available for $2.99 a piece at Staples. Dries fast. Extremely fine tip. Reliable. Looks really plain but doesn't tire out your hand. Sure, some people would balk at spending three dollars for ONE pen, but believe me, it is majorly worth it. I would never want to go back to cheapie pens.

Yea, I want a fine tip pen. The problem with the Uniball pens is that the ink doesn't dry fast and I end up smudging everything on my paper. I need such pen because they don't allow me to use pencils for Chinese final exam. I can't write chinese characters properly with the regular pens.