Rotring 800+ Mechanical Pencil Review

There are many excellent drafting pencils on the market but none with the name recognition and history of the Rotring brand. The Rotring 600 is an all-time classic, with older models being passed down through generations as an heirloom. The Rotring 800 is a popular upgrade to the 600, giving the user a retractable lead sleeve to protect it from damage. The latest model, the Rotring 800+ brings this great product into the modern age with the addition of a capacitive stylus tip.

I'm of the opinion that some classics should be left alone, but Rotring has handled this correctly by adding the 800+ to the product line, not replacing one of their already popular other pencils. The stylus option will be devisive, but in the end the choice is up to you. I don't necessarily find it useful in my everyday life, but I can see how many would welcome this addition. A perfect use case came up in Apple's 2014 WWDC Keynote intro, with architect Daniel Libeskind using an iPad to draw using the Paper app. I could see architects, engineers, and artists using this pencil to transition back and forth from paper to tablet with ease.

I've owned my 600 for years and the 800+ falls right in line on the quality front. There is a density that you feel in the metal barrel but it isn't overly heavy. The hex barrel gives it a traditional look, as does the grip knurling, which is in the mid-range of roughness. The lead sleeve extends and retracts with a quick half-twist of the top of the pencil, and the stylus is quite responsive when in use. There are no negatives that I have run into yet in my short time with this pencil.

So, what do you think about updating classic pens and pencils to fit today's modern use cases? I would be sad to see older models vanish off the shelf and be replaced with NEW! SHINY!, but as additions to an already great product lineup? I think that only benefits us all in the long run.

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)

Rotring 600 Series Black Rollerball Review

It wasn’t until I was deep into my pen addiction that I discover the wonders of NOS, or “New Old Stock”. I had seen the term before on places like eBay but never realized what great products could lie behind the designation.

In a nutshell, NOS designates products that are no longer being manufactured but are still in new and unused condition. The product could have been discontinued, or had a design tweak that was cause for a new version. Whatever the case, many NOS pens are highly sought after by collectors.

Rotring seems to be one of the most popular NOS brand names. Their industrial designs are timeless, and with all of the changes in the company over the years, many models are no longer being produced. While I haven’t gone on the hunt yet for some of the rarer pens like the Lava Series I was able to pick up the Rotring 600 Series Black Rollerball for a very reasonable $60 from a dealer at the Atlanta Pen Show back in April. It wasn’t on the shopping list that day, but how could I pass it up?

I was smitten with it immediately upon first use. The barrel is substantial in both size and weight but remains comfortable to write with as long as I leave the cap unposted. It is too long and the balance is off otherwise. The refill I believe is a Rotring branded Schmidt rollerball and is a standard size so many other refills should fit as well. This one works wonderfully.

It is rare that a pen makes you feel like a superhero. The Rotring 600 Rollerball has that special quality where when you use it you know it is different from most other pens. The only downside is it is going to cost me money as I search out more NOS goods.

Rotring Rapidograph 0.35 mm Review

I need to go ahead and get a few things out of the way up front about the Rotring Rapidograph. This is not a pen for everybody. It is a very technical pen both in design and performance and is best suited for those who know exactly what they are getting into when purchasing. Do your homework before buying. Hopefully this review will help in that aspect.

It must have been 20 years ago when I bought my first technical drawing pen. I loved the idea of an extremely fine needle tip, and the fact that it came with a bottle of ink to refill it was a bonus. In retrospect, I had no business buying that pen. I didn’t treat it properly and it clogged up and stopped writing before I knew it. It sat unused in a desk drawer for years before I finally tossed it out in frustration.

Fast forward to today and the lure of the technical drawing pen grabbed me again when JetPens started stocking the Rotring Rapidograph. With 15 different tip sizes I settled somewhere in the middle and went with the 0.35 mm. You all know I am not an artist but I like my fine lines, so I wanted to see what this pen could do.

When I first unboxed it I had to read the instructions to ensure I was putting it together correctly. It is not difficult by any stretch - I just wanted to do it right. You should do the same with all of your pens to ensure the best performance.

Once I put it together it started writing immediately. The first thing to note is that this pen does not glide across the page like a gel roller. Then again, it is not designed to. The tip is very fine and very strong but there is some scratch feedback when writing. That is an acceptable fact for all technical drawing pens.

Another trait the Rotring Rapidograph shares with similar pens is liquid ink. That means it will bleed on some types of paper. This goes back to my previous statement on knowing what you will be using this pen for before purchasing. You need to keep the type of paper you use in mind.

This is not a cheap pen, but it is designed to last. It is refillable with an innovative capillary cartridge system. With each refill, the pressure-equilization system ensures the ink flows cleanly, quickly, and reliably. I haven’t had to refill mine yet but have never had an ink flow issue even if the pen sat unused for a week or two.

All in all, I am very happy with my Rapidograph. While I may not be using it to its fullest potential I enjoy it every time I pick it up. If you know what you are getting in to and do your homework you might like it too.