Cretacolor Classic Black 5.6mm Leadholder

The Cretacolor.43000, an unusual name for a lead holder/clutch pencil, is definitely from the budget end of lead holders (or clutch pencil, whichever you prefer), but is very well made never the less. Comes supplied with a 5.6mm black 2B (not actually identified on site, but my guess at lead softness) 123mm long lead, more leads are available in Graphite, White Pastel, Sanguine Oil, Sepia Light, Sepia Dark, Graphite 4B, Charcoal, 2B, 4B & 6B, as well as light/dark sepia & Sanguine, from various manufacturers via Cultpens.

The written line is variable through the written word and sentence, a very soft variable writing head which lays down a very dark and easy sliding line. The integrity of the deposited graphite is as you would expect very susceptible to smudging, both wet and dry, but I would not use this as a heavy writer, more of a sketch pencil for travel and flow charting etc.

The Clutch action is very firm and reassuring, though how long this will last will only be told through prolonged use. If your after a budget lead holder either for travel/pocket then I would certainly recommend this one, with plenty of options for lead colours and hardness options you should be able to kit out a sketch kit for not much investment at all.
All available from www.cultpens.com, free shipping for orders over £10 and shipping worldwide available.

Schneider Slider Memo XB *UPDATED*

The Schneider Memo XB is a very nice smooth writer, ink flows easily and instantly from first use, what the actual names means is open to discussion, thou it may have something to do with it being marketed as a scholars, or pupil as the manufactures website has it, pen, but as a "memo" pen, then its does it's job admirably, writing quickly and efficiently with a quick drying time. Ink is also "wipe proof" when used with highlighters and waterproof, some nice considerations and presumably why its marketed as a school/pupils pen. A nice range of colours is also available, apart form the normal blue. black and red, there are Green, Orange, Violet an Lilac (these are my interpretations of the colours on official website, as there are no supplied colour names by the manufacturer), each colour having its own barrel colour combination, the inner black part barrel of test pen changing to math ink colour.

The drying time is acceptable for any but the quickest of left handed writers, I am not left handed so please let me know if a "dryer" pen is best, with a strong, even and medium thickness line, again stated by manufacturer as 1.4mm, laid down easily and with little effort. Presumably due to the Viscoglide (R) - Technology used by the German manufacturer.

Below is a plain paper ink test with bleed through. As you can see its a nice fine dark and constant line with very little show thought to reverse side.

Written line test, plain "copier" paper

Bleed thought test, 80 gsm plain white copier paper

The body of the pen itself is very comfortable, light and easy on the hand, with a slight rubbery feeling to the bulk of the covering (blue bits). The pocket clip feels very strong and has a reassuring heft in it's spring, this pen is going nowhere in every day use and carrying, the cap itself fits snugly over the nub and even more snugly when mounted for writing, a stop lug is in place to prevent over fitting (see second picture below).

All in all a pleasant and promising everyday/pocket pen. The nib itself is stainless steel and wear resistant. The pen does not appear to be user dissemble, so i would say it is a disposable.

See www.schneiderpen.de/en/ for more info, using the penfinder to find this pen, and to browse the other products from manufacturer.

I received the pen as a free sample from www.cultpens.com when purchasing other items, I can heartily recommend them for any of your pen, refill and ink needs, free delivery on orders over £10 and ship worldwide.

Include the book the test quote is from in the comment area for personal kudos, all tests will have an (CLUE) opening line from a literary work.

I have a "thing" for pens..

Top Row L - R: 

Pilot V-5 HI-TECPOINT 0.5, BLACK; STAEDTLER Lumocolor permanent black Fine; 

Berol Italic black Medium; Stabilo Write-4-all permanent black Superfine;

Plus* Grey Fine&Jumbo double ended.

Top Left: 

Faber-Castell 4 PITT artist pen Sanguine Superfine, Fine, Medium & Brush.

Left Column: 

LETRASET Promarker Built Environment & Greys permanent twin-tip sets.

Middle Row: 

Pilot V Super Color Marker Cartridge Type Refillable Orange Chisel Medium;

Cumberland Pencil Musuem entrance pencils; 

Pilot V Super Color Marker Cartridge Type Refillable Red Chisel Medium;

Pilot V Super Color Marker Cartridge Type Refillable Blue Bullet Medium.

Bottom Row:

10 Pack TESCO Fibre Tip Pens Assorted;

Pilot V Super Color Marker Cartridge Type Refillable Black Chisel Bullet Medium 

Generic Glitter Gel Pens Gold & Silver;

ARTLINE Calligraphy Pen Metallic Gold & Silver;

Muji Calligraphy Brush Pen Black.

Top Left:

Cross Century Fountain Pen & Fibre Tip Lustrous Chrome.

Left Middle:

Generic Fineliner 0.4mm Assorted colours Fine.

Bottom Row:

Pentel Fibre Tip Black; STAEDTLER Lumocolor permanent black Fine;

Papermate Flexigrip Ultra Med Black; Wilkinson's Gel Roller Black; 

Parker Vector Fountain Pen Little Prince Edition; 

Cretacolor Classic Black 5.6mm Lead holder; ASDA Generic Mini Fountain Pen.

Top Right:

 Shaeffer Rainbow Fountain Pen; "Daddy's Pen" Ball Point; 

FC Barcelona Projector Ball Point; Generic Promotional Ball Point; Pilot Dr.Grip Ball Point; Muji Mini Ball Point;

Left Column:

Promotional Roller Ball; Generic Highlighters Pink, Orange & Yellow Chisel Tip;

Stabilo Swing Cool Highlighter Yellow Chisel Tip;

Faber-Castell Textliner Triangular Pencil Gold, Orange & Silver;

Cross Bullet Roller Ball;  Sharpie Pen Fine Red, Blue & Black;

Pilot V-5 HI-TECPOINT 0.5, BLACK; Plus* 0.7mm 4 Colors Mini;

Middle Column:

Cretacolor Classic Black 5.6mm Lead holder; Schneider Slider Memo XB Ballpoint

TESCO Ball Point Rainbow Selection; Plus* 0.7mm Retractable Ball Point;

Parker Ballpoint.

Right Column:

Pilot V-Ball 07 Blue Roller ball; Milan Capsule 0.7mm Mechanical Pencil;

WHSmith Own Brand Euro Cartridge Roller ball;

NOVOTEL Promotional Mechanical Pencil;

Cixi Zhouxiang Tianyi Stationery 2.0mm Auto-Pencil TY-820 spare assorted leads; 

Pentel Mechanical Pencil P205 0.5mm; Parker Vector 0.5mm Mechanical Pencil;

Pentel Sharplet-2 0.5mm mechanical pencil; Rotring Core Fountain Pen XB Nib;

Parker Vector Fountain Pen M Nib; ASDA Scholars Fountain Pen; 

Hero Pen Duke Fountain Pen.

Top Middle:

Pelikan Self Fill Fountain Pen Ink bottle.

Yes, i have a "thing" for pens and Sharpies too (see above), of all sorts, writing and drawing.
So, what is the point of these pictures? Well, I will be testing all of them and posting my thoughts, critiques and pictures of ink tests here, so, if you in the least bit interested in pens, for writing or drawing or just for having, keep checking back for updates and comparisons.