PEN TYPES

  • Ballpoint. These pens write just like your standard ballpoint pen.
    • Acitons:
      • The refill is extended and retracted with a twisting motion at either to top or bottom section of the pen.
      • The refill is extended and retracted with a click mechanism at the top of the pen.
      • Bolt Action. The refill is extended and retracted with a bolt mechanism at the side of the pen.
    • Characteristics:
      • Dries fast
      • Doesn’t smudge
      • Doesn’t bleed through paper
      • Is less expensive 
  • Rollerball.  Rollerball pens use water-based inks, and writing is sharper and more vibrant.  They generally all are designed as a two-piece pen; body and cap.  Rollerballs pen caps can be postable or non-postable.  Postable means the cap can thread onto or be magnetically held to the back of the pen body.  The cap required to be on the pen when not in use to keep the ink from drying up.
    • Characteristics:
      • Consistent ink flow; less skipping
      • Less pressure needed means less hand fatigue and quicker writing
      • Wider range of colors
      • Clearer lines 
  • Fountain.  Fountain pens use a metal nib to apply a water based ink to the paper.  They use an internal reservoir to hold the ink and draws ink from the reservoir through a feed to the nib and deposits the ink via a combination of gravity and capillary action.  There are two types of reservoirs; a converter (piston style) and a cartridge refill.  Like rollerballs, they are designed as a two-piece pen and are required to be capped when not in use.  Fountain pen nibs come in a wide variety of sizes and styles.  Nibs can be tuned to provide more or less ink flow.  These pens do require maintenance.  Flushing is recommended once a month or when changing ink colors.   Fountain pen caps can be postable or non-postable.  Postable means the cap can thread onto or be magnetically held to the back of the pen body.  Wikipedia has a great page on fountain pens.  View it here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_pen