Posts filed under Platinum

Platinum Pro-Use 171 Drafting Pencil 0.9 mm Review

While Platinum may be primarily known in pen addict circles as a manufacturer of fine fountain pens, did you know they also make high-quality drafting pencils as well?

The Platinum Pro-Use 171 is the latest to hit the market, and the best I have tried from a very good Platinum bunch. It is important to get the feel right in a drafting pencil: Weight forward towards the tip, light up top, both working together for ultimate pencil control. Platinum nails the feel with the 171.

The lightly-knurled metal grip section looks, feels, and functions great. It has some weight to it, which it should for proper balance. The knurling provides enough grip without being too aggressive, which would tire out your fingers. It also functions to engage and disengage the pressure-absorbing spring mechanism in the pencil, which helps prevent lead breakage. With a lead as wide as 0.9 mm breakage issues aren’t all that common. I can see this coming into play more with 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm lead widths.

Another feature the 171 has is an adjustable lead pipe sleeve length. This pencil does it differently than other mechanical and drafting pencils I have used with this feature. Instead of twisting to retract or extend the sleeve itself, the nose cone on the Platinum twists up and down to cover the sleeve. Functionally it’s fine, but aesthetically it’s not my favorite look when the sleeve is completely covered. It breaks up the clean lines of the pencil design.

The stock lead the 171 ships with is not noted specifically, but it feels and performs like an stock HB lead. It’s dark and smooth and doesn’t break down too easily. The eraser is shockingly good. I never expect much from small mechanical pencil erasers, but this one takes away the marks completely and cleanly.

I chose the 0.9 mm size to review since I have been enjoying wider lines to sketch with. The Pro-Use 171 also comes in 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, and 0.7 mm width, each with a different barrel color to denote the tip size. At $19 I can see avid users of drafting pencils buying the full set. The build quality of the pencil is top-notch and should last for years through heavy use. I may have to pick up the 0.3 mm to add to the collection myself. They are that good.

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

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Platinum, Mechanical Pencil, Drafting Pencil, Pencil 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?

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on November 24, 2017 by Susan Pigott and filed under Platinum, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Platinum 3776 Shungyo Fountain Pen Review

I have done nothing but rave about the Platinum 3776 Shungyo Fountain Pen since receiving it. Not only is the barrel design stunning, and my favorite limited release they have done, but the Soft Fine nib on the model I received was eye-opening. I’ve never used a stock nib that felt like this, and it fit my writing style perfectly. But, there is a but, and I want to cut right to the chase:

I recommend the Platinum 3776 series of fountain pens to anyone. I only recommend the Soft Fine nib to very few, and very particular, users.

This came to light at the San Francisco Pen Show, as I watched other fountain pen users try out my Soft Fine nib. Some got it right away. Others couldn’t make it write at all. The results were consistent, throughout a wide range of fountain pen experience levels.

When I got home and continued to write with my Platinum Soft Fine nib, it hit me. This is the Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.3 mm gel ink pen of the fountain pen world.

*L to R: Sailor Hard Fine, Platinum Soft Fine, Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.3 mm*

I rave about the Pilot Hi-Tec-C. It suits me and my style perfectly, especially the 0.3 mm. It is my favorite gel ink pen. I also rarely recommend it because it is so particular. The tip is ultra fine, and sometimes the line can be inconsistent. I’m willing to work through it because when the output is good, it’s the best pen I own. I’m finding the process of using the Soft Fine nib in this Platinum pen almost identical.

I can’t always get a perfect line out of this nib. If my pace is too fast, I outrun the ink. If my writing angle is off the sweet spot at all, my line breaks. When my writing is locked in and consistent, it is amazing and one of my favorite writing experiences. Just like the Pilot Hi-Tec-C.

Because of this, you should be aware of what your needs are if you are considering the Platinum Soft Fine nib. I can wholeheartedly recommend any other stock Platinum nib size without caveats, but not this one. What is perfect for me may not be perfect for you, especially in this case. I got to see this in person in San Francisco many times over.

The stock Platinum Fine nib is far more consistent, as is something like the Sailor Hard Fine nib. You would think the Sailor would be dry, but it has more tipping, which seems to be the reason the line is more consistent. I love them both, but they are very different experiences.

The Shungyo model is limited to 3776 units and is available at JetPens for $216. It’s more expensive than the stock versions of the 3776, but is one of the best looking pens - along with the Nice Lilas - they have released in some time.

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

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!