the basik rollerball pen, an everyday essential
The basik is a rollerball pen designed, manufactured, and priced with the intention of being carried in the pocket or purse of anyone who uses a pen.
The basik features a single-piece body rather than the traditional, two-piece upper and lower body pen designs. The single-piece body design dramatically reduces the manufacturing time. The single-piece body is slightly wider than other machined pens on the market at 0.46 inch. The larger diameter provides a finished product that is closer to the standard sized aluminum barstock we use which means we do not need to source custom barstock or machine larger stock down to a smaller diameter.
The basik is a retractable bolt-style rollerball pen that utilizes the standard large “side-button” in a modified “checkmark” style slot. This functionality is similar to other pens on the market, however, we’ve drawn on over a decades worth of experience manufacturing writing instruments maximize the function of the basik so that it provides effortless actuation of the refill. The side-button itself is machined in-house and threads into a machined black Delrin (Polyoxymethylene) slider . The side-button threads in and out of the Delrin slider by hand; no tools are needed to remove the slider in order to swap the refill. We have chosen the Pilot G2 and other Pilot G2-sized refills as the standard refill for the basik due to the popularity of the refill and availability of the Pilot G2 in more countries around the world than other refills.
The basik itself serves as a blank slate or canvas for a variety of aesthetic designs machined from 6061-T aluminum. The placement of the clip and “checkmark” slot are two features that are standard for this pen. Another standardization for the basik is the machined surface finish. The surface is lightly textured with very fine, machined rings that are accomplished by increasing the speed of the revolutions as the material is being cut. This process is about 9 times faster than the machining revolutions used to provide a completely smooth surface on aluminum. The machined body is put through a unique tumbling process that softens the raw aluminum shine and provides a more tactile surface texture without removing or interrupting the machined texture.
basik.001 features
- Super comfortable ringed grip with unique chamfered design
- Textured finish with machined micro-rings for uniform look and feel
- Seamless, single-piece body design with textured finish
- “Checkmark” J-slot for lightning-quick refill deployment
- Black Delrin piston provides ultra-smooth action
basik.002 features
- New aesthetic with deep, machined ridges for added grip
- Duo-texture machined finish provides added grip and unique look
- Seamless, single-piece body design with textured finish
- “Checkmark” J-slot for lightning-quick refill deployment
- Black Delrin piston provides ultra-smooth action
Where It’s Made
Body, button, and piston are designed and manufactured in Mesa, Arizona, USA.
Clips are designed in-house, and manufactured at Wrico Stamping Co in Gilbert, Arizona, USA.
Fasteners are sourced from McMaster-Carr, Elmhurst, Illinois, USA.
Springs are manufactured (to our specifications) by W.B. Jones Spring Co in Wilder, Kentucky, USA.
Refills are manufactured by Pilot Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
Specifications
- Body Material – 6061-T aluminum alloy
- Machined texture (grip area) – Varies by release
- Machined texture (upper area) – Varies by release
- Finish process – Ceramic tumbled
- Button Material – 6061-T aluminum alloy
- Machined texture – Concentric circles
- Finish process – Raw aluminum
- Piston Material – Black Delrin (polyoxymethylene)
- Clip Material – 400 series stainless steel
- Clip Finish – Ceramic tumbled (medium)
- Fastener Material – 18-8 Stainless Steel
- Fastener Style – 7IP Torx
- Spring material – Zinc-plated steel wire