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Your Write to Choose!
Most writing instruments state the line width they produce in their description. Use this quick reference guide to help you make the right choice!
Frequently called biro after the Hungarian, Ladislao Jose Biro, who developed this type of pen for mass production in the 1940’s. It’s tough and inexpensive. It writes smoothly, the ink dries on contact and ball pens are ideal for producing carbon copies.
Rollerball pens give a smooth writing action. Like the ball pen there is a ball in the tip. Ink flows over the ball. The ball can be manufactured to extremely fine specifications with the size of the ball and line width produced usually shown on the barrel. The most common line widths are medium, fine and ultra fine. From time to time we all get in our clothes, so it is worthwhile noting that although the ink is water based, washing could spread the stain and dry cleaning may make the dye permanent.
A fairly recent innovation, the combination of liquid ink technology and pen styling produces a smoother flow for the user and consistent ink colour.
Gel ink pens raced onto the scene in the last few years. Amalgamating oil and water based ink; gel is thicker than water based ink and thinner than oil. This gives the pen a very smooth writing action and the effect produced has been compared to using a fountain pen.
The fine liner pen has two main parts, a tip that is usually plastic and the ink feed channel. This type of pen usually contains water-soluble dyestuff ink, and allows the user to draw or write a fine line width of 0.5mm or less.
The traditional quality writing instrument that will never go out of fashion. Fountain pens allow the individual to develop their own writing style and control. Nibs are made from gold or stainless steel and the ink gives a dense and solid script.
There are two main types of marker, permanent and drywipe. They come into two main tip styles, chisel and bullet. Chisel tips produce different line widths whilst bullet tips give a single broad stroke. For line widths see the description for each marker. Remember to use only drywipe markers on drywipe boards.
Pencil leads are traditionally made of graphite bonded with clay and mixed with water. The higher the level of graphite the blacker the leads. A scale denotes the blackness and hardness of leads. HB is most commonly used.
Sometimes called clutch or mechanical pencils. By depressing a button at the end of the pencil the clutch opens and allows the lead to slide in and out. Ideal for writing, drafting or drawing.