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Copic Drawing Pens


jmignault

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This is also posted at my blog.

 

While idly browsing JetPens recently I happened across some Copic Drawing Pens. That Copic makes drawing pens is hardly news; I've been using their markers and Multiliners both refillable and disposable for awhile. What was interesting about these Drawing Pens was that they were...fountain pens. I beseeched the folks at JetPens to provide me with samples for review, and they were kind enough to oblige.

 

There are 3 pens available, as pictured below.

 

a 0.2 mm nib with black ink,

a 0.1 mm nib with black ink, and

a 0.1 mm nib with sepia ink.

 

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2484/3771895673_b347964036.jpg

 

The pens are not refillable. The nibs are unmarked, appear to be made of steel, and are reasonably smooth. Unsurprisingly, I found the F02 nib to be a bit smoother than the F01s. Both are firm approaching state of nail - they appeared to yield to some amount of pressure, but did not yield any significant line variation in use. They put down a decent wet line with good flow, though the F01s wrote a bit dry when I first uncapped them and needed a gentle shake or two. (Incidentally, the barrel of the pen advises you to not "shake hard and drop," as "ink may leak." Thanks.)

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2584/3772701140_3551c19f07.jpg

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3504/3772702170_3e7141932c.jpg

 

I sometimes draw a bit and have also been known to put a splash of watercolor on those drawings when "finished." The Multiliners are great for ink and wash drawings, completely waterproof. Well, the barrels of the Drawing Pens say "Copic-proof" (how recursive,) but, ominously, NOT "waterproof."

 

Below are the results of dragging a Niji waterbrush across some doodles. This was done maybe 20 minutes after the "drawings" were finished.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/3772701724_e138544162.jpg

 

As you can see, smearing (along with its old friend beading - these were done in that hipster paragon the Moleskine sketchbook) occurred. If you're buying these to use with Copic markers, you're, well, Copic-cetic. If not, expect smearing and tears (yours, not the pens, which as we all know are inanimate objects incapable of tears.) I'm somewhat confused as to why Copic introduced these, as they already produce a pretty extensive line of drawing pens and markers. My only surmise is that these are meant to compete with the Tachikawa line of disposable Manga pens. These are a reasonably decent, inexpensive fountain pen, and probably a step up from a Preppy or a Varsity.

Edited by jmignault
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...

a .02 mm nib with black ink,

a .01 mm nib with black ink, and

a .01 mm nib with sepia ink.

...

I sometimes draw a bit and have also been known to put a splash of watercolor on those drawings when "finished." The Multiliners are great for ink and wash drawings, completely waterproof. Well, the barrels of the Drawing Pens say "Copic-proof" (how recursive,) but, ominously, NOT "waterproof."

...

Thank you for this review.

I assume that these are 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm nibs (seems more feasible).

It is interesting to note that JetPens list these pens as containing waterproof ink.

I'm not sure I see the value here if the ink does not withstand a watercolor wash.

--Brian

 

The world seldom recognizes genius, but when it does it squashes it with the abject tedium of compromise.

-- Manservant Neville (The Middleman: The Clotharian Contamination Protocol)

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Thank you for this review.

I assume that these are 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm nibs (seems more feasible).

It is interesting to note that JetPens list these pens as containing waterproof ink.

I'm not sure I see the value here if the ink does not withstand a watercolor wash.

--Brian

 

Right. Typo. Corrected. Thank you.

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Thanks for this interesting contribution. I'd not heard of Copic writing instruments before. Seems like a pretty good pen for $4.95. Great Sepia ink color!

 

Most of the time when a pen is "disposable", there's usually some clever way to refill them with more ink. I wonder if there isn't a way with these, seeing how the bodies are mostly sealed up.

 

Btw, I'm originally from New Rochelle. :) Were you born there?

Edited by MYU

[MYU's Pen Review Corner] | "The Common Ground" -- Jeffrey Small

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Thanks for this interesting contribution. I'd not heard of Copic writing instruments before. Seems like a pretty good pen for $4.95. Great Sepia ink color!

 

Most of the time when a pen is "disposable", there's usually some clever way to refill them with more ink. I wonder if there isn't a way with these, seeing how the bodies are mostly sealed up.

 

Btw, I'm originally from New Rochelle. :) Were you born there?

Am I the outlier here. Got the pens agree with review BUT, they ran dry on me in 2 days limited writing. I would SWAG that I got maybe 2-3 pages 5" x 7" size out of them. Otherwise liked them a lot. How long did your ink last? TIA, Jim

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Btw, I'm originally from New Rochelle. :) Were you born there?

 

No, I'm from RI originally. Moved to NYC in 1990, NR in 1998.

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Am I the outlier here. Got the pens agree with review BUT, they ran dry on me in 2 days limited writing. I would SWAG that I got maybe 2-3 pages 5" x 7" size out of them. Otherwise liked them a lot. How long did your ink last? TIA, Jim

 

So far, they're still working, had them about a month or so, I think.

