Mont Blanc Ball point vs Roller ball

[bharat]

Good morning guys,

I have casually used some Mont Blanc, cross and Parker pens in the past but for the majority of my writing work have used cheap mass produced pens. Am starting to develop more of an appreciation now for fine writing instruments and want to buy a Mont Blanc as a starter pen that will be my daily use pen for work.

The issue I have is that I take copious amounts of notes and so want a style of pen that offers little to no resistance and allows me to write as fast as my mind thinks. That said would you recommend going with a ball point style or roller ball style? Any pros and cons on these two styles would be helpful.

I am leaning toward the star walker series with the floating Mont Blanc symbol. Thanks in advance for your help.

[KarlTheToyotaGuy]

From your two selections, I would go with the rollerball. The refills won't last as long, however they will write much more wet, with much less resistance. I would go with the Montblanc Legrand 162. Since it's the legrand, it will use more expensive refills, BUT, you are able to re-fill the refill! You won't need to buy refills very often at all, only ink and a hobby syringe.

Now with you writing profusely, I would recommend a fountain pen. It will have no resistance, you don't need to buy refills, and you can change up ink colors/brands with ease. One fill should last a day or two with heavy writing.

[NewEnthusiast]

I agree with the fountain pen. No resistance and writing quickly is no more difficult than any other kind of pen. I got through uni postgraduate and first few dogsbody jobs where I had to write as people were speaking using an fp. It has so much more presence and is more comfortable too

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[bharat]

I haven’t used a fountain pen in more than a decade and I kind of miss it to be honest. I found that my handwriting used to be much better using a fountain pen. Do you think that I would be able to write as fast with a fountain pen as a rollerball? And which model for a fountain pen would you recommend? The Meisterstuck seems to be a popular model but I haven’t the faintest idea which way to go apart from which specific ‘look’ I am more attracted to.

Originally Posted by JoseyWales

From your two selections, I would go with the rollerball. The refills won't last as long, however they will write much more wet, with much less resistance. I would go with the Montblanc Legrand 162. Since it's the legrand, it will use more expensive refills, BUT, you are able to re-fill the refill! You won't need to buy refills very often at all, only ink and a hobby syringe.

Now with you writing profusely, I would recommend a fountain pen. It will have no resistance, you don't need to buy refills, and you can change up ink colors/brands with ease. One fill should last a day or two with heavy writing.

Would love to know if you have experience specifically with the Mont Blanc inks - so they dry relatively quickly or is there risk of smudging etc?

Originally Posted by NewEnthusiast

I agree with the fountain pen. No resistance and writing quickly is no more difficult than any other kind of pen. I got through uni postgraduate and first few dogsbody jobs where I had to write as people were speaking using an fp. It has so much more presence and is more comfortable too

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[NewEnthusiast]

Originally Posted by bharat

I haven’t used a fountain pen in more than a decade and I kind of miss it to be honest. I found that my handwriting used to be much better using a fountain pen. Do you think that I would be able to write as fast with a fountain pen as a rollerball? And which model for a fountain pen would you recommend? The Meisterstuck seems to be a popular model but I haven’t the faintest idea which way to go apart from which specific ‘look’ I am more attracted to.



Would love to know if you have experience specifically with the Mont Blanc inks - so they dry relatively quickly or is there risk of smudging etc?

My writing is just as fast and generally more legible with a fp. I have a meister stuck legrande and think it's fabulous
Just bought a Meister stuck classique for my dad. Would guess it's slightly better for going fast as it's a bit smaller.

Mb inks are great. They are at the slower drying end of the spectrum but don't smudge easily eg at the end of a page in my a5 journal. The depth of colour is also brilliant

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[bharat]

Originally Posted by NewEnthusiast

My writing is just as fast and generally more legible with a fp. I have a meister stuck legrande and think it's fabulous
Just bought a Meister stuck classique for my dad. Would guess it's slightly better for going fast as it's a bit smaller.

Mb inks are great. They are at the slower drying end of the spectrum but don't smudge easily eg at the end of a page in my a5 journal. The depth of colour is also brilliant

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Thank you. What is the best looking blue ink that MB offers? How many days or weeks does a bottle of ink last?

[jar]

Originally Posted by bharat

Thank you. What is the best looking blue ink that MB offers? How many days or weeks does a bottle of ink last?

A bottle of ink should last a year or so.

[bharat]

What do you think about the red gold fountain pen Meisterstück 149 fountain pen? Is this akin to rose gold of watches? If so I have a soft spot for them.

[jar]

Originally Posted by bharat

What do you think about the red gold fountain pen Meisterstück 149 fountain pen? Is this akin to rose gold of watches? If so I have a soft spot for them.

The 149 is a fairly large fountain pen and I suggest fondling one before you buy. Also try the 146 at the same time to see which fits your hand better.

[bharat]

Originally Posted by jar

The 149 is a fairly large fountain pen and I suggest fondling one before you buy. Also try the 146 at the same time to see which fits your hand better.

In watchspeak 149 akin to seadweller/Deepsea and 146 akin to submariner? Just to make it easier for me to relate to.

