Sun. Jun 29th, 2025

Parker ballpoint pens from Penshop UK: Fountain pen vs. ballpoint vs. rollerball: Which one should you choose? We’re often asked what the differences are between writing with each of these different types of pen, from how they write to the different pen nib types that are available. To help you understand the differences and to make the right choice for you and your writing needs, here’s a brief guide to each style of pen. True fountain pens use bottled inks and generally have a piston-type mechanism that draws the ink through the pen from the nib. Cartridge pens use disposable ink cartridges and cannot use bottled inks. Fountain pens fitted with a converter use both cartridges and bottled inks. Discover extra info on parker pens.

Rollerball pens unite the greatest features of ballpoints and fountain pens into one convenient writing instrument. Water-based or gelled ink ballpoint pens offer the durability and convenience of fountain pens without sacrificing the pleasant writing experience. The pen tip is a diameter ball between 0.5 and 0.7 millimeters. A fountain pen is a type of pen that employs a metal nib to deposit water-soluble ink onto paper. It’s different from traditional dip pens since it doesn’t require you to refill it from an inkwell constantly; instead, it has an ink reservoir built right into the pen. Because of gravity and capillary action, the pen takes ink from the reservoir to the nib and deposits it on paper.

Consider gifting a high-quality pen alongside a handwritten note. This gesture elevates the gift, showing that you not only value the recipient but also the art of writing itself. It’s a simple yet profound way to convey your appreciation, whether it’s for a colleague’s hard work, a friend’s support, or a loved one’s kindness. Pens are versatile gifts suitable for various occasions. Whether it’s a birthday, graduation, wedding, or a simple “thank you,” a pen can fit the bill. Here are some occasions where a pen makes an excellent gift: Graduation Ceremonies – Graduations are monumental milestones in one’s life. A pen symbolizes the knowledge gained and the journeys yet to come. Gifting a pen to a graduate encourages them to write their future, set goals, and document their experiences. A personalized pen engraved with their name or graduation date adds an extra layer of sentimentality.

Picking up this pen after an interval, is always a joy. Its contours and weight all suggest quality, although in terms of Parker’s range of fountain pens, it might be ranked as entry level to the upper echelons. Unusually, it was available with a choice of steel or gold nib. On re-inking the pen recently I found in the following days, that the pen always left an inky stain on my second finger where I had rested the pen – rather like a smoker’s finger. Despite wiping the section carefully, this continued. I deduced that the ink was coming from behind the flared metal ring at the point where it meets the black resin section. Initially I thought that perhaps the ring had not been glued and sealed sufficiently such that ink would get trapped behind it when dipping in an ink bottle. To investigate, I flushed the pen and then unscrewed the nib and feed unit. The nib housing simply unscrews from the section. To my surprise, the metal ring then came off the section: it was not glued on at all. (Note: if disassembling a pen over a basin, be sure to have the plug in). Parker nib disassembled. Note that the metal ring is not glued into place. Note also that the rubber O ring sits on the back of the nib housing.

Ballpoint pens manufacturers supply their pens with a medium grade point in either blue or black ink. The most popular colours for ballpoint refills are black and blue. Red and green are common alternatives. A key difference between rollerball and ballpoint pen types is the ink the two pens use. Rollerballs use water-based ink, which can easily smudge, while the oil-based ink in a ballpoint pen dries quickly. Oil-based inks, then, are harder to smudge on the page – but ballpoint ink leaks and spillages can be difficult if not impossible to remove. Ballpoint pens work when the small ball bearing at the tip of the nib is rolled onto paper. The casing of the ball bearing is so tight that the rolling motion creates friction, and it is this friction, which makes the ink inside the pen flow onto the paper.