So Cool It Might Give You Brain Freeze Pilot V-Ball Liquid Ink Roller
Written: Mar 23 '03 (Updated Nov 09 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Inexpensive, constant ink flow, available individually or in multi packs.
Cons: Might be too thin a line for some people, not for use with carbon paper.
The Bottom Line: The quest for the perfect pen continues ...
|
|
|
| Freak369's Full Review: PILOT CORPORATION OF AMERICA Pilot V Ball Rollerba... |
Thanks to public comments and private emails, I now know that I am not alone in being a self-admitted pen and marker junkie. No, I don't rip the caps off them and sniff them hoping for a cheap high – I just like pens, markers, automatic pencils and highlighters [oh don't even get me started on the wonders of highlighters]. Whereas most women spend a tremendous amount of time picking out shoes and clothing, I choose to squander my time in the pen and marker section of office supply stores. I know I am not alone because littering the aisles are scraps of paper with doodles all over them, battle scribbles of people seeking out that perfect pen, the pen of all pens! OK, so I am getting carried away there, but admit it, you see a cool looking pen and you can’t resist popping off the cap and doodling a heart or two, possibly your initials or whipping out a Kilroy cartoon. It’s OK, you are amongst friends here …
The Pilot V-Ball Liquid Ink Roller is a pretty sweet pen. It has a nice sleek look to it, gives you one of the finest, sharpest lines and doesn’t skip or spit ink all over the place. When trying to create fine line artwork one of the worst things you can have is sloppy ink flow. I’m pretty happy to report that the ink dries so fast you’ll have a hard time trying to smudge it even if you try. Think I am kidding? Just to prove my point I sat in front of the computer with an index card and drew line after line – following the trail of the tip of the pen with my finger. The result? Not a single freakin’ smudge to be seen. The clear chamber towards the tip of the pen shows you how much ink you have left however if you have never used one of these types of pens before, chances are you might not know how to read them. When the ink flow is starting to run out you’ll see that the upper chambers will be empty and you’ll be able to see through the internal ink cartridge. You’ll still be able to squeeze out a few more pages but the clock is ticking.
There isn’t a rubber comfort grip on the pen but it is a pure pleasure to write with even for extended periods of time. The smooth barrel of the pen won’t leave indentations on your fingers and since it is a completely smooth surface it rotates slightly when you are using it. If that sounds a little weird or hard to understand, you just have to pick up the pen and give it a try to figure out exactly what I am trying to say. The ink flow is as close to perfect as I have seen. No skipping or breaks when drawing lines, so splurges of ink – even on textured surfaces like home made paper or thick cardboard. If you are an artist that does any type of fine line detail work, you really need to check out this pen and see how wonderfully it writes.
You can expect about two months worth of heavy writing from each pen, which is great for students, nurses or artists. These are not refillable so don’t even try it unless you want to have ink all over the place. The handy metal clip on the cap is strong and doesn’t bend easily. It does however get loose after a while and when this happens it doesn’t keep your pen in place inside a backpack or purse. The cap snaps tightly onto the pen so accidents should be at a minimum providing you push until you hear the ‘click’. I’ve never had one of these leak or break on me but I did leave the cap off once and had it bleed all over a pile of napkins [see below for more details]
Until recently these were only available in the basic colors – black, red and blue. Now you can also choose from pink, purple and lime green. The best part is that the colors of the ink are represented by the color of the pen barrel. This makes picking out the perfect pen for the job a complete cinch. In addition to the color choices, these are available in fine and ultra fine line styles. Test one of these out at your local office supply store to see which one best suits your needs.
You can find these at most office supply stores as well as selected stationery stores and retail chains like Wal-Mart and Target. These generally range in price from $1.79 to $1.99 for individual pens or about $3.99 for a package of three [one black, one blue, one red]. If you are looking to purchase a larger quantity, ask for help at your office supply store.
Things To Know
This shouldn’t be confused with the similarly named Pilot V Ball Grip Roller Ball Pen that costs a little more, is silver in color and has a rubber comfort grip. These are two completely different pens and while they deliver the same type of exceptional ink, the tips are different as well as the size of the line [.5 mm and .7 mm verses fine and extra fine].
These shouldn’t be used on any type of multi layered form or with carbon paper since more than likely it won’t give you the needed pressure that a standard pen will provide to go through the layers. I tried using this on a return form that needed to be filled out in triplicate and when I was done with it – it looked like it went several rounds with a very angry cat. This is best used on single sheets of paper, cardboard, poster board or any type of thick paper.
Recapping after use isn’t necessary but it is highly suggested. I have several of these on my desk and leave the caps off of them on a regular basis and the ink supply hasn’t failed me yet. You may want to recap your though in case it comes in contact with a piece of paper or cloth – this ink will spread if given a contact point and once it is on clothing you can forget ever getting it out. Granted you will more than likely catch it before it does any damage but if it is allowed to stand this way over night you might be greeted with a real mess the next day.
The Bottom Line
This is one of the best choices you can make when looking for a pen that will deliver a crisp and clean line each and every time. The tip is solid and will never break or bend – even under the heaviest of uses. The ink is quick drying and jet black and is great for touching up pieces before they are copied. Artists will love these since they provide a clean line with no smudging. The only possible draw back is that the tip might be too fine for most people to feel comfortable with. If you like your lines tight and thin, this is most definitely the way to go!
As always, thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2004 Freak369
Related reviews ...
• Bic Round Stic Grip Pens - Black • Pentel R.S.V.P. • Pilot Easy Touch Ballpoint Pen • Papermate X-Tend Ballpoint Pen • Liquid Expresso Porous Point Pen • Bic WideBody Ballpoint Pen • Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pen • Pentel EnerGel Liquid Gel Roller • Bic Z4 Roller Ball Pen Fine Point • Pilot G2 Retractable Gel Ink Rollerball • Pilot V Ball Rollerball Pen • Papermate Fingermate • Cross Ion – Aurora Blue • Pilot P500 Gel Ink Rolling Ball Pen • Bic Cristal Grip Stic Pen • Stabilo Sensor Cushion Tip Pen Fine Point - Lilac • Papermate Pendulum • Bic 4 Color Clicker Ballpoint Pen • BIC Round Stic Pens - Blue • Zebra F-301 Retractable Ballpoint Pen • Sanford Gel Impact Roller Ball Pen Violet Ink Bold Point •
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.