Fountain Pens vs Roller Gel Pens

[Longhand Writer]

Let me say that I love fountain pens and always have.  There is a pleasure and satisfaction associated with them that is unique.  With that said, I wonder how many other fountain pen folks would agree with me that in terms of true usability, roller gel pens are hard to beat for sheer writing pleasure.  They are incredibly smooth on far more types of paper than any fountain pen I own.  My favored Pilot refills never hard start, never skip, and last far longer than any fountain pen cartridge or converter (the exceptions are my piston and eyedropper pens).  It is simple to change out the writing depth from fine to medium to broad with a roller gel pen.  I cannot do that simply with any of my fountain pens.  Rollers are seldom messy in terms of leaks, etc.  Their lines look great on paper, whereas fountain pens that skip and write dry are no pleasure to behold.  Rollers require so much less maintenance, bother, and problem-solving.  This is absolutely NOT an indictment of fountain pens----I love them  But who would agree that on a comparative basis, in terms of actual writing usability, the rollers win hands down, and there will be no inky fingers on that hand, either?

[Mercian]

I used to use rollerball pens a lot (before gel rollers came out).

 

One advantage that FPs have over rollerballs is that one can see how much ink one has got left in one’s pen.
With a pressurised metal rollerball cartridge, the only way that you know that your ink is running out is when it stops writing.

 

Another advantage is the far greater range of inks that is available for FPs than for rollerball pens, and the universal utility of bottled ink - no vendor lock-in 👍

 

For some people, the best advantage of FPs over rollers is the line-variation that one can get from italic/stub/oblique nibs, or the line-variation on-demand that one can get from fountain pens with ‘flex’ nibs. No rollerball pens can give their user line-variation.

 

I used to find it all-too-possible to smear ink that I had written from my rollerballs ☹️ To be fair, those weren’t modern ‘gel-rollers’, so I don’t know if those are less-smeary than my 1990s RBs, or not.

 

Personally, I find the ‘wastefulness’ of a single-use pen/refill to be distasteful (especially the pressurised metal rollerball cartridges, for which I consider the degree of wastefulness to be unconscionable), and so I stopped using them.
Now, I’m not about to bite the head off anyone who does choose to use them, but I am not happy to buy them any more.

 

That all said, it is unquestionably true that, for most people, for most of the time, gel rollers are far more convenient to use than fountain pens. For proof of this, one need only look at what is stocked by the High Street shops that sell pens.

[MidSouthern-Dad]

I view rollerballs as incorporating the worst features of fountain pens and ballpoints.  The watery ink is prone to smearing.  The increased ink flow means rapid depletion of the refill, which then goes into the landfill.  At least with our fountain pens, our great grandchildren can continue to use them, and refill them with ink out of a bottle.

You still have to push down in order to write, which is fatiguing, though less so than with a ballpoint.  I use a ballpoint for quick signatures, or addressing envelopes.  The greasy ink will still be legible if it rains when the postal worker is trying to deliver it.  Of all the writing systems, I probably use the rollerball the least.

 

One item that I have started to appreciate is a mechanical pencil.  It lasts forever, and you only need to refill the leads as they are written out.  It's an economical system, and doesn't involve sacrificing trees, as a wooden pencil would.

[corniche]

 

I'd like to know why Longhand Writer hasn't been heard from again in this post? Could it be he/she was spirited away in the gloom of night... never to be heard from again?! 😲

 

Well, I'll speak up, because I hope they TRY to get me.... Gel Writers are superior in most aspects... I, too, am very fond of the Pilot G2 series. The only problem with them is they lack charm... unless you put the refill in a Levenger True Writer... than you really have the best of both worlds.

 

UNLESS! Like Mercian said, you prefer stub/italic, etc., nibs... OR... you're into a very unique ink color that can only be had in a bottle... like a genie.

 

- Sean

 

 

 

[Colin M]

I also love Pilot G2’s for regular work stuff.  To me they are a real pleasure to use and more reliable than the old Pilot precise, which I thought were amazing.  I find fountain pens more expressive though and it’s like a mini adventure to discover what will happen each time it comes out.  