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Am I the outlier here. Got the pens agree with review BUT, they ran dry on me in 2 days limited writing. I would SWAG that I got maybe 2-3 pages 5" x 7" size out of them. Otherwise liked them a lot. How long did your ink last? TIA, Jim

So far, they're still working, had them about a month or so, I think.

I wonder if after they end up drying out, they can be revived? A quick ultrasonic bath on the nib part?

[MYU's Pen Review Corner] | "The Common Ground" -- Jeffrey Small

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Am I the outlier here. Got the pens agree with review BUT, they ran dry on me in 2 days limited writing. I would SWAG that I got maybe 2-3 pages 5" x 7" size out of them. Otherwise liked them a lot. How long did your ink last? TIA, Jim

So far, they're still working, had them about a month or so, I think.

I wonder if after they end up drying out, they can be revived? A quick ultrasonic bath on the nib part?

I tried dipping them in warm water, to no avail. I don't have an ultrasonic bath or I'd certainly gice that a go. Thanks, Jim

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  • 2 years later...

They are advertised as Copic proof, which all water based ink is anyway. You can color with a Copic marker over any fountain pen drawing and it the alcohol based marker will not disturb the drawing at all. Try using a Copic marker over ballpoint and it will dissolve the ink.

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  • 1 year later...

They *are* refillable, but in a limited way as there is no simple means of sealing the section and end plug into the barrel. If you pull the end plug out you can see the fibrous ink "reservoir" inside. A good rap of the butt of the barrel on a tabletop will knock that thing right out of the pen, and which point it could be washed out, dried, and soaked in a new ink. I wouldn't advise simply applying more ink as I don't know whether the Copic water-based ink would react with some other manufacturer's ink.

 

The section, nib, feed, and wick all pull out easily as well for cleaning.

 

If a non-permanent means of sealing the section and plug can be found, I see no reason why the barrel couldn't simply be filled with a lot more ink than the fibrous thing would absorb. That could actually be left in the pen to buffer ink flow, for that matter.

 

If your pen is difficult to start, pull out that end plug, wrap your lips around the end of the barrel, and blow gently but firmly until a drop of ink appears on the nib.

Edited by Chthulhu

Mike Hungerford

Model Zips - Google Drive

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The Tachikawa School G pen has a similar build and line quality and is easy to convert to an eyedropper btw, and holds a lot of ink. I haven't tried the ink that comes in the cartridges with alcohol-based markers so I can't say if it's completely permanent, but with water-based media it seems fine.

 

I've noticed that this pen also has a drying problem, but it's really not a big deal if you're continuously writing/drawing with the pen. It starts up again with a quick wipe. I'd recommend the Tachikawa over the Copic if anyone wanted a refillable pen in this style and price range.

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I had one of the earlier Tachikawa Manga pens, and it clogged pretty quickly with the included ink. Lots of flushing, and doing the eyedropper thing with some Noodler's Black made a big difference.

 

I just re-inked my sepia Copic pen with some Rohrer & Klingner sepia, and it's a *much* happier, much wetter pen, now. With a just-barely-moist fibrous thing, it took a bit less than one ml of ink to saturate it, probably about 0.8 ml, so comparable to a small international cartridge in capacity.

Mike Hungerford

Model Zips - Google Drive

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The ink that the Tachikawa comes with is viscous to be sure! I used up about a third of the cartridge before deciding that if I wanted waterproof lines I could make my lazy self break out the ol' dip pen + india ink combo.

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  • 3 years later...

I've recently came across this Copic Pen, I've been a Copic Marker user for 5 years now, I have Standard Certification on the markers and pens but I've never knew or pay attention to this pen before until now. I bought one to try it out for my Urban Sketching but when I've try watercoloring the sketch it smear. I do like it though for sketching, Copics are my favorite markers for most of the Art I do and having this particular Copic pen in my stash is ok.

FP's: Noodler's Charlie Pen, Noodler's King Philip Ahab, JinHao X450 Blue, JinHao X750 Gold, Jinhao 599 Transparent, Hero 366 Green, Hero 9626, Hero 329-A Jinhao Shark Black and Green,Jinhao 992 Coffee, Lamy Safari Black, Lanbitou /2 Transparent/ 1 Black /1 Red/1 Beige, Hero 9075 Black, Twsbi Go Saphire, Jinhao Porcelain Horses, Pilot Vanishing Point Black
INKS: Noodler's Heart of Darkness - Baystate Blue - Apache Sunset - Bullet Proof Black - Blue Nose Bear - Black Swan In Australian Roses - Widow Maker - 54th Massachusetts - Navajo Turquoise - Burning Rome - General of The Armies
OTHER INKS: Thortons - Green / Pelikan-Blue / J. Herbin 1670- Ocean Blue / Diamine Skulls and Roses

 

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In the early 90#s Berol made a disposable fountain pen that used the same nib. The barrel and cap were different, but it was the same nib.

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