Freak369's Full Review: Sanford Uniball Onyx Rolling Ball Pen 1.0 Mm Black...
If you like writing with pens that don't skip, have fast drying ink and have a great feel to them then you might want to check out what the Onyx has to offer you. It is a slim styled rolling ball pen that can be used for taking notes, general writing, doodling or for the office. While it lacks a visible ink window or comfort grip area, it is a great pen to have if you do a lot of writing and want something that is going to be able to keep up with your needs. Even though I don't generally go crazy for capped pens, I always make an exception for the Onyx. The overall look of this pen is sweet; it is a little thinner than comparable pens and even though it only comes in three colors, it is one of my all time favorite pens.
What makes the Onyx such a great pen? Several things. The ink flow is great so you never have skipping or sputtering. It dries fast so smudging is usually not a big deal but that depends on the type of paper you are writing on. Anything that is slick or has a sheen to it will more than likely smudge or wipe off. This isn't a problem with the pen or the ink, it is the paper. For that type of paper you will need to use something like a Sharpie marker. The tip is another perk; it is a solid metal housing with a metal roller inside so there is no tip to crack, break or bend. Likewise, this makes it great if you have to write on carbon paper or forms that have multiple sheets and require that you press hard. It won't rip through the paper but you will get a great impression on all of the pages.
I wish that the cap had a better connection with the pen when you replace it. Sometimes I think the cap is on all the way and it isn't. This isn't that big of a problem if it comes loose inside my backpack because the ink won't get all over everything like it would with a gel pen or a felt tip marker. There's a pocket clip on it but it rarely gets used; it can snap off the pen and leave a rather rough edge so I just opt to skip that option all together. I have noticed that the Onyx pens that have been put out over the past year have cheaper caps to them. Caps that can and will crack if they accidentally get stepped on. This is a basic pen but something that writes perfectly every single time you pick it up. There is no need to prime it and it won’t die in the middle of a letter then suddenly start back up.
You can get the Onyx in red, blue or black. Out of the three I prefer the black because it is a true black – not a washed out 'almost black' color ink. This means it is going to show up perfectly if you have to make copies of something. The red and blue won't show up as well, if at all … but that is something that has always plagued red and blue inks regardless of the type of pen. They aren't expensive; you can find them for about $1.25 a piece at most retail stores like Wal-Mart and Target as well as at office supply stores. If you try these out and like them you can order them by the box and save some cash but make sure that you will have a true need for a dozen or more of them to justify the price break. They are suitable for school work, journal writing and other day to day things so there are a lot of practical applications for the Onyx as it writes perfectly and has a long ink life.
There aren't any true cons to this pen outside of the cap and the chance that it could break or crack. The only time I have had any problem with writing with the Onyx is when I tried it on textured paper, there was a little bit of feathering but because this is a metal roller tip it isn't as bad as gel or felt tips. If these were available with a comfort grip they would be about as close to perfect as you could get from a disposable pen. While they aren't the most eco-friendly pens because they can't be refilled they do have a long life.
Precision tungsten ball. Excellent for carbons and multi-part forms. Easy to hold matte black barrel. Liquid ink. Sold by the Dozen (12 each)More at Amazon
Onyx Rolling Ball Pens offer a smooth rolling metal point. Excellent for marking carbon copies or multipart forms. Slim matte black with cap and clip....More at Discount Office Items
Manufacturer: Faber Castell/Sanford Ink Company. uni-ball& Onyx& Roller Ball Pen Metal point roller ball pen. Black matte barrel with molded clip and ...More at Buy.com
Precision tungsten ball. Excellent for carbons and multi-part forms. Easy to hold matte black barrel. Liquid ink. Sold by the Dozen (12 each)More at Amazon Marketplace
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