An ink stick for use in a phase change ink jet printer is provided wherein the ink jet printer has an ink feed channel having a feed direction leading to a melt plate. The ink stick comprises an ink stick body having an external surface and an axis of rotation. The ink stick body is adapted for insertion into the ink feed channel so that the axis of rotation is oriented substantially perpendicular to the feed direction. The external surface of the ink stick body forms a circle on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.