Ti2 TechLiner Pen - Blackwash Edition

September 28, 2014

The Ti2 TechLiner is the most recent addition to the pen world by Mike Bond of Ti2 Design and was a hit on Kickstarter earlier this year. Mike was kind enough to send me one of the early prototypes of the TechLiner to review which I really enjoyed. Something new, unique, and something that took a lot of people by surprise.

In some correspondence recently with Mike, he was kind enough to offer to send me one of the coveted Blackwash edition TechLiners to check out; how could I refuse? The Blackwash was one of the "upgrade" editions during the Kickstarter campaign and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it to put to work and review. Thanks again for sending it my way, Mike.

The original finish on the TechLiner is what is considered "tumbled". It is bead blasted titanium which is then tumbled and provides a really uniform and durable surface that will hold up to a lot of beating. It looks awesome, very industrial, and fits right in with any EDC.

Now, the Blackwash finish takes awesome to a new level I think. It is PVD (physical vapor deposition) coated in black and then tumbled to a matte finish. This finish strapped to a unique titanium pen like Mike's makes for a seriously cool experience. I dig it.

For a bit of TechLiner 101, the overall "body" of the pen is made of only three parts: the main barrel, the tip(s), and the cap. The tip and tail are a sort of rounded off cylinder which have been machined with a grid of lines to create a rectangular grip pattern. Pretty sweet. The grooves are deep and just sharp enough on the edges to provide a slip free grip.

The cap is held in place on both ends by internal magnets which is probably one of the pen's most kick butt features. The magnets are strong, but not too much. It is easy enough to pull the cap off, but once on there I have no fear of it falling off and being lost.

The tip of the pen is very unique as the refill sticks out of the barrel to a sharp, needle-like point and is held in place by one of the internal magnets. This aesthetic might take some getting used to for many people as we are so conditioned to see ballpoint and rollerball type pens only stick out slightly as a little cone. Not with this one... You might think it would impair the writing experience, but it doesn't in the least. The TechLiner is built around the popular Uni-ball Signo 207 refill which means you can get it fairly easily in a range of sizes from 0.38mm all the way up to 1.0mm.

With the Blackwash finish being tumbled, the grip section wears a bit more on the edges of the rectangles which creates a bit of a broken in look. One thing I noticed about the production model in comparison to the prototype is that the grip was machined to be a bit more defined. I think this is a good choice as it gives it more of a distinct look and actually increases the grip's functionality.

Before receiving the TechLiner from Mike I had a bit of experience with another "blackwash" product. My current carry pocket knife is the Leek by Kershaw which is fantastic. The blackwash finish is what attracted me to get it and I couldn't be happier with the look, feel, and durability the finish has shown. I was stoked to see this finish on a pen and it lives up to the expectations nicely.

Kershaw Leek Pocket Knife (Photo courtesy of Kershaw website)

Another point that is definitely noteworthy in the post is regarding the clip. First things first, the clip is an optional add-on part which runs another $12, but is probably a sound investment if you're looking into getting the pen. Without the clip, the TechLiner could slip into a notebook pen sleeve or possibly a pocket (although is a fairly long pen). The additional clip is a tank and is not a chintzy piece of hardware.

I strongly recommend the TechLiner. It is unlike anything in the market, is made from killer materials, looks cool, the quality is heavy duty, and the finish...well, lets just say it rocks.

Now that the Kickstarter pledges have all been fulfilled, check out Mike's shop for not only the Blackwash or standard TechLiner, but his original Ti2 pen (awesome as well), and his other cool products.

Thanks again, Mike!

Pilot Prera Demonstrator Fountain Pen Review - F Nib - Orange Accents

September 21, 2014

The Pilot Prera fountain pen has been one on my list to try out for quite some time for review. I never seemed to get around to buying one until now (not sure why), but I've been intrigued by it primarily due to its "mid range" price point. Also, my recent draw to Pilot pens more so than any other brand could explain some of my subconscious rationale...

From the price standpoint, the Prera has a retail price of $70 US which isn't overly expensive where fountain pens are concerned, but not overly cheap either. It is kind of in that range where you think, "should I?..." The Pilot progression seems to be as follows: Metropolitan - $14, Knight - $40, Prera - $70, and then everything else breaks at least past the $140 range, but usually has at least a 14k nib. So, what puts the Prera up into the $70 price range and is it worth it?

First things first, I bought this pen from Pen Chalet and did not pay the full retail price on it. They currently have their Prera collection (all demonstrators) marked at $56 and with an additional 10% off using the code CLICKYPOST, you'll squeak through at just over $50 (and should still get free shipping within the US). I point this out as the price really is great and Pen Chalet is a great outfit to work with.

I opted for the orange trim Prera (tip and tail are colored) as it seemed to stand out, but there are 7 colors of trim to choose from if another may fit your fancy. The barrel of the pen is clear but has some "smokey" or slightly translucent areas primarily in the cap that breaks up some of the design.

The pen also has some nice chrome trim in the cap, barrel, and section which adds a touch of class and bling that helps the pen to stand out a bit more. Around the cap is imprinted some dots and a solid white line with the name "PRERA" and "PILOT JAPAN". I think it is a neat looking pen, but perhaps a little loud for my tastes? Still, I think it looks good.

