Ink Links

-- Essential portable tools for a writer  (Kinetic Writer)

-- Oh Sharpie Pen, how I love thee  (The Blah, Blah, Blahg)

-- Five Best Note-Taking Tools  (Lifehacker)

-- The Usual Suspects - Biffybeans on fountain pens  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- Faber-Castell TK-Fine Executive Mechanical Pencil Review  (Dave's Mechanical Pencils)

-- Pentel Hyper-G review  (Cheap Pen Review)

-- Uni-ball Signo Premier 207 0.7 review  (The Pen Collector)

-- Review:  Pilot Petit1 Fountain Pen  (Amateur Economist)

-- The Pilot G2 lineup  (A Sibilant Intake of Breath)

-- New JetPens samples  (kwc.org)

-- Don't forget to join my new Flickr group  (I am a Pen Addict)

Samples, Samples Everywhere!

My good friends at JetPens and my new friend at I Like Markers sent me some great pen samples this week that I can't wait to try out.  The only problem is, I am taking a mini-vacation this weekend and part of next week, so it is going to take me some time to get them all tested out.

In the meantime, here is a little tease of what is in store from over a dozen new pens I have to put to the test:


Hinodewashi Electric Eraser and Uni-Ball Jetstream Alpha Gel Grip Ballpoint 0.7mm


Copic Multiliner SP 0.3 Orange and Black

I have a bit of content set to post while I am gone, and I promise I will work on the new stuff as soon as I return.  Believe me - I am as anxious as you are!

Review: Uni-Ball Jetstream Sport Color 0.7mm Green

Color me surprised on this one.  I've rarely had a ballpoint pen perform so well, even other incarnations of the Jetstream.  This particular model is called the Uni-Ball Jetstream Sport Color.  Besides the fact that it looks cool, it also writes exceptionally well.  Many ballpoint pens tend not to lay down a solid line, but there is hardly a break to be found when using this pen.  It is smooth and comfortable to boot.

I ordered it from JetPens, where they also carry a blue and a pink barrel.  I think I will be getting a lot of use out of this one.

New Flickr Group: I am a Pen Addict

I have created a new group on Flickr for all of you pen addicts out there, appropriately titled I am a Pen Addict.  If you have a Flickr account, please feel free to join.  It is wide open to anyone and everyone to share their photos and comments.  And tell your friends!

This is why I love my readers

Pen Addict reader Jonathan sent this to me over the weekend:

I saw your blogs after playing around with blue and black Frixion pens.  A few observations:

1. Ink color is indeed not great...but these are still so much nicer than those erasable ink pens from when I was in high school...which may have been when you were there, but never mind.

2. I held a match up to some text written with Frixion, but not close enough to burn the paper.  The ink actually doesn't disappear; it turns white.  I confirmed this on a dark piece of paper.

3. I then took some of the text that I erased with the heat of the match and chilled it thoroughly by holding it firmly against a bag of frozen asparagus.  It turned gray again--which is about all the "black" ink ever was.

These are completely useless things to know, but I thought you might find them mildly amusing.

And in a later mail......

I should now add that for the heat it is simpler to hold the paper with the Frixion ink next to a standard light bulb (it doesn't have to touch) to erase it.  Also, to make it reappear, if one is patient, you can just put the paper in the freezer--though it can take hours to get the ink to come back.

One thing you got wrong Jonathan - these are not completely useless things to know, these are ESSENTIAL things to know for all of us Pen Addicts out there!  Thanks again for sharing.

Review: Uni-Ball Color Mechanical Pencil

I am starting to turn the corner on pencils, and this Uni-Ball Color Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm Blue is helping lead the revolution.  I know colored leads have been around for years, but my general lack of interest in pencils made me forget all about them.  Little did I know how much I was missing.  The Uni-Ball performs admirably as well, with a nice feel, comfortable grip, and a nice, spring-loaded cap.

I must not be the only one who likes them - JetPens is currently sold out of 6 of the 12 models they carry.  They generally restock fast though, so keep an eye out if the one you want isn't avaialble.

The Pen Collector

It was a big weekend for friends of The Pen Addict, as my Flickr friend Felipe (yay alliteration!) has started up his own pen blog, The Pen Collector.  Felipe has been following me on Flickr since I first began posting my pictures, so stop by his blog and pay a visit.  I can't wait to see what he has in store.

The Pen Hunter

The perfect pen is the prey, and The Pen Hunter is on the trail.  Frequent Pen Addict commenter Ellie has started a new, appropriately titled blog, and her first post takes a look at my current favorite pen, the Pentel Slicci.  Be sure to stop by and say hi!

Sharpie Pen Review - Back to the Top

Sharpie is putting on the full-court press with their new advertisements featuring David Beckham, and possibly because of those ads, I have been receiving lots of hits, emails, and questions concerning the Sharpie Pen.  Just to bring any new readers up to speed, here is the link to my original review on the Sharpie Pen, and the subsequent chain of comments.

Lots of people are starting to pick up on it, and almost all of the reviews are positive, so go check them out!

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!