Pentel 999 HB Review

April 4, 2016April 4, 2016 pocketbunnyLeave a comment

Introduction

I found out about Pentel 999 scrolling through JetPens. I found it interesting that they described it as “Pentel’s highest performing professional wooden drafting pencil” as I am not that familiar with many of Pentel’s pencils. Though they were only relatively recently discontinued, they are difficult to acquire. However, I was lucky enough to get one through a trade (thanks Jack!).

Specs

Place of Manufacture: Japan
Price: ~$10 on the secondary market

Packaging

From the pictures, the pencil originally came in a black box with grey writing. This matches the style, both in font and color, of the pencil itself. As I received the pencil through the trade, I did not get a box.

Fit and Finish

The pencil, being NOS, has some wear and tear. It appears as though the pencil was finished with a gray layer and then a black layer on top. There is some speckling on the barrel of the silver coming through the black paint.

The end of the pencil features some cracking on the gray end.

The gray rings around the barrel surrounding the graphite grade are not perfect and the edges are jagged. It appears as if there were multiple coats of paint put on unevenly or something.

The pencil is super light for its size. It has no ferrule, but it still weights less than any of the ferrule-less pencils I received in the trade and less than my commonly used Mitsubishi 9800.

Overall, the finish is not as good as I saw in the pictures, but perfectly understandable considering that this is a NOS pencil. The type of paint they used on the barrel is susceptible to these types of speckling and, as a user, I don’t think I’ll mind it too much.

Design

The pencil features two main colors: a grayish silver and black. The barcode and UPC on the back are printed in white. As stated before, I believe that the pencil was coated in Silver before a layer of black was overlaid.

The font chosen is a sans-serif font that is “boxy”. The individual letters are wide and it works well with the feeling of the pencil. The “999” is created with smaller squares. This gives it enough pop without standing out too much.

Functionality

Sharpening the pencil for the first time was frightening. Not knowing how it would sharpen, I was afraid that I might waste a large portion of the core due to some random mishap. Luckily, that did not happen.

I love the way the pencil writes. The pencil is light but still feels balanced in the hand. The lead is smooth. Way smoother than any HB that I’ve used (even smoother than the Hi-Uni). It makes a dark line that is easy to read. The one issue I have with it is that it seems like the tip degrades quickly. This can make for some big line variations depending on whether or not you rotate your pencil when using it.

Conclusion

I’d love to have more of these. They write like a dream. They’re not without their flaws, including a paint job that is lackluster and a tip that requires rotating. However, the dark line it puts down and the feedback it has makes up for it. I don’t think I’d pat ~$10 for a pencil based on my experience, but I will treasure the one that I have and use it whenever I want a change in feel.

Zach Wood Pry Bar Review

April 2, 2016July 13, 2016 pocketbunny4 Comments

Introduction

I saw a Zach Wood tool on r/EDC and loved it. His website was a bit sparse and his Facebook page was rarely updated. There was a stickied post, though, that directed me to joining a Facebook group that I’ve grown to love. There, I managed to purchase my first Zach Wood tool. I’ve been carrying it ever since and I’m sure I’ll be carrying it for a very long time.

Specs

Maker: Zach Wood Custom Knives and Tools
Place of Manufacture: USA
Length: 6 inches
Material: A2
Price: $185 (retail)

The Maker

Zach Wood is a custom maker based in Montana. Beyond the type of tools mentioned in the review, he also makes knives through forging and stock removal. He’s quite active in the eponymous Facebook group.

Purchasing

I purchased the tool second hand on the Facebook group. This is the easiest way to acquire a tool. They occasionally show up on eBay, forums and from a few online sellers, but they come at a premium and they often don’t have them in stock.

The second easiest way to purchase a tool is to get it through one of the “buy” posts that Zach makes. Since there are so many people who want to purchase a tool, Zach will often sell them to the first “x” commenters or pick a few randomly from the commenters in a lottery form.

It appears as though most secondary sellers in the group are honest and I have read of no issues. For me, my item originated in Thailand, but the seller was excellent and I received my tool well packaged with a bead as a gift.

Fit and Finish

I would describe the tool as well made, but still has the touches of being handmade.

The “A2” stamped into the front pry is noticeably uneven and the “A” looks as though the punch moved while being hit. It makes no functional difference and, in my opinion, makes pry tool easily recognizable and unique.

