Tools:
Pica 150/46/SB Ink Deep-Hole Marker Black
[ Ссылка ]
FastCap Long Nosed Pattern Chisel Tip Black Marker with 1-1/8-inch Reach
[ Ссылка ]
DIXON Industrial REACH- Deep Hole Permanent Marker
[ Ссылка ]
Transcript:
...Now let’s take a closer look at the pens. First, the Pica. This is actually the first marker of this type that I learned about, I think maybe from Adam Savage.
It’s made in Germany and runs around $9, however the only way I’ve found to get them at that price is to buy a 3-pack of them on Amazon. So unless you feel like having three of these or giving some away as gifts, you may want to consider the other options.
Two cool tricks that are unique to this one. First, as described on the side here, if this starts putting down a weak line, or the tip starts to get a little frayed, you can pull the nib out and flip it around. This should give it a second wind.
The other trick with these is that the top has a slot here that you can use to twist it off. This gives you access to the ink sponge. Sometimes you can revive these with some isopropyl alcohol to reactivate the ink.
Bottom line is, they’ve really made some effort here to extend the life of this pen and make it serviceable.
Let’s also note the length of the tip. From the thinnest part of the shaft which is 2mm across to the tip we get 13.9mm. The entire length of the metal barrel is 29.3mm, and measures 4.7mm at its widest point.
Here it is marking wood. And here it is marking metal. Nothing particularly different about the permanent ink it puts down. It’s just a very well thought out package.
Next up, we have this option from FastCap. It’s the least expensive and the least chunky. As a bonus, it includes a chisel tip marker on the top.
For better or worse, this one has a proper cap that clicks into place, instead of the quiver design of the other two. In theory, this should make it less prone to drying out, but then again if you lose this cap, it’s definitely going to dry out.
Now, the long cap can sorta go on the top, but it doesn’t snap in. The shorter chisel cap actually does pressure fit on the other tip though. It kinda looks funny, but it works.
My main strike against this one is that the tip isn’t as fine as the other two. It’s alright if you want to reach through a hole and leave a mark for a screw, but the wider, blunt tip isn’t as good for hugging the edge of something you’re tracing. Maybe they make a version with a finer tip, but this particular one is noticeably wider than the others.
It also makes for a wider barrel which measures 3mm wide at the smallest part of the shaft, though it’s nice and long with the total metal barrel measuring 46mm deep.
I also have to just say that for style points, the FastCap seems a little plain and easy to lose.
Here it is marking wood. You can see that the line is wider than the one from the Pica pen.
And here it is marking metal.
Finally, there’s the Reach marker from Dixon. It comes in black, blue, green, and red, all with this neon green sheath that makes it easy to see.
I will say that I don’t quite understand the clip here. It’s more like a loop. Maybe it’s designed this way so that you can tie it to something.
The pen barrel snaps into the quiver with a secure click and the whole thing -- both the quiver and the barrel -- have a rounded off triangle shape that resists rolling around. The square barrel of the FastCap also benefits from this. The barrel of the Pica is perfectly round, and will definitely roll if you put it down instead of putting it back in the quiver.
The tip is fine, like the Pica, with a bit of a taper. The thinnest part of the barrel is 2.5mm wide and runs 20mm long before widening to 4.5mm. The total length of the metal barrel is 34mm to the tip.
Here it is marking wood. Looks the same as the Pica to my eyes. And here it is on metal.
It’s hard to say if there’s a clear winner, but there are some clear differences in the design of these.
For me, if we consider the price essentially the same, I like the Pica. I like it’s funky look and all the emphasis on making it long-lasting. The only downside for me is that I had to buy these as a 3-pack. I don’t need three.
If you’re going for length, go for the FastCap. The Dixon is a balance between the two in some ways, and it’s the one you’re most likely to find in a store. If you see it and you’re curious to see what these pattern markers are all about, I think it’s worth picking up, even if it’s just to add a weird pen to your collection.
So there you go. You can find links to all three down in the description and you can find thousands of reader recommended tools like these at cool-tools.org.
