Staedtler Liquid Point 7: A Second Look

If you live long enough sooner or later you will have to eat the most distasteful of meals, Crow, followed by a generous helping of Humble Pie for desert. Such is the case with me and the Staedtler Liquid point 7 rollerball pens. Some months ago I had written about the Liquid Point 7 where I had given it a mediocre review. It was one of my earlier reviews and in my defense I can say that I was honestly looking for a 0.3 mm pen when I came across the Liquid Point 7 at my local Staples. What follows is a more in depth, more objective review of the Staedtler Liquid Point 7 Liquid Ink Pen, aka a Rollerball.

From the Staedtler website:

STAEDTLER® liquid point 7
Rollerball
* Rollerball with visible ink level
* High-tech needle tip for effortless writing
* Suitable for carbon copies
* Ink feed system
* With metal clip
* PP barrel guarantees long service life
* 4 colours
* Line width approx. 0.30 mm

Perfect writing performance

The liquid point's high-tech needle point guarantees high performance and fluent writing. Even when under pressure, the line width remains constant, keeping lettering clear and legible. In addition, the tip is ideal for use on carbon paper.

Ink feed system

The ingenious ink feed system ensures that the ink flow remains constant from the first right down to the last drop. This ink feed system impresses the user with a consistent, precise, pleasant and smooth writing experience.

Steadtler claims that the Liquid Point 7 produces a 0.3 mm line. And in deed it does produce a 0.3 mm wide line as measured by my Peak 10x Scale Lupe with a metric reticle. When I first came across the Liquid Point 7 rollerball I was expecting a 0.3 mm ball in the tip of the pen which would have produced a sub 0.3 mm line. That was my mistake and the main cause for the lackluster initial review.

The Liquid Point 7 stats: The pen weighs 9.7 grams. It is 137.5 mm long, capped.It is 151.1 mm long posted. It is 128.2 mm unposted. It is 9.3 mm in diameter in the body. It's balance point from the tip of the pen is 76.8 mm, posted and 69.9 mm unposted, making it a little bottom heavy either way. The look is attractive being 3 shades of metallic grey (Silver) with the ink color being reflected in a colored insert on, or rather in the top of the pen under the pocket clip which starts in the back of the pen and curves over the top then back earthward in order to form the pocket clip, which is chromed steel with the Staedtler logo embossed on the end. The cap is a dark metallic gray, the body a more silvery metallic grey studded evenly with rows of grey dots. There is a silver band around the body just under the cap with the words "MADE IN GERMANY" in grey letters. Opposite each other are 2 windows which allow you to see the ink supply. On one window the words "STAEDTLER" Liquid Point 7 in silver, which is a nice contrast to the darkness of the window. On the opposite side are 5 ink level indicators. The window is actually useful as one can actually see the ink supply. A color coded button seals the back of the pen.

The Liquid Point 7 is a needle point pen. This means it can easily be used with drawing or drafting equipment such as triangles and templates.



The grip is made from polypropylene and is clear. The grip itself is smooth but surprisingly affords the user an excellent gripping surface. It also allows the user to see the ink feed system, which unlike many of it's type does not fill with ink. This gives the Liquid Point 7 a cleaner, fresher look than other pens of it's type.


The Liquid point 7 is a smooth writing pen due in part because it's a liquid ink pen and in part because it's a 0.7 mm ball sized pen. The ink flows smoothly and the colors are bold, not washed out. I ran my usual tests, a writing test,a bleed through test, a smudge proof test and a waterproof test. The writing test consisted of writing a single like of text to check for smoothness and blobs of ink. The Liquid Point 7 passed this test with great marks. The bleed through test consists of me holding the tip of the pen to the paper for 10 seconds using normal writing pressure. All four pens bled through at least to the second page, a couple bled through 3 sheets and one bled through to the 4th page. The smudge test was where I wrote a short line of a word or two and quickly ran a finger across the ink in an effort to get it ti smudge. The Liquid Point 7 is difficult to smudge. The waterproof test consisted of 4 lines, one from each color, sprayed with tap water from a small spray bottle then left to dry. The ink ran and feathered.

