[chiplotle-discuss] mechanical pencil experiments

[Ryan Gallagher]

On Mon, Mar 19, 2012 at 10:18 AM, Brian Boucheron <brian at boucheron.org> wrote:
> Back to the pencil topic... I haven't done any more experimenting with
> the bic ai, but was just made aware of the existence of "liquid
> pencils". A friend of mine did a review:
>
> http://blog.hoopycat.com/2010/08/review-sharpie-liquid-pencil
>
> Doesn't sound promising really... the reviews on amazon are not kind:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-Liquid-Mechanical-Pencils-1770244/dp/B003VQHQ8E/
>
> But maybe it'll magically work better when controlled by a robot. I'm
> only really looking for that graphite look, plus maybe some
> smudgeability (plotter mounted tortillon, anybody?).
>
> The sinful convenience of amazon prime means I'll probably be able to
> test the pencilpen this Thursday eve.

I feel like these are probably better described as erasable pens,
albeit a graphite based ink product, though i have not tried one and
am curious to see your sense of it for mechanically aided writing
(particularly pressure required?).  Smudging and blendability would be
neato, though your friends review doesn't seem to indicate it will
work as expected.  Also due to being an ink, I think a key element
will be missing... hardness?  Do they come in tip sizes yet?

Of course erasing much plotter ink types has been around for eons,
with the aid of a mechanical eraser and appropriate eraser type,
especially when plotting on certain types of film and velum, I used to
do hand revisions on draftpro plotted shop drawings this way back in
the day.  Mechanical erasers can do magic things that rubbing cannot

If eras-ability is the goal, this sharpie product may make it a lot
easier though (compared to existing ink erasers).  But if the
look/feel of pencil led is wanted, back to the drawing boards (for me
anyway without a pressure aware/hacked plotter just yet).

Have been too busy with SXSW gigs/work for further experiments with my
mechanical pencil-pens, although my stockpile of ebay acquired pens
has increased.  Even scored two refillables for free (in need of deep
cleaning before I attempt them).

Ryan