The grinds on the chisel end still feature the grind lines. The tip is not sharp and all the edges are rounded.

The clip is thick and is very stiff. I have rolled around with the pry bar clipped to my jeans and it never shifted. There is a double side to it, though. The pry bar can be a bit hard to get clipped to a pocket and it appears as though it is starting to create a wear pattern on my jeans.

The design of the clip is very interesting. There is a small hole, that goes all the way through the bar, where the clip sticks in. This keeps the clip from rotating. The clip itself is held in place via a bicycle chain link. These can be easily removed and replaced with a chain link of a different color.

The side edges of the tool are rounded, but are straight. The tool was purchased second hand, so I am unsure if all of the wear marks are from the maker, but from the pictures from the maker, it would seems as though he purposely wears the tool during finishing.

The fuller along the front of the knife is straight although the holes are not perfectly aligned. However, the holes that hold a screw bit and the O2 tank opener seem accurately sized.

Functionality

While many purchase these tools for collecting, I purchased it for using. With a length of 6 inches, the tool might not fit that well in some pants. It does all right in my jeans though.

As a pry tool, I have used the tool to remove adhesive that the last tenant had left on my door. Furthermore, I have used the bit holder to help disassemble open up a gas tank. The length allows for more torque to be applied in comparison to a normal screw driver.

Conclusion

While many might scoff at the idea of “EDC” and think one piece tools have little use, but I love this Zach Wood tool and have found uses for it most days. Having a pry tool is nice as it saves other tools, such as screwdrivers and knives, from being used improperly and damaged. I’ll be carrying this guy around for a while for sure.

Warther Wood Carving Knives

March 31, 2016 pocketbunnyLeave a comment

Introduction

Ernest “Mooney” Warther was an American wood carver famous for creating train models and producing kitchen knives. He made his own carving knives, a unique design where different shaped blades were stored in the handle, as well as fighting (he called them “commando”) knives for members of the armed services. Here, I’ll be talking a bit about two of his carving knives that I have.

Specs

Place of Manufacture: USA
Blade Steel: 440c
Price: $37.50 (direct from Warther Cutlery)

Packaging

The knives come in these card stock boxes. The #1 model was purchased before the logo change as seen on the box.

Fit and Finish

It is evident that the knives are hand-finished. There are small issues with the knives such as handle curves that are uneven, blade grinds that are unsymmetrical among others. However, since the knives are hand-finished, they were able to remove sharp edges that might dig into the hand and ensure that the knife has no structural defects.

Functionality

This is where the knife shines. Although the steel is 440C, a relatively inexpensive steel, they have heat treated it to where it holds a decent edge. Furthermore, the blade shapes are well designed for what they are described to do:

#1 wood carving knife – Straight edge carving knife with 1.5″ blade. Used for scoring, lettering, and cutting straight lines.

#10 wood carving knife – A small straight blade approx. 1″ long. This knife has a fine point for intricate detail work.

The #1 and #10 are similar in shape although the #10 has a finer point. I have the feeling that the #1 has a thicker blade nearer the tip than the #10 does as well. This is the biggest strength of these knives. Since they were designed by a master carver, they work great for what they are meant to do.

Pencil Sharpening

These knives, with their straight blades, work very well for pencil sharpening. I prefer to use the #1 as the #10 dulls too quickly. The handle allows for a comfortable grip and for the thumb to be placed on the spine of the blade. This makes accurate cuts easy.

Conclusion

While these knives may seem plain and simple to most, they are in fact well designed tools. The fit and finish could be improved, but for a handmade knife by a well-known American company at this price point, I have little complaint.

Eberhard Faber Mongol 482 No. 2 Review

March 27, 2016 pocketbunnyLeave a comment

Introduction

The Mongol series from Eberhard Faber is a famous one. John Steinbeck was said to prefer Blackwings and Mongol 480s. Here, I have a box of 482s, which look as school-like as pencil can look. Do they stand up to their lore, or has age gotten the best of them? Let’s find out.

Specs

Place of Manufacture: USA
Price: $20-25 a box, up to $200 for early 1900s version

Packaging

I love the box. It features a full size picture of the pencil on the front. There are many different fonts above and below it, drawing the eye to different sections. On the back, there is a brief description of the the pencil with the different hardnesses that it comes with. I believe this is the second generation of boxes. The first generation had an Asian theme to it.

