pen 139: uni-ball uni roller pen super ink

today' s pen is the older and fatter sibling to the uni-ball roller stick micro and the uni-ball roller stick micro eco. both of those pens count themselves among the few pens that have earned the honor of a 5 on the rating scale at the end of each post. this is a pen that i haven't seen in a long time. in fact, i kinda thought that this pen was discontinued. that might actually be the case, im not entirely sure, but even on the official uni-ball website it doesn't mention this pen specifically, but does have a brief description of a pen that could be today's pen, or one of the two others mentioned above.

as usual, it falls to me to fill in the blanks.

the roller pen is a basic stripped down, no frills pen, the kind that seems to appeal to me, it is considerably thicker than the roller stick, which usually makes pens feel bulky and awkward. this pen has a 0.7 mm metal ballpoint tip, but unlike the micro stick, is not as likely to tear the paper since it has a little more surface area touching the paper. still, i wouldn't press too hard.

the uni roller pen has great flow, a consistent line, fair glide and good bite. am am a huge fan of the rich, velvety nature of the ink on paper. this pen is an extremely clean pen, it dries instantly, it doesn't acquire buildup on the tip, it doesn't pool on the paper, bleed out or though and is great for writing and drawing. the ink is supersaturated, it's an all or nothing pen, that will ink over pencil lines with no problem at all. there are things, like writing over paints or large format pieces that i would use a different type of pen, but this is one of those pens that is so versatile that i tend to carry one around with me at all times, either in my pocket, my bag, and my car. finally, at the end of the day, these pens are so inexpensive, you can lose one and not have it be the end of the world.

i highly recommend this pen, or one of it's siblings to anyone who has ever used a pen.

pricing:
amazon.com: $8.79+s/h (twelve pens)
staples.com: $10.49+s/h (twelve pens)

websites:
www.uniball-na.com
www.amazon.com
www.staples.com

what they say:

amazon.com

• Writes as smooth as a fountain pen, without the mess.
• Smooth, quick-drying premium liquid ink.
• Stainless steel point.
• Sold by the Dozen (12 each)

staples.com

• Fine point, 0.7 mm
• Black
• Durable stainless steel point with long-lasting tungsten-carbide ball for skip-free writing
• Black matte barrel with brushed stainless clip
• Quick-drying, smooth-flowing ink provides neat, accurate lines
• 12 per pack

pen 133: tul rollerball -rb1

i honestly do not believe that i can overstate my fondness for this brand. i simply love them and have yet to be disappointed in purchasing one.

the tul rollerball rb1 is a great pen for activities like writing, sketching, and inking. the ink is super saturated, there is no range of value, all or nothing. the ink dries quickly, and is extremely clean. the flow is a little heavy, it puts a lot of ink on the paper in a very short amount of time and is good for inking over pencil lines. the bold lines and good bite make this pen a favorite of mine, and the pen is a little bit more durable than pens like the Z+.

overall, it's a tul, buy one with no and rest assured that the money you paid was well spent.

pricing:
officemax.com: $9.99+s/h (four pens)

websites:
www.tul.com
www.officemax.com

what they say:

tul.com

• Quick-drying ink reduces smearing
• Ergonomic design gives optimal balance and writing precision
• Rubberized grip provides writing comfort and control
• Needle point provides precision writing
• Stainless steel clip secures to pockets and notebooks

officemax.com

Offers Exceptionally Smooth Ink Flow. Quick-drying ink reduces smearing. Ergonomic design gives optimal balance and writing precision.

Quick-drying ink reduces smearing

• Free Ink System
• Rubberized grip provides writing comfort and control
• Stainless steel clip secures to pockets and notebooks
• Medium, 0.7mm

pen 131: milan gel touch

today's pen, the milan gel touch, is another example of a product made well. this pen is made from durable plastic, essentially a solid body, covered in a thin rubber layer, sports a .7 ballpoint tip and is a gel ink pen.
 like the milan touch, this pen is inexpensive, well crafted, comfortable to use, clean - the ink dries extremely quick, with minimal skipping, stuttering, the glide and the bite are well balanced as well.

this pen is good for writing, sketching, but as for inking over pencil lines, i would use another pen, the gel touch has difficulty getting a bite on graphite.

overall this is a great pen, within it's limitations and intended use. while i probably will not be going out of my way to buy another, i do not regret the purchase.

pricing: 

placerville news company (retail): between $3-$4

website:

www.milan.es


what they say:

Gel ink pen with rubber touch finish. Quick-drying ink. Ink made in Japan.

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)

www.amazon.com

www.staples.com

www.officedepot.com

www.officemax.com

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

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)

www.officemax.com

amazon.com

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

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 

pen 103: senator nautic rollerball

last night i had the chance to spend some time with one of my oldest friends, we got a table at denny's and did some concept work for a few animations that we are planning on creating over the next several months. it was nice to see him, he lives in england with his wife and child and we only get to see one another in person once a year if we are lucky. the reason i'm telling all of you this is that during our brainstorming session i noticed the pen he had brought. it was from his work, the company had bought lots of branded office supplies i guess and he wound up giving me this new pen so that i could talk about it here. thank you dan.

today's pen is the nautic rollerball, a pen made and or produced by: "SENATOR GmbH & Co. KGaA is one of the leading providers of individualised and personalised means of advertising on and around the desk. The assortment includes high quality writing instruments, drinking vessels as well as writing folders and accessories."

basically this is a company that makes those pens you see in doctors offices, mechanic shops, pizzerias, albeit here in the states this is a role that is usually filled by bic. these pens, well, some of these pens are actually well made and i was impressed not only by the materials used (it's a hefty pen) but the quality of it's performance.


as i mentioned, this pen is heavy, its made of metal and weighs enough that you could throw it at a window and it would break the glass and i can't say that about many of the pens that i've featured here. aside from the weight, this pen is sleek and has an appealing design, it looks sharp and even has a spring inside the body that acts as a suspension coil, or shock and allows for pressure variance with little effort on the users part. the pen had good flow, and a moderate to fair value range. the ink of this particular pen is blue, but it's a nice deep, dark blue. the pen doesn't skip or stutter, although it does need warming up sometimes to get it going and there is a little bit of bleed, both out and through, the pen tip, however,  is fine enough for some pretty good detail work and was a good choice for the crossword puzzle i did earlier.

i would say that this is a good pen, considering it was free, but to be honest, this is a good pen that i would have been okay with paying for as long as it was under the $10 mark. i doubt that may people here in the states are going to randomly come across one of these pens - then again, i did - and considering that i've never seen companies spring for the level of quality in a branded product i doubt that its likely you ever will. if you do, i would take it, hide it, and walk away with it as quickly and subtly as you can. this is a really, really, nice pen.










website:
www.senatorglobal.com

what they say:

rollerball,

barrel/fittings: metal, glossy chrome

cap/grip section: soft lacquer
safety-roller metal refill blue

1092 nautic rollerball
colour: black