a new pen every other day.

Monday, September 30, 2013

pen 117: target up & up ball point



today's pen is the target brand up & up ballpoint pen. i was given this pen when filling in some information on some form, and having never used one, asked if i could have it. i was told that i could so i took it home and immediately began to try it out and see what it could do.

i was initially impressed. i knew that it was probably fairly inexpensive, as a store brand, these things usually are, but i have historically had great experiences with those types in the past. if you've been following along here on a pen a day you probably know that i tend to like those basic pens. they usually are fairly solid products and if they don't perform well, well it isn't like i invested much in them in the first place, these pens are usually low risk.
 the usual problems i have with these types of pens are mostly with the individual pens themselves, and not always an indication that the model is particularly flawed, things like skipping and stuttering, poor flow issues, or maybe the ballpoint tip wasn't machined properly. sometimes it is just that the company really just made a bad product and the entire model should be avoided, often i stay away from brands that have these issues.

despite the fact that i liked that this pen has a very fine line, good flow, the ink dried quickly and had a good range of value, i soon discovered that this pen  had committed the ultimate deal breaker - i had left it on my desk and went into the house to get something to eat. when i had returned i discovered that it had leaked all over the paper that i had been sketching on, with a sigh i threw both the pen and the paper in the garbage.

even though the pen had done the one unforgivable thing that a pen can do, a few days later, i was back at the same office filling out another form with an identical pen and thought i would give it another chance. again i asked if i could have it, again i was told i could, so i put into a plastic pen case in my bag. when i got home i got distracted and forgot about the pen. later i was looking for a sharpie brush pen, i reached into that bag and when i opened the case and grabbed the sharpie, i noticed that my hand was covered in ink. at first i thought that the liquid ink sharpie stained brush pen had bled out but upon closer inspection i discovered that had been the up & up that was once again the offender. i had left the cap on, hadn't left in the sun, exposed to temperatures over 75 degrees fahrenheit, jostled it around, or exposed to changes in air pressure. still this pen had exploded covering not only the interior of the plastic case, but the dozen or so other pens that i had been storing in there as well - along with my hands and shortly after smudges on my clothes and face.

completed disgusted with this brand, once again threw this pen in the garbage and i will NEVER use one of these types of pens again.

period.

i recommend that you avoid them as well. 

pricing:
not available

website:
http://www.target.com
no information

what they say:
no information

Sunday, September 29, 2013

pen 116: paper mate gel retractable 0.7mm

Today's pen is the paper mate gel pen retractable 0.7mm. this pen is a stylish black white and gray plastic retractable medium tip gel pen. the paper mate gel is a very basic pen, it writes okay, the ink is dark and has no value range, tends to skip and stutter, especially on longer lines, it doesn't ink over pencils well and really is just consistently inconsistent.

i know i usually have more to say about the pens i review but there just isn't that much worth saying. i really wouldn't recommend this pen, i can comfortably say that i doubt that i will ever use this pen enough to have it run out of ink, the only reason i haven't thrown it away is that it looks nice on my desk next to my cellphone.


pricing:

cvs: $2.99 (2 pens)

office depot.com: $14.99 +s/h (12 pens)
staples.com:  $13.99 +s/h (12 pens)
amazon.com: from $8.50 +s/h (12 pens)
                     from $3.99 +s/h (4 pens)

websites:
www.papermate.com
www.officedepot.com
www.staples.com
www.amazon.com

what they say:


    papermate.com
  • Specially pigmented gel ink delivers a superior writing experience for writing so smooth it’s guaranteed!
  • Won’t bleed through paper
  • Quick drying ink to prevent smearing
  • Never lose its exceptional brightness
     officedepot.com