Despite the feathering and bleed through the Liquid Point 7's wrote smoothly and without blotching. The slender bodies are not too slender for someone with larger hands! I personally find them easy to hold and control. I like the clear grip which I find easy to hold onto despite the smoothness of the grips. The pens make nice carry pens for general purpose use such as making notes and writing letters and such.

All in all a second look at the Staedtler Liquid Point 7 Liquid ink Pens proved enlightening. They are an elegant looking, easily controlled, smooth writing rollerball available in four colors, Black, Red, Green and Blue.

Bottom line, if you like smooth writing rollerballs in bright, solid colors that are elegant to look at, easy to handle, and write well then pick up a four pack of Staedtler Liquid point 7 Liquid Ink Pens today!

Many thanks to the STAEDTLER Mars GmbH & Co. KG, Customer Service Department for the consideration of the pens reviewed in this review.

Staedtler REG 925 85 03 Regulator or Zedragon Checks In

(Buzz!... Buzz!... Buzz!...) Oh, I think that I've got a call on the ole Intergalactic View Screen!...












Ladies and Gentlemen... I do believe that we are getting an image...












Yes! We are definitely getting an image!... And it looks like!... Yes, it is!...


It's Zedragon the Zefoid from the planet Zetta 1! Welcome, Zed! What brings you to my humble Intergalactic View Screen?

"Gerrtery humnnbdyyei burjueeerg..."

Oh, wait! I forgot to turn on the Intergalactic Translator!... (click)... There, now! As you were saying, Zed!

"I was just saying, Geezer, that the reason I've called is to share with your readers my review of the Staedtler REG 925 85 03 Regulator Drafting Pencil".

Oh, cool, Zed!... Eh, I didn't know that you could get Earth made items on Zetta 1, considering the vast distance involved!

"Oh, well, the delivery service is a little slow! That's why I came to Earth last week and bought one myself!".

You came to Earth and you didn't stop in and say 'Hello'!? Zed, I'm crushed!

"Sorry, Geezer, but I was on a tight schedule! I had the wife and little Zefoids along! It was a side trip! We were on a weekend trip to the Outer Rim and really didn't have the time for a social visit! Maybe next time?".

Well, in that case... Why don't you share your review with us, Zed! I'm dying to hear all about it!

"Well, alright then, Geezer, I will!".

"When I first saw the Staedtler REG 925 85 03 Regulator I wanted one! Not only is it an attractive pencil with an interstellar look to it it's a well designed and made pencil. It is also one of the few pencils out there that offers the user a way to regulate the amount of lead projected with each push of the push button. This is a feature that I really like as too many pencils nowadays project either too much lead or too little. It's nice to have the ability to set the amount of lead you want projected".


"The amount of lead projected is controlled by the Adjustment Wheel located just below the push button. Turning the wheel to the right, or clockwise as viewed from the top of the pencil, will reduce the amount of lead projected while turning it to the left, or counter clockwise, will increase the amount of lead projected. The user can see the setting via a window on the side of the pencil just below the pocket clip".

"The statistics of the pencil are thus: It is 140.3 mm long minimum to 141.9 mm maximum depending on how you have the lead projection set. The grip measures 9.1 mm in diameter while the body measures 8.9 mm in diameter. The balance point will vary from 74.6 mm from the push button to 76.2 mm. This makes the REG slightly top heavy. The pencil weighs a whopping 22.5 grams making it a heavyweight! This is due to it being made almost entirely of metal. Something we Zefoids appreciate. The lead reservoir is large enough for several containers of lead and still have room to operate. And just in case you get a lead jam there is a clean out rod beneath the eraser. Two thumbs up for Staedtler for including a clean out rod with the REG!".

"The REG is one of those complex pencils that requires special tools and/or knowledge to be able to break it down any further than what is required to refill the lead reservoir, adjust the lead grade indicator or to clear a lead jam. To fill the lead reservoir first remove the push button then the eraser. After filling the lead reservoir replace the eraser then the push button".

