Pentel Hybrid Technica 0.5

Pentel Hybrid Technica 0.5

While out and about I stumbled across the Pentel Hybrid Technica 0.5 in black. Its a simple black gel pen in a clear hexagonal plastic case with a color coordinating silicone grip area. In other words, visually, its a very unassuming pen.

On paper though, the pen rolls smoothly and leaves a dark solid line that looks almost like a liquid ink. Its even, dark line did inspire me to want to doodle a bunch so this pen might help entertain me during long meetings.

The packaging labelled the pen as archival, acid-free and bleed-proof. I also discovered its pretty water resistant. So, its quite a useful little pen. Jet Pens stocks it in a candy-colored rainbow of six colors in 0.5  plus black (o.5 and 0.8), white and silver (both in 0.8). At just $2.20 each, its also a pen I wouldn’t mind leaving laying around so I think I might stock up on some of the other colors too.

Pentel Hybrid Technica 0.5

Copic Drawing Pen Review

Copic Drawing Pen F02

The Copic Drawing Pen FO2 (0.2mm) is an interesting little tool. It is filled with waterproof india ink, though when tested I would say the ink is more water-resistant than waterproof, and is largely marketed as a tool for comic drawing or illustration. The pen is not refillable nor is there an ink window to be able to see how much ink you have left. But its basically a $5 fountain pen filled with almost “bulletproof” ink, so its a fairly decent value all things considered.

On my standard testing paper, Miquelrius medium flexible 300 grid paper book purchased from Barnes & Noble, the pen was not scratchy and performed pretty well. The steel nib did not have a ton of give but enough to vary line widths a little.

Copic Drawing Pen F02

Overall, this wouldn’t necessarily be a pen that popped to mind if someone was asking me for recommendations for an inexpensive disposable fountain pen though I did find the line width to be much finer than Pilot Varsity and the water-resistant ink is a positive attribute for field work and envelopes.

(available from Jet Pens for $4.60. Also available in 0.1mm available in black and sepia)

Help Fund The Typerwriter Book!

UPPERCASE books is attempting to crowdsource funds for a new book called The Typewriter: a Graphic History of the Beloved Machine. It will be a large , full color hardcover book with at least 224 pages filled with artifacts and graphics of the history of the typewriter. Funding options start at $5 but $45 or above will get you a copy of the book when its published.

I’ve purchased other books from Uppercase and they are stunning in quality, design and attention to detail. This publication is sure to be all that and a bag of chips. I will certainly be funding this project and I hope you can too!