  • Pigmented ink glides across the page for bold, smooth writing
  • Contoured grip adds comfort and control. 
  • Retracting mechanism helps prevent ink dry out. 
    staples.com
  • Stylish, attractive design.
  • Medium point
  • Black
  • Pigmented gel-ink for bold writing
  • Contour grip for comfort
  • 12 per pack
    amazon.com
  • Bold, gel ink writing system.
  • Contoured cushion grip.
  • Visible ink supply.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

week 15 recap




















pen 115: prismacolor premiere fine tip

today's pen, the prismacolor premiere fine tip is the precision version of the  prismacolor chisel-fine double ended art marker from back in post 80. these pens are mid range pens as far as pricing goes, they seem to be a little more expensive than pens like sharpie and even microns, although not by much. at one point i would have recommended these pens as the brand to get, however, over the years i have come to discover better quality pens for around the same price and, not surprisingly, as i gain a wider range of experience with pens of this type, i have found there to be equals if not better choices to this line that wont cost you an arm and a leg. i,m not saying that these are bad pens, even crayola markers have their uses, but experience has shown me that there are others out there that seem to work overall better for my uses.

the premiere pens are fairly solid construction, they have moderately durable plastic porous tips, they have good flow with little, if any skipping or stuttering, the line is consistent, with little bleed (out - and no bleed through) although, like the sharpie pen and the new bleed-free ink option, the ink is not as dark as those pens like original sharpies, microns, or staedtlers to name a few. while the ink is not as fully saturated, it does have a limited value range, and falls into that category of being an all or nothing pen - its just that it's all is not as dark as some of the other pens out there.

these pens come in a good range of sizes and types, like chisel and brush tips, and come in a modest range of colors. prismacolor has even made sets containing different types of tipas and colors geared to specific uses, sets like:

primary: black (also sold separately) red blue and green
fashion: brown, purple, orange and sepia
sepia: brown
manga: a mix of black and sepia pens and some assortment of tip sizes and types.

as far as whether or not i think these pens are a good buy? i'm not the fan i was back during my college years. i wouldn't buy another set unless they improve their quality. there is one exception, however, i do like their sepia pens and would recommend these to anyone who likes coloring in muted/desaturated color schemes.

pricing:
individual pens seem to start around $2 for an individual pens, sets vary considerably depending on where you find them .

amazon.com
$5-$8 +s/h (7 pen assortment pack)

websites:www.prismacolor.com
www.dickblick.com/
www.amazon.com/

what they say:

prismacolor.com
These markers have you covered no matter the task at hand. Take your pick from multiple tip sizes to experience paintbrush-like strokes in the convenience of a marker. Go with the fine tip for serious precision and control. Lettering, outlining and free form drawing look exceptional with the chisel tip. But why limit yourself? Pick up an assorted set with a variety of tip types for all your drawing needs.
Archival quality, lightfast ink. is smear resistant when dry.
Available in Fine Line, Brush and chisel tip sizes for excellent technical and artistic drawing applications.

dickblick.com
  • These markers contain premium pigmented acid-free, archival ink that is lightfast, permanent, non-toxic, and water resistant.
  • Use these markers for crisp, detail work in artistic and technical applications.

amazon.com
  • Ideal markers for the aspiring artist and scrapbooker
  • Non-toxic
  • Conforms to ASTM D4238
  • Archival, acid-free premium pigmented ink prevents work from deteriorating over time

  • Fine Tip great for detail work
  • Lightfast colors maintain their vibrancy
  • Permanent, water-resistant ink will not bleed through and is smear resistant when dry

Friday, September 27, 2013

pen 114: uni-ball onyx



i seem to recall today's pen, the uni-ball onyx, being everywhere i looked back when i was in college. it seemed like i would randomly pick these up (read: accidentally steal) these pens quite often over the last ten years or so. last week i lost my last remaining working onyx pen... and after tearing my office apart looking for it, i gave in, and ventured out into the real world in search of this pen. 
i went to wall mart, target, k mart, cvs, walgreens and rite aid and i called staples ... and to my shock discovered that these pens are no longer carried at these stores, at least not in the region where i live.

after a quick google search i discovered that i wasn't able to find any mention on the official uni-ball website, but that these pens could be bought online from any of the other websites listed below.

