A solid ink delivery system for use with a ink stick for use in printers is provided. The stick has an external periphery including opposed surfaces of the stick. The solid ink delivery system delivers the stick to a melting unit for melting the stick so that the ink may be transferred to media to form an image on the media. The delivery system includes a guide for guiding the stick in a prescribed path. The guide defines a loading position to permit the stick to be placed in the guide and a delivery position adjacent the melting unit. The guide at the loading position defines constraints for positioning the stick. A portion of the constraints, including a shaped insertion opening, is adapted for cooperation with the opposed surfaces of the external periphery of the stick. At least one of the constraints defining a grasping recess in the constraint for providing access to a portion of at least one of the opposed surfaces of the external periphery of the stick.