[Pen/Pencil Review] Palomino Blackwing Volume XIX Pencil
We do venture out every so often – fully masked and safe – to help support some of our smaller businesses. This past weekend we went up to McKinney and hit our favorite places on the Square. One of which is Graphite Pen + Paper. While there, I picked up two Palomino Blackwing Volume XIX pencils. Given the day this comes out they are very appropriate – and I’ve sharpened one up and used it all day today. And yes, it’s slightly political – but this vote is so important and it’s the 100th anniversary of the women’s right to vote – I will celebrate it, and yes, I haven’t been quiet about the fact that I did vote.
The Blackwing XIX is our tribute to the 19th Amendment and the ongoing fight for voting rights in the United States and around the world. It features a purple barrel and three-sided white and golden yellow imprint inspired by the suffrage flag, striped silver ferrule, and purple eraser. The 36 yellow stars represent the 36 states that ratified the amendment. The firm graphite is perfect for writing a letter to your Representatives or making your voting plan.
The Palomino Blackwings are a dark, soft lead like I like. There’s nothing on the lavender lacquer body to tell you what the lead actually is, but it feels like a good B to me. Which means it’s NOT A #2 PENCIL for standardized tests/scantron sheets, but really, why would you? These are too pretty for that. The purple body and the gold and white banded accent just makes it a pretty, pretty thing to look at. It’s also a sturdy pencil of solid wood, not that plastic pseudo-wood that bends and doesn’t sharpen well. I’ve enjoyed both writing with this today and, since also keeping in theme, I used it to conduct the Hamilton soundtrack and other music. Because that’s what you do…
The Blackwing also caters to those of us who like to erase. Instead of the standard eraser on the end of the pencil, the Blackwing was a flattened, rectangular eraser that resembles a paintbrush in shape. The purple matching eraser rubs the graphite out cleanly without crumbling. Over time it remains flexible instead of going hard like cheaper erasers. It’s also held into the end of the pencil with a spring clip so it can be adjusted to length – and makes it an oversized eraser so you don’t run out of eraser before you run out of pencil. And if you’re using a LOT of eraser, JetPens sells replacement erasers in black, white, and pink, so you can choose your look.
The Numbers
1. How does it work? – 1 – I really like these pencils. They’re a good, solid wood. When I fidget with them, I have no worries that I’m going to snap them in half or bend them out of shape, like with really cheap pencils. It is a soft lead, so if you like a hard, sharp point, you might be a little disappointed, but I like a solid, dark line, so this is my happy place pencil.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – It’s a standard, hexagonal pencil. But like with the above comment, it’s a good sturdy pencil that feels good in the hand.
3. Material – 1 – One of the best built pencils I’ve had in a while. Solid wood, nice accents. The eraser mechanism is well-built and solidly attached.
4. Overall Design – 1 – I don’t know what else to say about this pencil’s design. It just rocks – for me.
5. Price Point – 0 – It’s an expensive wooden pencil. A box of 12 will run about $28 They may be worth it if you really like wooden pencils and/or replaceable erasers, but this is not going to be your “back to school” pencil. You are paying for the fact it’s a darned good wooden pencil – and if you go for the pretty gift box? You’re paying more. That’s the only real drawback to this pencil. If you’re used to getting a dozen for a $1…this will be sticker shock. But it’s a gorgeous one.
I give it 4 of 5 bronze pencils.
[Pen/Pencil Review] The Pentel P203 and PS523 in Fall Colors
This week features something from Jimmy’s line of blogging – the Pentel PS523 in Olive Green and the Pentel P203 in russet brown. These mechanical pencils were also a gift from my husband – from his stash. These are older variants in lovely fall colors.
If you want all the nitty gritty on the Pentel 200 Sharp pencil series – please check out Jimmy’s blog at Nimrodd’s Blog: Pentel P200 Sharp Pencils and more. Though I have yet to see the “more” unless it’s the history of this pencil. He’s the SERIOUS collector.
These are fairly standard mechanical pencils. The bodies are enameled in the beautiful colors. The hardware is metal probably aluminum, maybe stainless. These are 5.6†long and 0.3†in diameter. They both have the classic hexagonal barrel with the grooved grip, but no other ergonomics.
The cap over the eraser is both secure and easy to remove. It’s snug enough that it’s not going to go flying off your pencil, but you don’t have to be Hercules to get it off in order to refill it. The needle tip guards the lead and lets you see where you’re writing.
