Posts filed under Pen Reviews

Mark's Hibi Ballpoint Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

Sometimes I buy stationery because it's cute, and for no other reason. Sometimes that works out for me, but more often I end up disappointed. The Hibi Ballpoint pen is definitely one of the cuter mistakes I've made.

Ballpoints are my least favorite of the pen families, but there are times when that's just the tool required for the job. And when those moments happen, I want the ballpoint I'm using to at least be a fun one. So when I saw these lovely Hibi pens, I decided to give one a try. I love the wood body, the sleek profile, and the vintage-feeling colors. I think the branding on the pen body is charming. It looks both modern and timeless. In the looks department, it's a total winner.

The wood body feels good in the hand, though I question its durability. It's nicer than picking up a cold metal pen. It's also very lightweight, so there's less chance of hand fatigue if you're filling out a lot of paperwork. The barrel is a bit narrow, so those who prefer thicker pens may find it uncomfortable to hold. I like the slimness, as it can be easily stowed in any pen sleeve or even inside the spiral of a notebook. Between the wood, weight, and slimness, it feels more like a pencil than a pen.

The clip is sturdy metal with a good amount of spring to it. It's well anchored at the top, so I don't worry about it bending or breaking. The click button has a good bounce and click to it, but the button screws off easily, and there is a tiny spring below it that could be lost or broken if it comes undone in a bag. And the looseness of the button means that it rattles when you're writing, which is a bit annoying.

The pen is refillable with an Ohto No. 175 NP refill. The ink itself isn't a very deep black--it's a bit of a washed out grey. The needlepoint is .5 mm, but it feels finer to me, perhaps because it's such a dry ink, and the tip itself is very scratchy. The metal cone at the tip unscrews to access the refill (held by another spring).

Overall, I like looking at this pen, and I like holding it. But writing with it is unpleasant. Both the construction and the refill work against it. So does the price tag. If it were a $3-5 pen, I'd say I got my money's worth of enjoyment out of it, but I think $11.25 is too much for this.

I haven't learned my lesson, of course. I'll buy the next cute pen, too, and find a use for it, even if it's not great. This pen lives by the kitchen calendar, where its fine tip can write in the small squares and its ballpoint ink suits the glossy paper. It's put to good use. But I don't think it suits the brand's motto of being an "everyday tool".

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Posted on November 30, 2017 by Sarah Read and filed under Mark's, Ballpoint, Pen Reviews.

Sheaffer Pop Star Wars Darth Vader Fountain Pen Review

Star Wars fans rejoice - there are now inexpensive fountain pens to add to your collection! The Sheaffer Pop Star Wars series features fountain and rollerball pens of three beloved characters: Darth Vader, R2-D2, and Yoda.

I picked the Darth Vader fountain pen for this review, although all three designs represent their characters very well. The Vader pen was just too slick to pass up with its black base and silver accents.

The barrel itself is made from plastic, and the cylindrical shape has a nice feel. The cap snaps on solidly, and posts on the back equally as well. The grip section is rubberized, which I’m fine with. It’s not slippery at all. The clip is a little thin, buts seems strong enough to last, and of course features Sheaffer’s famous white dot.

I’m in love with the look and feel of the pen, but as you know, that is only part of the story. The writing experience could be better, like the Phantom Menace if you erased all of the Jar-Jar Binks scenes.

The medium steel nib - the only size choice - is a smooth writer. Very smooth in fact. There is no scratchiness, and no skipping. But it is wet. Far too wet for my tastes. It writes like a 1.0 mm or wider rollerball pen.

I think it is the ink to be honest. The pen ships with a standard Sheaffer black ink cartridge, and it flows like a sieve from the nib. The way it spreads as soon as it hits the page - even on fountain pen friendly paper - makes me think the ink is the issue. You have to write fast to keep ahead of the ink pooling. It’s a proprietary fitting too, and I don’t have a Sheaffer converter to try other inks, and I wasn’t going to drain my only Sheaffer cartridge either.

So, what to do with this pen, and this series of fountain pens? If you want to buy this pen for someone who has never used a fountain pen I would choose one of the rollerball pens instead. Yes, it looks amazing, but the wetness of the ink could frustrate a beginner. If you want to buy this pen for someone who has experience with fountain pens then I say go for it. They can change things up as needed.

For me, I like this pen so much I’m going to buy a converter and see if I can get the performance more to my liking. The outside of the pen is cool enough to make me want to work on the inside. Plus, my son says it has have red ink, and I think he is right.

Lightsaber mode initiated.

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

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Posted on November 27, 2017 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Sheaffer, Star Wars, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Platinum Balance Fountain Pen: 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.)

The Platinum Balance fountain pen is made of resin with gold-plated accents and a gold-plated steel nib. The pen is a simple cigar shape with a snap on cap.

It comes packaged in a rectangular box with a clear plastic top. One blue-black cartridge is included with the pen.

The pen is quite light (18 grams) and is small to medium-sized at 5.5 inches capped, 5.0 inches uncapped, and 6.0 inches posted. People with larger hands will probably find this pen much too small, but I think it will suit most users well. Posting the pen adds a bit more heft, but it also throws off the balance in my opinion.

I like the pen’s classic styling with gold-plated trim around the cap’s base, around the tip of the grip, and where the grip and barrel meet. These are nice details on a pen at this price point.

The resin is a deep green with beautiful chatoyance.

Although the pen comes with a cartridge, I had an extra Platinum converter, so I loaded it up with Robert Oster Peppermint (review here). For those of us who like matchy ink and pens, the Peppermint is a perfect choice.

I honestly wasn’t expecting much from this medium steel nib, but it is incredibly smooth and juicy.

Although it doesn’t have the springiness of gold Platinum nibs, it does offer a bit of line variation if you press into the nib. Overall, it’s a fantastic writing experience.

This is an elegant pen at a reasonable price (under $40). If you’re looking for a great starter pen for yourself or as a gift, the Platinum should be on your list. It would make an excellent stocking stuffer or gift, especially if you pair it with a bottle of Robert Oster Peppermint ($17.00 at Jet Pens).

The Platinum Balance is available in several colors: green, blue, wine red, black, shine crystal, crystal blue, and crystal rose. It comes with nibs in fine or medium. You can buy it at Jet Pens for $36.50. I suggest picking up a Platinum converter as well for $8.25.

Pros

The Platinum Balance is elegant and beautiful. It reminds me of Visconti Van Gogh pens (which, of course, are much more expensive) with its shiny resin and shape. The Platinum lacks the heft of those Visconti pens, but it’s hard to argue with its price in comparison.
The cap is easy to snap on and off, and it posts securely.
Although the clip is simple, without any adornment, it is quite functional and will clip easily to a shirt pocket or tablet.
The best part of this pen is the stellar steel nib. I can’t get over how nicely this nib performs. It isn’t rigid like the steel nibs on Lamy Safaris and other pens. Rather, it has some give to it and even offers a bit of line variation. It is smoother than many of my very expensive, gold-nibbed pens.

Cons

The Platinum Balance does not come with a converter, and adding a converter to the cart will put this pen over the $40 price.
I wonder how well the gold-plated trim will hold up over time. I’m especially concerned about the trim near the nib, since it will come in contact with ink. Will the trim corrode over time?

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