Uni-Ball Shift Pipe Lock Drafting Pencil Review

It has been a recurring theme of late, but I am a sucker for cool looking pens and pencils. Drating style pencils especially get me to take a second glance. I'm not sure if it is the long sleek design, or the extra long pipe usually found on these pencils, but something always grabs me. The Uni-Ball Shift Pipe Lock takes the design a step further by allowing you to retract the tip of the pencil for protection by a simple twist - or shift - of the barrel. That aspect of the pencil works like a champ.

On top of that, this pencil is nice to hold, and comfortable to write with. Any writing instrument with a knurled grip is a friend of mine. If there is one thing I would change about the Uni-Ball Shift Pipe Lock is that I would like to see an aluminum barrel as opposed to the plastic barrel it has. From a drafting perspective, this is a plus, because you want your pencil to have a lower center of gravity, but this pencil is so nice looking I think it would benefit even more from an aluminum barrel.

This is the 0.5mm version, which is noted by the writing on the barrel, as well as the blue colored accents. Each of the five widths is denoted by a different color accent. The 0.5mm model also comes in three different barrels colors - black, red, and white. Yes, the Uni-Ball Kuru Toga is still my favorite pencil, but the Shift Pipe Lock drafting pencil is another nice option.

Click here for the XL review.

Uni-Ball Kuru Toga Video Review

The Uni-Ball Kuru Toga Roulette is the latest Kuru Toga release stocked by JetPens, and since I have already done written reviews for the Original and the High Grade, I decided to do a quick video with all three. A few notes:

1. I am still figuring out how to best do these videos. I am just using my laptop webcam, which does a decent job, but I had bad lighting in this one, plus the sound is low. Still a work in progress.

2. I wised-up after my last Ustream chat - record video AFTER the kids go to bed.

3. I don't script or edit any of my videos. This is not some random stance I am trying to take, but I just don't have the time. I have a general idea in my head of what I want to talk about, and stumble and stammer through it as best as I can. I'd love a higher production value, but that is a long way down the line.

Anyway, check it out, and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions in the comments section.

Review: Pilot Delful Double Knock Mechanical Pencil

Pencils are a phase for me.  Day in and day out I'm a pen guy, but I always keep at least one good mechanical pencil within reach.  Normally, that is the Uni-Ball Kuru Toga High Grade, but I pick up one or two others here and there from JetPens to try out, and the Pilot Delful Double Knock Mechanical Pencil was one of my recent purchases.

If it wasn't obvious already, the barrel design is what originally drew me to this pencil.  Sure, I love the classic body styles like many of the engineering style pencils I have bought in the past, but Pilot did a great job with the cool factor here.  I especially love the non-standard barrel colors the Delful comes in.  This one is the green and soft blue, but they have others like black and green or pink and orange to check out.

Aside from the barrel design, one of the things that seperates this pencil from many others is the fact that not only is is a shaker pencil, but that the tip of the pencil retracts completely into the barrel, making it highly portable.  After all, who wants to be stabbed in the chest or write with a bent tip?  The construction feels very durable, so I think this pen would travel well, especially in backpacks for students.

Sure, its not a Kuru Toga - which is the pencil I unfairly compare all others to - but this is one of the best pencils for all around writing, durability, and fun that I have used.  Not a bad overall package for $7.50.

Click here for the XL review.