Posts filed under Pen Reviews

Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Ten Pen Set 0.7mm: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

I'm not much of a ballpoint pen user, but I was given a set of Paper Mate InkJoy pens to review. I've been using them to decorate my Traveler's Notebook refills, but my artistic daughter has already claimed them as soon as my review is done. Spoiler alert: I'm planning to buy my own set in the 0.5mm size because I like them so much.

The pens are packaged in plastic and cardboard. There's a hole in the back of the cardboard so you can feel the texture of the pens, which are coated with rubber for comfortable writing.

Each pen comes with a little plastic ball on the nib to keep the ink fresh. Obviously, you remove these before use.

The pens themselves are made of sturdy plastic covered with a grippy rubber surface.

The pen barrel has a clear portion that allows you to see how much ink is in the pen and the inner-workings of the click mechanism. The clip is also made of translucent plastic.

Both the clip and the back of the pen are adorned with two hearts.

The click mechanism is chrome colored as is the lettering on the barrel with the brand name and the ballpoint pen size. These pens are well designed and nice looking. They are also very comfortable in the hand.

This package comes with ten colored pens: black, red, teal, yellow, light blue, purple, light green, pink, orange, and violet.

The darker colors are highly saturated and work well on any paper. The lighter colors are harder to see on white paper and they disappear on black paper.

The gel ink flows well from the pen, though the lighter colors seem to be a little less smooth. It may be my imagination, but these lighter inks seem more viscous than the darker ones. Perhaps, because the ink colors are so light, I'm unconsciously pressing harder.

One of the claims for the InkJoy pens is that they dry fast and smear less. The ink is pretty much smear-proof after at least five seconds, though you do have to be careful not to smudge it immediately after writing. Still, the smudging, when it happens, is pretty minimal.

The ink works well on the Mnemosyne paper I used for my handwritten review. I also used it in my Traveler's Notebook and on Tomoe River Paper. The ink demonstrates considerable show through, especially in the Traveler's Notebook. In fact, when I colored in the names of the months in the TN, there was both show through and bleed through.

These pens would certainly work well for students taking notes, for general writing, and for filling in all those fancy new adult coloring books. If I were to buy a set of these pens, I would choose the fine point (0.5mm size) simply because I prefer slimmer lines. The pens only come in 0.5mm and 0.7mm, and they are not refillable. The ten pack set costs $20.00; the fourteen pack set $28.00; or you can buy individual pens for $2.00 each.

Pros

The InkJoy gel pens write a super smooth, saturated line.
The pens are comfortable to hold in the hand and the grippy rubber helps, especially if you have sweaty hands like me.
The pen design is eye-catching.
InkJoy offers a good variety of colors.
The InkJoy is priced slightly lower than comparable gel pens from Zebra and Pilot.

Cons

The InkJoy pens are not refillable which just seems wasteful to me. I don't know how long each pen lasts because I haven't used them enough to get through all the ink. The ink amount seems quite adequate, but I prefer refillable pens.
The pens are fairly wide in diameter (10.6mm), so if you're used to Pilot Hi-Tec C pens or other thinner gel pens, you might find these a bit wide.
On certain paper, especially Tomoe River and Traveler's Notebook paper, there is considerable show through.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on August 12, 2016 by Susan Pigott and filed under Paper Mate, Pen Reviews.

Platinum Natural Weasel Hair Brush Pen CF-5000 Review

(This is a guest post by Nick Folz. You can find more of Nick and his work on his blog, Smallberry Drive, Twitter, and Instagram.)

Brush pens are not something I am used to seeing made with flourish and style. They are usually basic looking tools encased in cheap plastic, not the sort of thing that impresses upon first appearance. So much of what makes a brush pen impressive is simply the brush, so once a pen company has mastered the inky tip, they usually decide to rest on their laurels. Not so with Platinum.

The Platinum CF-5000 Brush Pen looks more like a fountain pen when capped, but it does stop with looks. This pens has all the functions you would expect of a mid range fountain pen, minus the nib, of course. The aluminum body decorated with red marble and gold finishes has all the trapping of the fountain pen aesthetic. The overall function of the body is also very pleasing. The cap does not screw on, but glides into place. It also posts in the same manner, giving the pen a nice balance. The tip and body unscrew to give you access to the cartridge. The pen comes with an attached cart with a tiny bit of what seemed like oil to keep the bristles lubricated, and one cart of Platinum’s Carbon black.

