WriteON
Member
Had a Gel leaker today. Made a good mess. What in your opinion, from your experience is the best choice (lowest percentage) of problem free refills. Thanks, Frank
Leaking refills
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egnald
Member
For Rollerballs I use the Pilot G2 Gel Inks. I have found that buying refills is more of a hassle than just buying pens at a big box store and stripping the refills out of them. As for Parker style or Cross style I'm afraid I can't comment from experience. - Dave
WriteON
Member
Parker Schmidt 900 has been ok so far for a standard refill
Penchant 4
Member
Schmidt refills have been very reliable. In 9 years, I cannot recall a leak from a Schmidt.
woodwzrd
Member
I'm with Dave on the G2 refills. All of my personal rollerballs have G2 refills. I usually order them 10 at a time on Amazon but have pulled refills out of clickers from box stores like Dave. I have used the Schmidt refills as well but always go back to G2. I also upgrade any rollerballs I sell to G2 and have never had any issues. I think of all the refills I have used in my own pens I have only had one G2 that had a scratchy tip.
For ballpoint replacements I have been using Unibene Parker Compatible Gel Ink Ballpoint Refills also from Amazon with pretty good success. I have been using these in all of my ballpoints for almost two years now and will occasionally run across one that has a scratchy tip or feed issues but it's pretty rare.
For ballpoint replacements I have been using Unibene Parker Compatible Gel Ink Ballpoint Refills also from Amazon with pretty good success. I have been using these in all of my ballpoints for almost two years now and will occasionally run across one that has a scratchy tip or feed issues but it's pretty rare.
In wonder if the refill you had leaking was an anomaly more than anything else. I've used numerous Schmidt 888 and 5888s, Schneider 850s, and Montblanc rollerball refills over the last year or so since I returned to pen turning, and I don't recall any of them ever leaking. Same goes for the gel refills I've used - Pilot G2, Monteverde gel, Parker gel, even no-name 3rd party (Unibene) gel refills in the Parker style form factor.
As far as "problem-free," I've found very little difference between Schmidt 888 and Schneider 850. Even the slightly nicer 5888 and the significantly more expensive Montblanc rollerball refills produce only a marginal difference in writing experience. They're all great.
For gel type, my preference is Monteverde. The Unibene gel refills were disappointing (really skippy, and it wasn't just 1 or 2 of them, it was basically all of them in a ~12 pack I got on Amazon). The Parker ones were fine, but didn't feel as nice as the Monteverde ones. Pilot G2s are solid and reliable, and I know many people love them. I find them to be middle-of-the-road for writing experience, but that's subjective and I'm picky.
Not what you asked, but I rarely miss an opportunity to evangelize the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000. It's my favorite ballpoint refill ever made by a wide margin. I actually prefer it to gel in most situations, and I'm a fountain pen and rollerball guy first and foremost. Fits any pen that takes Parker style refills, and is worth trying out if you've never used one before.
As far as "problem-free," I've found very little difference between Schmidt 888 and Schneider 850. Even the slightly nicer 5888 and the significantly more expensive Montblanc rollerball refills produce only a marginal difference in writing experience. They're all great.
For gel type, my preference is Monteverde. The Unibene gel refills were disappointing (really skippy, and it wasn't just 1 or 2 of them, it was basically all of them in a ~12 pack I got on Amazon). The Parker ones were fine, but didn't feel as nice as the Monteverde ones. Pilot G2s are solid and reliable, and I know many people love them. I find them to be middle-of-the-road for writing experience, but that's subjective and I'm picky.
Not what you asked, but I rarely miss an opportunity to evangelize the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000. It's my favorite ballpoint refill ever made by a wide margin. I actually prefer it to gel in most situations, and I'm a fountain pen and rollerball guy first and foremost. Fits any pen that takes Parker style refills, and is worth trying out if you've never used one before.
WriteON
Member
The Unibene from Amazon is the one that leaked.......... hardly used. Stored straight up. I'll never use them again. My biggest fear is the one I gift and it leaks. Schmidt seem to be the one's to use.
It's odd because their Parker style gel refills are terrible in my experience, but their Cross style ballpoint refills are the best I've been able to find.
WriteON
Member
I bought 6 Pilot G2's. And they do not fit as they are not Parker. After 79 years on the planet my biggest flaw is not reading 
. Some people never learn
. Some people never learnI bought 6 Pilot G2's. And they do not fit as they are not Parker. After 79 years on the planet my biggest flaw is not reading
I'm about 99% sure I've gotten G2s to fit in pens that want Parker style refills. IIRC it's mostly a matter of shortening it (easy to do), and possibly reducing the diameter of a part of the front end, which I think I just did by whittling some off roughly with a pocket knife
WriteON
Member
Maybe I'll simply get a kit to accommodate the G2.I'm about 99% sure I've gotten G2s to fit in pens that want Parker style refills. IIRC it's mostly a matter of shortening it (easy to do), and possibly reducing the diameter of a part of the front end, which I think I just did by whittling some off roughly with a pocket knife
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give the parker fisher space refills a try - they are not as wet as the Schmidt 9000M, but mine nave never leaked and they last about 3 times longer - they are also about $10 each. Their parker version comes with a very well fittedsecure adapter. The only issue I had is using their refill with the PSI EDC. The fisher adapter is not "naturally" compatible with the EDC, white plastic adapter. I use it them for customers that using pens when lying down like when journaling or doing crossword puzzles, etc.. They are pressurized and will write in any position. Again, they are not scratchy, just not as free- flowing as the 9000M. I buy 6 at a time and get them for about $7 each from Walmart.com. I like the blue medium point, but all use the black.