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Cross Ion Pen
- Thread starter bquinlan
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2000
- Messages
- 465
I have one and I don't really like it. I thought it smudged too easily, and the gel is not permanent like other gel pens. If you're interested in a gel pen, the Sanford Uni-Ball Gel Impact pens are much better.
If you're looking for a small pen that you can carry in your pocket, I recommend the Fisher Space Pen (Bullet) instead. The Ion is too thick and is not as comfortable in slacks as the Fisher.
I love my Chrome Bullet Pen!
/mel
Edit: I can't spell.
If you're looking for a small pen that you can carry in your pocket, I recommend the Fisher Space Pen (Bullet) instead. The Ion is too thick and is not as comfortable in slacks as the Fisher.
I love my Chrome Bullet Pen!
/mel
Edit: I can't spell.
The Magician
Illusionist
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2000
- Messages
- 1,580
I have carrried for a while. I like it, although the ink does smear bad. I like the bullet space pen too. I like the ION because it has the detachable lanyard ring. I use mine with my photon. See pic here:
click here to see
click here to see
I have had an Ion and have carried it regularly since early September. On the plus side it is light and easy to carry, even though it is blukier than a Fisher Telescoping Space Pen. I also like the ink. I haven't had the smear problems others have talked about. The grip is comfortable, but this is not a good pen to write with.
The gap that opens up between the ends of the pen is in just the wrong place. It makes it hard to grip the pen comfortably, or firmly, and writing for more than a few lines is uncomfortable. I also think the stroke is too wide. I would prefer a finer stroke.
I haven't used it in a neck carry, but I think that would be a bonus for those folks who like to hang stuff around their necks - I'm just not one of them.
In the end I guess the Fisher Telescoping Space Pen is a better choice for a one-handed everyday carry.
The gap that opens up between the ends of the pen is in just the wrong place. It makes it hard to grip the pen comfortably, or firmly, and writing for more than a few lines is uncomfortable. I also think the stroke is too wide. I would prefer a finer stroke.
I haven't used it in a neck carry, but I think that would be a bonus for those folks who like to hang stuff around their necks - I'm just not one of them.
In the end I guess the Fisher Telescoping Space Pen is a better choice for a one-handed everyday carry.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 7
I've used the Cross Ion for three years and love the shape, function and lanyard. (I don't like the sharpish edges where it separates in the middle, however.)
But what I really hate is the lousy, leaky, short-lived, slug trailish gel ink cartridge!
For the longest time I've wanted to stick a Fisher cartridge in it somehow, but didn't know if Fisher made a cartridge small enough, or whether a retrofit would be possible. The other day I was in a Staples office supply and saw a Fisher "Universal" pressurized cartridge "for multi-action pens" and noticed that it was shorter by a hair than the Cross Ion cartridge. It occured to me that with a little ingenuity this cartridge could be installed in the Cross Ion.
And guess what, it could and I did. It wasn't too hard, and here's how.
Remove the Cross cartridge from the Ion. Take off the white plastic tail cap from the cartridge and set it aside. Over the kitchen sink, yank out the metal tube (containing the ball point) from the cartridge body using a pair of pliers, applying a twisting motion.
Still over the sink, blow out the ink using your lips over the open tail end of the cartridge. The bulk of the ink will blow out easily. However there's some clear goop that plugs the hole once all the ink is gone; blowing out this stuff takes some persistence (it took me a couple minutes of blowing--you might want to experiment with an air compressor or bike pump, etc.)
Once the ink and the clear goop are gone, rinse out the cartridge with hot running water. You might also want to twirl a Q-tip around inside to clean better.
Now put a 3/32" drill bit on your drill or rotary tool and bore out the hole where the old metal tube and ball used to be.
You are now ready to insert the Fisher cartridge. Remember this is the "universal" type cartridge, which has sections that snap off so the cartridge can fit a range of other pens (it's apparently designed for multi-action pens). Snap off both extra sections.
Now insert the new Fisher cartridge through the tail end of the old plastic cartridge. Push the new cartridge firmly into the plastic shell until the blunt end of the Fisher is about 1/16" below the tail end of the tube. Now the business end of the Fisher is right where the old Cross ball-and-tube used to be.
Now take the white plastic tail cap that you set aside. Wad up a tiny little piece of paper kitchen towel and stuff it into the recess on the inside of the tail cap. It should just fill the little cavity. (Or stick a tiny rubber washer in there, or maybe even a very small set screw.) Put the tail cap back on the cartridge, ensuring that the metal end of the Fisher cartridge will find a nice center.
Pick up the bottom half of the Ion pen that you set aside when you pulled out the cartridge. What you want to do now is expand the hole that the ball point sticks out of, by just a hair. You need to do this because the diameter of the Fisher tube is just slightly greater than the old Cross tube. (The tip of the Ion appears to be made of chrome plated brass, but anyway . . . .) Using your rotary tool and an appropriate grinding bit (I used a small conical diamond bit about 2.5mm), expand the hole. There's no precise measure here, just grind smooth and regular until the Fisher tube stops catching in the hole.
