I was asked by my friend Shawn Blanc to write an article for his excellent Tools & Toys website about some of the best fine-tip gel ink pens on the market. I enjoyed how it came together and look forward to doing more articles like this in the future.
Please check out The Tools & Toys Guide To Fine-Tip Gel Ink Pens.
(This is a guest review by Brian Draghi. You can follow Brian on Twitter @Sketchscape)
I’ve been a fan of the Hi-Tec-C pen explosion recently on Kickstarter. I have backed several of these pens with great results in each one. As much as I love using these type of pens, one of my favorite types of pens to use are felt-tip pens. Sharpie pens, Sakura Microns, and Pilot Fineliners are among these type of pens that I like to use. I like to classify them as hybrid pens since they are perfect for both writing and sketching. It’s a pen type that produces a bold dark stroke every single time. After seeing all the pens on Kickstarter, I wanted a felt-tip pen enclosed in aluminum or a more permanent body specifically made for these types of pens.
Once again I turned to Kickstarter and Minimal Duck which answered my wish with a project named X-pen. The X-pen is a felt-tip aluminum body that is compatible with both the Pilot Razor and Pilot Fineliner felt-tip pens. To say that this was right in my wheelhouse is a complete and total understatement. It’s probably the fastest I’ve backed a project on Kickstarter when I found it. The X-pen is a streamline wonder when I picked it up to hold. There were two versions of the pen that could be backed: a clear anodized finish or a electroless nickel finish. I went ahead and backed the clear anodized pen which showed off a nice clean finish. The anodized clear finish is not completely smooth as the body contains thin small rings based on how it was cut that make up the surface of the pen. These rings form small grooves to provide an ideal grip for the X-pen. It’s a subtle way to provide a grip without it being too noticeable.
The weight of the X-pen is spot on perfect; enough weight to feel the quality but not enough to make it too heavy to use. Its ideal to write with without significant hand fatigue. The total length for the X-pen is just 4 inches which makes it great for pockets. The cap is also unique because it is attached to the X-pen with a strong magnet. I had some reservations about the strength of the magnet until I tried to remove the cap. Needless to say, the cap will not come off in a pocket without directly removing it yourself. When in use, the cap can either be set aside or you can post it on the back of the pen which is also attached by the magnet.
The process of installing the refill is aided by the design of the X-pen itself. The bottom of the pen contains a small hex set screw that needs to be removed to access the ink cartridge. The X-pen cap contains a hex head on the top that can be used to unscrew the hex set on the bottom of the pen to remove the ink cartridge. The existing cartridge can be slightly difficult to remove but you can simply tap on the bottom of the pen to loosen the tube enough to pull out. The X-pen can accept both Pilot Razor and Fineliner felt-tip pens which can be found in most office and art supply stores. Most pens just require a refill to install in the pen. The X-pen requires both the pen tip and ink cartridge from the standard plastic body to transfer to the X-pen.
This install can be performed two ways; either with a pair of needle nosed pilers or using the pen tool that could be additionally backed with the X-pen. One side of the pen tool is used to remove the tip and cartridge from the Fineliner and the other side is for the Razor. The pen tool not only serves as a tool to remove the tip and cartridge, but it also can be used as a business card stand and bottle opener.
Despite the many positive features of the X-pen, there are also a couple of drawbacks here as well. The main problem with the pen is when you post the cap. The cap is not very securely held on the back of the pen. The cap is only being held on by the hex screw head on the top of the cap. The magnetic strength is decreased with only this surface area of the hex screw head being used. This causes the cap to shake and rattle when moved very quickly. This isn’t an apparent issue if you are simply writing and sketching but if you move very quickly, you could shake the cap loose if you're not paying attention.
Then there are those that prefer not to post caps which wouldn’t be an issue except for one minor problem. When the cap is posted, the pen rests at an ideal position on the cusp of your hand. Without the cap, the pen seems a little short especially if you have larger hands. I almost wish there was a way to screw the cap on the back of the pen. This would assure the cap would never fall off when posted and the length would be ideal for everyone to use.
Despite this problem, the X-pen is a stunning aluminum body to use with a Fineliner or Razor. The quality is top notch and the magnetic cap is fun to play with. The nice portable size is convenient to fit comfortably in your pocket without taking up too much space. This is really for anyone that prefers to use felt-tip pens on a daily basis. This is something that I have been looking for as a permanent way to carry my felt-tip pen that will last a lifetime. It takes an existing product and makes it much more than it was before which can be shared and passed down to future generations.
