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Commercially available permanent "Sharpie-compatible" markers that fit into the standard pen holder:
 
Commercially available permanent "Sharpie-compatible" markers that fit into the standard pen holder:
  
* [http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Pages/ultra-fine-point-marker.aspx Sharpie Ultra Fine point] Ubiquitous and inexpensive (~$1), this is a great pen to start with.  It comes in a wide variety of colors, is permanent, and has a relatively fine tip.  The larger "Fine Point" size Sharpie markers will not fit in the standard pen holder, but do fit in the "wide" pen holder.  (The pen holder on the EggBot Pro does fit both Fine and Ultra Fine point Sharpie markers.) See a width test comparing Sharpie ultra fine, Copic Multiliner, and Stabilo point 88 [http://i.imgur.com/lbQXwk3.jpg here].
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* [http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Pages/ultra-fine-point-marker.aspx Sharpie Ultra Fine point] Ubiquitous and inexpensive (~$1), this is a great pen to start with.  It comes in a wide variety of colors, is permanent, and has a relatively fine tip.  The larger "Fine Point" size Sharpie markers will not fit in the standard pen holder, but do fit in the "wide" pen holder.  (The pen holder on the EggBot Pro does fit both Fine and Ultra Fine point Sharpie markers.)
 
* Sharpie Micro Same as above, but half as long.  More expensive (~$1.40), not as much ink per pen (and fewer color choices), but the smaller pen will not bounce around as much as its bigger brother.  (You may need to order these online.)
 
* Sharpie Micro Same as above, but half as long.  More expensive (~$1.40), not as much ink per pen (and fewer color choices), but the smaller pen will not bounce around as much as its bigger brother.  (You may need to order these online.)
* [http://www.officemax.com/brands/tul/tul-markers/product-prod3801746?R=23100564&ssp=true Tul ultra-fine point] Similar to Sharpie in quality, tip size, color availability and price. [As of 16 aug 2016 no longer available at officemax/officedepot]
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* [http://www.officemax.com/brands/tul/tul-markers/product-prod3801746?R=23100564&ssp=true Tul ultra-fine point] Similar to Sharpie in quality, tip size, color availability and price.
* [http://copicmarker.com/products/pens/multiliner-sp/ Copic Multiliner SP series] Significantly more expensive (~$8), but offers a choice of much finer tips (nibs), plus both the nibs and the ink cartridges are replaceable.  These are harder to find, though you may find them at local art supply stores like Dick Blick.  They can be ordered online from Blick, Amazon, and others.  There is also a cheaper, disposable ("non-SP") Multiliner series that is not Sharpie-compatible in terms of size, but ''will'' fit in the pen holder of the Egg-Bot 2.0 kit.  See a width test comparing Sharpie ultra fine, Copic Multiliner, and Stabilo point 88 [http://i.imgur.com/lbQXwk3.jpg here].  Note, however, a limitation regarding drawing surface [see the section below on "Less-than-ideal" pens].
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* [http://copicmarker.com/products/pens/multiliner-sp/ Copic Multiliner SP series] Significantly more expensive (~$8), but offers a choice of much finer tips (nibs), plus both the nibs and the ink cartridges are replaceable.  These are harder to find, though you may find them at local art supply stores like Dick Blick.  They can be ordered online from Blick, Amazon, and others.  There is also a cheaper, disposable ("non-SP") Multiliner series that is not Sharpie-compatible in terms of size, but ''will'' fit in the pen holder of the Egg-Bot 2.0 kit.  
 
* [http://www.sakuraofamerica.com/Pen-Archival Pigma Micron series] Like the Copic Multiliner SP, this is a nice, technical fiber tip pen, and offers a variety of nib sizes, though not as tiny as Copic.  It is Sharpie-compatible, but not as "nicely" as the Copic.  It mates to the pen-arm higher up on the pen, and requires more force.  Easier to find than Copic, it is disposable and ~$3.
 
