Customize Your Pen
There are four steps to take in finding the perfect pen:
- Pick the nib (the writing point)
- Pick the style of hardware
- Pick a blank (the material for the barrel)
- Pick the profile
This page can get you started.
Step One: Pick a Nib
This determines the writing experience. Check out the examples: each nib has a variety of different styles of hardware to choose from.
Ball points
One of the most popular kinds of pens, particularly for everyday use. These pens are practical, hold their ink for years, can write upside down, and are easy to find replacements for. They do not require caps; usually the pen can be twisted (or have a button on the back of the pen) to extend and retract the tip. Some pens use a bolt action (or gearshift!) to extend the tip.
Styles include: slimline, steampunk, Celtic, duraclick, dog, shake, gearshift, dragon, skull, phoenix, hourglass, motorcycle and the very popular Gatsby.
Rollerballs
Rollerballs provide a smoother writing experience than a ballpoint, but will dry out if left open, so all rollerballs require pen caps. My favorite style by far is the Vertex magnetic, which has a cap that can be posted to back of the pen with a satisfying magnetic “snap”. These pens can often be converted to fountain pens.
Fountain Pens
Many pen fanatics love a good fountain pen. It takes some practice to write with one if you haven’t done so before. These pens can use disposable ink cartridges or refillable ink that can be siphoned from a well (can be messy). The nibs can also be replaced, if you like a particular nib.
Styles include: vertex, majestic, majestic jr.
Other styles
There are a range of additional writing utensils that I have made. Fiber tip (aka felt tip) pens combine some of the features of fountain pens with those of roller balls: refillable ink with a fine tip. Mechanical pencils are also available in a range of stiles, usually with a standard .7mm lead refill. Workshop sketch pencils have large lead refills (5.6mm) and can be sharpened by the pencil itself..
Styles include: fiber tip, keychain bolt action, workshop pencil