"The push button is also the lead grade indicator and is composed of 3 parts. The first part is the end cap/nut which has a sticker insert with the lead size printed on it. Next is the lead grade indicator ring. Lastly is the the bottom of the push button which incorporates the lead grade indications in light gray on a silver background. To my eyes, all six of them, the markings are much too light for the silver background. They would be much easier to see if they had been darker or had the background been darker. To set the lead grade indicator all that is necessary is to loosen the top of the push button, move the indicator ring window to the appropriate setting, then tighten the nut once more".

"Should it become necessary to clear a lead jam the end cap/lead sleeve will have to be removed. To do this first use the regulating wheel to set the lead projection to it's fullest. This will ease the tension on the coil spring that is under the end cap! The spring helps keep the lead projection setting in place. Slowly unscrew the end cap and remove it. Be careful not to lose the coil spring! Either leave it in place or secure it safely away before proceeding. Next remove the push button then the eraser and clean out rod and then replace the push button so as not to loose the lead in the reservoir. Using the eraser as a handle guide the clean out rod to the tip of the lead sleeve and push it into the lead sleeve as far as it will go. This will dislodge the jammed lead piece. Remove the clean out rod and reassemble the pencil".

The Staedtler REG 925 85 03 Regulator is a stylishly good looking pencil. It's weight is due to the fact that it's made almost entirely of metal, brass, aluminum and steel. The lead sleeve is stainless steel while the tapered end cap is satin chromed brass. The finely knurled grip appears to be satin chromed brass as well. There is a black metal ring between the grip and satin finished upper aluminum body. On the side of the body in dark pigment is the Staedtler logo then the Staedtler name, in all caps, then in italic dot matrix style letters are the letters "REG" followed by the pencils designation. Below the regulator window is the word "regulator". The stylish pocket clip appears to be satin finished steel with the Staedtler logo embossed on the front of it, near the open end. On the side of the clip is the country of manufacturer, "JAPAN". Above the pocket clip and end of the upper body is the satin finished brass regulator wheel. Above that is the mushroom style 3 piece brass and aluminum push button/lead indicator. In this reviewers mind the REG is a very good looking pencil".

"The REG is also a very nice writing pencil. The weight of the pencil feels good in my hand. It feels solid and of great value, substantial and well made. In fact the REG is very well designed and made. This is where German engineering meets Japanese manufacturing! An almost unbeatable combination! The balance of the pencil does not feel top heavy in the least when in use. In fact it feels very well balanced despite it's slight top heaviness! The pencil almost writes itself. It's weight is no hindrance to a smooth writing experience and in fact may aid in the pencils movements. A definite aid to controlling the pencil is the finely cut grip. It feels smooth while at the same time offering the user a solid grip surface. The ratcheting mechanism is modestly loud but less metallic than it could be due to being dampened by the plastic lead reservoir".

"So, considering all things together I give the Staedtler REG 925 85 03 Regulator 0.3 mm Drafting Pencil 5 Super Novas out of 5".

Well, Zed, thank you for that very inspiring review! Just remember, next time you're on Earth, stop by for a visit!

"Will do, Geezer! Well, the wife and little Zefoids are waiting for me to take them all out for a glimus cone so this is Zedragon signing off!". (click)

Well, that was unexpected! But I'm always happy to see ole Zed! Especially when he has such nice toys to share with us. So if you want an elegant writing or drawing instrument or just a piece of German engineering/Japanese art then pick up a Steadtler REG 925 85 03 Regulator. You don't have to travel across the universe to find one, just surf the Internet!

Staedtler Maxum Gel Pens

While visiting a dollar type store one day I ran across these Staedtler Maxum Gel Pens. I'm not a fan of 0.8 mm pems but I wasn't expecting to see a Staedtler product in a dollar store so I was intrigued. Steadtler is a name that I have come to associate with fine drafting and drawing instruments, not gliter gel pens, so I bought a set.