These are both 0.3mm pencils. I have 0.3mm 2B lead in these pencils. It’s a strong lead for what it is. However, the thinner the lead, the easier it is to break. I usually extend the lead a couple of clicks to write, but I have to keep this lead a lot closer to the sleeve to prevent some of the breaking.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 – These are mechanical pencils. The mechanism advances smoothly. The cap is secure but easy to manipulate to get to the eraser. It’s easy to refill. Everything you want in a pencil.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – Better than I suspected. The grip is what it is, but the grooves give it some comfort and there’s nothing to dig into the fingers.
3. Material – 0.5 They’re a standard mechanical pencil. Metal hardware, hard plastic enameled body. Nothing super fancy. Nice “paint job” though
4. Overall Design – 1 – They’re decent mechanical pencils. They don’t feel all that cheap or all that expensive. The needle does seem to protect the lead which doesn’t seem to break very easily.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – These are older pencils, they’re going to be more difficult to find for sale. You’ll have to look on eBay or other options.
I give it 4 out of 5 Bronze Pencils
[Write the Story] Be Careful What You Wish For
Prompt: Be Careful What You Wish For
Words: toadstool, bluff, yodel, thistle, smock, rust, tomato, bestow, enunciate, medium
Story
Thistle stood on top of her toadstool and adjusted her rust-colored smock in the early morning chill. She’d collected the dew from the leaves around her home; gathered the berries, seeds, and nectar for her meals. Now she drew in a deep breath to greet the morning with the traditional Morning Yodel for luck and prosperity but let the breath out with a puff of frustration. She was bored. Nothing had a purpose.
“I wish…I wish…†But what did she wish for?
“Well? What is it, dearie?†the raspy voice piped from the plants below. “Whatever it is, please speak up and enunciate. My old ears aren’t as sharp as they once were.â€
Thistle fluttered down to the forest floor. “Who’s there?â€
The old fairy tottered out of the shadows. She was a wizened thing in a tomato red hat and dress. Her wings drooped. “What wish would you have me bestow?â€
“You can do that? That’s a thing?†Thistle was a medium-sized fairy but she towered over the old one.
“You think I bluff? Try me.â€
“Okay. I wish I had a more interesting life.â€
“Oh, sweetie, you got it.â€
Thistle felt magic wash over her and then settle like a weight. The other fairy seemed to get taller and younger. “Wish granting is all on you now. Good luck.â€
Word Count: 221
Written: 11/22/2020
[Pen/Pencil Review] iPenStore Subscription Box – October
This may be the last unboxing video – should be the last iPenStore.com box of the year.
[Write the Story] It’s A Setup!
Prompt: It’s a Setup!
Words: acrobat, blurt, jolt, gregarious, tortoise, persimmon, balk, follow, grasp, deli
Story
“What is it I’m supposed to have done?†Benji tried to be calm, but everything seemed to come out in a blurt.
“Once more, you were brought in for questioning for the…kidnapping of Persimmon the Painted Terrapin,†said Detective Lively. “It’s an endangered tortoise.â€
“And why would I do that?â€
“Because there’s a lot of money in the endangered species black market.â€
“But why me?â€
“Access. You work with reptiles at the zoo, which is also opportunity. Motive? Crushing student loan debt. And, you were seen coming out of Duke’s Deli, a well-known hangout for the exotic underground market.â€
“Ew!†Benji bit back a gasp. “No! That’s not it. I couldn’t have…you have to some kind of Cirque du Soleil acrobat to get that terrapin out of the tank. And why would I? Persimmon’s the most gregarious tortoise we have…†then he balked. Benji looked up with a jolt. “I’m being set up! Now it makes sense! The secret meetings, the whispers. The Recipes! Detective, if you want to solve this case we need to move fast before Persimmon becomes soup. Let’s go!â€
Word Count: 183
Written: 10/15/2020
[Pen/Pencil Review] Dr. Grip Full Black – Revisit
I am going through all my pens, sorting by type and seeing which ones work, which ones don’t. I came back across the Pilot Dr. Grip Full Black. I looked back over my reviews and saw that I reviewed it in 2014. I am still disappointed that the Center of Gravity refills only come in 1.0mm. There are compatible refills (probably from Japan) available at JetPens.com that are a 0.7mm in red, blue, and black that I may need to get to make the pen more to my liking. Those run $1.95 – the Center of Gravity refills are $2.20 for a 2 pack but still a 1.0. And they’re specific refills – similar to the G2, but considerably shorter. That’s another issue.
