Review: Pilot Drawing Pen 05 Blue

The more I use the Pilot Drawing Pen, the more I keep trying to find something that I don't like about it.  Truth is, there really isn't much not to like.  My only real gripe is that the line is just slightly less clean and consistent compared to the Sakura Pigma Micron and the Copic Multiliner.  In a drawing pen, I want that sharpness, and therefore the Pilot falls in line just behind the other two.  It's really a decent pen though.

Special note on Doane Paper:

I have had a lot of readers recently mention they were having a tough time finding Doane paper in stock at DoanePaper.com.  I emailed Chad Doane recently, and he sent me this update:

The Houston based printer we use did recently open back up but they raised their prices 25% to cover the costs of what they lost in the huricane. I can't afford that so we're looking for another alternative vendor to print DP pads, we think we might have found a printer in Ark. called Drumline that can make DP pads at a reasonable cost. That's the bad news, the good news is that we're collaborating with another stationery company to bring a couple of DP journals to market in the next month.

So it's a good news/bad news situation with Doane Paper, but hang tight and it should get straightened out soon.  Thanks for the update Chad!

Review: Sakura Pigma Micron 03 Black

After years of ignoring the Sakura Pigma Micron for no good reason, I am finally on the bandwagon.  Smooth and clean - and so far durable - I've been using this pen more frequently as of late.  Some people have mentioned durability issues to me, so I will be keeping an eye on any premature breakdown of the tip and will post if anything changes.  Otherwise, sign me up for the rainbow of colors!

Review: Sakura Pigma Micron Orange 05

A favorite of artists, sketchers, doodlers, and writers, the Sakura Pigma Micron delivers a great experience no matter the use. I have been a little late to the party on this one, but being a fan of plastic tip pens already, I knew I would love it. I chose the 05 tip, which is, at .45mm, near the middle of their product offering. You can choose to go much finer or much bolder than this one. It is very sturdy and the line is clean and smooth in my Moleskine.

The only thing I haven't tested out yet is durability, mainly because I haven't had it that long. If anyone has experience with how long these pens last, please post it in the comments section.

Hooray For JetPens!

My latest purchase from JetPens.com is on the way.....

1 x Pilot Petit1 Mini Fountain Pen - Blue
1 x Pilot Pockel Mini Gel Ink Pen - 0.5 mm - Black
1 x Pilot e-Gel Erasable Gel Ink Pen - 0.7 mm - Blue
1 x Pilot G-3 Gel Pen - 0.38 mm - Blue
1 x Uni-ball Signo Erasable Gel Pen - 0.5 mm - Blue
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Gel Ink Pen - 0.4 mm - Soda Blue
1 x Pilot Pockel Mini Gel Ink Pen - 0.5 mm - Light Green
1 x Platinum Preppy Fountain Pen - Blue Black Ink
1 x Sakura Pigma Micron 05 Pen - 0.45 mm - Orange
1 x Pilot Hi-Tec-C Gel Ink Pen - 0.4 mm - Yawaragi Colors - Utsuzumi Grey

Ink Links

RedPanda loves her new Pilot Hi-Tec-C's (RedPanda)

Pilot Hi-Tec-C hack? The pictures look like it, but the text is in Japanese (Hatena Diary)

The Uni-Ball Signo Bit 0.18mm pens are a little too thin for me, but Crueltown likes them, and is big big fan of JetPens as well (Crueltown.com)

Is the Moleskine Volant on the way this spring? (Moleskinerie.com)

I've never used a Lamy pen, but Patrick Ng is a fan (Scription)

HappyDoodleLand has a great pen sample post, testing out the Sakura Pigma Micron, Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine, and the Pilot Hi-Tec-C. Oh yeah, she loves JetPens too! (HappyDoodleLand)