Once I got them home I tried them out. Right off the bat I had trouble getting the Green pen to write! I was finally able to get it to write but when I looked at the refill I noticed that the ink had run up the refill and the refill was about 1/3 used up!


Not a condition that one wishes to find ones new pens in! Well, on the back of the package it states,"Guarantee: If your STAEDTLER product fails to perform to your satisfaction simply send it for replacement to:" and gives a mailing address. Well I didn't want to sent it to Staedtler so I just went on the Staedtler USA web site and contacted Customer Service and requested a Green refill. What I received were 3 Green pens! Five stars for Staedtler USA's Customer Service!

Once I had the replacement pen I did some sample writing to get a feel of the pens. The first thing I noticed was that the pens were very smooth! They flowed quite well leaving a bold line of glittering color! The rubber grip is soft without being squishy and is quite comfortable. The colors are bold and dry with a metallic glimmer to them. The ink did not appear to blob up at anytime not even in the tops and bottoms of loops! The pens are light weight and are quite comfortable to write with being slightly bottom heavy. The pens are made of transparent plastic in the color of the ink. The caps snap on as well as snapping onto the back of the pen when posted. I did find that 2 of the pens had problems with staying capped. Investigation showed that this was due to the cap being slightly oversized. I heated up the caps at the mouth and deformed them slightly and they snapped on just fine thereafter. Minus a star for fit but add back a 1/2 star for looks.

Now for the stats! The pens average 17 grams in weight. They are 150.6 mm long and have a balance point 86 mm from the rear of the pen, making them slightly bottom heavy, which is better in this reviewers mind than the opposite. The buldge in the grip is 11.3 mm in diameter with the flare being slightly greater. The pen body is 9.1 mm in diameter. Over all a nice size for a gel pen. The pens are refillable via access from the tip, which is chromed metal. The colors are bold and metallic and come in Green, Blue, Purple, Red, Pink, Bronze, Gold and Silver. My personal faves are the Blue and Red. The stated point size is 0.8 mm "Medium". Measuring a straight drawn line with my Peak 10x scale loup showed the written line to be 0.5 mm.



The writing test consisted of writing a line with each pen, a smear test and a waterproof teat. No bleed test was done as gels do not normally bleed due to the nature of the ink. The results were that altough the claim is that the ink is "smear-proof" and "quick drying", if I was quick I could smear the ink before it dried. After the ink dried it was pemanent, as claimed. The waterproof test confirmed this, but as the ink may be waterproof the glitter is not! When sprayed from a spray bottle to wet the paper, the glitter floated away! Minus a 1/2 star for the flighty glitter.

After all is said (written) and done the Staedtler USA Maxum Gel Pens are a very nice set of metallic gel pens that would be quite useful for any craft or design project. They would be perfect of use in greeting card making or simply signing greeting cards. They would also be great for leaving colorful notes for family and friends. They also make a great gift for the youngster who loves to draw in nice shimmering glitter colors. I'll give the Staedtler Maxum Gel Pens 4 out of 5 stars. Way to go Staedtler USA!

Staedtler 925 25 03 Drafting Pencil

Now let's get one thing straight from the beginning, this is a beautiful pencil! It just wreaks elegance with its hard straight lines and 3 tone silver metal finish! The Staedtler 925 25 03 has the looks that many other pencils strive for but fall short of. There is no waisted bulk, the pencil is slim and trim and ready for a lifetime of faithful service. It's like an arrow, a bullet, yes, even a missile in its design, yet fully functional all the same. It was designed to write and draw and it does both with timeless grace. If I were a sculptor it would be my chisel. If I were a painter it would be my brush. If I were a carpenter it would be my hammer. But I'm none of those artisans and it's none of those tools, it's a pencil for cryin' out loud! Just how glamorous can a pencil be? Quite, actually. As I wrote in the beginning, this is a beautiful pencil.

