Inkless Pen

Product Description

Nothing is worse than having to keep ink in or pen, or having to sharpen your pencil. With the Beta Inkless Pen by Jac... [Read more]

Top Reviews

NOT IMPRESSED!
by B (2 out of 5 stars)
December 12, 2018

ABOUT THIS TYPE OF PEN:

One of the delights of writing in pen is that you can write continuously without having to stop to sharpen. A tiny amount of metal alloy transfers from the pen to the page. Unlike pencil, it can't be smudged with your hand, and unlike ink, it doesn't need to dry. The amount of alloy for each stroke is so tiny that the pens are expected to last a lifetime without needing to be refilled or replaced. You can sharpen the tips for a finer point with a little sandpaper.

COMPANIES:

Each company takes a slightly different approach and price. The Inkless Metal Pen by Vat19 ($27.95) goes with a full stainless-steel barrel. Grand Illusions goes a little more highbrow with their Metal Pens ($21.54). They have two short versions (including one that can be worn as a keychain) and a Beta Pen ($20.00) which comes with a full-length extension in either black or silver metal or cherry-stained wood. There are many other companies that have wood to plastic, fat short handles to super slender metal grade. All will price differently depending on what they want to deliver. Some even offer different colors from pink, orange, purple and green. There are many more colors and shapes and sizes but the price will have to be what fits your style.

TARGETED USERS:

Both are targeted for designers, lefties (who often have to deal with smearing or smudging ink/graphite as they trace their hand across the page), and geeks who like even their handwriting to be all shiny. (Note: The writing isn't actually very shiny, more kind of a matte titanium, but you can pretend).

PERSONALLY OWNING IT:

Depending on who you get it from, I've seen them as low as $5.00 on eBay to over $1,000 in High end stores online. I bought one to see what all the hype was and I bought it here from this guy. I don't think it's worth the price. I don't think I would have gotten it for this price had I tested it 1st.

TESTING:

For what I personally tested it on I can't say that it is worth every day usage for the every day person. This particular pen/pencil has a tip on it that can NOT be sanded down and IS VERY SENSITIVE. It is at its finest tip that it can get. You can NOT TAP IT or you will break the tip.

On an envelope that you get in the mail like Power Company or some bill that generally comes monthly: on this type of paper I found no problem writing on it. The ink comes out in a darkened gray color. PROS: Nice and dark and works really well if you want to use it to do a quick return to sender or have old envelope in car to write a fast note to self. CONS: Can't erase a thing if you make a mistake.

White paper like typewriter paper 92/20: on this paper it's a bit of a struggle to write, the pen drags as if it's stuck and you have to pull it to where you want it to go so it's not smooth. It's hard to see and you can't write too hard or you will break the tip. It's a very soft gray color print, and pretty hard to make out. So if you have someone hard of eyesight, this is not a good pen to use to write a letter but if you want to take a quick note and can read your own chicken scratch, this might work for you. PROS: Works well if you want to jot something down and really don't care what it looks like. If drawing a picture, this is a great pen to give the perfect little details as the tip if ultra fine tip and will allow you to get those fine feathers or eyelashes in there, or whatever it is you desire. A quick shopping list is great as well for those moms that don't want to worry about that phone and just jot something down. CONS: The ink is very hard to read. The led drags on the page. Nothing can not be erased.

Sticky-notes; these are the notes that are used by most everyone and are the company Post-It: I used it on the normal everyday sticky-notes, nothing special. There were several different sizes however they all did the same thing as they were all the same type of paper. I saw little to no ink on the pads - HOWEVER - I got a no named brand that is rainbow in color and I pulled out the yellow paper that has no sticky on the paper at all, it just sits in the cube note box that is clear and when you want a note you pull one out, so I got each of the colors out and it does work much better on that paper. The ink is a bit darker and much easier to read and it's a lot thicker paper as well. So you might have to play around with post it notes to find out what works for you best. PROS: Works on thicker paper and works really well as well as it's easy to read. CONS: Hard to read or cant see at all on the normal everyday Post-It notes when we tested them.

ALL IN ALL

PROS: Works really well in dark ink/pencil on thicker paper better then thin. Is great for those that want to draw or sketch. Works nicely for those; like moms that just want to jot down fast shopping notes or someone in an office that doesn't have time for a bunch of post-it notes around the desk. This type of pen has many different styles, colors and led thicknesses available if you shop around. Don't have to worry about drying ink. Don't have to worry about smudges.

CONS: The pen/pencil is a bit heavy. Hard to read if at all on thin paper. The cost for the pen in a whole is not worth the price of the ink when you can barely see the ink on a regular basis. You can't erase anything even if you make a mistake on your sketch that you worked hours on. (So don't mess up on your sketch! You best be wearing a halo and it best have gold in it.). The led drags on the paper, so if you have arthritis, this is not a good pen to use. Have to be careful about hitting the tip too hard so you don't break the pen/pencil.

