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Recommend me some writing utensils!

EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles.Portland, ORRegistered User regular
edited September 2009 in Help / Advice Forum
Going back to college this Fall and I need some pencils/pens to take notes with. I'm not looking to spend $$$ but I also don't want to be using a 12 pack of Bic pens.

Something to take into consideration is that I write like a left hander but with my right hand, so the pens need to be not smeary.

So, some nice pen and mechanical pencil thoughts, please. Thanks!

Esh on

Posts

  • NappuccinoNappuccino Surveyor of Things and Stuff Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    I've been using the new sharpie-pens this year and I'm pretty happy with them. I just did a quick smudge test and they don't seem to smudge with normal use.

    Nappuccino on
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  • DeebaserDeebaser on my way to work in a suit and a tie Ahhhh...come on fucking guyRegistered User regular
    edited September 2009
    Hi Esh,

    Actual honest to God south paw here. I'm writing with a Pentel RSVP at the moment and it isn't smeary in the least.

    Gel and ink pens are your enemy. Anything ballpoint won't smear that badly.

    Deebaser on
  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu PIGEON Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    How can you possibly write like a left hander with your right hand? Do you write from right to left?

    In any case Bic pens have always been my favorites.

    TychoCelchuuu on
  • KidDynamiteKidDynamite Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    Putting a vote in for the Parker Jotters. I've always thought they look classy, and a good thing to have around.

    Edited to say, lefty crew checking in. So there is that.

    KidDynamite on
  • SebbieSebbie Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    papermate.jpg

    I don't know how they hold up to the smudge test but those pens have always been my favourite. I find they feel so smooth as they glide on paper.

    Sebbie on
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  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    edited September 2009
    How can you possibly write like a left hander with your right hand? Do you write from right to left?

    In any case Bic pens have always been my favorites.

    I basically crab my hand around and start my letters/numbers from the opposite direction of where a righty would. It's really odd. People remark on it all the time.

    Esh on
  • firewaterwordfirewaterword Satchitananda Pais Vasco to San FranciscoRegistered User regular
    edited September 2009
    I've had a few Cross pens over the years - pretty nice if you're the sort who can hang onto a pen. You should be able to find a pen and pencil set for under $30.

    If for some reason you do decide you want an expensive ass pen, it's hard to go wrong with Mont Blanc. I've got one that's over 35 years old, and it still writes like a charm. The refills are affordable as well.

    firewaterword on
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  • PhistiPhisti Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    I'm a lefty and I have discovered Pentel Energel pens are quite delightful (not low budget, so don't be loaning them out, but not 50$ a pen).

    Check em out: Energel

    It's a gel pen but dries very, very, very quickly and is actually quite delightful to write with. I've yet to have a smudging problem with it, now if only they'd make a left-hand friendly 3-ring binder.

    Phisti on
  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    edited September 2009
    Phisti wrote: »
    I'm a lefty and I have discovered Pentel Energel pens are quite delightful (not low budget, so don't be loaning them out, but not 50$ a pen).

    Check em out: Energel

    It's a gel pen but dries very, very, very quickly and is actually quite delightful to write with. I've yet to have a smudging problem with it, now if only they'd make a left-hand friendly 3-ring binder.

    Sold! These look great.

    Now can someone point me towards a good mechanical pencil?

    Esh on
  • meekermeeker Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    Esh wrote: »
    How can you possibly write like a left hander with your right hand? Do you write from right to left?

    In any case Bic pens have always been my favorites.

    I basically crab my hand around and start my letters/numbers from the opposite direction of where a righty would. It's really odd. People remark on it all the time.

    I do the same damn thing!

    I love me some Papermate Flexgrip Ultra Fine. Cuisiony, rubbery outside; non-smeary ink inside!

    meeker on
  • Dark_SideDark_Side Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    Pens fall in and out of favor with me, but I know that when it comes to pencils, I've found no finer than the Mirado Black Warriors. I used to use a lot of mechanical pencils but got tired of always breaking the lead off when writing.

    Dark_Side on
  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    edited September 2009
    meeker wrote: »
    Esh wrote: »
    How can you possibly write like a left hander with your right hand? Do you write from right to left?

    In any case Bic pens have always been my favorites.

    I basically crab my hand around and start my letters/numbers from the opposite direction of where a righty would. It's really odd. People remark on it all the time.

    I do the same damn thing!

    I love me some Papermate Flexgrip Ultra Fine. Cuisiony, rubbery outside; non-smeary ink inside!

    I've met one other person that does this. I'd really like to know if there's a term for it and why the Hell do we do it?

    Esh on
  • PhistiPhisti Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    Mechanical pencils - I use: Staedler Drafting Pencils

    The leads are far more durable than standard mechanical pencils but they are less available.

    And as a lefty - to make writing easier on myself I simply turn my paper 90 degrees clockwise and write sideways from top to bottom always moving my hand down the page (to the left) to avoid unnecessary smudges.

    Phisti on
  • ErandusErandus Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    Southpaw here. I don't even do the strange writing claw thing. I just drag my hand right across whatever it is that I'm writing. Was never taught any different. My 3rd grade teacher tried to teach me the thing where you turn the page sideways, but I hated it and he gave up after 2 days or so. Its kinda funny when I write like 3 pages in pencil because the side of my hand goes solid shiny grey from all the graphite I drag it directly over. But since I don't do The Claw, I have to have pens that dry fast.

    My current favorite pen is a Pilot Precise Gel .07. I've never had it smear on me at all, which is surprising for a gel. I absolutely love the thing. I usually lose all pens within 2 days of acquiring them, but this one works so well for me that I've had it for months now.

    Erandus on
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  • ascannerlightlyascannerlightly Registered User regular
    edited September 2009
    berrol black beauties

    you can drop the line "we call that fools stuffin', hoss" on people left and right!!

    ascannerlightly on
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