The nib on the pen is steel and is the same "Super Quality" nib used on the Pilot Knight reviewed previously. It writes as expected with dark, crisp lines and some noticeable feedback. I wouldn't refer to it as "scratchy", but isn't buttery smooth. I tend to enjoy pens with a slightly grabby nib. Not too much of course, but I enjoy knowing that the nib is touching the page. Too smooth and it weirds me out a bit. The Prera takes either the Pilot cartridge or converter only.

The clip is chrome and pressed out of thin steel, but it does the job. It is stiff enough to clip easily to a shirt or pen case (something like a Nock Co perhaps?). With a good jerk on it I could see it bending a bit.

The build quality is pretty good on it as it doesn't have any rattles really. Everything feels sturdy, but not like "wow" type of build for a demonstrator. My Custom Heritage 92 demonstrator blew me away at how solid it felt, but the retail price on the CH 92 is about 3 times as much which hopefully should warrant a bit more attention to quality. I would wager to say the Prera is a slight higher quality than your average TWSBI pen.

I like how the cap attaches to the barrel. It isn't threaded but sort of "pops" onto it with a pressure fit. There is a distinct click when you have the cap properly attached, but it is so smooth. To remove the cap doesn't take an excessive amount of force, but we can rest assured that it is on there.

The Prera is actually quite small. Smaller than I expected! It makes the Metropolitan look like a giant. I've included a comparison shot to get an idea for what to expect against the Metropolitan and the Custom Heritage 92. With the decreased length, I definitely post the cap while writing. The pen comes in at only about 0.5 oz, so adding a little weight while writing feels good.

Overall, I think the Prera is a good little pen. Sturdy, eye catching, and reliable. Worth the full $70?... meh. $50? I would say so. If you missed the link...

Liking Pens Part II: Can Pens Be An Investment?

September 18, 2014

My thoughts for this post are as a follow up to the "Liking Pens" series and are about buying and selling pens as a possible investment. Or, not necessarily seeing pens as only pens or possessions.

Crazy thoughts, right? But, Mike, pens aren't meant to be looked at in this way; they are meant to be enjoyed.... well, tell that to every business you buy pens from. They make their living by "investing" into stock of pens and selling them for slightly more. Of course I am not planning on going into business selling pens as I have plenty of great people to buy from: Pen Chalet, JetPens, Goulet Pens, Karas Kustoms, and others, but there are times when there are pens I want that they do not have or my new discoveries take me to the more rare or difficult to find models.

I'm going to again discuss rOtring as it is an area that I am familiar with and I guess I am sort of the go-to rOtring guy in the blog world due to my obsessions. Hands down vintage rOtring pens are expensive, almost obscenely so in some instances, but supply, demand, and capitalism all play a part in this world we live in. Scarcity breeds high demand and high demand generally breeds higher prices. Economics in a nutshell.

I have amassed a small army of rOtring pens that on paper, from a financial standpoint, seems absolutely insane. Even I think it is crazy sometimes! With the going rate of vintage rOtring fountain pens around $200, when the numbers in your collection start climbing to the 7, 8, or 9 range you can start doing the math. I'm sure people that were able to buy rOtring pens while they were being sold at your local office supply store cringe at the thought of how much these go for now.

The truth is, I have yet to pay "full price" for a vintage rOtring fountain pen according to the going rate. My obsession, I suppose, has bred an aspect of "the hunt" for the next great find. I am scouring eBay nearly every day (not all day, but for a few minutes) looking through to find which one I might be able to acquire for a great deal. In turn, if I choose, I can sell these pens and make a slight profit which can help fund others. It is almost like a game. Several pens in my collection I've acquired for less than $100 each in near mint or oven NOS condition.

The real problem lies in then being able to part with them. This battle I discussed in Part I of the series, but is a real challenge when you start rationalizing in your mind that you really do need one of every nib size in both the silver and black 600 versions... really, you don't.

I haven't sold too many of my rOtring collection when looking at the lot as a whole, but have parted with nearly 10 over the last year all of which were for slightly higher than what I paid. I'm not the type to take advantage of people in the least so each pen I've sold has been for less than the "market value" for sure. Those that have bought have gotten what I would still consider a great deal.

One of the benefits of doing this if able is the fact that I get to enjoy these pens yet, if I want/need to sell one or some I am unlikely to lose any money doing so and in most cases may pocket a few dollars to put towards the next. Do I see my rOtring collection as a long-term, never part with type of thing? For some of the pens, yes, I'll keep them forever if possible, but others are there to enjoy and may just be here for part of my journey.

I have this same ideology with my current fascination for the vintage Japanese Pilot pens like they Murex, Myu, M90, Custom, and Elites from the 1970's (except the M90 from 2008). I am simply consumed by them right now which means I am always on the hunt. I'll admit, I have bought a lot of these pens recently since the bug hit, but all have been within a price range where I could part with them for either a slight profit or at least the break even point if necessary.

To raise funds for the new acquisitions, I've recently sold some of my other pens to make room for these ones. A very fluid system that could leave some people going nuts, kind of like buying stocks I suppose. It seems to work and is actually pretty fun. It keeps things fresh.

Similar to the other post, I'm not entirely certain if there is a point or moral to the post, but is another peek into the mind of a pen fanatic and how I approach most of my pen purchasing decisions overall. My pen journey is a bit more free spirited than many people I suppose as I buy and try new pens simply for the sake of learning what I like, what works the best, and ultimately what will likely stick. Although it seems completely on the non-conservative side of the spectrum, it makes a bit more sense when seen through the lens of something temporary or as an investment. Buy, try, see what sticks, potentially part with what you think won't.

Just don't let the collector bug grab hold too strongly...