The last step is the trickiest. You will need to file down the plastic at the narrowest section of the Cross cartridge, since this section expands a little following the modification and would otherwise impinge on the spring. You need to file this section down using a small hand file until the diameter is .134" or less. (If you don't have measuring calipers just take it down until the plastic stops impinging on the spring when you drop the cartridge into the bottom half of the pen.) This plastic doesn't file down easily because it's so slick, so you might want to use a diamond file.
Finally, put the new "Cross-Fisher" cartridge back into the Ion. You are done!
In my not-so-humble-opinion this is now the ultimate pen!
As a sub-note, I want to mention that I did the same mod using Staedtler Multi-action Pen Refills, and also Sterling brand (as found at Target), and it worked just the same.
Good luck. Any questions?
But what I really hate is the lousy, leaky, short-lived, slug trailish gel ink cartridge!
For the longest time I've wanted to stick a Fisher cartridge in it somehow, but didn't know if Fisher made a cartridge small enough, or whether a retrofit would be possible. The other day I was in a Staples office supply and saw a Fisher "Universal" pressurized cartridge "for multi-action pens" and noticed that it was shorter by a hair than the Cross Ion cartridge. It occured to me that with a little ingenuity this cartridge could be installed in the Cross Ion.
And guess what, it could and I did. It wasn't too hard, and here's how.
Remove the Cross cartridge from the Ion. Take off the white plastic tail cap from the cartridge and set it aside. Over the kitchen sink, yank out the metal tube (containing the ball point) from the cartridge body using a pair of pliers, applying a twisting motion.
Still over the sink, blow out the ink using your lips over the open tail end of the cartridge. The bulk of the ink will blow out easily. However there's some clear goop that plugs the hole once all the ink is gone; blowing out this stuff takes some persistence (it took me a couple minutes of blowing--you might want to experiment with an air compressor or bike pump, etc.)
Once the ink and the clear goop are gone, rinse out the cartridge with hot running water. You might also want to twirl a Q-tip around inside to clean better.
Now put a 3/32" drill bit on your drill or rotary tool and bore out the hole where the old metal tube and ball used to be.
You are now ready to insert the Fisher cartridge. Remember this is the "universal" type cartridge, which has sections that snap off so the cartridge can fit a range of other pens (it's apparently designed for multi-action pens). Snap off both extra sections.
Now insert the new Fisher cartridge through the tail end of the old plastic cartridge. Push the new cartridge firmly into the plastic shell until the blunt end of the Fisher is about 1/16" below the tail end of the tube. Now the business end of the Fisher is right where the old Cross ball-and-tube used to be.
Now take the white plastic tail cap that you set aside. Wad up a tiny little piece of paper kitchen towel and stuff it into the recess on the inside of the tail cap. It should just fill the little cavity. (Or stick a tiny rubber washer in there, or maybe even a very small set screw.) Put the tail cap back on the cartridge, ensuring that the metal end of the Fisher cartridge will find a nice center.
Pick up the bottom half of the Ion pen that you set aside when you pulled out the cartridge. What you want to do now is expand the hole that the ball point sticks out of, by just a hair. You need to do this because the diameter of the Fisher tube is just slightly greater than the old Cross tube. (The tip of the Ion appears to be made of chrome plated brass, but anyway . . . .) Using your rotary tool and an appropriate grinding bit (I used a small conical diamond bit about 2.5mm), expand the hole. There's no precise measure here, just grind smooth and regular until the Fisher tube stops catching in the hole.
The last step is the trickiest. You will need to file down the plastic at the narrowest section of the Cross cartridge, since this section expands a little following the modification and would otherwise impinge on the spring. You need to file this section down using a small hand file until the diameter is .134" or less. (If you don't have measuring calipers just take it down until the plastic stops impinging on the spring when you drop the cartridge into the bottom half of the pen.) This plastic doesn't file down easily because it's so slick, so you might want to use a diamond file.
Finally, put the new "Cross-Fisher" cartridge back into the Ion. You are done!
In my not-so-humble-opinion this is now the ultimate pen!
As a sub-note, I want to mention that I did the same mod using Staedtler Multi-action Pen Refills, and also Sterling brand (as found at Target), and it worked just the same.
Good luck. Any questions?
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2001
- Messages
- 32,354
Buy a Fisher Space/Bullet pen, I bought the Ion and it couldn't compare to the Fisher, and it was $4 more.
I gave the Ion away that's how much I didn't like it, they even gave me 6 or so different colored inks for free, I still gave it away.
I gave the Ion away that's how much I didn't like it, they even gave me 6 or so different colored inks for free, I still gave it away.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2000
- Messages
- 3,769
I bought one for my wife and he loves it...wearing it now for about a year or so. She's a school teacher and having the lanyard to string it around her neck is just perfect. She always has a pen available when she needs it. She also attaches her ID Badge to the same lanyard...so that works out well for her. In addition to the "lanyard" application, she likes the ink colors it comes with, ink flow, and style of the pen. She's actually bought a couple more for variety.
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2004
- Messages
- 61
smudging and uncomfortable. on the other hand it's easy to carry with you all the time. i could deal with the smudging but i really did find it uncomfortable.
Pete.
Pete.