[Longhand Writer]

Well, perhaps the sheer simplicity and writing ease of a gel pen lacks the charm of writing with a fountain pen, but I must say one thing for sure.  I seem to spend about as much time trying to get some of my fountain pens to write well as I do actually writing with them.  I've had battles with 3 of my fountain pens this week alone, and so far, I'm losing 2 of the battles.  Strange as it seems, the battles are just as often with my more expensive pens as they are with my cheap pens.  For instance, I have a pair of Twsbi's that never ever give trouble, never skip, never hard start, and are a pleasure to write with.  On the other hand, my Duofold and Waterman pens constantly demand attention or they'll just refuse to write.  But with any of my various gel pens loaded with the Pilot G2, never even a hint of trouble.  I have a pair of Lamy 2000 Rollerballs that I load with G2 refills, and they are a true pleasure to write with.  So here's my question: could it be that all of us who love our fountain pens are devoted to them just because they do require so much attention and care?  Because if I just want to write with a pen that glides oh-so-smoothly across cheap or expensive paper alike and never demands or requires anything of me other than popping in a new G2, it's hard to see how a gel pen can be topped.  Okay, so if I'm baring my breast to the sword, so be it.

[ParramattaPaul]

7 hours ago, Colin M said:

I also love Pilot G2’s for regular work stuff.  To me they are a real pleasure to use and more reliable than the old Pilot precise, which I thought were amazing.  I find fountain pens more expressive though and it’s like a mini adventure to discover what will happen each time it comes out.  

Pentel Energel pens are the Gel pens I use for those few writing occasions a fountain pen doesn't work such as writing on glossy or nonabsorbent (or too absorbent) paper.

[MidSouthern-Dad]

Longhand has a valid point.  I confess to almost obsessively tuning my fountain pens until they write just as I want them to.  After all the time and energy spent, you become emotionally invested in that pen.  So then that pen becomes the daily driver.

 

i have a vintage mechanical pencil - Waterman Taperite, that came with the pen.  The pen had been overhauled, so it needed little fussing (for once).  The clutch of the pencil wouldn’t hold the lead, and it was missing the eraser.  Solving these issues now means that I use that particular pencil more than any other.

 

I have vintage Parker Jotters and a Parker 75 ballpoint pens that had rusted or distorted springs.  I had an impossible time trying to get replacement Parker springs.  Then I realize that so many throw away plastic ballpoints have Parker G2 style refills.  I just took the springs from the cheap pens and they work great in my pens.  The cheap pens often have very high quality stainless steel springs. Since I made the effort to fix these Parker ballpoints, I use those ballpoints.

 

 I have a LeBouef rollerball pen that has a Schmidt refill in it now.  It’s never given trouble, so I don’t pay attention to it.

Weird how the mind works.  Or maybe it’s just me!

[Thinkpad_maven]

For me I need to exert much less pressure on my fountain pens than my Pilot gel pens. Worth the money for me:)

[Longhand Writer]

I find myself in agreement with MidSouthern-Dad about mechanical pencils.  I've been using them more of late, and have collected a number of Tombow, Pilot, Staedtler, and Faber pencils, mostly in either .9mm or 1.3mm sizes.  Since I am also partial to strong bold lines and use broad refills mostly in the rollerballs I have, and broad or medium nibs in my fountain pens, I suppose it is normal that I prefer the broader pencil leads.  I also use 2B lead, as it's considerably darker than HB.  I suppose that means that whatever I write, I must be looking to make a statement?  I also have a Montblanc LeGrand pencil I've had for many years, that is a delight to write with.  Come to think of it, I guess I just like writing in any sense.  It's a great relief from all of the keyboard typing we all have to do these days.