I would like to thank Arash and Mehdi Malek of Minimal Duck for making such a stunning aluminum enclosure for the Razor and Fineliner pens. I look forward to any projects they plan to release in the future.
(This is a guest post by Andrew Young)
I’ve had a Sherpa pen holder for a couple of years, but have not written a review of it yet. I recently purchased another one and decided to write it up.
First some background (from the Sherpa website):
The Sherpas are a well known community that have helped make history by guiding several adventure seekers to the top of Mt. Everest. Sherpas have the unique ability to withstand high altitudes and its effects. This community has acclimated itself throughout the years to the unusual conditions that occur while climbing a massive mountain. Just as the thrill seeking hiker needs a guide to climb Mt. Everest, the Sherpa pen guides your writing instrument to the next level.
Introduced in 2008, the Sherpa is a unique pen shell that holds a variety of disposable pens and markers including Sharpie, Pilot pen, uni-ball pens and Accent highlighters as its refill. Sherpa comes in many different styles for you to enjoy. Each Sherpa is designed with an innovative cap to keep the color of your marker or pen bold and fresh every time.
My first Sherpa was “Mr. Pinstripes” which wasn’t my first choice, but was on a close-out sale from Neiman-Marcus of all places. The Sherpas are ostensibly meant to hold the Sharpie markers, and they do ship with one included, but their real value lies in the other pens which fit the holder.
My favorites are the Paper Mate Liquid Expressos and the Uni-Ball Vision Elites. The Vision Elites are some of the smoothest rollerballs in the world, and available in many vibrant colors, in either F 0.5 mm or M/B 0.8 mm point. They also have airplane-safe / fraud-proof liquid ink. The Paper Mate Liquid Expressos a.k.a. Liquid Flairs are also available in many colors in either X-Fine or Med point.
The Expressos/Flairs are of particular interest because they are fiber-tip (aka felt-tip), which is my second favorite type of writing instrument next to fountain pens. My third favorite pen type is liquid ink rollers such as the Vision Elites. The fiber tip writes on all types of paper without hesitation or complaint, and has a smooth feel with gentle feedback. I use the X-Fine (needle) tip Expressos/Flairs usually in blue or purple, and their purple is a deep rich color, not too light like some of the violet colors around. I’ve found the tips to be robust and the ink supply long lasting. If you have a heavy hand you’d probably prefer one of the rollerballs, but if you’re a fountain pen user, the fiber-tip should not be a problem.
One consideration with the Liquid Expressos is they fit a bit better – less force to reinstall the section – if you trim about 1/4 inch off the end. (See picture) Perhaps this is the reason they’re not listed on the Sherpa site (although the identically-shaped Accent Liquid Highlighter is listed). They fit in stock form, but the small trim helps.
Midnight Sherpa disassembled, with my favorite “refills”
My new Sherpa is called “Midnight” and is all black. Given the durability of my 1st Sherpa after years in my pocket, I figure the stealthy black one will also hold up well. I know that durability of the matte black finish has been a concern on other pens such as the Pilot Namiki Stealth Vanishing Point, the Lamy Dialog 3, and the Monteverde Invincia Stylus, so time will tell how the Sherpa holds up. The surface finish is a satin matte black, with titanium-like polished accents at each end, the logo-ring, the section, and clip. So far I’ve only seen a bit of the clear-coat flaking off on the section, but the underlying color remains. This is probably due to clicking the cap on & off.
Sherpa Midnight
Recently at an art supply store I happened upon some fiber tip pens called Y&C Liquid Stylist, which nearly identical in size and ink to the Liquid Expressos (the caps are even interchangeable). The offer some alternative colors such as brown.
The construction is quite solid, with good weight and balance. The body and cap are brass. The grip section is plastic with a titanium-like finish, and there is a plastic insert in the cap which prevents ink evaporation and clicks nicely onto the section. That firm and smooth click adds to the overall sense of quality. There is a spring inside the main body which provides a bit of tension on the pen to accommodate slight differences in length and prevent rattling around.
Sherpa Midnight and Mr. Pinstripes
The grip section is ergonomically shaped for those who hold the pen close to the tip. Those who hold it further back, like me, will be on the logo ring and may find the pen a bit fat for prolonged writing. I adapt to it.
Overall this is a well-made and versatile pen, unlike anything else on the market. The price may seem a bit high for a Sharpie, but I think it’s fair if you consider it as a fine roller ball (Vision Elite) or fiber tip (Liquid Flair) pen. In some ways I think of the Sherpa as an economical alternative to the Parker Ingenuity pens with “5th Technology”. You get the convenience of a refill, the functionality of a plastic or fiber tip, but the pen and refills are small fraction of the price.
