hi-res pictures here
Finally time to try the controversial Blackwing - I've followed this pencil since it came out, but only after I got the Palomino collection pack did I get a chance to try it. It sharpens well, has a nice quality feel, but I still am disappointed with a couple aspects of its design and function. hi-res pictures here Fit/Finish: This pencil looks great, with matte black paint and nice shiny gold foil stamping and band. That distinctive ferrule is attached well, with minor residue at the connection point. I did notice some flecks of gold paint near the stamping and can't help but feel like that's an oversight on Palomino's part; as I recall this was a huge problem with the first run. The lead is centered well in the cedar body and yes, despite the complaints, this feels like a premium pencil. Performance: This pencil is SOFT - much softer than the standard HB. As a writing pencil, I don't like it - the point retention is terrible, and it smears readily. However, the line is very dark, and the pencil does perform very smoothly. Erasability, even with the Staedtler, is relatively poor, and the built-in eraser, despite its cool looks, is absolutely horrible. Overall: This is a very smooth pencil, dark as well, but the eraser is awful, and the pencil's overall characteristics are much better suited to drawing, I think, than writing. Seeing as these are billed as writing pencils, though, they just don't cut it at this premium price point. [Alexander mentioned below that they aren't truly billed as writing pencils as such; however, as spiritual successors of the original Blackwing 602 upon release (before the release of the Palomino Blackwing 602), I still believe that writing performance should be much better.] Rating: 3.5/5
5 Comments
Joy
8/24/2014 01:22:21 pm
I bought a box when they were first released, and use them now and then, but there's never been a love connection. They're just too soft. I recently started using a 602, which I consider far superior for writing. I have a Pearl I haven't used yet.
Alexander
8/26/2014 04:19:51 am
Thanks for the review Vikram! One point of clarification: You mention the Palomino Blackwing is"billed as a writing pencil," but I think you may have it mixed up with the Blackwing 602. As you note, the Palomino Blackwing's graphite is very soft. It is usually preferred by artists and musicians, and it has always been billed as such. You can read more about the Blackwing and its history here: http://palominobrands.com/blackwing-pencil-story/. Thanks again for the reviews, I've been really enjoying the series!
Luke Sinclair
8/27/2014 06:25:11 pm
I will side with the PBW as an artist. The soft lead is perfect. Not all pencils are made for writing.
While I still believe that writing performance should be better from this pencil, I only think that because it carries the Blackwing name, and heritage, with it. Leave a Reply. |