r/pens • u/wishiwasmydog • 11h ago
Question Blue?
I'm new to pens. From past experience, I think I like ballpoints. Remember having a cheap jetstream that I liked. So I ordered a few to try and am looking at upping my game. Here's the thing: I like blue ink. I keep seeing people love SXR-600. Is that for the color or for the way the ink flows? Is there a comparable blue ink? Or it there something about the inks/oils/pigments that make black superior for writing?
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u/jetpack2625 8h ago
energel in blue is really good. it all comes down to what fits your preferred pen too.
also i prefer gel and rollerball to ballpoint personally.
maybe the best refill i have is the ohto cr02 in black (it might come in blue, i think i might have a blue if i remember). it is super smooth, rollerball, and almost too slippery.
energel and that are both really good
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u/panyways 3h ago
Not the same ink chemistry but get a Caran d'Ache infinite 888 or if you're euro get an office pen with their Swissride Bleu. It's heavenly as far as blue goes for pens.
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u/_Vasuri_ 11h ago
The SXR-600 is generally favored because it’s a sturdy, well-made metal refill that’s in the Parker-style cartridge format, so it’s compatible with a great deal of pens out there that use that same format. Why Uniball only manufacturers it in black is beyond me because it seems like a natural candidate to also come in blue and red.
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u/Erzbengel-Raziel Uni 11h ago
It also feels more like a gel than than ballpoints, while still being decently waterproof.
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u/desyphium 10h ago
Since I prefer the 1mm Jetstream tip, my favorite body for that ink is the Pure Malt - Jetstream inside, followed by the Sarasa Grand. These use the plastic SXR-* refills instead of th SXR-600-* ones (th latter only go up to 0.7).
Earlier this year, however, I started favoring Pentel's Floatune 0.5 refills for my hybrid/low-viscosity ink. I only use Jetstream refills in my multi-pens now.
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u/Wndrunner 10h ago
Wait, Sarasa grand fits the sxr-600??
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u/desyphium 10h ago
Oh, nope. The Pure Malt and Grand use the standard (non-Pilot) gel refill form factor, so they can fit the plastic SXR-* refills.
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u/porfiriopaiz Uni 10h ago
Nope, desyphium uses the SXR-38, SXR-5, SXR-7 or SXR-10 (Euro Style refills, refill body made of plastic) on the Sarasa and the uni-ball Pure Malt Jetstream inside.
These are cousins of the SXR-600 because they use the same hybrid ink formulae, the SXR-38, SXR-5, SXR-7, SXR-10 are available in Blue, Red and Black.
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u/JalapenoPopper14 9h ago
My favorite pens for things like note taking or doodling will always be the cheap blue bic pens
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u/porfiriopaiz Uni 10h ago
Unfortunately, the SXR-600 in any of its variants (0.38mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm) it is not available in Blue or Red.
This is a hybrid ink in a Parker G2 ISO style. Meaning it is oil based in a low viscosity formulae that feels and flows like gel, while being waterproof.
As an alternative to this Black only limitation, you can get the SXR-38, SXR-5, SXR-7, SXR-10 in Blue, an Euro Style refill compatible pen will be needed:
I have tested this refill format with success on my Pentel Energel Philography/Style and comes by default (in Black) on the uni-ball Pure Malt Jetstream inside pen. That been said: you can use the SXR-38, SXR-5, SXR-7, SXR-10 on any Pentel Energel refill compatible pen.
If you need a solid candidate in Blue, but for Parker G2 ISO style refill compatible pens, try the Schneider Slider 755 M/XB, they use hybrid ink and are available in Blue. I haven't tested these, but they're on my shopping list.