Quality of ink sticks in kits

[sachbvn]

Hey guys, just checking to see what y'all thought about the quality of the ink sticks that come in kits, specifically the slimline kits. I have been buying a whole bunch from woodturningz and, I personally don't think they write that well, but do they write well enough to sell to others?? For a $2.00 kit, I'm not complaining, just curious if you guys find their writting quality suffecient.

The pencil I made was just great.


Thanks,
Zac

[Doug B]

The ink refills, like everything else these days, seem to suffer from quality control issues now that everything is made in China. They used to never give me problems, but recently some are not so great. You may have just gotten a bad batch.

I tried some one time that were supposed to be better quality, but honestly I could not tell the difference.

The larger pen kits that use a Parker refill are so much better that it is not funny. The Parker ball points are very nice and the ink gels are fantastic. I just recently tried the Slimline Pro pen kits because they can take a Parker refill and so far I really like them a lot. You might want to try those. www.pennstateind.com/store/PK-PENXXBT.html

Quite a bit more than the $2.00 slims, but I sure like the Parker Ink refills.

[TDHofstetter]

I've never liked Cross-style refills, the ones used in SlimLine kits... not even in real brand-name Cross pens. I got my first Cross back in... the mid-1970s, if I recall, and although it was pretty it just didn't write easily.

Parker pens have always worked much better, at least in my experience. I got my first Parker, too, around the same time as my first Cross, and it was a major step up. Funny how that worked. The Parker refills hold a lot more ink, too... or at least they're large enough to. Dunno if the Chinese fill 'em as much as Parker does.

Doug - the SlimLine Pro kits take PARKER REFILLS??? Dang - I didn't realize that. That's worth KNOWING. Thanks!

[sachbvn]

Thanks guys - yeah - I have a Black Titanium from Woodcraft, I think a 7 or 8 dollar slimline - it writes pretty well.... better than the ones from woodturningz, but it also cost 4 times as much.... for 8 bucks I can get a dang nice parker style or gel style from either PSI or woodturningz so....they aren't really comparable.

I guess.... a second question is..... do yall think a slim that isn't the greatest writer is still worthy to sell - should I try buying replacement inks? Just stop making cheap kits and buy nicer ones?? I guess..... the writing isn't THAT bad..... but I don't care all that much for it.

(Best pen ever? the 10 cent bic pens.... black only, w/ a black plastic cap)


Zac

[admin]

Nossir, NOT a 10 cent Bic!

A 10 cent Bic with a custom turned ZacOriginal wooden holder!

[sachbvn]

Correct-a-mundo KP - it's all about the holder!


Zac

[TDHofstetter]

Ya know... there's a lot of room for that. A wooden tube that long & that thin is a little challenging to drill, but ya can make some pretty DURN NICE wooden BICs.

EDIT: Here's a thought. Ya think there'd be a market for metal findings (kits) that'd make for easy wooden BIC pens? With a center band & all? With a cap?

If there's some market potential, I may be tempted to put some together & offer 'em.

[sachbvn]

Dec 5, 2009 8:10:22 GMT -6 TDHofstetter said:

If there's some market potential, I may be tempted to put some together & offer 'em.

....well - you know how I feel about them! That'd be pretty cool.... honestly - you are right..... why not? They have kits for most everything else, all sorts of wacky, crazy, fantasy type pens...... but NO Bic pens!


Zac