Ti2 Techliner Laser-Engraved Brass Shorty Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And her latest book, Root Rot, is now available for pre-order!)

The Ti2 Techliner is one of those perfect marriages of form and function. It's so good! And it's so pretty! Functional, reliable, and lovely. And while this pen is definitely for me, it won't be for everyone.

Do you like heavy pens? Okay, good, because this solid brass beast is very heavy. It's well balanced, though, so my hand has not gotten tired, even when I'm writing for a long time or trying to take rapid notes during a meeting. The knurled grip section also adds to the comfort of holding the pen. The texture gives extra control and there's no chance of your grip slipping as you write.

The body of the pen is covered in an engraved scroll pattern in Victorian floral designs. After the engraving, the brass was acid washed and tumbled, giving it a matte finish that looks like gold satin. The overall effect is very elegant, and with the design imposed on the industrial shape of the Ti2 body, it's all very Steampunk.

One of my favorite features of this pen model is the magnetic cap. The magnets are strong and pull the cap on with a satisfying snap. It's perfectly fidget-worthy. The back end also has a magnet, so the pen posts securely with no fear of losing the cap.

The clip is firm anodized titanium. It doesn't have much flexibility, but the swoop shape makes it easy to use. It's also removable if you prefer to go clipless. The pen disassembles for your customization convenience.

This Shorty model takes a Pilot G2 refill, or any similar style, which provides a nearly endless list of color and tip size options. It comes with an 0.7 mm black G2 refill, which is great, but I'm excited to switch it out for something snazzy. I think this pen deserves purple.

Overall, the writing experience is great, and this glam pen has caught a lot of eyes around the office. A few have been almost penabled, though the $164 price tag sent some into shock. It is a lot. Admittedly too much compared to similar pens. But this one is unique, with a lot of fancy extra-ness about it, so I'm not surprised that some of that extra rubbed off on the price tag.

Overall it's well made, writes great, and looks awesome. If you don't mind a heavier pen and like the aesthetic, it's well worth it. I feel like a 19th Century space pirate when I use it, and that's priceless.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

---

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Ti2 TechLiner Pen Review

I first came across Mike Bond's pen designs when he sent me a prototype of the Ti2 Pen. It provided a strong, sleek housing for my favorite Pilot Hi-Tec-C refills and I found myself enjoying what he did with the pen. Mike reached back out again recently to show me his latest design - the Ti2 TechLiner Pen - and I was eager to give this pen a try, but not for the reasons you may think.

When Mike first sent me the pictures of the Ti2 TechLiner I expressed a concern to him: "What is up with the truncated nose cone? I don't think I like that." I went a little more in depth in my email and Mike explained his choices around the design. I still wasn't quite sure about it but agreed to look at a prototype. I got the pen in hand a couple of weeks ago and learned one thing very quickly. Never judge a book by its cover.

I am more than impressed by the Ti2 TechLiner. The build quality and design are top notch, making for a good looking, comfortable feeling product. And the nose cone design? I kind of like it. It's a feature, as they say. It gives off the look of a technical drafting pen, like various rOtrings or the Sakura Pigma Micron. I was concerned that visually and functionally it wouldn't work for me, but I was dead wrong.

Another item I was wrong about is the use of magnets to secure the cap on both ends of the pen. I've felt in the past that magnets are gimmicky, but these are strong and give off a great snap when capping and posting. They are very well done.

Mike has decided to use the Uni-ball Signo 207 as the refill model for the Ti2 TechLiner. I like this choice because one, I am a fan of the refill, and two, it is available in 0.38 mm tip sizes, my preferred ultra-fineness. Plus, there are other similar refills that should fit, like the Jetstream.

The best endorsement I can give a pen like the Ti2 TechLiner is to put my money where my mouth is. The Blackwash finish looks amazing but is a little out of my price range at $120. The Gonzodized, on the other hand, is a finish I don't own in any other pen and I was able to get in on the Early Bird for $75. I look forward to seeing this pen in person.

The Ti2 TechLiner has already met its funding goal with three weeks left in the campaign. If you are a fan of good design and the Uni-ball Signo 207 refill then this is a project you should check out.

Big thanks to Mike Bond for sending me this prototype for review.