PENS FOR ARCHITECTS 

 

Each type of pen has it’s own strengths and weaknesses. Which pen is right for you depends on your own writing style and what you are using the pen to do. There are many different kinds of pens on the market today, but we're going to focus on the four most popular types:

 

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Pen Types

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Ballpoint pens use thick, permanent, non-water based ink that does not thin while you write. Ballpoint pens use a small rotating ball made of brass, steel, or tungsten carbide to dispense the ink as you write. Standard ballpoint pens come in fine, medium, and bold options depending upon the desired thickness of your line.

Pros to Ballpoint Pens

• Smooth writing. Ballpoint pen inks writes smoothly and evenly.

• Less fussy or finicky. Ballpoint ink handle the elements better than other types of inks.

• Dries quickly. The ink on a ballpoint pen dries faster than other types of inks.

• Long lasting ink refill. Ballpoint pen refills typically last longer than other types of ink.

Cons to Ballpoint Pens

• Messy. Ballpoint pen inks can be messy and accumulate around the writing tip of the pen. This can create an occasional blob of ink when writing or get on your hands, clothes, etc.

• Long writing. Not the best pen choice for long writing.

 

Roller ball pens use water-based ink that takes very little effort to get flowing, allowing for a smooth write. These pens utilize the same type of ball as a ballpoint pen, but because the ink is much thinner, it floods the ball and "drags" a pool of ink across the paper as you write. The smaller the point size of your pen, the less ink there is to drag, thus producing a finer line. Roller ball pen ink is usually not permanent. Like ballpoint pens, you can choose the desired thickness of your lines with roller ball pens.

Pros to Rollerball Pens

• Dark line. Rollerball ink soaks into the paper creating a nice dark line that is finer than ballpoint pens.

• Quick Drying. Because the ink soaks quickly into the paper it dries quicker and there is less smudging. Good for left handers and fast writers with standard paper.

• Color selection. Rollerball ink typically have a greater range of colors because there is more water soluble dyes as and pigments.

• Less pressure required. Because the ink on a rollerball pen flows easier less pressure is required to write evenly creating less hand stress and improved comfort.

Cons to Rollerball Pens

• Bleed & Feathering. Because rollerball ink soaks quickly into the paper it can bleed and soak through the page leaking onto the next page.

• Short ink refill life. Rollerball ink refills do not last as long as ballpoint refills because they use more ink when writing.

• Uncapped pens leak. When left uncapped rollerball pens can leak especially when left in a shirt pocket.

• Not travel friendly. Rollerball pens are more likely to leak when exposed to changes in pressure during airplane flights or altitude changes.

 

Gel pens use water-based ink with a viscosity or "thickness" that can fluctuate (not the thickness of the line, necessarily, but the thickness of the liquid ink itself). When a gel pen is not being used, the ink tends to have a higher viscosity, or thicker ink. When the ball starts to rotate, the ink thins down and is "dragged" in a similar manner as roller ball ink. Micro, medium, and bold are the standard terms used to describe the line thickness of gel pens.

Pros to Gel Ink Pens

• Bright vibrant color. Gel ink comes in a wide selection of colors.

• Writing quality. Gel ink creates a nice sharp edge on the line with little bleeding or feathering.

Cons to Gel Ink Pens

• Longer drying time. Because gel ink dos not soak into the paper as quickly the drying time is delayed.

• Short ink life. Gel ink pens use more ink and so the refills must be replaced more often than standard ballpoint pens.

 

 

Fountain pens use a nib to write and come with either a built in reservoir or use cartridges or a converter to hold the ink. The pen pulls ink from this reservoir or cartridge through a feed system with the use of gravity and capillary action. The reservoir can be filled with a pipette or syringe or with an internal piston style filling mechanism. Fountain pens that use a cartridge/converter filling system accept a pre-filled ink cartridge or draw ink into a converter like an internal reservoir system.

Fountain pen nibs allow for a wider selection of tip sizes as well as varied line width over ballpoint style pens. Fountain pens are our favourite pens for architects.

Pros to Fountain Pens

• More customizable. Fountain pens give the user the option to use a wide range of nib sizes to customize the pen to their own writing style. Nibs can also be exchanged on the pen.

• Color selection. Fountain pen inks come in a huge selection of color choices.

• Line variation. Fountain pens allow the user to create varied line thicknesses and variations due to the nib on the pen.

• Eco-friendly. Fountain pens are refillable and most can use bottled inks eliminating waste from disposable refills and cartridges.

Cons to Fountain Pens

• Fountain pens are the most difficult to use. They can be finicky and require more maintenance.

 

 

Pick the Right Pen for the Job

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Now that you understand the most common types of pens , it's time to really think about what you will using the new pen for on a regular basis. Remember, the most expertly crafted pen in the world won't get the job done if it's not suited for what you need. How will you put your new pen to use?

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Occasional Note Taking

Ballpoint pens are great for dependable, easy to maintain, and have a long life span. These are some of our best ballpoint pens for everyday use.

 

Creative Journal Writing

Roller ball pens provide a very comfortable writing experience, which makes them perfect for journaling. For an easy flow of writing and a richer saturation than standard ballpoint pens, consider these roller ball options.

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Signing Official Documents

Gel pens offer a smooth and attractive appearance with clean and precise lines. Here are some recommended gel pens for signing all your important documents.

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Consider Who the Pen is For

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Perhaps you're looking for a new favorite writing utensil for daily use, buying bulk pens for the entire office, or searching for a special gift for your boss. Some pens are primarily decorative and make wonderful gifts. Meanwhile, other pens are designed for heavy duty use and can withstand being dropped and kicked around every once in a while. If you are buying pens in bulk, you'll also want to consider price to stay within your budget. Ergonomically designed pens are a great choice for office use to support the well-being of your employees and co-workers.

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Pen Features to Consider

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There are many pen features to consider and options to weigh as you browse through our collection of pens. For example, you'll want to compare pen weight, size, ink color, material, and writing quality before making a decision.

 

Weight
The pen should feel good in hand. Not too heavy, not too light. Heavy pens help in thinking better. As writing gets slower, the split second difference between writing and thinking is converted to better expression. A moderately weighted pen strikes the perfect balance between not writing random words just to strike through them and not losing out on the thread of thoughts.

Grip
You don't want the grip to be too thin. It just ends up in hurting the finger when it comes to extended periods of writing. A grip too thick results in twisting of handwriting. However, if your handwriting is not very "presentable," a thick grip can help improve it. Also, always avoid the pens with tapering grips. They are worse then thin grips when it comes to hurting the fingers, plus all the ink marks on the hand just end up smudging the pages somehow.

Nib
Prefer a thin nib. Always. A thick writing point makes the handwriting bad, slows down your writing, and overall, just does not give the satisfaction you receive when hitting the last full stop. Thin nibs are artful. Period.

 

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Understand Ink and Refills

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There's nothing worse than discovering that your favorite pen needs an ink refill that isn't easily available or economically practical. We carry ink refills in a wide variety of colors, brand names, and price points to help you keep using your favorite pen for many years to come.

 

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Hopefully this article helps make the decision a little easier and you have a better understanding of the various types of pens and the inks they use.

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Thanks for reading!