OK, so we have established that I like the looks of the Staedtler 925 25 03 Drafting Pencil. What else do I like about the pencil? The fact that it's a pencil and the fact that it's a 0.3 mm pencil! OK, we all know that I like 0.3 mm drafting pencils so what sets the 925 25 03 apart from any other drafting pencil? Well, it's remarkable good looks for one. Its sleek timeless design for another (more on that in a minute) and it's craftsmanship for yet another. The 925 25 03 is solidly built of brass, steel and aluminum. There's a little plastic involved as well but not that you can readily see. It's designed by the Germans, masters of engineering, but built by the Japanese, masters of manufacturing.


The design is simple, really, and in that lies its beauty. The chrome plated brass end cap/lead sleeve snugs up to the satin finished, finely knurled aluminum grip, sealing tight against vibration by use of a rubber 'O'-ring. The slender grip is divided into 13 raised rings by 12 evenly spaced circular cuts. The raised rings are very finely knurled giving the fingers the feeling of grasping fine sandpaper. The grip is part of the integral chuck assembly, grip, and lead reservoir. The chuck being brass and the lead reservoir being made of plastic. The eraser with the clean out rod fits snugly into the open end of the lead reservoir. The thick walled satin finished upper body holds the lead grade indicator markings on one end and a brightly chromed removable steel pocket clip on the other. The lead grade indicator markings are silver on a black background and are covered by the brightly chromed metal lead grade indicator which has a square window. On the side of the upper body, in a stately steel gray color are the Staedtler logo and the Staedtler name. Upon the brightly chromed steel pocket clip is the imprint of the Staedtler logo. Behind the pocket clip, between its tines, is the single word "JAPAN". The upper body slides over the lead reservoir and screws snugly against the lead grade indicator ring, securing it in place. In order to adjust the setting of the lead grade indicator it is necessary to loosen the upper body. Finlay, the satin silver barrel shaped mushroom style push button slides over the lead reservoir tube concealing the eraser. The barrel portion of the push button has 5 evenly spaced raised rings separated by 4 circular cuts reminiscent of the grip. And let us not forget that on top of the push button is the lead size painted in the ISO designated color for the lead size, yellow.

Now for some stats! The 925 25 03 is 143 mm long making it of average length for a drafting pencil. It is a slender 8.8 mm in diameter at its widest point (everywhere). Its balancing point is 71.4 mm from the push button making the pencil perfectly balanced! But beauty is a heavy weight weighing 17.1 grams. It must be because of all the metal it's made of!... Ya think? The ratcheting mechanism is extremely quiet, firm with a good solid feel to it. The 925 25 03 pushes out lead in small increments, a feature that I like a lot. It takes only 2 clicks to produce enough lead to write with without producing to much. The lead reservoir is cavernous for at least 2 tubes of lead but one will suffice.

The Staedtler 924 25 03 is a pleasure to write and draw with, not that I do much drawing anymore. I especially like the finely knurled grip. It does not feel sharp yet its fine points make a nearly perfect gripping surface. I wish more pencil manufacturers would take this page from Staedtler's 'How To Build A Better Pencil' book! The grip and its perfect balance help make the writing experience almost effortless despite the pencils weight. The weight almost seems to disappear when I use the 925 25 03. Even just hefting the pencil seems pleasantly odd due to it's perfect balance.

The Staedtler 925 25 03 is a beautifully designed and well built pencil ment for the professional as well as the amature. It's an elegant addition to any desktop, briefcase, drafting table or workbench. So I suggest that if you want a hard working tool or an elegant and grafeful writing instrument or just something that looks good on a coffee table as a work of art that you get yourself a Staedtler 924 25 03 Professional Drafting Pencil ASAP.

Many thanks to STAEDTLER Mars GmbH & Co. KG for the pencil in this review.