i have to say that i finally did find the pen, it clipped to the collar of the shirt i had been wearing that day... all... that... day.

doh'!

so anyway, recovering from my frustbarassment (patent pending) i sat down and manage to get the pen, and two drawings out of the remaining ink and sadly had to retire it to that big ol trash can in the sky. and by sky i mean next to my desk.

i had forgotten how nice this pen is, seriously - in fact, it seems like most of the pens that i have rated highest are either discontinued or are on the road there and i guess when i think about it that shouldn't surprise me considering that i have been on this world for roughly 35 years and should be familiar with how things like that are pretty much an universal constant in my life.

this pen is basically a variant of my favorite pens, the uni-ball rollerball stic-micro from way back at post 8. this pen has good flow, fair glide, good bite, the ink is dark but has a fair value range, dries quickly, is clean and is good for writing, drawing. contour or gesture drawing, inking over pencils, and detail work. it's a solid 4. really the only drawback to this pen is that i cant seem to find it in a retail setting and i just dont love it enough to want to pay for a dozen... and shipping. 

when it comes down to it, if i had another one already i would use it, but if i'm spending money on it, i would just as soon pay less for the rollerball stic.

pricing:

amazon.com
$5.58 (12 pens) +s/h

staples.com
$8.29(12 pens) +s/h

officedepot.com
$8.99(12 pens) +s/h

officemax.com
$8.79(12 pens) +s/h

website:
www.uniball.com (no information on this pen on the company website)

what they say:

staples.com

  • Micro point, 0.5 mm
  • Blue
  • Precision metal tip is ideal for carbon copies
  • Black matte barrel, molded clip and cap
  • Non-refillable
  • 12 per pack


amazon.com
  • Precision tungsten ball.
  • Excellent for carbons and multi-part forms.
  • Easy to hold matte black barrel.
  • Liquid ink.
  • Sold by the Dozen (12 each)

office depot.com

  • The most affordable way to enjoy the smooth rollerball flow
  • Metal point makes for smooth, consistent writing. A simple, effortless stroke delivers just the right amount of vivid ink to your page. Liquid ink is permanent, quick-drying, fade-resistant and waterproof so it's safe for your most important papers.
  • Fine point tips for clear, precise lines. Choose the perfect point type for sharp, detailed writing tasks, such as record keeping, footnotes in margins or number work. Tips hold an extremely durable metal tungsten ball for the ultimate in dependable performance.
  • Black matte…a classic look and feel! Slim matte barrel is easy for anyone to control. The matching cover won't slip off unexpectedly and includes a plastic clip to hang on a pocket or folder.
  • Nonrefillable. 
  • officemax.com
  • A reliable pen at an economical price. 
officemax.com
  • Durable metal point is excellent for marking carbon copies or multipart forms
  • Smooth writing, quick-drying ink
  • Micro Point
  • 12 Black Ink Pens

Thursday, September 26, 2013

pen 113: sharpie pen grip

today's pen is a modern classic, the sharpie pen grip - fine point. this pen is a disposable version of pen 34.

this pen is a sharpie, and if you have been following along you probably know what that means. i almost feel like reviewing this pen is a bit redundant, the brand speaks for itself. as i mentioned a few reviews ago, i have only once regretted buying a sharpie, and that was the sharpie liquid pencil back at pen 20, and even then it wasn't all bad.

so the grip, it's made of plastic, it's pretty light, and feels cheap, but then again, these pen are inexpensive and it would take some effort to crush or snap it in two. the pen comes in fine and medium point sizes and is available in six colors. the plastic tip is durable and can stand up to moderately heavy pressure and use, the ink is a new type of bleed free ink, which makes drawing on paper - thick or thin - a cleaner activity. this pen i great for thing like notebooks, sketch pads or art journals. like all sharpies this pen lasts for a good long while, doesn't skip or stutter, it has consistent flow, uniform line width, and a great balance between glide and bite.