It is two pieces, with one half larger than the other. The inner section pushes out to access the pencils.

The other sides of the box feature a similar design with the front with one of the edges having the hardness of the lead.

Fit and Finish

Being a vintage pencil, it can be a bit difficult to judge quality. Over time, moisture and dryness can both affect the wood and the lacquer.

I immediately noticed a few issues with the printing. The printing was not very crisp and the lettering was not centered perfectly on the side.

On the back, a bit of paint was chipped. It would appear as though this happened when the ferrule was attached. The ferrule itself has a gold band that has held up well over time. There is some discoloration on the black areas though.

Design

As stated before, the pencil has that school look to it. The yellow is similar to the cheap dollar store pencil shade and it has the pink eraser stuck to the end of it. That being said, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a traditional look like this. In fact, I find it to be quite appealing, especially with the execution. The small details, such as the gold band around the ferrule and, once again, the fonts used really make this pencil stand out.

Functionality

The pencil writes quite well. It has a tad of feedback like the Mitsubishi 9800 HB, but lacks some of the smoothness. It has a dry feeling on the paper rather. It doesn’t glide as much as move across the paper.

In comparison to modern Japanese pencils, such as the Hi-Uni and Mono 100, the pencil is harder. I like, however, how it produces a dark line while have little wear down. I can see myself using this pencil for a long time before sharpening. It compares well to a Cedar Pointe though I like the Mongol’s core a tad more.

Conclusion

I like the Mongol 482. It doesn’t write as nicely has a Blackwing 602 but it wasn’t meant to compete with it. The Mongol is a business and school pencil. It was designed for lots of writing and lots of use. Its original price point was low enough where you wouldn’t feel bad about losing it, comparing with the Blackwing which was a premium product.

I’m glad I picked up a box. I don’t think they’ll replace my Mitsubishi 9800s, but whenever I’m looking for a change, I’ll pluck one out of the box and give it a go.

Mitsubishi Vermillion and Prussian Blue Pencil Review

March 21, 2016 pocketbunnyLeave a comment

Introduction

Red and blue combination pencils have been popular for a long time. They offer the user two contrasting colors in one writing utensil that can be used for tasks such as proofing, highlighting and drawing. Here, Tombow has produced a combination pencil with a unique ratio of red and blue. How well does this pencil work?

Specs

Place of Manufacture: Japan
Price: $7-8 for a box of 12

Fit and Finish

Design

Functionality

Conclusion

Mitsubishi Hi-Uni Review

March 21, 2016March 27, 2016 pocketbunnyLeave a comment

Introduction

The Mitsubishi Hi-Uni is a high end pencil. Two or three pencils equating the cost of a box of Mitsubishi 9800s, the Hi-Uni is supposed to be much better than its workhorse relative. But how much better can a pencil be?

Specs

Place of Manufacture: Japan
Price: $20-25 for a box of 12, $2-3 per pencil

Packaging

The Mitsubishi Hi-Uni comes in a nice plastic case when a dozen are purchased. There is an inner plastic divider to separate the two layers of six pencils. The build quality is quite decent and it keeps the pencils safe. I like it so much that I still use it to hold some of my favorite pencils.

Fit and Finish

The level of detail and meticulousness that Mitsubishi has put into this pencil is amazing. The maroon lacquer is perfect (out of the box, that is) and there are no scratches nor is there chipped paint. The lettering is crisp and precise all around. The foil band around the end is straight and fits perfectly in the groove that is cut into the wood. The graphite core sits very centered. I have no complaints at all.

Design

The design of the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni has one flaw: the clutter. The barcode on the backside along with the UPC set this back from other pencils such as the Blackwing.

Similarly, the multitude of fonts used on the pencil can make it an eyesore.

However, the colors used, red, black and gold, work well together.

Functionality

The jump from a 9800 to the Hi-Uni is quite evident. The Hi-Uni has a much smoother core than the 9800 while maintaining a certain level of feedback. The pencil is obviously harder than a Blackwing 602, but will not lose to it in terms of smoothness. It has a bit of residue when writing with lots of pressure, but normal writing will erase well.

Sharpening the pencil is fun. The cedar the Mitsubishi has used in the pencil smells great and sharpeners glide through the wood.

Conclusion

The Mitsubishi Hi-Uni is a high end pencil. It features a good lead core, nice wood and great fit and finishing at a more expensive price. It has a few design issues, but overall, it is a great pencil.