[51ISH]

On 3/5/2023 at 2:26 PM, corniche said:

 

I'd like to know why Longhand Writer hasn't been heard from again in this post? Could it be he/she was spirited away in the gloom of night... never to be heard from again?! 😲

 

Well, I'll speak up, because I hope they TRY to get me.... Gel Writers are superior in most aspects... I, too, am very fond of the Pilot G2 series. The only problem with them is they lack charm... unless you put the refill in a Levenger True Writer... than you really have the best of both worlds.

 

UNLESS! Like Mercian said, you prefer stub/italic, etc., nibs... OR... you're into a very unique ink color that can only be had in a bottle... like a genie.

 

- Sean

 

 

 

I always have a Pilot G2 EX within reach. The G2 refill takes some beating in this type of refill IMO. I've looked at the Pilot G2 Limited a number of times, but I think I prefer the 'squishy' grip of the G2 EX

[Sailor Kenshin]

I like both fountain pens and gels for different reasons and applications.  Sitting in a recliner, lazy as anything, quick note, grab a gel.  Papermate InkJoy, Pilot, a few of the others named.

 

Writing a letter?  Fountain pen.  Making a journal entry, fountain pen.

[Maurizio]

I’m just a bit shocked, shocked  at the gel love here. Shouldn’t this whole thread be moved to “It Writes But It’s Not A Fountain Pen”?😉

 

I’ve used Pilot G2s they write but, to me, not as smoothly as a properly fitted fountain pen with good ink. The metal tip on the G2 is very stiff and slightly rough as it moves on the paper. 

 

Nothing beats my Pilot VP with a medium nib, or my Pilot Custom Kaede, loaded with Pilot standard Blue or Black ink (and enhanced with a touch of glycerin) for smooth, consistent writing. 

 

 

 

[51ISH]

3 minutes ago, Maurizio said:

I’m just a bit shocked at the gel love here. Shouldn’t this whole thread be moved to “It Writes But It’s Not A Fountain Pen”?

 

I’ve used Pilot G2s they write but, to me, not as smoothly as a properly fitted fountain pen with good ink. The metal tip on the G2 is very stiff and slightly rough as it moves on the paper. 

 

Nothing beats my Pilot VP with a medium nib, or my Pilot Custom Kaede, loaded with Pilot standard Blue or Black ink (and enhanced with a touch of glycerin) for smooth, consistent writing. 

 

 

 

 

I wasn't exactly 'shocked', as many of us have to use BP's and RB's or Gel Pens ( eg at work due to the state of recycled printer paper quality etc) as well as enjoying our FPs.  Agreed, 'back in the day' it may well have been 'moved' but the OP clearly states in the title what the post is about.  We're all 'grown ups' we don't have to read it.

[Bo Bo Olson]

The uneven writing""""""

can be solved by a better ink and or paper......how ever perhaps you are getting  two toned shading....So that is not uneven at all, but wished by those like me. I prefer and chase shading inks.

 

One has to be much more paper aware with a fountain pen....but you get rewarded if you want more than a single boring line.

With wetter semi-flex (soft++) you get flair.....line variation.

Regular flex...a somewhat springy soft + is a bit dryer and more for two shading.

 

 

Go to Richard Binder's site and spend three days learning...I visit it often, still.

It is the bible of nib and feeds, filling systems, good ink advice and so, so many beautiful pens.

 

Did someone mention how many thousand very beautiful fountain pens there are....mostly used but that is quite good.....90% of my pens are used, mostly old and used. Called Vintage and Semi-Vintage often enough.

 

[The Elevator]

On 2/17/2023 at 6:16 PM, Longhand Writer said:

roller gel pens are hard to beat for sheer writing pleasure. 

 

I do not think this is the way that I would describe it, but yes, gel pens have a longstanding presence in my writing instruments arsenal. I usually keep a gel or a hybrid ballpoint near me in case the paper I am writing on turns out to disagree with my fountain pen. They are the only pens that come close to offering the range of colors that fountain pen ink can, which makes them a great fit for color coding my planner.

 

There are two key weaknesses that drove me to get into fountain pens, though.

