Felt tip pens other than Flair?

[Anonymous]

DD13 starts a drafting course Monday. We have tracked down all the supplies except the set of felt tipped pens. They are really expensive. The sharpies were also expensive, but we found a cheaper alternative. Are there alternatives to Papermate Flair? The instructor isn’t answering emails and it looks like a generic account set up by the school so he may not have accessed it ever.

[Anonymous]

Flairs aren’t waterproof ink. That could be a problem.


I’d just go with Sharpies. They’re the best.

[Anonymous]

I would just get the materials listed. There’s probably a reason they were specified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flairs aren’t waterproof ink. That could be a problem.


I’d just go with Sharpies. They’re the best.

She needs both black Sharpies and colored Flairs. I know Flairs are smudge proof. Is smudge-proof good enough for most drafting? The class is indoors if that matters.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would just get the materials listed. There’s probably a reason they were specified.

Possibly. The packet had links to Office Depot and I wonder if the brands were selected just to go with those links. This happened last year with a protractor, compass kit. It was just to make life easier for parents, but was 30% more expensive than the store brand kit at a different chain.

If this was a year long school course, I’d wince less at the price.

[Anonymous]

You could possibly try the Le Pen pens but not sure if they’re less expensive. Just get what the instructor requires. When it comes to stuff like this the substitutes are usually way inferior. You’ve presumably put out good money for the course so just get the materials the instructor requested

[Anonymous]

Our middle school usually has Flair markers on the supply list, and I've had to buy multi packs to get the one or two colors the teacher requested. Maybe you'll be able to reuse them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our middle school usually has Flair markers on the supply list, and I've had to buy multi packs to get the one or two colors the teacher requested. Maybe you'll be able to reuse them?

Yikes, those multipacks are upwards of $11.

I’m a teacher, so I could use the leftovers, but unless they are absolutely amazing I can imagine feeling like it wasn’t still a bite out of my wallet.

[Anonymous]

Drafting was a long time ago. We didn't use pens. But smudging was a concern. You need to move scales, curves, whatever on the sheet. Anything with a medium-fine point and quick drying is probably fine. Staedtler felt tip pens are probably what they would like to specify but they are going to be double or triple the price.

I am little surprised it isn't CAD but whatever.

[Anonymous]

I love my Le pens

[Anonymous]

If you go to somewhere like Staples they usually have a cheaper generic version.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drafting was a long time ago. We didn't use pens. But smudging was a concern. You need to move scales, curves, whatever on the sheet. Anything with a medium-fine point and quick drying is probably fine. Staedtler felt tip pens are probably what they would like to specify but they are going to be double or triple the price.

I am little surprised it isn't CAD but whatever.

She did intro to CAD last year. It was full this year. The description for this class signs more like architecture, but we’ll see. Thanks, I will look for medium fine points and quick drying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love my Le pens

They were more pricey when I looked online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you go to somewhere like Staples they usually have a cheaper generic version.

Thanks, I can try that tomorrow.