Stablio Point 88 Fine tip 0.4

Stablio Point 88 Fine tip 0.4

The Stablio Point 88 from JetPens.com is a great little workhorse for the price… less than $1. The Point 88 has a smooth line that writes well on the tip, but not as well if you angle the pen much (about 75 degrees from the paper).  Expect a solid fine line, and surprising versatility in the line width.  The pen performs well with both large and small print, and is appropriate for both general writing and pen sketching.  I would hesitate to use the point 88 as a pen with any sort of watercolor wash, as it is a water-based ink, and will smudge slightly if wet.  There is no smudging with normal use. The pen does bleed through on normal weight paper, so I would caution anyone who needs to work on both sides of a paper.

 

The pen is light, and has a hexagon shaped barrel that feels like a pencil.  This is a good choice for ruler or stencil work, as the tip is protected in a metal case.  I accidentally left the pen out for quite a few hours, and the tip did not dry out.  The pen also withstood the preschooler test, which involves a sort of write/pound/scribble gauntlet.

Overall, at $.88, this is a great little everyday pen. I recommend this for people who need a bold line or like to color-code everything, the point 88 comes in 25 different colors. If you forget your caps, or lose them like I do, the point 88 is a very forgiving pen. For scrapbooking, cardmaking, art journaling, or drawing, this is a solid choice, due to the lighfastness of the ink. The pen does not make claims to be acid free, and I am not suggesting it is.

Overall Rating 4/5

This pen was provided for review by JetPens.com

Fisher Space Pen

The Fisher Space Pen was sent to me for review by Jetpens.com

The pen comes in a sturdy plastic case with the story of the development of the pens and claims of the pens abilities including writing in freezing conditions, boiling conditions, upside down and on grease. Now, with all these claims I knew that I needed to up this review a bit and test the limits of the pen. First, as a general pen, it writes smoothly with a clear line, and a satisfying retro clicking sound as you write (remember government pens?)

Test #1: sideways
My carpool buddy was less than impressed at the Fisher Space Pen's ability to write sideways at high speeds. Apparently, updating a shopping list on the freeway while I'm driving is not an approved car pool activity. However, I was quite impressed at the Pen's ability to keep a constant line horizontally.
Verdict: Pass
Test #2: upside down
I held my handy dandy twenty five cent mead pad up to the ceiling while standing on a chair and drew circles until my arms got tired and my husband walked in and decided I had lost my mind. The line remained constant. Afterward, I realized that I probably could have just sat on the couch and held up the notebook.
Verdict: Pass

Test #3 underwater
I got a container and filled it with water and wrote on cardboard. Impressively, the space pen wrote quite well. I began to wonder if underwater writing was a secret feature of all ball point pens, and I grabbed a red Bic. The Bic wrote well for a second and then seized.
Verdict: Pass

Test #4 oil
I poured some olive oil on a sheet of paper and tried writing. The Fisher Space Pen was not adept at handling oily paper, although it perform better than its nemesis the red Bic.
Verdict: Fail

Test #5 grease
I grabbed a can of WD-40 and sprayed my paper. The Space Pen wrote in a pencil like manner that was readable. The red Bic did not fare as well.
Verdict: Pass


Test #6 Skin
Skin performance is not a feature important to many other than college students for post party pranks, but I still enjoy the occasional sleeping mustache or pen tattoo to kill time. Most pens do not hold up to the challenge, the Space Pen is an outstanding choice. The line stays clear and dark.
Verdict: Pass

Test #7 Parchment
I tried writing on a piece of baking parchment and space pen did well on the paper, which is wonderful for marking flavored butters or items in the freezer items.

With a $20 price point there are a few pen users I would suggest consider dropping the cash for this pen. Astronauts, of course, and workers in conditions that are wet, messy or dirty. If you find yourself using a wall as a desk, or find pens dislike the conditions you choose for writing, definitely give the Fisher Space Pen a go.

I highly recommend Jet Pens. Not because the sent a sample, but because they are the best place to find your perfect pen. They sell pens in every price point from $.39 to a couple hundred dollars. The shipping is fast and accurate, and they have fabulous customer service. I was a customer before this review and will continue to be a customer. I love them.

Dr. Grip Rollerball

Dr. Grip was one of my first loves.  The pen came in PURPLE, and it was big, fat and showy.  I still have a soft spot for the Dr. Grip, but the Rollerball is not my favorite.  The line width is solid, but the black is pale and comes across grayish with an uneven line that fades in and out despite pressure.  There seemed to be a noticeable feeling of drag when writing.  The Dr. Grip does well with small writing, so those with accurate, tiny writing might want to give this one a go.  I personally love the ergonomic grip and that the Dr. Grip is retractable.  Overall, the Dr. Grip gets a 2/5. 

Bic Mark .it

The Bic Mark-It is a great marker for general use.  The line is strong, and the black color is quite dark.  I appreciated the low odor of this marker, as it allows for longer use on a project without a headache from the fumes.  The grip is nice squishy, and the tip wears well.  Due to the amount of pressure I put on writing utensils, I tend to get that odd fuzz ball on the tip of my markers.  If you write like me, you know exactly what I am talking about.  If you don't, then I might sound like a nutjob.              

This marker does have quite a bit of bleed through, which I expect with any marker, however if bleed through is a huge issue for you, then pass this bad boy by. Overall, my rating is a 3/5.  I wouldn't use this as a daily marker, but it does give Sharpie, my favorite marker, a good go.

Uniball 207 0.5mm

I want to love the Uniball 207. All the cool kids seem to love this pen. Apparently, I am not a cool kid. This pen has a smooth line with a good ink flow. The tip does well with both large and small writing.

The biggest letdown for me in this pen is the color of red. It is a true red for an ink pen. My personal preference is to have the red dark, as if I scrawled a note in pure crimson, or maybe blood. I have pretty dramatic writing, so I prefer a dramatic color.

Overall, this is a solid choice.
2/5 rating

Pentel Energel 0.7

I love purple pens. They are a friendlier color than red for editing, I mean who gets mad at purple comments.

I like the rollerball much better than Energel needle tip, and the color purple is dark, and clear. The Energergel offers a smooth writing experience and a bold line. Happily, this is retractable, which is a big plus for me. I am indifferent to the grip, it's helpful but not particularly finger comfy.

I love how the Energel does well with small and big writing, making it a solid choice for a writer or artist that appreciates a bold line. Precision line fans should pass this one up. It did well for my purple people eater sketch.

Overall, this got a 4/5 for me.

Stablio Point Visco 0.5

I thought I would share my other favorite pen, the Stablio Point Visco 0.5.  I love the smooth, dark line of this pen, and adore the way the pen works with my loose, sloppy writing.  It is the same size as a typical pencil, and has the same shape.  There is a comfortable grip on the pen. The cap is small, and I lose it constantly, but the pen has sat out with no lid for days with no loss of performance, so I can forgive the lack of a retractable option.  You might question why my two favorite pens both list cons, and honestly, I am pragmatic.  Nothing is perfect, but I love a pen that I am able to use as both a writing and sketching too.  It saves space and time.  I also adore writing with instruments that I enjoy using for drawing.  It makes notes or messages seem less mundane somehow.