FAQs

Q. Where can I buy Pilot Pens?
Pilot pens can be bought from leading supermarkets such as Woolworths, Safeways, Coles, Variety stores such as Big W, Kmart, Officeworks, newsagencies, arts and crafts retailers, universities and office supply catalogues. If you are having difficulty locating a specific product email us at service@pilotpen.com.au

Q. How do I get TRADE and WHOLESALE information?
Please email us your request at service@pilotpen.com.au

Q. What are the differences between the different inks used in pens?
Advanced Oil Based Ink - Soft and fluid ink providing speed, comfort and smooth writing

Gel Ink – It provides the user with smooth, effortless writing with vivid ink colours, no skipping or blobbing

Liquid Ink - Provides fluidity, density and brilliance in writing. With Pilot’s new Air Tight  and Through Mechanism (ATT system) the ink is regulated to the last drop ensuring the amount of ink flowing to the pen always remains constant

Pigment Ink – Is water and light resistant, dries quickly and lasts a very long time.

Multi Surface Ink – Newly developed special water based pigment ink and ballpoint pen technologies of many years grown together. It combines the smooth writing like a ballpoint pen with the tougher ink of the permanent marker and hence the name Permaball derived from Permanent type ink and Ballpoint pen. Water based pigment ink that can be used on almost any surface such as paper, plastic, glass, metal, ceramic and wood.

Q. What is the difference between Spotliter Dual versus Spotliter Twin?
Spotliter Dual has a different colour in each end (both have chisel tips).
Spotliter Twin has a bullet tip in one end and a chisel tip in the other (both in the same colour).

Q. What products are good to use if I want to use them in scrapbooking?
The following products are acid free and are perfect to use for that scrapbooking occasion: Pilot G2, G2ex, SuperGel and Permaball.

 Q. Why the name Pilot?
The brand name Pilot is a reference to the captain of a ship. The name was adopted by the founder Ryosuke Namiki (a professor at the Tokyo Merchant Marine College) and his business partner, who shared similar interests for the sea.

Q. What are the different technologies used in the different pens?
Tungsten Carbide Ball – All Pilot ballpoint pens have stainless steal tips that house the tungsten carbide ball. The ball keeps its round shape ensuring the line remains precise and regular, without blotches or leaks.

ATT System – Air tight and through system. This system keeps the pen tip air tight and through by an ingeniously adjusted spring and pen tip holder. This ensures no dryness of the pen point, ink blotching or ink leakage leading to instant writing starts every time.

Ink Regulator – Any excess ink flow from the ink reservoir while writing is stored temporarily in special pen core by capillary action. This ensures stable and constant writing supply to the last drop.

Mechanical Pencils - Full sliding retractable sleeve – The sleeve of the pencil fully retracts within the body of the mechanical pencil for safety and is convenient for carrying in your shirt pocket.

Felt Tips - Metal supported fine tip – Pilot offers plastic points reinforced by metal sleeves to ensure greater durability and longer life. This ensures an accurate stroke throughout the life of the marker.

Capless  - The first retractable fountain pen in the world. It incorporates an innovative design and uses advanced technology to constantly keep the nib in optimal writing condition

Q. How do I remove permanent marker stains from the wall and timber door?
Although we cannot guarantee or be responsible for any stain removal especially in removing it completely we suggest the following:

Generally it is better to use Ethanol (Ethyl Alchol) which is a solvent to dissolve oil based ink. Thinner or Benzaine can also be used for removal of stains, but they are stronger than ethanol and they may damage material. In the first instance use a cloth soaked in Ethanol first and wipe up the ink stain carefully. If this is unsuccessful then try thinner or Benzaine.

If using Permaball that writes on paper, plastic, glass, ceramic and metal the permanent type of ink used can be erased with a damp cloth or tissues within a few hours of writing.

Q. How do I remove gel ink from clothing?
Gel ink might be difficult to remove completely. We recommend the following:
Dissolve some hand soap in water and slowly tap the stained clothing with it.
Rinse under running water and repeat if neccessary.

Q. I want to ask a question that is not on FAQ’s page, what do I do?
Please email us your request to service@pilotpen.com.au