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submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by hallettj@leminal.space to c/pen_and_paper@lemmy.world

Fisher Bullet Space Pen with a gel refill

This is my favorite pen mod! I like to have a pen and a few index cards in my pockets at all times for fleeting notes. A Fisher Bullet Space Pen is a convenient size to fit in my pocket easily, it looks nice, and it is comfortable to use. Unfortunately the refill it comes with is an awful ballpoint! I have a strong preference for gel pens. Refills are not a standard size, so swapping in a gel refill takes a little know-how.

One of my favorite gel pens is a Pilot Hi-Tec-C. Oddly Pilot doesn't make refills for the full-sized version. But there is a multi-pen version, the Hi-Tec-C Coleto, with refills that are small and skinny enough to fit into a Space Pen pretty well. I cut 4mm off of the back of the refill, and with a little fiddling it fits.

Or for another option there are instructions for using a Zebra JK refill here.

There are downsides. The gel refill doesn't have any of the unique capabilities of the pressurized Space Pen refills, like writing upside-down. The tip of the Hi-Tec-C Coleto refill is a little wobbly. And the multi-pen refills have a lower capacity than most refills, so they don't write as long. This mod is best for an occasional-use pen that you always have on hand. (I keep my main pen with my journal because it's too big for my pocket.)

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[-] CoffeeTails@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

Why have I never through about modding a pen before? This is so cool! That pen looks really smooth and comfortable to write with. Do they use that type of pen in space for real?

this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2025
11 points (92.3% liked)

Pen & Paper

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This community is all about using pen and paper as a deliberate choice — because handwriting helps memory, deepens learning, sharpens focus, and unlocks creativity in ways screens often can’t. Whether you’re sketching ideas, drafting a to‑do list, or mapping out a semester, the physical act of writing slows things down just enough for the thoughts to really land.

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