I use Krylon, or rustoleum from a big box store. I had an issue with scraping paint when I used a $1.97 can of paint, but the better name brand paints have worked well. I have chased out the hole with some sandpaper on a stick if the tubes don't slide in smoothly during a dry fit, but use a very light touch. I also have better luck with larger diameter holes. The Elegant Sierra's have a 27/64th hole so the paint build up doesn't reduce the hole diameter as much as it would on a 7mm hole for example. Thanks all for your kind words, and I am indebted to those who have previously posted on this matter, I just had the opportunity to turn a bunch of identical pens on identical blanks with a variety of colors and wanted to share it with you guys. Tomorrow I should have a purple one done. And in my opinion PSI's ruby red silk blank reverse painted with black is a nice maroon color.