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.

Uni Power Tank Eco 1.0 mm Blue Review

Over the years, I have reviewed all of the Uni-ball Power Tank pens that I could get my hands on: the Original, the Smart Series, and the Smart Series High Grade. I had no idea there was an Eco version until my friend Carmen brought one back from Spain and sent it my way.

My first reaction: Wow, that is one ugly pen!

I understand that Uni is going for the eco-friendly look but I’m not sure they pulled it off here. It actually doesn’t look so bad in the picture, but in person it comes off as odd. The brown grip area is what gets me. It is lighter than the brown plastic clip, and grip wear shows up even lighter. That makes for a worn down looking grip before it has had much use.

While it may not win any beauty contests, it is still a decent pen. The blue 1.0 mm pressurized ink cartridge is smooth and dark. The line does have a good amount of white space in it, which is a flaw seen in many ballpoints. I have had more success writing with the 0.7 mm Power Tanks, so that would be my preferred Eco option as well.

The Power Tank line is a great choice if you are looking for a pressurized ballpoint pen. Just know that there are several barrel options, ink sizes, and ink colors to choose from.

Tachikawa Linemarker A.T. Sketch Pen 0.3 mm Review

(This is a guest post by Bryan Gushikawa.)

Tachikawa is a well-known company in Japan that specializes in supplies for comic artists. Their dip pen nibs are legendary in quality and the top names in manga are known to use Tachikawa products. But dip pens are not practical for portable use so Tachikawa released the Linemarker A.T. to give artists a coffee shop/school/outside-the-studio alternative that really works and still gives excellent performance.

The body is a simple plastic barrel with windows to see ink level. The Tachikawa ink cartridges are about the size of a standard fountain pen cartridge, but thicker to hold more ink. The pen barrel can hold two cartridges, so you’ll always have a spare ready. The clip is metal, but anchored into plastic, so it’s not super rugged, but it’s serviceable. The nib itself is the star of this pen and it’s classic Tachikawa quality: smooth, precise and very consistent in line width. How they managed to make a stiff, fine (writes about a 0.45~0.6mm line) nib so smooth is really a testament to their expertise and even though the nib is tiny compared to the rest of the pen body, it will serve you well.

The grip section is simple, finely-ridged plastic and it’s OK for a drawing session, but it’s not really comfortable for extended periods. Likewise, the rather narrow body of the pen can be taxing on larger hands over an extended period of time. However, this pen CAN function as a good daily writer or find use in day planners. The ink is of note because the pen is specifically designed for it and it is very nice, indeed. It has a good, dark black appearance without the shininess of some other permanent black inks and it is waterproof and fade-proof art ink, so that is a HUGE bonus for a daily writer.

If you’re an artist with a sketchbook and a favorite coffee shop, chances are that you already have this pen and are nodding your head in agreement when I say that it’s a very good value for the money. But, if you’re looking for a slim pen that works well, works reliably and comes with durable ink and a smooth action, you can’t allow yourself to pass this one up! Give it a try and you might bring out your inner artist!!!