Write On! – It’s All in the Ink Pt. 1

At the end of the day, the writing experience comes down to two factors and can be summed up by saying "it's all in the ink and the paper". That might seem like a controversial take because so often people are buying the pen for the way it looks, the size of the nib, the shape of the grip, or other visual or aesthetic components on the pen itself. Don't get me wrong, those are all important. If you don't like the way the pen looks or feels in your hands, you're probably not going to reach for it very often. Having said that, ink choice makes a HUGE impact on how the actual experience of writing translates to your brain. Surprisingly enough, many people never get to the ink and paper part of writing because they buy an expensive pen, it performs poorly, they toss it aside, and move back to using pens they've nabbed from the office. Outside of ink color, a lot of rollerball and ballpoint brands don't put much effort into communicating how important ink choice is. They're not telling you that it's all in the ink, rather they're just telling you to buy another pen if you didn't enjoy the first. We're here to steer you clear of that mistake and help you fix some of your "poor performing pens" so you can enjoy the nicer things in life.

We're going to focus on rollerball and ballpoints in Part 1 and tackle fountain pen in Part 2, that way this is a bit more concise. The first thing you need to understand is that not all inks are created equal, and by that I mean chemical compounds of the type of refill you've chosen play a big role into the overall performance of a pen. Traditional ballpoint refills use oil-based inks that require pressure to apply a line to writeable surface. These refills have much larger ball bearings because the oil-based ink is thick and more viscous. Modern ballpoint refills have changed some, and there are a few that still use oil-based inks that are quite nice, but even those refills are nowhere near as smooth and free flowing as a rollerball refill. What a ballpoint refill and this type of ink exceed at is in writing on extremely varied surfaces without running, needing long drying times, bleed through, or other problems related to liquid inks. The very popular write in the rain type of ballpoint refills use oil-based inks in a pressurized refill that provides consistent ink. Another benefit of ballpoint refills and specifically the ink used in them comes in the event of the refill being left out and in contact with the inside of your pocket or purse, oil-based inks won't wick away or leak unless the entire refill breaks or cracks. Your pockets are safe from disaster in the form of ink stains. Having said that, they're not very fun to write with, and I'd categorize them as more utilitarian and function-driven than fun.

Rollerball refills, on the other hand, are fun and often-times dangerous for your pocket or purse. I've had more stained pants pockets from Pilot G2 refills than I have from any other refill because gel ink flows freely when it comes in contact with any porous surface. Modern rollerball refills primarily use gel ink which consists of pigment suspended in water that allow for very fine tip refills and a huge selection of colors. Water-based inks like gel rollerballs are extremely smooth though they can be very finicky and "paper particular". The traditional rollerball ink is very similar to fountain pen inks in that it consists of colored dye that is dissolved in the water. Still extremely smooth to write with, there are not as many colors but this is a far more permanent type of ink as the dyed water chemically bonds with the surface it's applied to. Outside of the tendency to cause issues when pocket carried, here are some of the other concerns with rollerball refills of both varieties. Gel refills can skip quite a bit more than other refills primarily due to uneven ink flow on the ball bearing or the presence of oil of some kind on the surface of the paper. Gel inks also require a longer drying time than other inks based on their chemical makeup. Traditional water-based rollerball ink (liquid) is one of the smoothest forms of inks available in the rollerball/ballpoint world, however this ink is extremely finicky when it comes to paper choice. Standard legal pads and Post-it notes are disastrous when it comes to the use of liquid ink. Feedback, often translated as scratchy feeling of the paper through the pen, is also a concern with both of these refills, though the modern use of ceramic ball bearings can help alleviate some of this.

If it's all in the ink, what does this mean for you the user? It means that a little bit of education and planning can go a long way in helping you find the right pen and ink combination for the task at hand. The planning phase is pretty easy and boils down to answering the question "how am I going to be using this pen?". If you're looking for a pen to keep in your pocket, purse, or glove compartment; I always suggest a ballpoint with the Schmidt Easyflow 9000 refill. You'll be able to write on almost all surfaces, the ink shouldn't leak from heat or freeze from the cold, and it should last quite some time. In a pinch, you can grab the pen and toss it in your pocket or bag if you go on a hike and not have to worry about it wicking away on anything. If you use a pressurized refill for this pen, you'll also have the ability to write on coated paper in the rain or in some other extreme weather conditions, or in the event you take a trip to outer space. If you're using the pen at your desk or have a nice carrying case for your pens that ensure the refill won't be exposed, then a rollerball is the better choice. Though you'll have to invest in better paper to maximize your experience (or sometimes just be able to read your notes) that's probably something you're already doing. That's also not that big of a deal anymore because even most department stores carry some pretty nice paper that will work with almost any type of ink. A caveat to this entire paragraph, if you choose a capped pen or a quality side-action bolt-style pen, you likely won't have to worry about the refill accidentally coming in contact with anything in your purse or pocket. But they can still leak from heat or freeze in extreme cold, so keeping them in your car might not be the best idea.

As for the education part, the internet is an amazing place for writing instrument education. Even better, the majority of the educators on the internet are providing their insights for free. Though Jet Pens wants you to buy something from their store, they have a huge catalog of articles and videos geared toward ensuring you make the best purchase for your needs. Pen reviewers like Figboot on Pens, The Well-Appointed Desk, The Pen Addict, The Poor Penman, and many more post weekly and sometimes daily blogs or videos about pens, inks, and paper. Many of your favorite pen manufacturers have set up educational blogs to help aid the potential customer in finding the right pen for their needs.

Remember, it's not always the "pens" fault for poor performance, sometimes it's all in the ink. If you've got a pen you really want to use that isn't performing properly, you can always reach out, and we can try to get it back up and running.