Pilot MultiBall Liquid Ink Pen Review

(This is a guest post by Brian Draghi. You can follow Brian on Twitter @Sketchscape)

I was rather skeptical on whether the Pilot MultiBall would actually write on multiple surfaces as it claimed based on its description. I was quite shocked to find that it does indeed write on nearly every type of material and it is also one of my favorite writing pens now.

I was blown away by how dark, smooth and even the ink rolls off the onto the page that it doesn'€™t even require any effort to use. The overall line constancy is very dark black and writes the same way regardless of the surface type. It works on glass, plastic, mirrors, metal and cloth; materials that are usually only reserved for markers. One of the interesting things about this pen is the ability to wipe off any type of mark you make on any nonporous surface with a damp cloth. Once the ink has dried for a few hours, it becomes permanent like a Sharpie.

Taking off the cap, the rubber grip is rather comfortable. The grip is textured just enough to create an ideal balance between your thumb and index finger. It can definitely provide long endurance sessions of writing notes or sketching without any hand fatigue. Design wise, this pen has a bold striking shape that is lightweight and sleek to hold. It has a look similar to tactical pens that are available to its long and pointed body.

The MultiBall does have some issues adjusting to certain surfaces. Writing on a mirror, for instance, takes a few seconds of adjustment for the lines to start appearing. This is such a minor issue for an otherwise great pen.

Overall

The Pilot MultiBall is easily one of my top five pens due to it's surface versatility and smooth writing ability. The fine point works perfectly with my own writing style and I can always count on it to write the same way every time I use it. The Pilot Multiball is a such steal on JetPens.com for $1.65 that there should be no reason not to at least try this jack of all trades pen.

Rating 5 out of 5 pens

Pros

- Smooth and dark lines every time

- Writes on nearly every surface

- Very affordable pen

- Long writing period without fatigue

Cons

- Brief time to adjust between surfaces

Alvin Draft-Matic Drafting Pencil 0.3 mm Review

What is it about the design of drafting pencils that appeals to me so much? There is something about the clean lines, long lead pipe, and knurling found on many of this type of pencil that is so attractive. The Alvin Draft-Matic Drafting Pencil is a recent addition to the lineup at JetPens, and is one of my new favorites.

You would think the banana yellow barrel would blow my design aesthetic theory out of the water, but I find it one of the most attractive things about this pencil. The bright color makes the chrome clip, cap, and knurling really pop. Speaking of the knurling, this is some of the deepest I have used, meaning the grip can be pretty rough on your fingers. It doesn’t bother me, but then again, back in my golf playing days I wanted my grips to feel like sandpaper.

The barrel color sucked me into buying the 0.3mm lead size, but I think I should have chosen 0.5mm instead. For my ink pens, I almost can’t get too small, but the 0.3mm lead width doesn’t suit my writing style as well. I don’t break a lot of leads, but I am overly conscious about it, so the 0.5mm lead would have been better in the long run.

Many people compare this pencil to the Rotring 500 because of the plastic barrel and knurled grip combination, and that is a fair comp. The knurling on the Rotring is not as rough - which some may like - but it is a few dollars more expensive. Either one makes for a great entry level drafting pencil. The Alvin does have four different lead widths available, and you can even save a few bucks by purchasing a two or three pencil set.

Ohto Super Promecha 1500P 0.7mm Review

The Ohto Super Promecha 1500P is one of the craziest pencils I have ever reviewed. It is so customizable I bet I played around with the different settings on it for ten minutes before even starting to write with it.

Let’s get the basics out of the way first. This is a fully aluminum barrel with a knurled grip, on board eraser, and lead grade indicator – all of which most drafting pencils in this class have. There are a couple items that separate it from the rest of the pack though.

First of all, not only is the guide pipe fully retractable, its writing length is fully customizable. Twisting the knurled grip brings the pipe from 0mm all the way out to 4mm, and anywhere in between. You can write normally with it in any position.

Secondly, there is a dial built into the barrel that controls the amount or lead extended with each push. You can get anywhere from 0.2mm to 2mm of lead with each click. I spent more time on this than any normal person should! I have never owned a pencil like this before and was pretty fascinated.

If you are a heavy drafting pencil user the Ohto Super Promecha line needs to be on your radar. Casual users may not get the full benefit of all this pencil has to offer, but if you want your pencil your way then this is the one.

Be sure to check out all of the pictures and video on the JetPens product page.