Tachikawa Linemarker A.T. Sketch Pen 0.3 mm Review

(This is a guest post by Bryan Gushikawa.)

Tachikawa is a well-known company in Japan that specializes in supplies for comic artists. Their dip pen nibs are legendary in quality and the top names in manga are known to use Tachikawa products. But dip pens are not practical for portable use so Tachikawa released the Linemarker A.T. to give artists a coffee shop/school/outside-the-studio alternative that really works and still gives excellent performance.

The body is a simple plastic barrel with windows to see ink level. The Tachikawa ink cartridges are about the size of a standard fountain pen cartridge, but thicker to hold more ink. The pen barrel can hold two cartridges, so you’ll always have a spare ready. The clip is metal, but anchored into plastic, so it’s not super rugged, but it’s serviceable. The nib itself is the star of this pen and it’s classic Tachikawa quality: smooth, precise and very consistent in line width. How they managed to make a stiff, fine (writes about a 0.45~0.6mm line) nib so smooth is really a testament to their expertise and even though the nib is tiny compared to the rest of the pen body, it will serve you well.

The grip section is simple, finely-ridged plastic and it’s OK for a drawing session, but it’s not really comfortable for extended periods. Likewise, the rather narrow body of the pen can be taxing on larger hands over an extended period of time. However, this pen CAN function as a good daily writer or find use in day planners. The ink is of note because the pen is specifically designed for it and it is very nice, indeed. It has a good, dark black appearance without the shininess of some other permanent black inks and it is waterproof and fade-proof art ink, so that is a HUGE bonus for a daily writer.

If you’re an artist with a sketchbook and a favorite coffee shop, chances are that you already have this pen and are nodding your head in agreement when I say that it’s a very good value for the money. But, if you’re looking for a slim pen that works well, works reliably and comes with durable ink and a smooth action, you can’t allow yourself to pass this one up! Give it a try and you might bring out your inner artist!!!

Staedtler Pigment Liner 0.3 mm Review

If you listen to The Pen Addict Podcast you will hear me constantly referring to the Sakura Pigma Micron that I like to write with. I have always been a fan of this style of art/drawing pen and when the opportunity comes to try out one I haven’t used before like the Staedtler Pigment Liner I jump at the chance.

Why do I like this style of pen so much? Not many pens can provide as clean and sharp of a line as drawing pens do. My writing style is one that works well in conjunction with these pens. That is an important thing to note: Not every pen is going to fit your style of writing. The challenge is finding the one that works best for you.

Comparing the Staedtler Pigment Liner to the Sakura Pigma Micron, they are very similar in many aspects. The barrel size, weight, and feel are very close, and the inks are both dark and have the same archival properties. I do think the tip of the Staedtler is slightly softer feeling than the Sakura, so that is something to keep in mind if you have a heavy hand.

Overall, it is another great option if you like art/drawing pens. Most of the brands in this realm are very similar so try a few out to see which suits you the best.

Milan P1 Touch Ballpoint and Guerrero Notebook Review

I am very lucky to have made some great friends over the years here at The Pen Addict. This review includes products from two of my favorite world-travelers: Carmen sent me the blue Milan P1 Touch she picked up while in Spain last year, and Hen from Rad and Hungry sent me the black Milan P1 plus a Guerrero Notebook from the STMT X Spain Kit, the final kit from last year’s world tour. Hooray for Spain!

The Milan ballpoints are very nice to write with. The barrel is coated in a very thin rubber which provides a good gripping surface and the entire pen feels solidly constructed. I thought I was going to prefer writing with the blue ink more than the black, but the opposite was actually the case.

Both inks are smooth, but when compared to each other the blue comes out looking very streaky. The black is one of the darker ballpoint inks I have used, almost making me think it is a hybrid ink like the Pentel Vicuna. It is that dark.

The Guerrero Notebook is a nice paperback that looks ideal for schoolwork. Do any of you remember the blue books from school that you had to take your essay exams in? They are a lot like that. The paper is nice and smooth and is set up well for note taking or writing practice.

I don’t travel to Spain very often (ok, never) but these pens and notebooks would be worth picking up if I did. You should give them a try if you ever have the opportunity. Milan does have a small presence in the US so some of you might be able to find their products locally.