these pens are always good for writing, drawing, detail work, and inking over pencils.

the only thing i have to say that i don't like about this pen is that the saturation of the ink is not as full as it's other non-bleed free cousins in the sharpie line but other than that one thing, i highly recommend anything with the sharpie name printed on the barrel.

yes, that means i endorse this pen.

price:

officemax.com
$7.99 (3 pens ) +s/h
$7.99 (3 pens assorted colors) +s/h
$31.99 (12 pens) +s/h

amazon.com
$1.29-$4.19 (3 pens ) +s/h

website:

what they say:

sharpie.com Get a grip on Sharpie Pen style and performance.
  • Won't bleed through paper!
  • Quick drying ink to prevent smearing
  • Soft grip along barrel for added writing comfort
  • Fine point tip size for everyday writing
  • Permanent ink on paper
  • Color indicator on ends to help distinguish ink color
  • Water resistant, acid free, and AP certified non-toxic ink formula designed for paper
  • Available in black, blue, red, green, orange, and purple

officemax.comYour favorite Sharpie Pen- now in a grip version!
  • Will not bleed through paper (results vary based on paper characteristics)
  • Permanent on paper
  • Water resistant, acid-free, nontoxic ink formula
  • Features a soft grip for added comfort
  • Set of 3 Colored Ink Pens includes 1 each of Black Ink, Blue Ink and Red Ink

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

pen 112: uni-ball insight


today's pen is the uni-ball insight. i found this particular pen at staples, right around the back to school sales... god i love that time of year, so many new pens. i cant remember how much i spent at the time, i'm pretty sure that it was a package of 2-4 pens and was around the $5 range.

the insight is a pen that i would classify as a work horse pen. it defines itself as a fine point pen, although at 0.7 mm, this point sized is often described as medium or even bold in other pens. i guess it is all relative, one of the things that i have come to discover about pens over the years is that there really isn't a universal or concrete rule when it comes to things like that.

this pen has good (and heavy) flow, fair glide, good bite and consistent line quality - it doesn't skip or stutter. the ink is super saturated, it has no range of value from dark to light, it is another one of those all or nothing pens. as i mentioned this pen puts a lot of ink down on the paper, and while it does dry almost instantly the ink does bleed, out and through. the 0.7 point size added to the flow and bleed make this pen a good choice when filling in large areas, or where moderately sized detail work is called for. this pen also supposedly is refillable, however, when i went to the official uni-ball website, not only could i not find any information on that, i was unable to find the pen itself listed at all.

the biggest problem i have with this pen is that it puts a lot of ink down very quickly, too quickly, it bleeds quite a bit, there are several pens that i have reviewed here that have performed similarly  but without the bleed, also i should mention that this pen feels a bit cheap, the plastic body is pretty light and there was a tendency to unscrew itself as i was using it or had it in a pocket or bag. 

price: 

officemax.com
$7.99 (4 assorted colors)+s/h
$25.27 (12 pens) +s/h

amazon.com
$4.64 (4 pens) +s/h
$11.63(12 pens) +s/h

website:
www.uniball-na.com (not listed)

what they say:
officemax.com
Stylish rollerball pens with consistent smoothness and color intensity.
Exclusive uni-flow ink system regulates a steady flow of waterproof ink to the point for consistent smoothness and color intensity down to the last drop of ink
Ink-o-meter allows for visible ink supply so you know before you run out
Specially-formulated uni Super Ink becomes trapped in paper to help prevent criminal check washing and other document alteration
Archival-quality and acid-free ink for documenting
Water-resistant ink dries quickly

amazon.comExclusive uni-flow ink system regulates a steady flow of waterproof ink to the point for consistent smoothness and color intensity down to the last drop of ink
Ink-o-meter allows for visible ink supply so you know before you run out
Features uni Super Ink that helps prevent against check and document fraud
Archival quality and acid-free ink for documenting and record-keeping

