Coming In For A Smooth Landing With Pilot's P500 Extra Fine Line Gel Ink Pen
Written: Apr 29 '03 (Updated Nov 09 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Extra fine tip, smooth ink flow, attractive barrel, archival safe ink.
Cons: Might be too fine for some peoples taste, no comfort grip.
The Bottom Line: The Pilot P-500 Extra Fine Gel Roller is a great pen that delivers a rich, archival safe ink. Dries fast, won't smudge and has an extremely attractive look.
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| Freak369's Full Review: Pilot P500 Gel Ink Rolling Ball Pen Black Ink Extr... |
When you first see this pen out of the package you might be fooled into thinking that it’s one of “those” expensive pens that run in the $40.00 range. The blue marble design gives this a sleek look that makes it perfect for the office or executive that tends to lose pens on a regular basis. Since this is inexpensive, replacing it won’t kill you. The clear cap allows you to see part of the ink chamber as well as the tip of the pen. Since you can only see part of the ink storage, judging how much is left in the pen is hit or miss. Generally these last me at least four months but that is based on my own personal use. If you use it often or it is a ‘general pen’ for everyone to use, you might notice that it will die a bit quicker.
Classified as a gel ink roller ball pen, this pen will give you continuous lines, superb ink flow and requires no ‘start up’ [doodling to get the ink flowing. Leaving the cap off this won’t dry it out since it is a roller ball style tip. The metal tip where the roller ball is located is extremely thin but very sturdy. Even those with a heavy hand will have a hard time trying to bend this. The only time that the tip might see some abuse is when you go to recap it, if you smash it into the side of the cap, it could bend the tip and ruin the pen.
This style of pen is available in three colors: black, red and blue. You can also choose between the extra fine [0.5] and fine point [0.7] depending on what your needs are. The can be purchased separately for about $1.29 each. If you try this pen out and find it to your liking you can also purchase it by the dozen for about $13.99. The dozen packs contain all the same color so I suggest that you really like this pen a lot before you purchase the dozen because these things last a long long time. As I mentioned above, these usually last me about four months so they are most definitely worth the suggested retail price.
Comfort
Even though there isn’t a rubber comfort grip at the base of the pen, the ringed grooves provide you with a very nice feel when you are using it. It reminds me a lot of the beaded back massagers because as you write it gently rubs against your fingers. If you don’t like the feel of the grooves you can purchase a slip on rubber gripper at any office supply store for about $1.00. These slip on and off easy so you can still replace the cap. Some even come with a small attached cord so you can clip it on to the cap. I’ve used this during meetings where a lot of note taking was required and it was a real pleasure, no cramps or aches and my fingers weren’t numb afterwards. The base of the pen [where you hold it] is a little smaller than the barrel so it is easy to use and fits perfectly between your fingers.
Ink
The ink flow is superb with no skipping, clumping or spitting. Based upon the quality of the ink and delivery alone I would highly recommend this to artists, students who take a lot of notes or anyone that wants or needs an extra fine line to work with. Even though the tip is 0.5 you do get a nice solid line. Some of the other pens that have this size tip are prone to skipping since there isn’t enough ink being fed into the chamber. I did my typical ‘freak test’ [drawing long, steady lines to see if there are any breaks in it] and this passed with flying colors. The ink dries almost instantly and I’ve yet to have it smudge on me when I was drawing or writing. The ink is also archival quality too so it is perfect for using when scrap booking, compiling a photo album or writing documents that will need to stand up to the test of time.
The only problem I have has with the ink is when I get it on my hands or clothing. This usually happens when I am rushing to finish something or end up dragging the sleeve over the paper. The ink dries almost instantly but if you are sliding your arm or write over it while you are writing you might end up with a little on you. When I got some on the sleeve of my shirt I washed it as soon as possible in hot water and all the ink came out. There aren’t any instructions on the package for laundering so I suggest trying to wash it as quickly as possible in the hottest water that is recommended for the clothing. Removing it from your hands is easy with a little soap, water and a finger brush.
The Bottom Line
This is one of the nicer extra fine line gel roller pens on the market, the design on the barrel gives it an executive look without the executive price. My sons don’t really care for this for doing homework, taking notes or writing letters but they will come looking for it when they are drawing or doing an art project that requires small or fine lettering. If you are a fan of gel pens I highly suggest checking this one out. You can find these in the individual packages at most retail stores that sell school supplies or most major office supply stores. For more information about the Pilot pen line, stop by their official website at www.pilotpen.com.
As always, thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
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Recommended:
Yes
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