Too Much Coleto Fun!!!

I really can't get enough of these pens.

Ink Links

These look fantastic - Doane Paper Version 3.0 legal pads are now for sale (doanepaper.com)

N takes a gander at the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Riche, aka the Christmas Light pen (Super Limited Edition Blog)

The original post came out a week or two back, but Mike Rhode recaps the overwhelming response to his SXSW Sketch Notes (Rohdesign)

Writing tests for the Uni-Ball Signo RT Gel, Pilot Hi-Tec-C, and Uni-Ball Signo Bit in a Moleskine (NG71 on Flickr)

Private Reserve American Blue sample on Rhodia (animalsoup on Flickr)

Field Notes® Blog now open (Notebookism)

Really cool 4x6 cardstock drawings (hero artist on Flickr)

Lamy Safari pens with Moleskine Sketchbooks (SideShowMom on Flickr)

Review: Zebra Eco Ballpoint Multi-Pen

I never knew I was such a multi-pen fan, but I have been finding myself buying more and more recently. This latest purchase - the Zebra Eco - comes with a bit of a twist, with over 70% of the construction of the pen coming from recycled materials. The Zebra Eco site says it best:

• Made from recycled materials - 70% post-consumer waste
• Multi-colored ink lessens the need for 3 separate pens
• Push button retractable for easy storage
• Pocket clip attaches easily to binders, book, legal pads, pockets, etc.
• Soft rubber grip for writing comfort and control
• Features black, blue and red ink
• 0.7mm fine point
• Refillable with Zebra’s SK-Refill

This is one of the more lightweight multi-pens I have used, and the easy eject button on the front of the barrel is very handy. I'll try to pick up the Sarasa model if they are in stock next time.

Review: Uni-Ball Signo Bit 0.18mm

Marketed as the "World's Thinnest Pen", I was anxious to give the Uni-Ball Signo Bit 0.18mm pen a whirl, and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't have very high hopes after using the 0.38mm version of this pen - it is fine, but tends to clog easily, causing me to stop and start frequently - but the 0.18mm version seemed to not clog as much. This model is delicate, as you can imagine, but if you just watch the pace you are writing or drawing at, I think you will like it.

Review: Pilot Choose 0.5mm Black

This is a pretty cool pen. The tip is just a standard 0.5mm gel ink rollerball, but it writes very well, is very comfortable, and is very nice looking for such a simple design. The barrel is perfectly round and smooth, similar to the old standby Bic Round Stic ballpoint pen. JetPens.com carries all 12 colors in both 0.5mm and 0.7mm widths.

Review: Pentel Sunburst 0.5mm Blue

I'm not a big fan of this pen. The barrel is nice and long, and it writes decently, but gets a little too messy. There dozens of pens that I would pick up before getting to this one.

Review: Pilot FriXion Erasable Gel Ink Pen

I was very anxious to try out the Pilot FriXion, not because I thought it was going to be an awesome pen, but that I haven't used an erasable pen of any kind since I was in high school. (and there will be no mention of how long ago that was!) This pen is interesting to say the least - let's look at the pros and cons:

Pros:
- Great feel and design. This pen is very cool looking, and one of the better balanced pens in my hand. It is the right size, right diameter, and has a nice rubber grip.
- Good ink flow. I hate a pen that I have to stop and start writing with, or that leaves inconsistent width lines. No trouble from from this pen.

Cons:
- Ink color. Right out of the gate I didn't like it. The blue is too pale, almost as if it was a watercolor type ink. I only bought the blue pen, so I can't speak to the other colors.
- Eraser location. Completely annoying. I shouldn't have to remove the cap from the pen to get to the eraser. The cap looks like it could fit the eraser perfectly, so I'm not sure why it wasn't put there.
- The eraser itself. The main gimmick of this pen is barely passable. Maybe useful as a novelty, but not good enough for any length of time. It took to much effort to not erase completely, even causing me to dent the paper, which you can see in the image above.

Overall, I was pretty disappointed in this pen. I'll get some use out of it for fun, but that is about it.

