Review: Zebra Disposable Brush Sign Pen - Super Fine

Click To EnlargeThe Zebra Disposable Brush Sign Pen is an interesting little number.  I have never had much reason to try out a brush pen, but this super fine looked like it would at least be fun to play around with.  For a basic looking plastic pen barrel, it is very comfortable to hold and write with.  You can change line thickness on the fly easily, and the ink is wonderfully black and deep, making for easy coloring.  If you are an artist, sketcher, or doodler, I can see how useful this pen can be.  At just $2.25 a pop from JetPens they are cheap enough to take a flier on.

My failure of an attempt to copy the Japanese characters from the pen cap is at the bottom of the page.  My form is too stiff and rigid right now, making my characters look like lightning bolts, but that was my first attempt.  Practice makes perfect!

Posted on December 12, 2008 .

Review: Rhodia Notepad

I received this Rhodia Staple Bound Notepad as a sample from Exaclair, Inc., and it is completely perfect for me.  With my love of micro tip pens, which I classify as under 0.5mm in width, I sometimes have a hard time finding paper that is receptive to such a fine point.  With this Rhodia, that is not problem at all.  All of my micro-tip pens get right to work as soon as they hit the paper.  On the flip side, the 0.5mm and wider tip pens work fine as well, but I noticed that they take a split second longer to dry than usual.  That won't affect me with this smaller size notepad (4.3 x 6.7 in.), but I may have to watch that if and when (and there will definitely be a when) I go to larger sized Rhodia products.

In the end, this is a very functional and useful notepad for me personally.  The styling of Rhodia products is great, and the paper is a pleasure to write on.  I look forward to trying out several more of their products.

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Rhodia Staple Bound Notebook Specs:

# 80 g acid-free white vellum paper
# Pale violet lines
# 80 sheets
# Micro perforated for clear and easy removal
# Unique scored cover folds neatly over the back
# Stiff back cover makes writing or sketching easy

Posted on December 11, 2008 .

Review: Zebra Sarasa Stick 0.4mm

Click To EnlargeOut of the 10 or so pens I received in my care package from Japan, this Zebra Sarasa Stick stood out immediately as a pen I wanted to try. I love the Zebra Sarasa line, but I don't recall ever seeing a Zebra pen with a needle tip - has anyone else?

As far as performance goes, this one works as well as any other Zebra pen I have tried.  The line is clean and sharp, and it writes as consistently as ever.  The blue/black gel ink is an added bonus, as is the clip on the pen cap.

I'd love to know if anyone has used this pen or seen it available in the states.  I'm sure it is reasonably priced.  The review photo didn't come out that well, but here is a shot of all the pens I recieved from Brian in Okinawa:


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Posted on December 10, 2008 .