pen 140: papermate flexgrip write for hope

today's pen was intended to be featured last week, while it was breast cancer awareness month, life got in the way and i was sidetracked. while it would have been nice to dovetail this pen with the month, i figure that cancer is one of those things that really seems to be on peoples'minds regardless of the time of year.

this pen is basically a flexgrip elite, but has a pink body and a dime from the sale of each pen is donated to breast cancer research, treatment and awareness.

for a run-down of the performance check out pen 57: papermate flexgrip elite.

pricing:

cvs (retail):

$2.57 (two pens)

officedepot.com:

$3.19+s/h (two pens)
$14.29+s/h (twelve pens)

rakuten.com:$3.10+s/h (two pens)

amazon.com:starting at $1.70+s/h (two pens)

websites:www.cityofhope.org
www.papermate.com
www.officedepot.com
www.rakuten.com

what they say:

papermate.com
Feel great knowing that you are writing with a great pen and $.10 of every pen sold is donated to City of Hope for breast cancer research, treatment and education.

officedepot.com:
Paper Mate FlexGrip Elite Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point, 1.0 mm,
"Write for Hope" Pink Ribbon Barrels, Black Ink,

rakuten.com:

Refillable Antimicrobial Pen with Soft Grip and Lubriglide Ink, Pink

amazon.com

Soft full length grip provides comfort for any writing position.
Sleek professional styling with chrome, accented tip.
Smooth writing experience with dark lines.

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.

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

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. 

pen 71: paper mate inkjoy 500 rt

today we're going to explore the inkjoy 500 rt, so far i've reviewed the 550 and the 700 models and have had mixed feeling about the product line. to begin, the inkjoy rt can be purchased online, at staples (where i bought mine earlier today) and probably a few other places like walmart or target. the only option i had when purchasing were in a box of six, priced at just under $8. the two choices were either all black or a variety of colors, i guess this is a good time to point out that these pens are available in ten different colors including black, blue, red, green(s) etc. if you want the full list go to the website - provided a link below.

the inkjoy 500 is a bit of an odd case, or perhaps i should say that the inkjoy line is odd. generally speaking one might assume that the higher the model number and price would mean that you were getting a superior product. in the case of the inkjoy line i have to say that some of the less expensive models seem to function better than the more expensive versions.

the inkjoy 500 is considered a medium tip at 1.0mm which in other pens is usually rated bold, not that important overall but it deserves noting. this pen is a smooth ride, it glides fairly well. the ink does seem to need a little bit of scratching before it warms up and starts flowing, but once it's ready, it doesn't skip or stutter much if at all, in fact this pen does seem to build up ink that it deposits in annoying blobs as you draw or write. it has a good range of value as far as darkness goes and while it does ink just fine over pencil lines i would say that this pen is better suited for writing than drawing, at least when it comes to anything more than a sketch or doodle. if you're looking for a good art pen there are better out there for the same price, or in some cases even less.

i've included below the manufacturer's notes on the inkjoy series so that you can compare my thoughts with their claims.

website:
www.papermate.com

what they say:

InkJoy 500 RT
The InkJoy 500 RT combines and hourglass shape with a rubberized grip to provide comfort and control. The pearlized materials and sleek design give the pen a stylish look while the metal clip provides long lasting durability.

The InkJoy Story: Our mission was simple: To develop a revolutionary ink system that would give you the best in effortless writing. We wanted to give you a pen that starts quickly without dragging, requires minimum pressure from your hand, and delivers crisp, clean lines every time. But most of all, we wanted to bring back the joy to writing, so it felt right to call it InkJoy. We hope that you feel the joy whenever you write with an InkJoy pen.

pen 62: papermate 1.2

today's pen is the papermate's version of the bic cristal. at $1.75 for a pack of ten at walgreens this particular pen is on the lower end of the pricing scale. this pen is not messing around, it is cheap it is basic and it does the job... if the job is putting ink on paper.

this pen doesn't have the smoothest glide, for me that's not really a problem as i do like a pen that interacts with the paper, resistance, that sort of thing. the ink is dark, when applied with force it has a velvety sort of sheen to it, which is just classy... the pen also has a full range of value between black and white and works well with tasks like shading, writing lightly (like for a crossword puzzle, and makes for a nice alternative, albeit permanent, to the mark one pencil.