So here’s the original review:
So, thanks to the amazing way Office Depot took care of me during the print job fiasco, I ended up being able to go on a pen buying mini-spree last week before heading out of town (there was also a coupon about to expire). This is but one of them, the Pilot Dr. Grip Full Black.
![IMG_2739[1]](http://www.rhondaeudaly.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_27391-e1407160806713-300x122.jpg)
I’ve been intrigued by this one for a while, but hadn’t broken down and bought one. The Dr. Grip line runs on the expensive side, but in some ways totally worth it. What caught my attention were not only the looks of the pen, but to test out what the “Black Advanced Ink” was. The packaging says this ink “combines the best qualities of gel and ball point inks”. And I do have to admit it’s a smooth, dark ink. There’s minimal smearing on slick paper immediately after use. My only “gripe” is that this only seems to come in a “medium” point – 1.0 mm.
![IMG_2740[1]](http://www.rhondaeudaly.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_27401-e1407160852385-300x130.jpg)
The barrel is 5.5″ long retracted and 5.75″ with the point extended. The barrel is plastic but well-balanced. The curves to the ergonomic design fit the hand well with little to no ridges to dig in and cause discomfort. The selling-point to this pen – according to the packaging – is the cushion grip to reduce writing fatigue. And I think they’re on to something. The grip is wider than some of your basic pens, but not uncomfortably so. There’s enough squish to the grip that even heavy handed writers will take quite a while to cramp up. Which is probably why the Dr. Grip line has some endorsement by the Arthritis Foundation.
On the aesthetic side, the only quibble is that the “Full Black” isn’t. The clip is nice and sturdy, but bright metal – like chrome. My husband and I both would like to see this made with a black clip to fulfill the “full black” design. And while I’m wishing… make the refills in 0.7mm and finer… this pen is refillable with what looks like the Center of Gravity refills.
Updated numbers:
1. How does it work? – 0.5 – It works well. The ink flows well with minimal smearing. The retraction mechanism is solid. The refills are proprietary. To get anything other than a 1.0, you have to order special and more expensive refills. There’s no interchanging the refills with other Pilot pens.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – This is a pen designed for ergonomics. The grip is cushioned and tapered to reduce wear on the hand. The barrel is long enough for comfort and balanced well.
3. Material – 0.5 – For a plastic barrel pen, it’s pretty well-made. It doesn’t feel cheap. The ink is dark, fluid and has minimal smearing. But it is a plastic pen, and for the price point, I kinda want better material.
4. Overall Design – 1 – It’s a good design. I’m not going to knock it for having a bright metal clip on an otherwise black pen. But it does what it says – it’s comfortable, it has good ink, and it is suitable for long-term writing
5. Price Point – 0.5 – This is the other knock. These aren’t cheap. They run $9 – $11 depending on where you get them. This one was $8.99 at Office Depot. The Pilot Website sells them for $10. They are refillable, but you’re still going to pay for the ergonomic portions , which isn’t HORRIBLE, but still an investment. And if we’re paying this much, why not give us a true FULL BLACK pen?
That’s 4 of 5 bronze pencils.
[Write the Story] An Interview on TV
Prompt: An Interview on Live TV
Words: bishop, impish, amoeba, sheep, denim, jet, apricot, sepia, nipple, bellow
Story
“Thirty seconds to air. Thirty seconds.â€
Bishop adjusted the fall of his sepia denim jacket for the last time.
“Ten seconds!†The PA’s bellow drowned out the butterflies building up in his gut. The PA stopped by him. “You’re on right after the amoeba guy.â€
So that didn’t help. Don’t jet. Don’t jet. The Flight instinct rose high. Bishop took deep breaths until he heard the roar of applause and his name being introduced. One more deep breath and he stepped out onto the brightly lit stage. He plastered on his best impish grin and shook hands with the host, Martin Buchannan.
“As much as we want to dive into your new book, Apricot Sheep, which has rocketed to the top of all the best seller lists, there’s something else we need to talk about.â€
Bishop’s momentary elation plummeted. This again. He would never live this down. His smile faltered a little. “No one wants…†The crowd roared. Apparently, they did. “Yes, it’s a heart-shaped nipple and don’t they sensor stuff like that on TV?â€
“Oh, we’re well beyond the censors now, Bishop.â€
The hoots and hollers meant there was no way around it. “Will it get us to talking about the book? You know the story is in there…â€
“Words are cheap. You gotta show us the stuff.â€
And so it went…again.
