rOtringRapidograph Technical Drawing Pen 0.50mm, Brown

Rotring Rapidograph and Isograph Technical Pens are getting more and more difficult to find and increasingly expensive to purchase. I first purchased these pens over 50 years ago when they were widely used by draughts-men everywhere. I know the technology has changed and most technical drawing is now done using one or other computer aided design software programs. There still remains a small number of us using these pens and when they become too expensive to purchase or become unobtainable this will mean our chosen media is denied us and our creativity will cease.

The pen is disappointing I was expecting much better quality given the price. I wanted the pen to progress mt stipple portraiture I thought being such a fine point it would be ideal for small area work. Unfortunately I hadn’t figured on the ink leakage around the pen . Because of the way it leaks getting it all over my hands I can’t risk using it and destroying many hours of work , because of an expensive pen that leaks. It’s also the most confusing pen to charge ,whoever did the graphic explanation work needs to look at it again it’s confusing to say the least ended having to go on you tube for an accurate explanation. The pen is over priced for what it is, The cartridges are small I’m not sure how much use you would get from one,it’s confusing to set up and it leaks badly. I wouldn’t recommend it for artwork as if they are all like mine there is a high probability you will smudge ink on your hard work. On the plus side it arrived quickly and the lines and dots it produces are really fine ,it’s just a shame it’s to risky to use on anything half decent. But if you are considering using this for art be warned mine leaks and badly. Also there are many pens out there for a fraction of the cost I won’t be buying another one.

I absolutely love these.After being let down by Pilot G-Tec-C3/ Hi-Tec-C 0.3 (which for some reason are not available anymore and if I happen to find one it writes like a 0.4), I went back to using the Rapidographs and Isographs by Rotring.Yes, they are quite expensive, but there is no other fineliner on the market which can keep up with this range of nib sizes.They are quite delicate especially the finer nibs, so you need to handle them with greater care, as the steel tips can break. However the line quality is very accurate and consistent.The finer nibs do dry out quickly, which happens not only because the tips are fine, but also because the black ink is quite dense and fast drying, therefore you need to keep a bit of water near you (eg. a napkin soaked in water) while you work and allow the pen some time if it dries out. Also if your pen dries out too quickly or scratches the paper, it is worth trying paper which is smoother and non-absorbent, after all these are made for technical drawings on tracing paper.Working with these is quite "old school" and surely not everyone likes it, but for me it works. On drawings where I have used different fineliners you just can tell the difference by the quality of the lines and the nicely black ink.

Had this pen a while now, but I've decided considering the price these things cost, they are utterly useless and end up being a huge waste of money.Good Points:• They feel and look very well made for what they are• Unrelated to the product, but I had no difficulties with the seller. In fact I think it turned up early.Bad Points:• The ink loading mechanism is difficult, but not necessarily a bad point I suppose• Draws for a whole 5 seconds before it just stops working and scratches the paper to shreds• The tip feel is awful to me. Its like drawing with a nail; it scratches any paper type from cartridge to bristol board• Drawing any faster than snail movements results in inconsistent lines and / or no lines at allSo what is the point of them? Supposedly they are technical pens, producing consistent lines (apparently you have to be very slow at drawing for them to even work....) To me they are just overly expensive pens most likely simply because of a branding name, but there are many more pens our there that would do what these say they are used for 100 times better and with 100 times more ease. Just simple drawing pens like the ones faber castell make are far superior, and while still not cheap exactly, they produce far better, more reliable and consistent lines than these. And they are still a lot cheaper regardless. For about £6 less than one of these pens, you could buy an assorted pack of varying sizes of the arguably much better faber castell pens, or any other similar pens. And if you're wondering if they produces thin consistent lines like these claim to be used for, they do indeed. In fact I don't think I've ever really had that issue with almost any good quality artist-range pens anyway.I brought this on passing recommendation, but they have simply left a disgusting taste in my mouth and a whole in my pocket. Very disappointing product. Just using it now, it draws fine for a while if I hold it at 90 degrees from the paper (because we all draw like that), but then will just stop working. Then have to shake it and get irritated by it, use it again and again and eventually it starts working again. Of course this is after its ruined you work with scratches, and even where its started to work again you can see where the two lines connect. Ironically this produces a small inconsistency in line width, the very thing these claim to not produce.Don't buy them, get something else, but from the same seller so I don't feel so bad about this. Rotring do make fantastic mechanical pencils. :)

I ordered this pen on 1st October and by 8th November the tip had already broken off as depicted in the attached photo. Rapidograph style refillable pens are meant to be refilled and last for far longer than a month, so this is quite disappointing for a respectable manufacturer. Furthermore, during the month in which I owned the pen, I used it minimally and did nothing egregious which would necessarily cause the tip to break.I have reached out to Rotring to request a repair under warranty. I am hopeful that Rotring will efficiently and effectively make this right.

I have used these Rotring drawing pens for about 30 years and I've not found anything that is comparable. They are a bit messy to refill but you don't have to fill them too often.