i have to say that pens like these hold a special place in my heart, it may be nostalgia, of just that i had to make do with them for so long growing up not really knowing that there were pens that were specifically made for art (aside from makers) or it could be some sort of repressed childhood trauma where a ballpoint pen swooped down from out of nowhere saving me from whatever it is im repressing but was probably an overblown sense of peril or impending doom... impending... imPENding... just noticed that... huh.

anyway, this pen is a solid choice. its plain and simple, not may moving parts to break and these things will last you forever... i've also been told that these pens are sometimes used as the source of ink for all the underground tattooing that that take place in middle/high school and prisons... and the sad thing about that is that isn't the only thing those institutions have in common...

clearly my brain is broken and i am in desperate need of sleep.

pen 60: papermate kilometrico plus

today's pen is a blast from the past. the kilometrico is a pen that was purchased sometime in the 90's for back to school supply shopping. in some way i think it is a little fitting that summer vacation is coming to an end and everywhere i go i see people stocking up on their school supplies.

anyway.

i have no idea how this particular pen managed to survive being in my possession for at least 16 years, through several moves around the state and various purging attempts to streamline all the dumb crap i've collected over the years. it is a little amazing when i think about it.

after an exhaustive five minute search, the only place i could find that carries these pens were located in australia and won't ship international. these pens are discontinued in the united states as far as i can tell, and while they do have some good points i'm not entirely sure if that is any great loss.

the pen itself is more or less a typical ballpoint pen, much like the paper mate write bros. the body of this one is a real unfortunate magenta with a blue tip. the pen has poor glide, need to be warmed up, occasionally skips and stutters... oh and the ink has a particular smell that i cant really decide if its good or bad... its probably toxic and is giving me super cancer as we speak, er, read.

whatever.

the lack of glide isn't all that bad, i personally like pens that interact with the paper i like friction, i like feeling what i'm doing when i draw. another plus is that the ink is a really cool dark blue that i haven't seen in any other pen i've used over the years.

since there almost no way you can get your hands on this pen it doesn't really matter if i recommend it or not. as an oddity and having such a funny name it may be fun to use but there really isn't


that much difference between this pen and the other basic pens that paper mate still produces.

pen 56: papermate inkjoy 100 1.0mm

at eight of these pens for around two dollars (wall mart) the paper mate inkjoy 100 has the distinction of being one of the least expensive pens that i have reviewed to date.

this pen is a fair example that expensive doesn't always mean better.

while this pen has it's drawbacks, things like ink buildup on the tip, inconsistent flow, and slow drying ink, it does have a few good qualities that earns a place in my coffee cup full o' pens (patent pending).

some of these are: the body style is a rough prism like shape that fits the hand better and keeps it from rolling off the table, the ink has a limited value range, things get black quick, but the depth of black is second to only a pen like a sharpie... the black is rich and velvety.

as i mentioned earlier, the ink does spot, skip and stutter, especially if you haven't warmed it up, it can be messy as well, you lay down the amount of ink this pen can do and its no real surprise that it can take a little longer to dry, this could be a benefit as well if you're an artist that like to smudge the ink for things like shading.

so yeah, all in all a okay pen for a great price, i probably wouldn't use it by itself, but as a support pen, for things like shadow and fill i would definitely consider the inkjoy 100, and at dirt cheap prices i don't have to worry about these pens running out of ink, like tissues, there are always more where they came from.

pen 55: papermate comfortmate

today's pen is the papermate's version of yesterday's uni-ball jetstream 101. they are similar in shape, same point size, in this case 1.0 mm, and cost roughly the same, a little over a dollar a pen.

this pen is not as smooth as the jetstream 101, it has more bite, the ink sometimes takes a bit of work to get flowing and once it's warmed up, lays down a bold, dark line. the jetstream 101 is capable of a fair range of value depending on pressure, but it is limited, at least that is the experience i've had. the ink doesn't build up on the tip but it does take a bit longer to dry, especially if you're drawing dark, despite its claim to the contrary, making this pen apt to smear and smudge, getting ink all over the heel one's hand making this pen considerably messier than its uni-ball counterpart, and i am a righty, god help a lefty. the body of this pen is covered in a soft rubber coating and does have a neat triangular-ish body that is pretty comfortable to hold and helps keep it from rolling off the table. the comfortmate is probably better suited for writing than drawing although it will ink over pencil lines without any problem, just sayin is all.

overall, i am a bit disappointed with the results that i have gotten with this pen, nothing really stands out as an overwhelming reason to use this pen as opposed to another... if it wasn't so inexpensive i wouldn't even bother.