When was the last time you wrote something with a pen? While pens aren't entirely a forgotten thing "from the past" somehow most of us will reach for our phone to set a reminder or write a note. But nothing can substitute that satisfying feeling of a pen gliding over a piece of paper. If you're searching for a quality thing to write with, it's best to invest in roller ball pens. Using the best of both worlds (fountain and ballpoint pens), these are elegant and smooth tools to write down your letters or thank you notes.
Fountain, Ballpoint or Rollerball Pen?
Fountain Pen
Fountain pens have a nib which is a vital element in the handwriting experience. The nib is the metal writing point that presses onto the paper, making a delicate flow of handwritten ink. Most fountain pens have a medium-grade nib; there's no industry standard to define the specific width of a medium-grade nib, so they all vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Ballpoint Pen
These pens have a small ball at the tip of the nib that rolls onto paper. The case where the ball is placed is super tight, so when the rolling motion occurs, it creates friction that makes the ink from inside the pen flow onto the paper.
Rollerball Pen
This type of pen combines features from both fountain and ballpoint pens. It provides silky smooth writing (similar to the fountain pen) with the convenience of a ballpoint pen. Rollerball ink flows more freely, creating a vivid line far thicker and more dynamic than most ballpoint pens, making it a great choice for writing cards or sending a handwritten note. These pens allow air into the refill, which makes the ink flow.
Tips for Writing Smoothly With a Rollerball Pen?
Writing with a roller ball pen is similar to a fountain pen, which makes it a popular choice for writing cards, letters and notes. Even though nowadays people don't often write things by hand, it's always a nice idea to have such a pen, especially for special moments, such as sending thank you notes after your wedding day, writing a letter to your loved one, etc. Most rollerball manufacturers offer either black or blue ink refills and it's a bit of a challenge to find companies that offer alternative colours. If your rollerball is damaged, it's best to throw it away, because it can easily leak and the stains are almost impossible to remove.
Different Size Tip Points
Rollerballs have various tip sizes that are suitable for different handwriting styles. You can switch the tips for various cases. They come in sizes ranging from 0.2mm to 1.5mm. The nibs can be categorized as fine, medium and thick. It's easier to choose what you need with this categorization, rather than the numerical one.
The best way to find what works best for you is to write something with every type of nib. The fine one has a tip size that ranges from 0.5mm to 0.7 mm. Medium tips range around 0.8mm to 1mm, while the broad or thick tips are larger than 1mm. Fine tips are best for people with small handwriting or for anyone who likes to draw tiny details. This type of pen is excellent for symbolic scrips such as Japanese, Chinese or Korean. The medium tip is useful if you have big handwriting or don't plan to write details or symbols.
A fine tip is great if:
What to Consider When Buying Rollerballs
If this is your choice of pen, there are a few things to consider. For instance, the free flow of the ink makes these pens prone to smudging, so if you're a left-handed person, things might get messy. These pens need suitable care and maintenance, and since they use liquid ink, they can easily dry up fast (especially if left uncapped). As I mentioned before, they can easily leak if you don't cap them or store them properly.
The free flow of ink may also mean such pens may run out of ink more quickly. You'll need to refill them more often, compared to other pens, but the refills are affordable so you can continue using your pen. The refilling is done with the syringe method. Rollerball pens also need drying time; the ink is liquid based and can easily smudge if you don't let it dry. For instance, if you write in a notebook and don't let it dry, before turning the page, it can easily smudge.
Why Buy It?
If you love writing things down and love nice pens, then this one will surely satisfy your taste. You can write down shopping lists, thank you notes, letters, and holiday cards, or even draw with them. People who write diaries or create scrapbooks also love these pens. However, you don't have to have a "creative side" to use such a pen. Many business people get it so they can sign contracts or letters by hand. And even though it can all be done with a digitalized signature, there's beauty in this old-school way of signing and writing things.
As a Gift
If you have a person who doesn't like to give up pens, or a person with beautiful handwriting, then seek no further - this is a wonderful gift. They have elegant designs and are often carefully packed in nice boxes. It's a superb gift for people who have just graduated, started their own business, or for (aspiring) artists.OF