I noticed over the weekend that the Super Limited Edition Blog had almost the exact same experience.

Ink Links

Inkbread has been added to the Blogroll, and also takes a look at some Lamy pens (Inkbread)

I love pens, but cool handwriting is another fascination of mine. Check out the samples on this thread at the Core77 Design Blog. (Core77)

I must get this pen case! (Super Limited Edition Blog)

JetPens love from The Knack (The Knack)

Great pic from Moleskinerie (Moleskinerie)

Pen Pics

I just posted the pictures from my latest order on Flickr - here are a few samples......

Updated Favorite Pens Ranking

I updated my favorite pen rankings on the sidebar to reflect what I am using and enjoying the most these days. All of the entries are linked to the post where I review the pen. After repeated use of both the Uni-Ball Signo DX and the Zebra Sarasa Clip, I have jumped them both from off the list to into the top five. They replaced the Pilot G-2 0.38 and the Pilot Precise V5 RT.

New Pens Are In

I just got my latest order from JetPens out of the mailbox, but it will probably be tomorrow before I have any photos up, and later in the week before I do any reviews. I've been really bogged down, but new pens always get me going again!

I Heart JetPens

My latest order should be in sometime later this week. Here is what I am eagerly anticipating:

1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Putimo Gel Ink Pen - 0.4 mm - Black
1 x Pilot FriXion Erasable Gel Ink Pen - 0.5 mm - Blue
1 x Pilot Choose Gel Ink Pen - 0.5 mm - Black
1 x Pentel Sunburst Gel Ink Pen - 0.3 mm - Blue
1 x Uni-ball Signo Bit UM-201 Pen - 0.18 mm - Black
1 x Zebra Sarasa Clip Gel Pen - 0.4 mm - Blue
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto 3 Color Multi Pen - Pen Body - Blue
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen Ink Cartridge - 0.3 mm - Aqua Blue
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen Ink Cartridge - 0.3 mm - Apple Green
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen Ink Cartridge - 0.3 mm - Baby Pink
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto 3 Color Multi Pen - Pen Body - Clear
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi Pen Ink Cartridge - 0.4 mm - Aqua Blue

I am anxious to try out Pilot FriXion Erasable Gel Ink Pen, as well as the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Putimo, although I imagine it is the same as the other 0.4mm Hi-Tec-C pens, only smaller. I am also reworking my Coleto barrels, switching out my 2-cartridge models for the 3-cartridge. I like the size and the rubber grip on the 3-cartridge version much better.

JetPens.com TV - Pilot FriXion Erasable Gel Ink Pens

Interesting. I'll be sure to grab one in my next order, which I will be placing momentarily.

Review: Uni-Ball Boxy 0.5mm

This is a relatively standard issue model from Uni-Ball, very similar to the Uni-Ball Rollerball that has been found in desk drawers for years. I don't have one of the older models handy to compare to, but this model seems to write smoother than I remember the Rollerball writing. This is a nice pen, but it isn't going to replace any of the gel pens in my arsenal.

Review: Zebra Sarasa 3+S Multi-Pen/Pencil

I was jonesing to try out this pen even since I saw it in the new arrivals section at JetPens, and the JetPens gang surprised me big time when they included it in my last package. I have to say, the Zebra Sarasa 3+S lives up to the hype. Smooth and consistent ink from all three colors, plus the added fun of a mechanical pencil cartridge inside as well. My wife said again just yesterday how much she loves this pen, and I would have to agree.

Pilot Hi-Tec-C Putimo

New at JetPens.com - how cool are these? I was just thinking about placing a new order, so I will be sure to pick some up.

Ink Links

Mabelle with some great stuff from JetPens (Whimsy and Stars Studio)

Ana with a nice JetPens haul too! (Snowangels)

Maura with a killer robot sketch from Brian Taylor. I love this kind of stuff. (frag-ment-ed)

B2-kun takes a look at a massive amount of Japanese Brush Pens and Pencils (Lung Sketching Scrolls)

Roy Doty's Leap Year card (Boing Boing)