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

pen 111: pentel energel pearl deluxe gel pen


today i'm reviewing the pentel energel. while i did review a version of a similar pen way back in pen 69, i  have gone back and reread the entry only to discover that i told a good story about this pen but forgot to write anything useful as far as how it functions under normal use.

the energel is a solid body plastic retractable tipped pen that comes in fine (0.5mm) and medium (0.7mm) point sizes . the pen is aesthetically designed and sports a rubber comfort grip. this pen also is available in five colors, black, blue, red, green, and purple.

this pen has excellent flow, good glide and a bit of a bite. this pen writes very well and is great for inking, sketching, gesture and contour drawing. the ink dries pretty quickly, has a consistent ink flow that does not skip or stutter and produces a very uniform line. this is a fairly clean pen.

the drawbacks, as mentioned in pen 69, this pen does not do well when washed, they will leak and stain whatever you're washing, the fine line made by this pen makes shading difficult, that and the lack of a range of value in the darkness of the ink make this pen not very effective when trying to fill in large areas of black (or whatever color) and limit it to techniques like hatching and crosshatching.

these pens are also refillable, they sell these reservoirs for around $1.30 which is about half of what you would pay for an individual pen.

these pens can be found at most big box office supply stores, and sometime in drug or grocery stores as well. these pens are a little on the expensive side, especially if you're ordering small quantities where shipping can be as much as the pen itself.

my final word on this pen is that it is, at best, a slightly above average tool and while i don't think that i will be buying any more of these anytime soon, they are a pen that i do not mind using.

price: 

pentel.com
$3.49 (single pen)+s/h
$6.98 (2 pens)+s/h
$10.47 (3 pens)+s/h
$ 20.94 (6 pens assorted colors)+s/h

amazon.com: 
$2.61 (single pen)+s/h
$27.55 (12 pens) +s/h

office depot:
$28.99 (12 pens)+s/h

website:
www.pentel.com


what they say:

EnerGel® Pearl provides a smooth writing experience. Fast-drying liquid gel ink leaves no smears, no smudges and no globs. Latex-free grip. 0.7mm metal tip. Refillable.

Product Details

High performance ink technology combines the best qualities of liquid and gel ink for a super-smooth writing experience

Gel ink dries so fast even left-handed writers love it - no smears, no smudges, no globs

"Needle Tip" provides intricate, detailed lines

Sleek and stylish barrel design with stainless steel accents for a professional look

Maximum comfort and control with latex-free grip

Made of 54% recycled plastic and part of the Recycology line of products

2 tip sizes available:
- 0.5mm needle tip writes fine lines
- 0.7mm needle tip writes medium lines

Available ink colors:
- 0.5mm: Black, Red and Blue
- 0.7mm: Black, Red, Blue and Violet

Refillable with Pentel LRN5 (0.5mm) and LRN7 (0.7mm) refills

Monday, September 23, 2013

pen 110: paper mate liquid expresso



today's i'm going to talk about the paper mate liquid expresso. two things jumped out when i started to look up "official" information  on this, that in the several years since i bought the pen i am currently still using, they changed the design or look of the pen, and the other was that on the the paper mate company website there is no mention of this pen whatsoever.

so.

as i mentioned, i have owned this pen for at least five years, it's one of those pens that i see all the time in the various coffee-cum-pen holders i have on my desk. i cannot remember, however, where and exactly when i obtained this particular writing tool.

to start, this is a pretty good pen. it has a durable porous plastic medium sized tip, it had good flow, fair glide, and good bite. the liquid in the pen doesn't really bleed all that much including through the paper, unless you're really trying, i guess. the saturation of the ink is dark, with little range of values, it is basically all or nothing. the pen also lays down a lot of ink fairly quickly and takes a little bit of time to dry so this can be a pretty messy pen. it is ideally suited for tasks like writing and inking, it will cover pencil lines with no problem and because of it's heavier flow, makes inking in small to medium sized areas a breeze.

as for the drawbacks for this pen, there aren't really come to mind. it is a good pen, for whatever reason though it is not one that i really care to use and i don't really have a definable reason for this.