[KarlTheToyotaGuy]

Originally Posted by bharat

In watchspeak 149 akin to seadweller/Deepsea and 146 akin to submariner? Just to make it easier for me to relate to.

That's a great way to put it for a size comparison hahaha!

[tamiya]

Originally Posted by jar

The 149 is a fairly large fountain pen and I suggest fondling one before you buy. Also try the 146 at the same time to see which fits your hand better.

And if you're offered to try a 269... get out, you're in the wrong type of shop

The larger MB FPs are also piston fill (entire body is like a syringe to draw & hold ink) vs smaller FPs which use cartridge or converter. Piston holds much more ink volume per fill which is good if you write a lot daily, not as good if you like changing inks often & need to wash it each time.

Also through the years... some FPs have changed from snap/pushon to screwon caps. Depending on how often & fast you need to uncap/recap a screwon could get annoying. Similarly annoying is the pushon cap models I like are mostly vintage discontinued; MB recycles their model numbers & names too so can be big differences between vintage & current pens of the same appellation.

As for rollerballs... MB refills are ok but Pilot G2 still feels better & more widely usable (ie plenty of aftermarket pen body makers who use G2 guts).

I'm not a brandname guy, don't care for luxury brands just because it's trendy - I buy what gives good reliable service.

Nice fellas at local MB boutique though

[Bisquitlips]

Only a fountain pen will flow as fast as your mind does.

[bharat]

Thanks guys for the input. Pleased to inform you that (as usual TRF has influenced me to spend more money than I had planned!) and I have ordered the Meisterstück Red Gold 149 Fountain Pen #112666 along with a bottle of Toffee Brown Ink! Delivery is scheduled for today! Needless to say I am excited beyond measure! Thanks TRF!

[jar]

Originally Posted by bharat

Thanks guys for the input. Pleased to inform you that (as usual TRF has influenced me to spend more money than I had planned!) and I have ordered the Meisterstück Red Gold 149 Fountain Pen #112666 along with a bottle of Toffee Brown Ink! Delivery is scheduled for today! Needless to say I am excited beyond measure! Thanks TRF!

Without pictures it never happened. Actually these days even with pictures it may not have happened.

[1William]

Good choice. Congratulations.

[NewEnthusiast]

Originally Posted by bharat

Thanks guys for the input. Pleased to inform you that (as usual TRF has influenced me to spend more money than I had planned!) and I have ordered the Meisterstück Red Gold 149 Fountain Pen #112666 along with a bottle of Toffee Brown Ink! Delivery is scheduled for today! Needless to say I am excited beyond measure! Thanks TRF!

Good choice! Enjoy it. Let's see it and some action pics with the ink when they arrive

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[bharat]

Originally Posted by jar

Without pictures it never happened. Actually these days even with pictures it may not have happened.

Originally Posted by 1William

Good choice. Congratulations.

Originally Posted by NewEnthusiast

Good choice! Enjoy it. Let's see it and some action pics with the ink when they arrive

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Pictures will be taken tonight and posted my friends! There is a fly in the ointment in that the temperature outside is currently 10F (-12C), so I hope the ink doesn't freeze in transit!

[jar]

Originally Posted by bharat

Pictures will be taken tonight and posted my friends! There is a fly in the ointment in that the temperature outside is currently 10F (-12C), so I hope the ink doesn't freeze in transit!

I know that feeling. It's only 50F/10C here right now and the temperature due to drop from now on until Friday. We won't get back into even the 60sF until then.

[paxjedi]

Hello all...

I am facing the same choice today: MB Rollerball or MB Ballpoint.

I already have three Meisterstuck MB fountain pens from 30 years ago and they still work quite well. But I want to get a Roller or Ball this time. I was at the MB shop yesterday and they did not have any in stock (would call me in a week or two) but was able to try both. The Rollerball definitely writes better and almost feels like a fountain pen. The ink is also darker because it is water based. But the SA said I should get a Ballpoint because I already have three fountains and the ballpoint would complement the collection. I do like that the ballpoint is only a twist and has no cover to lose, but I am not too fond of the rather lighter shade of ink that is oil based.

I will let you guys know when they call me back.


.

[mjm700]

Roller if you plan to use it frequently. Nicer feel and i believe less hand fatigue over time. I like both but i get roller when i think i will use it frequently.


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[Bisquitlips]

I like rollerballs better for writing than ballpoints, but MB rollerball refills are expensive and they have a reputation of going dry quickly. You can refill them by pulling off the plastic cap and eye dropping fountain pen ink into them, but you need to research inks as the density of the ink makes a difference. Too thin and it doesn't work well as is the same with the ink being too thick.

[TswaneNguni]

Broad ballpoint refill.Fantastic !
MB Rollerball great for a few days but then goes dryish .Cross better .

[BobtheBaby]

In my experience the MB ballpoints are not that great. In my Parker style pens I use the Schmidt easy flow 9000 refills, and the MB ballpoints do not write as well as quickly.

[Michael T]

I second the Schmidt easy flow 9000's. I have all ballpoints with these refills, ST DuPont, Cartier and MB.