Word Count: 223
Written: 10/8/2020
[Pen/Pencil Review] Sharpie Color Burst Set
It’s been weird the last couple of weeks. We went on a little staycation. But I ended it by doing some preventative medical stuff – including (if you didn’t see it on Facebook) getting my flu shot and my shingles shot. At the same time. Yeah, don’t do that. Then I decided to get an allergy test – after all these years, to finally figure out what all I’m allergic to (FOUR kinds of trees – but not crepe myrtles – mold, ragweed and mild dog dander (we’re fixing the allergies). I also went to the dentist for the first time in…too long, and years of having “unfair” teeth are catching up with me. Some cavities that need dealing with including in a wisdom tooth which led to getting all three that I had taken out. There’s a crown and possibly a root canal in my dental future. So there’s been some actual physical misery the last couple of weeks. Blogs have fallen behind, I even started this one last week.
But now… let’s see about getting back on track with the Sharpie Color Burst Set. I have been working through ALL my pens – sorting and finding out which still work and found these. I bought them a few months back, probably on sale at someplace like Target. I think I got them for use on black paper. That didn’t work.
Like all Sharpies, they’re porous point – which I mentioned in my last review are my least favorite points. I bend them, fray them, and eventually destroy them. But either I’m getting better or they’re getting more durable, for what it is. They are not refillable. They don’t work on black paper – they’re definitely meant for light, normal paper. But the colors are pretty good for neon colors. The yellow might make a underliner, but it will bleed. They do dry out if you’re not careful – they’re porous point markers.
The Sharpies are just over 5.4″ capped. They’re about 6.1″ long with the cap posted. And here’s the thing, though the cap posts securely – I was bored and shook it to make sure, it doesn’t fly off – the cap doesn’t “lock” so it can LOOK wobbly and off center when posted. The barrel is well constructed and balanced. The ridge where the refill meets the barrel is far enough back on grip to only be occasionally in the way or annoying.
Grading:
1. How does it write? – 0.5 – for a porous point. It performs well. Smooth flow, lives up to promise. But as a porous point, ultra fine point, they do dry out more quickly than other pens.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – There’s little to no ergonomics, but they’re not designed for that. There’s a slight ridge where the cap secures that can dig.
3. Material – 1 – Basic, inexpensive plastic. It is what it is.
4. Overall Design – .5 – the ridge where the refill meets the barrel does SOMETIMES get in the way and dig into the thumb webbing.
5. Price Point – 1 – On JetPens they’re $6 for 5 colors. They’re probably that at Target.
Overall – 4.5 Bronze Pencils out of 5.
[Write the Story] A Dog Walker in Washington, DC
Prompt: A Dog Walker in Washington, DC
Words: senator, grotto, strudel, jade, welcome, slang, complementary, vacant, jellyfish, admonish
Story
“Welcome to the Jade Jellyfish Pet Services team.†Neil stood in front of his new hire class. “We are the premiere service for all things pets in DC. We have prestigious and high-ranking clients, which is why you were all vetted for security clearances.â€
As he spoke, he noticed a few with vacant stares. Those would likely be washed out quickly. Trust fund kids who were told to get some real-world experience, he’d seen them before. There were several who’d make perfectly adequate dog walkers and cat sitters. It was the last handful that intrigued him. They would be the icing on his strudel.
Two hours later, he walked into the conference room where four faces stared at him expectantly. “Good afternoon. You four have been chosen for a complementary training program with the company. But I admonish you—this is sensitive. This is confidential. You will be sent anywhere from the The Grotto—â€
“The high end strip club?†a recruit asked.
“Yes. To a senator’s residence. Your job is to blend in to the background, listen, gather information and report back to me.â€
“You want us to be spooks?â€
“I’ve never liked that slang. We’re not ghosts. We’re not spies. We gather intelligence for appropriate use—invisibly. Welcome to the team.â€
Word Count: 213
Written: 9/17/2020
[Pen/Pencil Review] Vacation Edition
I’m on vacation this week. Normally, this would be a Headless Chicken running around week, but with the pandemic and all events being canceled, it’s not. This week I should’ve been in an utter panic of finishing up plans for FenCon, but I’m not. I’m actually on vacation (the event may have been canceled by the time off request wasn’t), and it’s much needed even if it’s a “close to home” vacation. I’m doing writerly things and relaxing things and playing with pens things.
I was going to write about the BIC Gelocity pens I bought at Office Depot this week – 12 pack for $2.59 in the Back to School bin, but apparently I did the multi-pack in various colors back in June? So, it’s still a great pen. It comes in a 0.5mm which I love and is affordable. If you want to know more about the Gelocity – check out the June review at by clicking here.
And now it’s off to vacation. See you next week.