Ohto Sharp Pencil (APS-350ES) Review

March 17, 2016March 17, 2016 pocketbunnyLeave a comment

Introduction

I love mechanical pencils. I love wooden pencils. The Ohto Sharp Pencil line tries to get the post of both worlds. It looks like a wooden pencil. It feels like a wooden pencil. But, 0.5mm lead comes out and the ferrule is actually a push button. How well does it actually work?

Specs

Place of Manufacture: Japan
Price: $5 (from Japan), $15 (Amazon)

Packaging

The pencil came in a simple plastic packaging. It opens via a flap on the bottom.

Fit and Finish

The finish on the pencil is superb. The lacquer is smooth and the silver foiling is sharp. The clip fits well and does not wiggle. The eraser cap is of a little concern though. While it is firmly attached, there is wiggle associated with it. I believe this is from the entire mechanism inside not being that sturdy.

Design

I believe that this is essentially a wooden pencil without the graphite with a mechanical pencil mechanism stuck in. The mechanism is not attached on the top except for the eraser cap. The end piece where the clip is attached to seems to only provide place for the clip and offers no other purpose.

Functionality

I like the form-factor of this pencil, but at the same time, it is its biggest weakness. The pencil feels out of place in the hand, not because it is too short, but because of its diameter. It almost feels like trying to grip a toothpick. I did use it for an entire day of note-taking and found it to be tolerable nearing the end of the day. However, I would definitely recommend a thicker pencil if you want comfort.

However, due to the length and diameter, this pencil is quite useful in many ways. It can easily be slipped into a pencil case or sleeve as a backup pencil as it does not take up that much room. It can also be placed in a shirt pocket without fear of it making a hole as it is not long enough.

Conclusion

As always, this pencil has a specific purpose and it does it well: it is for convenience, not comfort. It is meant for backup use or a gimmick and not a workhorse. In that regard, it works very well. Don’t force it into tasks it shouldn’t handle and you got yourself a nice mini-pencil.

Lamy Al-Star Review

March 13, 2016 pocketbunny1 Comment

Introduction

As with many fountain pen enthusiasts, my first fountain pen was a Lamy. I received the Lamy Al-Star as a gift after expressing interest in writing with fountain pens. It doesn’t get used as often as my Platinum 3776 Century. Read on to find out why.

Specs

Dimensions: 140mm (length), 13mm (diameter)
Weight: 20g
Place of Manufacture: Germany
Price: $47 (retail), $37 (most retailers)

Some History

The Lamy Safari is one of the most common starting pens. Being inexpensive, coming a reputable (debatable) manufacturer, and being fairly durable, it lightens the learning curve. The Al-Star and the Vista are variants of this design, with the nib and feed remaining the same. The Vista is transparent while the Al-Star is made of anodized aluminum.

Fit and Finish

The Al-Star has somewhat better tolerances than the Safari. It suffers some of the regular issues such as a hit-or-miss feed and nib as well as some general quality issues with the body. For example, the plastic has a few ridges from the molding and the LAMY engraving (or perhaps pressing) on the body has irregularities in the corners.

Functionality

The pen comes in all normal Lamy Safari nib sizings. This fine nib is a European fine and puts down a line equivalent to a Japanese medium.

The pen does not have much flex.

The converter is a Z24 that can hold around 0.6 mL.

Conclusion

As a first fountain pen, the Lamy Al-Star has some merit. It has a solid construction and the pricing makes it almost acceptable to drop it nib-first on the ground when you’re still learning your way.

With European nib sizing, it can be a bit hard to get finer lines and the irregularities and inconsistencies with Lamy production can make one pen lovely to use and another pen a prop.

For beginner pens, I’d personally recommend the Sailor HighAce Neo. While quality of construction is about the same, the quality of the nib is a bit better and it comes in at a lower price.

Platinum Century 3776 EF Review

March 7, 2016March 8, 2016 pocketbunny2 Comments

Introduction

My Platinum Century 3776 is my daily driver for all my writing tasks. Whether I bring it to class, I clip it to my shirt when I’m all dressed up, it’s usually either in my bag or in my pocket. Sure the body has signs of wear due to all this carrying, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s some words on my trusty fountain pen.