* [http://www.sakuraofamerica.com/Pen-Archival Pigma Micron series] Like the Copic Multiliner SP, this is a nice, technical fiber tip pen, and offers a variety of nib sizes, though not as tiny as Copic.  It is Sharpie-compatible, but not as "nicely" as the Copic.  It mates to the pen-arm higher up on the pen, and requires more force.  Easier to find than Copic, it is disposable and ~$3.
* [http://marthastewartcrafts.eksuccessbrands.com/Product/Pen+1Mm.aspx Martha Stewart Crafts .1mm Writing Pen] These markers come in only a few colors. The marker body is pretty close to the Ultra-Fine Sharpies, so they work well for detail work in conjunction with those. These markers are very light and need a little extra weight to make them work right – it helps to put the cap on the butt of the marker. $8 for 4 pens. [As of 16 aug 2016 the pens are no longer available.  A broader (1.2 mm) tip set of 36 Martha Stewart markers is at [https://www.amazon.com/Martha-Stewart-Crafts-Marker-Pieces/dp/B002FW5A4C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471332114&sr=8-1&keywords=martha+stewart+pens amazon]]
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* [http://marthastewartcrafts.eksuccessbrands.com/Product/Pen+1Mm.aspx Martha Stewart Crafts .1mm Writing Pen] These markers come in only a few colors. The marker body is pretty close to the Ultra-Fine Sharpies, so they work well for detail work in conjunction with those. These markers are very light and need a little extra weight to make them work right – it helps to put the cap on the butt of the marker. $8 for 4 pens.  
 
* Rapidograph by Koh-I-Noor. Recommended to purchase a cleaning kit with the pen and clean it after use.
 
* Rapidograph by Koh-I-Noor. Recommended to purchase a cleaning kit with the pen and clean it after use.
 
* Staedtler Pigment Liner. Indelible, waterproof and lightfast.
 
* Staedtler Pigment Liner. Indelible, waterproof and lightfast.
 
* Staedtler Mars Professional. I have used Staedtler for years for technical and pen&ink drawings and they are my favorites. Staedtler makes the Mars Matic line as well with points down to .1 mm which is as good as it gets (AFAIK). There is a 4 pen set, comprising of a 0.25,0.3,0.5,and .07. It is a very nice set though relatively expensive ($24 approx).  Comes with a closable plastic case, and the pens are excellent. If you are happy with the Sharpie Ultra-fine, then this would be a good step up. Works well on Ping Pong balls, wood spheres and glass. May come off on glossy plastic, but that turns out to be a good thing when you are experimenting.
 
* Staedtler Mars Professional. I have used Staedtler for years for technical and pen&ink drawings and they are my favorites. Staedtler makes the Mars Matic line as well with points down to .1 mm which is as good as it gets (AFAIK). There is a 4 pen set, comprising of a 0.25,0.3,0.5,and .07. It is a very nice set though relatively expensive ($24 approx).  Comes with a closable plastic case, and the pens are excellent. If you are happy with the Sharpie Ultra-fine, then this would be a good step up. Works well on Ping Pong balls, wood spheres and glass. May come off on glossy plastic, but that turns out to be a good thing when you are experimenting.
 
* Pilot Gold/Silver Markers. They are the type that you have to occasionally have to shake. If you break the design up into many layers you can use these pens, it is just a matter of making sure you don't move the pen arm when taking the pen out and shaking it and putting it back in. The smaller the amount you have to fill in the better the results. The extra fine point is between a fine point and medium in the sharpie. They dry relatively fast as well, not quite as fast the Identipen, but pretty close. Available at [http://amzn.com/B0058NNA74 Amazon].
 