price: around $20 for an eight color pack, $27 for a dozen (one color) and $3 for individual pens. (these prices are from office depot's web site, you might find better deals on amazon.com

website(s):
www.officedepot.com

what they say:

office max
Exceptional ink flow — the feel of a fountain pen in an economical porous point
  • Superior ink flow eliminates the mess.  The holding reservoir dispenses the perfect flow of liquid ink with every stroke. Ink dries instantly and permanently so your pages stay clean and legible.
  • Bold, smooth lines make a statement.  This pen mimics the smooth writing experience of a fountain pen.
  • Tips are reinforced to prevent damage.  The tips are collared to resist bending and fraying so you get crisp, consistent lines with every stroke.
  • Translucent barrel for visible ink supply.  The colorful, extra-wide barrel is clear towards the tip to let you know when your ink is running low.
  • Writing won't bleed through paper.  Quick-drying, water-based ink helps prevent smearing and bleed-through.
  • Nonrefillable. 
  • Assorted medium-point 8-pack comes in a convenient vinyl pouch and includes black, blue, red, purple, pink, orange, turquoise and green. 
  • The extra-fine business 4-pack features 2 black, 1 red and 1 blue. 
  • The extra-fine fashion 4-pack includes red, pink, aqua and turquoise. 

Item # 754911
Manufacturer # 28503
ink color Black; Blue; Green; Orange; Pink; Purple; Red; Turquoise
point type medium
point size 1.0 mm
grip type checkered fingertip
barrel color Clear
pocket clip yes
quantity 8
brand name Paper Mate
manufacturer Sanford

Sunday, September 22, 2013

pen 109: paper mate expressions

today we'll be taking a look at one of the more stylish pens on the market, the paper mate expressions.
retailing between $3-$4 for a pack of five, these pens come in a variety of black and white designs, some cooler than others, still if you are trying to look, wait for it, awesome while doing whatever it is that you can with a pen, this might be the pen you have been searching for, that special pen that will finally fill that pen shaped hole in your heart... er that sounded kinda a little like you might try and stab yourself in the chest... i am not suggesting that you stab yourself anywhere... don't, repeat, do not do that. and if you do please erase your browser history i don't need any lawsuits.  


the expression is a retractable or capped pen, with a 1 mm. tip and comes in one glorious color, black. 

one of the funnier things about this pen is that although it is called expressions, on the website it's adjective is "panache!" while the pen directly below it, the flair's adjective is expressive... i don't know if that is funny to anyone else but i got a chuckle out of it.

these pens are fairly inexpensive, they look interesting, they write as well as they draw or sketch. the ink flows poorly, it needs to be warmed up and tends to skip and stutter, i found i had to periodically scribble on a scratch piece of paper to get it working again... annoying. it has fair to poor glide/smoothness, and a fair bite. this pen is rather clean, the ink dries quickly, doesn't build up on the tip and thus, does not leave deposits of ink all over whatever you are writing on. this pen is good to fair for detail work, has a good range in value between light and dark, is an effective choice for gesture or contour drawing and has a rubber comfort grip that makes periods of extended use a bit more tolerable.

these pens are a a middle of the ground pen, i doubt i would go out of my way to use one but if it is in my bag, i wouldn't be averse to using it. also, since the pen does look neat, you do run the risk that someone (read: someone like me) will use it and then walk off with it. but that is the price you have to pay for being an awesome person with awesome pens who is dumb enough to let someone (again, read: me) use said pen in the first place. if you are anything like me, i actually keep a few spare (read: cheap as hell) pens to loan out to those who are not prepared. this tactic has served me well over the years.

but enough of my digressions, should you buy these pens? i wouldn't again, there are better choices for the price. they are meh pens, really the only thing that they have going for them is that they look kind of neat.

price: $3.28 (5 pack) (papermate.com)

website:

www.papermate.com

what they say:

Trendy barrel designs that are as fun to look at as they are to write with.  Available in retractable and capped. 

