Paint pens

[John Meunier]

I'm giving up on using even the smallest brushes to paint shield designs. In my younger days I could manage it, but not so much anymore.

Are there any things to be aware of when buying paint pens? Do they work okay for this?

[David Kuijt]

I'd suggest using ink pens (Micron, by Sakura) instead. Paint pens tend to have a problem with clogging.

[Stelzone]

Scrapbooking pens work, I've used some of them and they don't run after drying. Nice thing about some of them is the nib sizes available are great.

Good Luck
Mike

[Matthew Bailey]

There is a drafting Instument called a "Rapidiograph". It has changab;e nibs that range in size from 1/8" to.00001" in diameter (You can actually write a whole page from a book on a shield with the .00001" nib, if you have enough practice and a decent magnifier).

These pens will hold ALL manner of ink and paints (BUT...The inks or paints must be tested in the pen beforehand, or use materials that are approved for them. There usually is a VERY large selection of colors and inks/paints to use in them that are specifically engineered to use in Rapidiogrphs).

I just replaced mine after having to do without it for MANY years. I am going crazy with it.

In another post they talked about trimming linen cuirasses with black or red, you can do it with BOTH with a rapidiograph...

They are a little expensive as tools go though. A really GOOD rapdiiograph can run as much as $50.

[Odious Asparagus]

rapdiographs are a good way to go. i use them for technical illustrations, but the one downside is they need to be kept clean at all times, otherwise they tend to clog. a second drawback is that the nibs (?) are very fine and tend to bend if not treated carefully....

[Matthew Bailey]

Yep. The 1/100,000" one is like a hair. But unfortunately it is NOT flexible.

Press too hard and you will be spending another $20 to replace it.

And, Yes. Keeping the Nibs clean is THE most important job when using a rapidiograph.

[bec]

I used to have a set of them. Unfortunately they got clogged and I could not use them anymore and threw them out. I believe Michaels craft store may have them, and if so they usually have coupons in the newspaper where you can get a regular item for 50% off. I bought a matt cutter for $35 this way. One of these days I will get another set, the pens can't be beat for what they do. I am not sure if I would try paint in them though, that seems like a recipe for disaster.

[bec]

Sorry for the last post, neither place I mentioned has them, Dick Blick has them here: http://www.dickblick.com/zz210/03/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=1395 and they are substantially reduced from the msrp.

[Matthew Bailey]

Originally posted by bec:
I used to have a set of them. Unfortunately they got clogged and I could not use them anymore and threw them out....I am not sure if I would try paint in them though, that seems like a recipe for disaster. They make "paints" that are spcifically for them. It is really just an opaque ink that is not glossy (well, actually they make the colours in Matte, semi-gloss, and gloss; just like paints.

You need to go to a REAL art supplt store, and not just Micheal's to find the colours for them.

And, yes...They need to be used with care, because they can clog very easily. I have a cleaning set for mine (although I am currently without pens) that uses ultrasonic vibrations to clean the nibs. Plus, their are tiny bristles that are used to clean the barrels of the nibs that need to be used on them pretty frequently (like after every use).