* Pilot Gold/Silver Markers. They are the type that you have to occasionally have to shake. If you break the design up into many layers you can use these pens, it is just a matter of making sure you don't move the pen arm when taking the pen out and shaking it and putting it back in. The smaller the amount you have to fill in the better the results. The extra fine point is between a fine point and medium in the sharpie. They dry relatively fast as well, not quite as fast the Identipen, but pretty close. Available at [http://amzn.com/B0058NNA74 Amazon].
* Uni-Ball Signo Broad Point Gel Impact Pen White Ink.  These are ball-point, and have a claimed 1.0 mm tip.  They work surprisingly well at least on eggs, so perhaps on other textured surfaces.  They need to be primed just immediately before use, a fingertip is even better than a piece of paper.  Once they get going they work pretty well, putting down a viscous, opaque, not-too-wide, not-very-many-skips line.  They are far from instant drying.  Available at [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KK6X7CW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 amazon].
 
  
 
= Food safe markers and pens =
 
= Food safe markers and pens =
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=Less-than-ideal markers and pens =
 
=Less-than-ideal markers and pens =
* [https://www.amazon.com/Color-Markers-Set-Completely-Washable/dp/B01G7JPHIM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470630101&sr=8-1&keywords=120+markers 120 Markers] on first look appears quite desirable.  The set has a myriad of color choices, and is extremely inexpensive.  However, the colors have been found to diffuse into egg shells over a period of hours, softening or smearing the inked lines.  The diffusion appears to be color selective, such that initially-black lines may even end up appearing blue.  The inks are water-based, and take rather a longish time to dry.  They could nonetheless be useful as fill colors, since diffusion from the edges may be masked by an outline.  Here is an [http://i.imgur.com/0mHUd1h.png image] comparing 120 Markers and Sharpie ultra fine markers on eggs.  On matte-finish silver tree ornaments, this ink gives very washed-out results.  Could be useful if you want a kind of pastel appearance, but definitely not vivid in the way that Sharpies are.
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* [https://www.amazon.com/Color-Markers-Set-Completely-Washable/dp/B01G7JPHIM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470630101&sr=8-1&keywords=120+markers 120 Markers] on first look appears quite desirable.  The set has a myriad of color choices, and is extremely inexpensive.  However, the colors have been found to diffuse into egg shells over a period of hours, softening or smearing the inked lines.  The diffusion appears to be color selective, such that initially-black lines may even end up appearing blue.  The inks are water-based, and take rather a longish time to dry.  They may nonetheless be useful as fill colors.
  
* Stabilo "point 88" series have a very fine tip, measuring 0.3 mm diameter as printed on an egg.  See a width test comparing Sharpie ultra fine, Copic Multiliner, and Stabilo point 88 [http://i.imgur.com/lbQXwk3.jpg here].  Stabilo has similar line quality to the Copic Multiliner SP 0.2, i.e. the line is not as uniform nor as opaque as Sharpies.  If you are looking for an inexpensive (30 pens for about $16) pen with a very narrow line width, the [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATBRJRC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Stabilo "point 88"] is hard to beat.  However, since this is a water-based ink, it is not recommended for plots where multiple colors touch each other.
 
 
* Uni-ball Signo Angelic UM-120AC Gel Ink Pen 0.7mm might look worth a try, but in fact they skip terribly on eggs (though they are terrific on paper).
 
 
* Copic Multiliner SP series make permanent markings on eggs, but on *uncoated* glass surfaces such as some Christmas tree ornaments the ink never bonds to the surface.  Even 24 hours after application, the ink smudges off with just the touch of a finger.
 
  
 
=Other writing implements =
 
=Other writing implements =
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* Brush pens.  The [http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Platinum-Souhitsu-Fude-Pen-CFS-250.html Platinum Souhitsu Fude Brush Pen CFS-250] apparently works well in the Eggbot.
 
* Brush pens.  The [http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Platinum-Souhitsu-Fude-Pen-CFS-250.html Platinum Souhitsu Fude Brush Pen CFS-250] apparently works well in the Eggbot.
  
= Storing your pens =
 
 
* [This paragraph is just a stub...please share what method works well for you as a way to store multiple pens in an accessible manner.]
 
  
 
= Alternative tool heads =
 
= Alternative tool heads =

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