Staedtler 925 03 Drafting Pencil

This was my first introduction to Steadtler drafting pencils, but not my first introduction to Staedtler-Mars products. I've had a set of Staedtler-Mars Technical pens for a good number of years now and I have enjoyed them immensely. I've used their erasers for a goodly number of years as well so the name Staedtler is no stranger to me. But up until recently I had no experience with their drafting pencils. That's when I decided to buy the Staedtler 925 03 drafting pencil. I happened to purchase the "New Model". There was a revamp of the pencils design and for some time there were 2 different models of the same pencil available, the "Old Model" and the "New Model". Had I the funds at the time I would have purchased both although I think aesthetically the "New Model" is more appealing.

A habit that I got into a long time ago, when I was but a wee tot was taking things apart to see how they worked. I wasn't always able to get things back together in working order, which displeased my parents no end. Well, I've gotten a little better at putting things back together in working order mainly because I no longer take anything too complicated apart and if I break it I have to pay for it. But I still take down a new pencil to it's bare bones as soon a I get it. The 925 03 breaks down into 8 major components.

They are the brass chuck assembly and integral lower body, the lead grade indicator markings and the the lead reservoir. Into the lead reservoir goes the eraser with the attached clean out rod. Over the outer tube of the lead reservoir goes the gold colored mental lead grad indicator ring with the lead grade indicator window. To secure this the upper body shell with the detachable chromed metal pocket clip slips over the lead reservoir and screws down tightly. To adjust the lead grade indicator it is necessary to loosen the upper body. The barrel shaped plastic push button with the convenient lead size indication on top slips over the lead reservoir to protect the eraser. The grip is of black rubber, probably of closed cell neoprene, and slips over the lower body from the business end of the pencil. The grip is thin but is backed by the hard plastic of the lower body so it is not squishy. A squishy grip on a pencil is something I find disgusting. Last but not least the chromed metal end cap/lead sleeve screws onto the lower body covering the chuck assembly. Under normal usage, unless there is a lead jam, the user will find that disassembly of the 925 03 will be limited to the removal and replacement of the push button and eraser in order to replenish the lead.

Now for some stats. The 925 is 139 mm long making it just shy of average length. At it's next to widest point it is 9.2 mm in diameter. The widest point is at the pocket clip but since you don't grip the pencil up there, it doesn't count! The pencil balances 76.2 mm from the top of the push button which means that the pencil is almost perfectly balanced. And weighting only a scant 9.2 grams means it is as light as a feather, well, OK, as several feathers but it feels as light as a feather in the hand.

It's near central balancing point, light weight and rubber grip combine to make the 925 03 one of the nicest pencils in my collection to write with. It's easy to control and fatigue free. Sometimes I have to look at the pencil while using it to make sure it's still there! The ratcheting mechanism is solid with a positive feel to it, which is nice. One thing I like about some drafting pencils is that they increment lead in very small increments because I have a habit of advancing more lead before it's needed. The Steadtler 925 03 advances lead in small increments. About 3 clicks is what it takes to advance enough lead to write with without advancing too much. A nice feature of the pencil. The lead reservoir is cavernous enough to hold a couple of tubes of lead, but one should suffice.

The 925 03 is an attractive pencil being black silver with a touch of gold. The lines are clean with the pencil being almost a straight, elegant line broken only by the bulb like swelling at the pocket clip. The metal end cap/lead sleeve is a bright polished chrome which is set in contrast to the flat black of the rubber grip. The grip is broken by 18 evenly space rings dividing the grip into 19 mostly equal length raised rings. Only the two ends are of unequal length, the wider ring being closest to the lead grade indicator ring. A spacer of plastic separates the the grip from the metal lead grade indicator ring and its silver on black markings visible through the square window of the gold ring. The semi gloss of the black plastic upper body snuggles up tightly to the lead indicator ring keeping it from moving undesirably. Set against the darkness of the upper body is the Staedtler logo, the Staedtler name and the pencils designation, 925 03, embossed in silver. The highly polished chromed metal pocket clip with its impressed Staedtler logo points the way to the gloss black barrel like push button with its 5 groves and 6 evenly spaced raised rings, reminiscent of the grip, topped by the yellow ISO colored lead size designation of .3. Ah, what a beauty.