Keep in mind this is a personal opinion and everyone has their own ideas to what they like and dislike. Not everyone will agree with this review and not everyone will disagree. We all come from different backgrounds and different lifestyles. So one person's style might work where it won't work at all for another. I have given a review that I am content with sharing as I tested it with many type of papers however if you find something that works better for you, then please use that. In no means am I telling you not to get this item from this person or any place else, however, as a consumer...shop around and educate yourself before you buy. Me personally...I will be reselling my unit soon as it's not working for me. Good luck to anyone looking to get this item.
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As other reviewers mentioned, this product leaves much to ...
by R__B (2 out of 5 stars)
December 26, 2016

As other reviewers mentioned, this product leaves much to be desired. The pen design aesthetically is quite pleasing, with the smooth lines. The use of the pen is the issue. The writing is very light and can be erased and worn off by oils on your hands. I find this item nearly unusable. I wish I had not purchased it. I had been looking to buy an inkless pen for some time but wish I had saved my money.
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Imperfect, but good
by The Weekly Reader (4 out of 5 stars)
February 16, 2014

"Inkless Pen" in this case is just another way of saying "metalpoint stylus" or even: "pencil". "Pencil lead" in this case would not be a misnomer, as the writing tip is actually composed of a lead alloy instead of graphite or silver. As an alloy, it is harder than lead: the tip is soft enough to write or draw with on untreated paper (I'm sure there are exceptions, as in the art world there are very many different types of paper with different properties), but hard enough to last a very very long time without need for sharpening.

As with any metalpoint tool or very hard graphite, it produces a very neat clean "blond" line with light pressure, but with more pressure, it does not perform as smoothly as a standard graphite pencil which is a lot softer and more slippery (graphite is also known for its use as a dry lubricant).

The one feature this product could easily have that I miss is something that most pens (and mechanical pencils) have: a clip. This diminishes the usefulness as a sketching or note-taking tool quite a bit, since you can't just clip it to your sketchbook when on the go (and at this price it isn't a pencil you want to lose).

It is probably worth noting a couple of potential exaggerations in the copy of the product description.
1) "will never need to be sharpened" in the product description is explicitly contradicted by instructions accompanying the product saying "Simply 'sharpen' if need be using a fine sandpaper. Caution: Tip is sensitive to impact!" Since it is actually making a line by deposition small amounts of the material on the paper, it is reasonable to expect that the tip will eventually dull, given enough use. Presumably, this is a vastly slower process than with even the hardest of graphite pencils, but not so slow that sharpening instructions were unwarranted.
2) "Doesn't smear." might be getting away with semantics, since it doesn't smear in the same way ink does, but if you take this to suggest that the line it produces is completely indelible, and want that in a pencil, you'll be disappointed. It is erasable, and can be smudged with your fingertips (I actually like this, since I often use this in my drawing technique). That said, it is not as delicate and liable to smudging as graphite, so for the most part, you sort of have to want to smear it in order to get it to.

Overall, I am happy with the "pen." It affords the subtlety and clean lines of metalpoint and the convenience of a pencil. No delicate graphite, no refilling of ink or graphite, and presumably very seldom needs sharpening. It could use a clip, but I knew it didn't have one when I bought it, so I can't complain too loudly about that one.
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and it looks cool. but if you need a reliable writing tool ...
by Amazon Customer (4 out of 5 stars)
January 11, 2017

It really doesn't write that well, but you are writing with metal. Pressing harder doesn't make it write darker it just risks tearing the paper. If you want to see anything clearly you have to write over what you originally wrote several times adding many layers. Plus sides: it lasts forever, it can write in zero gravity, underwater, and it looks cool. but if you need a reliable writing tool that wont frustrate you, this isn't it.
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It Does the Job
by Garrett (3 out of 5 stars)
December 31, 2014

I guess I should say it works about the way I expected it to. I certainly don't think it will last forever like they say it will, or even 15 years. First of all, it writes pretty light. Secondly, depending what kind of paper you're writing on, it mainly feels like trying to write with a rock. It is not very smooth, although I didn't think it would be in the first place. It does how ever make a pencil-like mark that doesn't smudge easily. It doesn't need sharpening, and will hopefully last me a while. Overall, it's a fine product.
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Too fragil. There's cons to having such soft metals :(
by Joshua C. (2 out of 5 stars)
July 1, 2018

I found it fun to use. But the tip of this thing snaps off too easy. Dropped it on table and the entire top snapped off. Ill try to gorrila glu it back on, but idk.
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Still part of my collection
by Robert (5 out of 5 stars)
January 15, 2019

with it using no ink, its really economical and my friends and passerbys are fascinated by how it works!

P.S. God bless you reader, Jesus loves you (Ephesians 2:8-9)
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The pen has a nice weight to it and has a slick minimal design ...
by David Mora (4 out of 5 stars)
March 5, 2017

I bought this as a gift for a friend and he was thrilled to receive it. The pen has a nice weight to it and has a slick minimal design that feels important in your hands. The tip is a bit dull and does not allow for fine writing.
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A metal pencil...no graphite, no sharpening, no erasing, no legibility, no bargain!
by Pvt. W. G. Kirby Amazon Customer (2 out of 5 stars)
February 21, 2017

This was gift. It was not useful to the recipient, a math teacher! The chemical process is neat, but markings are not that distinct nor erasable. And, although this is a second generation of this writing implement, I find it was too little for way too much hype and cost.
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Works on and off
by alan (3 out of 5 stars)
October 2, 2014

It works on and off I'll start writing and then it will fade out so I would have to twist the tip an use a differnt spot on it to get a darker (pencil) like color .

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