Saturday, September 21, 2013

week 14 recap







pen 108: sharpie retractable fine point permanent marker


wow, yes, today's pen is another fine example of the quality of pen that sharpie makes.

this pen is more or less the same as the regular fine point sharpie, aside from the lack of a cap the only other difference between them is that the retractable tip is a slightly different shape.

so yeah, it's a sharpie, and with that it is safe to say that it is a fine pen. the lack of cap is nice, the ink is dark, little to no range in value - it either is or isn't, it bleeds, out and through the paper so be aware of that, but aside from the bleed this pen is clean, the ink dries quickly, has a consistent line quality, does not skip or stutter. the only thing i can think of  that i  can complain about is that the tips of these pens, and this is pretty much true of all of sharpie pens, they really seem to have a handful of uses before the tip is worn down and blunted, after this happens the only thing they are really good for is filling in areas of black and line work that isn't extremely detail.

the last thing that i's going to mention here is that these pens retail around 
$3 a pen, and they come in packages of two, three, eight and twelve pens - the last one contains all available colors .

while i'm not head over heels about this particular pen, i will say that it gets the job done and definitely worth the peace of mind knowing that the cap has fallen off with the pen in your pocket, backpack or purse. as fars as would i recommend this pen to others? maybe - depending on what their need is. other than that i would just as soon use a less expensive sharpie fine point.

website:

what they say:

Forget about a cap ... just click and write.
  • No cap to remove or lose
  • Retractable marker for easy one-handed operation
  • Safety Seal™ valve design helps prevent dry out
  • Ultra Fine point for precise marking and writing
  • Permanent on most surfaces
  • Quick-drying ink AP certified nontoxic formula
  • 3 bold colors to make your point

Friday, September 20, 2013

pen 107: officemax just basics medium ballpoint



today's pen, the  just basics medium ballpoint, is a brand of pen that i had no idea existed up until two days ago. the just basic pen is a stripped down inexpensive version of the bic round stick or other basic ballpoint pen. (that statement should mean something if you think about it.)

after searching on google i came to several conclusions. the first is that this is an inexpensive pen, 12 packs go for  around $1.30 which makes this a little over ten cents a pen, cool. the second is that i was unable to find an official website for the manufacturer, which rings some bells to me, and lastly, people hate this pen. most of the customer reviews i saw were extremely negative, and what it comes down to, i think, is that if you are pending less than a quarter a pen you probably don't have much of a valid reason for complaint. these pens are cheap, and i've found that most of the time we get what we pay for.

that said.

i really really like this pen. i found that it didn't need much in the way of warm up to get the ink flowing, that it only sometimes skips and stutters, the line is mostly consistent id goof inking pencils, gesture and contour drawings, has a fine tip that allows for detail work and is a clean pen, it dries fast and doesn't build up on the tip or leave deposits on the paper. the value range of the ink is impressive, with a great range between black and nothing. i haven't had the same negative experience with this pen, maybe i'm lucky, but i would definitely recommend this pen, especially since they are so inexpensive that they are just short of paying you to use them. 
website:
www.officemax.com

what they say:

Comfortable round plastic barrel.
Features
  • Medium 1.0mm
  • Blue ink
  • Cap indicates ink color
  • 48 Count

Just Basics - Stick Ballpoint Pens - Black, Medium, Model No. OM99365: Comfortable round plastic barrel. Cap color indicates ink color. Disposable.