Staedtler is a name that I have come to trust for fine quality engineered drafting and drawing products and the 924 03 falls right in line with that level of trust. The 925 03 and it's brothers may be on the low end of the price range for drafting pencils they certainly are not on the low end of quality. The Steadtler 925 series of Professional Mechanical Pencils are designed to give the end user years of fine use. So do yourself a favor and pick up one, or more, in your favorite lead sizes today.

Staedtler Triplus Moble Office

This one is a bit of an odd tale. I was on the JetPens forum when I came across a post by mackemsam, a gentleman from across the pond. I saw in his signature that he had a blog called Future; Nostalgic. So I followed the link to his blog and read a few things. There I learned about number one cat who had perished recently. He was an old cat, which hit home as we have an old cat who is sickly and probably won't live another year. So right off I had a connection with Sam, the owner of Future:Nostalgic. So I signed up to follow Sam's updates. Turns out I was the first one to sign up. I thought that was neat but no real big deal. Little was I to know what that would lead too.

I received a PM on the forum from Sam thanking me for following his blog. He also wanted to send me something to review if I would mention his blog, Future Nostalgic, in the review. I was both flattered and intrigued! Gifts from strangers from across the pond! He wouldn't tell me what it was which peaked my interest all the more! How could I refuse? So in a few days a package arrived from England. In the package were 2 gifts. One was an English mouse, a gift for Spencer, our aging cat. The second was the Staedtler Triplus Mobile Office featured here.

When I saw the TMO I was excited as I have a set of the Triplus Finelines in 0.3 mm and I like them very much! So I was very interested in doing a review of the product.


The entire set weighs in at 63.6 grams. The case weighs 24.6 grams and measures 168,3 mm long by 46 mm wide. Just the right size to fit into a jacket pocket. The case also doubles as a stand for convenient access to the four instruments inside while working. A very clever idea by the folks at Staedtler.

The contents of the Mobile Office are a Triplus Fineliner 0.3 mm porous point pen, with black ink. A Tripuls Ball(point pen) in medium point with blue ink. A Triplus Micro 0.5 mm pencil with a hide away conical point. And lastly a Triplus Textsurfer fine point highlighter in fluorescent yellow.

The Fineliner is 161.9 mm long, 8.8 mm across the flat to the apex of the triangle, and weighs 7.4 grams. The Ballpoint pen is 161.9 mm long, 8.9 mm across the flat to the apex,and weighs 11.8 grams. The 0.5 mm Micro Pencil is 161.9 mm long, 8.8 mm across the flat to the apex and weighs 12.7 grams and the Textsufer (highlighter) is 161.9 mm long, 8.8 mm across the flat to the apex and weighs 7.1 grams.


The Triplus Fineliner is a porous point pen with a 0.3 mm tip which to me is perfect for writing. The triangular shape makes it easy to hold. The ink is very dark and dries in an instant so there is no smudging. I like the triangular shape of the pen. It helps not only in griping the pen but helps keep the pen in the correct orientation. The lack of a textured or rubber grip does not affect my ability to hold onto the pen.

The ballpoint pen is touted as a medium but to me it produces a thinner line than 0.7 mm. The ink in this case is blue and is fast drying so again no smudging.

Staedtler has this to say about the ink in the ball point pen: "STAEDTLER's ballpoint pens with indelible ink corresponding to ISO 12757-2 are lightfast, waterproof, chemical and solvent-resistant, smudgeproof and non-erasable. " I can't test all of these qualities in a very short time, so I'll just have to take their word for it. I did find that the pen wrote very smoothly and the ink does not smudge. The body is rubberized, something I find nice. It helps a great deal in holding onto the pen.

The stud on the back of the pen is cylindrical and has a groove around the base. The groove matches the lip on the cap. However when the cap is posted it wobbles! Unless the cap's pocket clip is resting on an apex. Then the cap rests nicely.

