Materials They Use To Make Fountain Pens

[Comiris]

Hey Guys,

 

I'm working on a fountain pen project and wanted to know -

 

The big brands and custom artisans what materials do they widely use?

 

Which material can achieve the best finish?

 

[mhphoto]

Your question is too subjective I'm afraid.

 

Widely used materials include plastic, "precious resin" (see: plastic), metal, acrylic, vegetal resin, epoxy over sub-materials (carbon fiber). Less commonly (at least nowadays; these are still made by a few manufacturers) ebonite, celluloid, Micarta.

 

As for the best finish? Completely dependent on the pen and material.

[richardandtracy]

All the materials above (except Micarta) can get a high gloss finish. Is that the best for you? Some designs look great in a matt or satin finish - generally it's black stuff that gets this treatment, but the black material can be BHR, polycarbonate (Makrolon) or acrylic.

 

I prefer working with acrylic. It's stable, machines well and can be got hold of in lots of colours and types. And the machining process doesn't release horrible smells like BHR does.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[Uncle Red]

Inexpensive pens tend to be injection molded plastic so they are generally a single color and tend to be shiny. More expensive pens from the big companies tend to be acrylic which cannot be injection molded, it is either bent around an form and sealed or machined. Then there are the less common materials like Hard Rubber (Ebonite), Celluloid, Lucite, Makrolon etc.