Specs

Dimensions: 120mm (length), 13mm (diameter)
Weight: 20g
Place of Manufacture: Japan
Price: $220 (retail), $70-100 (eBay, direct from Japan)

Background

When I was picking out my next fountain pen,I had a Pilot Custom 74 in one hand and the Platinum in the other. These two pens are are very similar in many ways. They are of similar length, made of similar material, and both feature 14k nibs. However, there were a few small differences that made me choose the Platinum over the pilot.

Packaging

The pen comes in a plastic snap box, housed in a white cardboard sleeve. The case feels appropriate for a pen of this price. It is sturdy and cushioned for the pen. The ribbon holding the pen is taut and it can be a bit difficult to put the pen back if you wanted (as I did for the pictures).

Fit and Finish

The pen body is made out of resin which I assume is an alternative (fancier/more accurate) name of the type of plastic that is used. The light weight can be a tad off-putting and the texture that it has can feel a bit cheap.

The pen has gold trim from top to bottom. The cap features a gold pocket clip and there is a gold band with the name of the pen around the bottom of the cap. Additionally, there are two more smaller gold bands on the main body of the pen.

The nib is rather large in comparison with the Pilot (this was one of the reasons I chose the Platinum). The gold content, Platinum “P” and “#3776” are engraved on the nib.

The pen supposedly comes with a “Slip and Seal” technology mechanism that is to keep the ink from drying out for up to 24 months. The spring and additionally plastic sleeve used in this technology is easily seen through the plastic cap.

Functionality

I’m a student and this pen is exactly what I need it to be. I don’t need super flex or BB nibs. What I need is a pen that will work day in and day out. This is exactly that pen. The thin narrow line that it produces is not overly wet, though it starts every time.

The body is very prone to scratching. I don’t carry the pen in the same pocket as my keys, but scratches of all sizes have slowly appeared. The trim, however, does not seem to have chipped at all.

Conclusion

I have no regrets with this pen. Sure, it has an outdated appearance and can look a bit out of place. However, the way it performs and the feeling it has in my hand is… I can’t put it in words.

Opinel Sharpening Stone Review

February 29, 2016February 29, 2016 pocketbunny5 Comments

Introduction

I’m a pretty big fan of Opinel. For over 100 years, they’ve been able to output decent knives for a decent price. So, it goes without question that when I was looking for a budget sharpening stone, I checked if Opinel made any. To my surprise, they did. Today, we’re reviewing the Opinel Sharpening Stone.

Specs

Dimensions: 4″ x 15/16 x 3/16
Weight: 1.3 oz
Place of Manufacture: Lombardi, Italy
Cost: $9.95 (pretty consistent among online retailers)

Packaging

When I was looking to buy this sharpening stone, Amazon was out of stock, so I bought it off of eBay. The seller was from France though shipping ended up being quite quick and cheap. The packaging, however, did not fair that well. The stone fits well and I still reuse the box to hold the stone when it is not in use.

Fit and Finish

The stone appears to have nice straight edges although this is not true. As seen from the pictures, the stone’s edges are a bit jagged and there is a taper. I believe this is due to the fact that this is a natural stone. While the dimensions of the stone are not perfect, the surfaces are all pretty flat (not a lot of lapping was needed) and there was nothing beyond cosmetic issues with it.

Functionality

As stated before, the stone came pretty flat. I lapped it on sandpaper for a bit to get a flatter edge though.

Through experimentation, the stone is best used wet. I usually use water although mineral oil worked all right as well. I’ve mostly used the stone to touch up blades. It does a pretty good job and a few strokes is all that’s needed to bring a knife back. I would estimate the stone to be equivalent to 800 grit.

Conclusion

I would say that this stone has a big advantage in portability, but that’s about it. I have no complaints for it nor do I have anything too spectacular to say for it. I’ll keep it in my drawer for when I need to touch up some knives or throw it in my backpack if I’m going somewhere and need to sharpen some knives (although I’m not sure if this is actually ever a possibility).

Frozen Pocket

"a bit of everything"

Tag: Review

Pentel 999 HB Review

Zach Wood Pry Bar Review

Warther Wood Carving Knives

Eberhard Faber Mongol 482 No. 2 Review

Mitsubishi Vermillion and Prussian Blue Pencil Review

Mitsubishi Hi-Uni Review

Ohto Sharp Pencil (APS-350ES) Review

Lamy Al-Star Review

Platinum Century 3776 EF Review

Opinel Sharpening Stone Review