The refill is accessed via the cylindrical stud on the back of the pen. Just unscrew the stud and pull the refill out. The reverse is necessary to replace the refill. Just push it into the inside of the stud, insert it into the pen and screw the stud tight.

Here's a little something extra. If you can not find a refill for the ballpoint pen, the refill for the Pentel RSVP fits it perfectly!


The Micro 0.5mm pencil is a writers pencil, not a drafting pencil. It has a conical hide away sleeve that projects out with the first press of the push button. To retract the lead and point all one does is press the button and while holding it, push the lead and point back into the cone sleeve. This makes it a safer pencil to carry around than most mechanical pencils.

The pencil is a pleasure to wright with the triangular shape lending it self to helping keep the lead sharp. Simply rotate the pencil 120 degrees, one rotation of the triangle, and continue writing. This is not unlike the principle behind the Kuru Toga pencil. The eraser twists up from the push button and is actually large enough to erase medium areas of text easily. The pencil separates at the plastic spring to reveal the lead reservoir. The lead reservoir is large enough to hold about 10 pieces of lead easily.


The last item in the case is the "Textsufer" as Staedtler calls the highlighter. It has a tapered finepoint so that you can high light with a single cross through by using the side of the tip you can cover the entire text.


All three writing instruments left a line between 0.3 mm and 0.4 mm wide. The Fineliner ink proved not to be waterproof and the ink bled through 3 additional sheets of paper when held on the top sheet for 10 seconds using normal writing pressure. The ballpoint pen ink was a different story. It seemed to live up to the hype about it. The ink is free flowing and the pen writes smoothly, almost effortlessly. The pencil works flawlessly as well. The first click pushes out the conical lead sleeve and a second click produces enough lead to write with. While writing the lead can be kept sharp by rotating the pencil 120 degrees, 1/3 the pencils diameter, every now and again.

Last words: The quality of the product is what I have come to expect from the Geman company, having aquired several Steadtler products over the years. All in all the Staedtler Tripuls Moble Office is a unique and handy office tool for the busy business person on the go as well as the less mobile of us who just like to have the most useful office tools handy in one spot. I think just about anyone from the casual letter writer to the business professional will find the Staedtler Triplus Mobile Office well worth the cost.


Rudy, the English mouse.

Staedtler Liquid Point 7

While in Staples today I ran across the Staedtler Liquid point 7 pens in a four pack. They came in either all black or in four basic colors, black, red, blue and green. I chose the all black. The reasons that I chose them at all was because they are a needle point rollerball and because they were advertised as 0.3mm fine line pens. Once I got them home and tried them out I was disappointed. I expected a nice fine 0.3mm line but instead I got a 0.7 or 0.8mm line! If I had wanted a 'broad' pointed pen then I would have bought one... wait, I did buy one, no four, whatever. My point is I thought I was getting a sub-micro pointed pen and what I got was anything but. Whatever happened to truth in advertising?

Having said all that the pen was, as advertised, smooth writing. This is probably due to the fact that it is a 0.7 or 0.8mm pointed pen. The needle point is thick, like a Pentel Slicci, and the pen is about as long as a Slicci but it is slightly greater in diameter yet still being slimmer than most rollerballs. There is nothing on the package, pen or Staedtler website about the ink so I can tell you nothing except that it is dark, not watery.

The Liquid Point 7 is a liquid ink pen with a window showing the available ink supply and the delivery system is very similar to that of the Pilot Precise series of pens and similar style pens thought Staedtler touts it as an advanced delivery system.

The set of four sells for under $7.00 at Staples making the pens under $2.00 each, an average price for such a pen. Which is just what the Staedtler Liquid Point 7 is, an average rollerball pen. While nothing to write home about it's no worse than any other 0.7mm liquid ink rollerball pen and perhaps in one small way better. The manufacturer claims that the line width will remain the same regardless of the pressure applied. While I did not test this point out by pressing hard with the pen I did try and write lightly with it. When I did I found that the width did vary a little, it got a tad thinner. So maybe the Staedtler Liquid point 7 isn't so unusual after all.