[Long-time readers will remember that I wrote several commentaries on cheap pens for RRE. These can be found here: http://dlis.gseis.ucla.edu/people/pagre/pens.html This page has caused me to meet many interesting people, one of whom recently sent me the commentary that I enclose.] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This message was forwarded through the Red Rock Eater News Service (RRE). You are welcome to send the message along to others but please do not use the "redirect" option. For information about RRE, including instructions for (un)subscribing, see http://dlis.gseis.ucla.edu/people/pagre/rre.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 19:08:15 +0000 From: djhodgesat_private Subject: Cheap pens: Pilot V rollerballs Phil, I read your 'commentaries on cheap pens' with interest and - as a fellow cheap pen afficionado - I thought you might like a few of my comments. I'm concentrating here on the Pilot V models. 1 GENERAL COMMENTS 1.1 As you say, the Pilot V (visible ink supply) models were the first liquid ink rollerball pens on the market, that is to say pens with an 'ink tank' rather than a fibre wad soaked in ink. 1.2 The Pilot Hi-Tecpoint V5 (Precise V5 in the US) was the original model, introduced in 1987. The wider Hi-Tecpoint V7 (Precise V7) followed a year later in 1988, and the conical tip V-Ball 05/07 in 1993. 1.3 All V pens (and all other liquid ink rollerball pens) rely on a combination of gravity and capillary action to feed ink to the writing point. They do not use compressed gas or other fancy technology. [The only pen that does use compressed gas is the Fisher Space Pen - a viscous ink ballpen that isn't cheap. Gel pens all use gravity feed and a thixotropic ink than shears and goes runny with the action of the ball - like non-drip paint]. 1.4 Provided the caps are properly fitted (see 7.2), V pens don't appear to dry out in storage. They have a long shelf life. 2 PILOT HI-TECPOINT V5 (Precise V5 in US) 2.1 This is one of my favourites because I have small writing and a light touch. It wouldn't suit everyone - heavy pressers would find it scratchy and might bend the stainless steel needle tip. 2.2 16 years on, Pilot never has cured the rub-off paint of the V5 (and V7). After you've used the pens for a few weeks, the barrel finish rubs off, bit by bit. In a strange sort of way this is part of the appeal. 2.3 The ink characteristics are different for the blue and black V5s. The blue is richly-coloured, free-flowing and highly penetrative - good for hard, low-absorbance paper but can soak right though thin paper. The black is the opposite - great for thin paper but less good for hard paper. The black is more water resistant and lightfast than the blue. I've also had problems with the tips of black V5s getting clogged on thermal and photocopier paper, but no such problems with the freer-flowing blues. 2.4 Red, green, turquoise and purple inks all seem too anaemic for the V5's fine line. 3 PILOT HI-TECPOINT V7 (Precise V7 in US) 3.1 This is smoother than the V5 and a better choice for hard pressers with big writing. I find the point to broad, but that's just me. 3.2 V7 blue ink is the same as V5 ink and is probably too penetrative for the wider point. V7 black is a different formulation to V5 black - it's slightly thicker and suits the V7 well. I've never experienced flow or tip-clogging problems with the V7. 3.3 V7 reds and greens produce satisfyingly bold lines. 4 PILOT HI-TECPOINT V2000 0.5 & 0.7 4.1 These are updates of the V5 and V7 and were introduced in 2000. They have identical writing tips and inks, but are bigger and thicker with more ink capacity. 4.2 V2000s have excellent rubber grips - maybe too thick for some - but this takes away some of the entertainment because you can no longer see the ink move in and out of the collector (the finned part between the ink tank and the writing point). 4.3 Unlike the V5/V7, V2000 paint doesn't rub off the barrel, so the pen stays looking smarter for longer. It seems to be the same finish as the V-Ball. 4.4 The V2000 cap is small, so unlike the V5/V7/V-Ball you can't use it as a handy straight-edge. 5 PILOT V-BALL 05 5.1 V-Balls have a conical writing tip that's near-indestructible. Ink laydown is excellent but arguably a little less precise than the Hi-Tecpoints. The V-Ball 05s are scratchier than the V5s, too. 5.2 V-Ball 05 blue ink is thicker, less penetrative and more lightfast that V5 blue. V-Ball 05 black is the same as V7 black and the pen is less susceptible to clogging than the V5 black. 5.3 Red, green and other V-Ball 05 colours give bold, clear lines. 5.4 V-Ball 05 pens have abrasion-resistant barrels with round ends and silver print. 5.5 The V-Ball 05 View pigment version (see 8.1) is available in blue and black and flows well. 6 PILOT V-BALL 07 6.1 The V-Ball 07 is identical to the V-Ball 05 except that it has gold print and a wider writing point. 6.2 V-Ball 07 blue ink is the same as V-Ball 05 blue ink, but V-Ball 07 black is thinner, more penetrative and more free-flowing than V-Ball 05 black. It writes with a very thick line which makes it ideal for signatures, &c. 6.3 There are no clogging problems with the V-Ball 07. 6.4 V-Ball red flows and lays well. There are no other colours, except in the View 07 pigment version, which is available in a variety of highlighter colours. 7 PILOT V-BALL GRIP 05 & 07 7.1 The V-Ball Grips use the same writing points and inks as the V-Ball 05 and 07 in newer, curvier, silver-plastic bodies with ergonomic rubber grips. 7.2 There's a design fault with the Grip's caps. They click on firmly but click off far too easily. I've had one come off in my pocket and ruin my shirt. 8 INK 8.1 Most Pilot V pens use dye based ink which is affected to a greater or less extent by light and water. If you get it on your clothes you can (with varying degrees of difficulty depending on the colour)) wash it out. But the V-Ball View pens - which look just like the conventional V-Balls except for a pale blue cap and barrel, regardless of ink colour - use a pigment ink. Instead of a dye, this ink uses a suspension finely-divided particles to get its colour. Once dry, it's completely waterproof, lightfast and indelible. You'll never shift it in the washing machine. [Uniball Eye pens and several gel pens like the Sakura Gelly Roll and the Zebra J-Roller also use pigment ink]. Best regards, David Hodges Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
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