Just Basics - Stick Ballpoint Pens - Blue, Medium, Model No. OM99364: Comfortable round plastic barrel. Cap color indicates ink color. Disposable.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

pen 106: schneider xtra document





today's pen is the schneider xtra document, another little gem from office depot. the only place as far as i can tell that you can buy this pen in an actual retail store is at office depot (the internet is telling me that these pens are also carried at office max but i don't remember ever seeing them there). if you don't live near one that is just unfortunate, however, you can always get these pens off of internet resources like officemax.com, officedepot.com, ebay and amazon.

i cant remember how much i paid for this pen, i bought this at office depot along with several other pens made by schneider, but i'm pretty sure it was somewhere between $2-$3 for a single pen, which makes this one a little bit on the higher side of inexpensive.

to start, the xtra document is a plastic ballpoint pen, the body is average construction, nothing really worth getting into here, i will say that the pen looks rather sexy, it's slim, has a carbon pattern and has orange and silver highlights. the tip of my particulate pen is a bold 0.6 mm, their website states that there is a 0.3 mm version available but i did not see any of these at the store. 

the xtra document is a clean pen, it dries quickly, the ink is dark, and it flows heavy. you can put down a lot of ink in a short amount of time, there is some bleed both out and through the paper, but that seems to happen more if you are drawing slowly, if you keep moving the pen around it's not that big of a problem, just be aware is all.  the pen's flow is fair, as mentioned, it can lay down some ink, but does have a tendency to get inconsistent, especially of you're inking over pencil lines. this pen has fair bite, it does interact with the page and i personally like that. there is such a thing as too smooth. like i mentioned above, this pen is good for several things, it can be used to ink pencil lines, it can fill small to medium areas with black, is good for gestural or contour drawings, i wouldn't use this pen for writing though, but then again, i tend to write small. the pen has poor range of value, it's an "all or nothing" pen, again, that isn't really bad news, just be aware of the pen's limitations. i guess i will end with this pen being available in eight colors, and that i would recommend getting one of these pens to experiment with, while not my "perfect pen" it is useful and while i might not buy many more of these pens, i have bought two. again, if you have the opportunity to try one of these out, you might just fall in like with the schneider xtra document.

website:

www.schneiderpen.de

what they say:

roller with liquid ink technology for waterproof writing.
"Ink roller with conical tip made of stainless steel and innovative liquid ink technology. Waterproof ink according to ISO 14145-2. The Xtra ink regulator controls the ink flow exactly and consistently from beginning to end, without blots or interruptions. The large ink reservoir has a level indicator and an ergonomic rubber grip on the barrel of the pen, promoting a tireless and relaxed writing experience. The cap has a high value 

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

pen 105: sharpie extra fine permanent marker


at first glance, today's pen, the sharpie extra fine permanent marker looks basically like the ultra fine point that i reviewed waaaay back on post #6. aside from the difference between extra and ultra printed on the body of the pen, the differences are virtually indistinguishable until you remove the cap.

everything that i wrote about my feelings on sharpie pens remains the same as they were the day that i started this blog. i can also say honestly that with one exception (their ill conceived and executed "erasable" pen) that i have never regretted buying a sharpie. its a good quality product that is versatile and has yet to let me down.

the extra fine point, in my experience is not really all that different from its ultra fine little brother, they both have plastic nibs, they both bleed out and through the paper, the extra fine pen does seem to need a little warming up before you get a solid consistent line, especially if you stop using it for a few minutes and leave the cap off. this is a little annoying but not the end of the world. even sharpie's official website does not distinguish between the two pens as far as the description goes (see below).

say what you will, either pen is good for detail work, sketching, writing (even though it says not to write with them printed on the pen's body.) and will last for years. seriously, i have some of these pens that i bought when i left for college back in 2001.

do i recommend this pen?

no brainer - it's a sharpie, these pend run for under $2 dollars a pen - it's pretty much idiot proof... yes, go buy one.

website: 
www.sharpie.com

what they say:

Make your point with style and precision.
  • Fade and water resistant
  • Permanent on most surfaces
  • Precise tip increases control and accuracy
  • Quick-drying ink AP certified nontoxic formula
  • 3 bold colors to make your point
how is this different from the sharpie ultra fine point?

(ultra fine point)
Make your point with style and precision.
  • Fade and water resistant
  • Permanent on most surfaces
  • Precise tip increases control and accuracy
  • Quick-drying ink AP certified nontoxic formula