I used the Carbon Black cartridge first and got a Platinum Converter after, they both work wonderfully. I got quite a bit of millage out of the cartridge, more than I would have expected. The converter works splendidly, dip the brush and draw up the ink by twisting the end. If you have ever used a Platinum Converter, you know the deal. I’m not a fountain pen guy (don’t shoot), so I can’t talk much about this converter vs other converters, but it is sharp. With a visible ink viewing window and gold detailing, it matches the pen perfectly. I opted for my favorite drawing ink, Liquitex Carbon Black, just to mix it up to see how flow might be affected, and it is just as consistent as Platinum’s own ink.

Speaking of the flow, the ink flow to the brush is perfectly balanced. It is sublime and I can’t overstate how big of deal this is. One of my favorite brush pens is a cheap Pentel Aquash water brush pen, but after using it for thirty minutes the brush gets too wet to do really fine lines. The Pilot Medium Brush Pen has the opposite problem and you have to squeeze the body to get consistent ink flow. The Platinum hits the perfect balance of not running dry and not getting so inky that you can’t do a hair-thin line (all without squeezing a plastic body) and looks damn good while doing it.

Aside from the ink flow, there is the tip itself. The bristles are made of weasel hair, often called kolinsky (from the name of the animal type) in the brush industry. They are the gold standard of brush material. The tip snaps back beautifully after each stroke and bends and flexes as good as my Series 7 Sable Winsor & Newton brush. The tip retention is remarkable, not once has the tip failed to spring back to it’s point.

If it seems like I’m talking sugar, it’s cause I am. This pen has become my main inking tool quicker than I would have predicted. It works splendidly and looks amazing. If it didn’t work as good as it does then the candy coating would be a farce, but it does and it makes the whole package spectacular. If I thought I could easily write notes with it, it would be my pocket carry daily, but I can only imagine the looks I would get in meetings.

Which brings me to the only sticking point. If you are not a brush pen fanatic then the price tag will turn you off. It is a bit pricy for an item you usually use in private. Fountain pens can (and are) used everywhere: taking notes in meetings, addressing letters, crossing off items at the grocery store. Settings both public and private, the right fountain pen can be as practical as it is stunning. But a brush pen? I only draw in public occasionally, usually on break at work. This is a VERY niche item in a community that is already very niche. I am going to cherish this pen, mainly because I DO use brush pens daily and this one out performs all of my other brush pens, but this one is for the brush pen enthusiast's only. But if you are, boy howdy, is it ever for you.

(Pen Boutique provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on August 4, 2016 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Platinum, Brush Pen, Pen Reviews.

Caran d'Ache 849 Totally Swiss Paper Cutout Ballpoint Pen Review

I had high expectations when I reviewed my first Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint. This is a classic pen by a well respected company, and it wrote like I was using a piece of glass on sandpaper. I was hugely disappointed to say the least.

The chorus in the comments section of that post was unanimous: I had a dud refill. I accepted that, and put on my list to grab another refill when I got the chance. The barrel was far too nice to let it go that easily. And then I do what I do sometimes: I forgot to order the refill.

My memory was jarred when I saw the new Totally Swiss Collection on Goldspot and I asked if they would loan me one to test out. I just had to see the stunning Paper Cutout model in person and, or course, test out the refill.

When the box arrived and I saw the packaging for this pen I was immediately impressed. I’m not a packaging guy normally, but the Han Solo in Carbonite tin case is well done. It is held closed by magnets, giving it a streamlined look that opens easily and snaps shut. The black velvet lining keeps it protected in transit, with a few words on the Goliath refill found inside the case.

The hexagonal barrel of the 849 is a Caran d’Ache calling card. When you see that shape along with the angular clip, you know immediately it is a Caran d’Ache. It is comfortable to hold, and the aluminum barrel material keeps it lightweight for any length writing session.

And the refill? This one is excellent thankfully. This is the experience I was missing out on the first time. The acclaimed Goliath ink cartridge is said to deliver 600 A4 pages worth of writing, and it should, because replacement refills cost almost $10.

That is the one hangup with Caran d’Ache. They make luxury pens and pencils, and they are priced accordingly. $40 isn’t necessarily outrageous for a pen, but coming from a great writing pen like the Uni-ball Jetstream at $3, it is a jump. You can pick up an 849 in other colors and styles in the mid-$20’s, which may better fit your budget.

I’ve been finding uses for ballpoints more and more recently and enjoy the experience they offer when I need them. The Caran d’Ache 849 is right up there with any of the premium ballpoint pens I have used.

(Goldspot loaned this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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