 

1: Ink offerings are not consistent. The Pilot G2 is available in something like 50 colors in the 0.7mm point size, but only 4 in the 0.38 size. Likewise, the Uni-ball Signo is available in only 7 colors in the 1.0 point size, but over 40 in the 0.38 size. Shimmering ink in an EF size? Impossible.

 

2: Specialty colors are not refillable. Except for 8 out of the whole lineup of G2 colors, and the Pentel Energel’s comparatively small 12 color lineup, good luck finding OEM refills in the color you want. Glitter refills? Forget it.

 

Fountain pens solve all these problems by selling inks and pens separately

[Longhand Writer]

The Elevator brought out some excellent points.  The incredible diversity of available inks and colors in the fountain pen world definitely elevates them to a significantly higher plane.  Perhaps in some ways it comes down to each of the instruments having its own place in writing pleasure.  I love my fountain pens (when I can sometimes get them to write as beautifully as they are capable of doing), but I also love my Lamy 2000 Rollerballs loaded with Pilot G2 refills.  The way the Lamy fits in my hand is incredible, and the way it writes is a true pleasure.  I've never invested in the Lamy 2000 fountain pen, although I know many people absolutely swear by the pen.  The one pen I do NOT like is just about any ballpoint.  Their ink always seem washed out to me regardless of whether they're fine or broad point.  The one exception might be my Montblanc LeGrand ballpoint, as it it an excellent writer so long as it's loaded with a Montblanc bold point refill. 

[51ISH]

1 hour ago, Longhand Writer said:

The Elevator brought out some excellent points.  The incredible diversity of available inks and colors in the fountain pen world definitely elevates them to a significantly higher plane.  Perhaps in some ways it comes down to each of the instruments having its own place in writing pleasure.  I love my fountain pens (when I can sometimes get them to write as beautifully as they are capable of doing), but I also love my Lamy 2000 Rollerballs loaded with Pilot G2 refills.  The way the Lamy fits in my hand is incredible, and the way it writes is a true pleasure.  I've never invested in the Lamy 2000 fountain pen, although I know many people absolutely swear by the pen.  The one pen I do NOT like is just about any ballpoint.  Their ink always seem washed out to me regardless of whether they're fine or broad point.  The one exception might be my Montblanc LeGrand ballpoint, as it it an excellent writer so long as it's loaded with a Montblanc bold point refill. 

 

I also love my Lamy 2000 Rollerballs loaded with Pilot G2 refills.  The way the Lamy fits in my hand is incredible, and the way it writes is a true pleasure. 

 

I've been looking at the Lamy Rollerball on recently, and felt sure it would be a 'Lamy only' refill (the same as the ballpoint although I think Monteverde do one??) That could make the difference for me. I know you said you don't have the FP but do you know if the RB and FP are the same size? (The BP is quite a bit smaller

Edited March 11, 2023 by 51ISH
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[Bo Bo Olson]

In Germany we are often ten years behind times. So when I started back with glide smoothly on paper fountain pens , gel pens weren't around.

They are nicer, almost much nicer unless fountain pens enters the equation, than the old or standard ball points.

 

Roller balls's are to me, harder than even ball points ...pointlessness when writing...flowed ok but was harder than a ball point. So shortly after roller balls came back in the day '80's if i remember correctly, having black  Parker Roller balls, ..I stopped using them, in they were also smeared by anything wet...

They weren't as comfortable to use in spite of flowing better than a old fashioned ball point.

 

In the mean while I've learned not to smear my ink.

 

At various times I counted up and sold 100 or more mostly free ball points including a few gel pens at the flea market for 10 cents a piece in a bundle of 10.

 

Of course we did keep the more expensive Lamy, Parker and an inherited MB ball point ....and a few that made  part of a BP/MP/FP set.

 

I do admit making a short note with a ball point that is in my first desk writing item that basically holds a upside down dip  pen, the BP and my loupe, and first letter opener.  Holds my eagle claw celluloid letter opener also. I'm sure I've written twenty words with that BP in the last two weeks. That BP is one of my more worthy ones from back in the day when MB made $10/40DM ball points.

It has it's own way of working,  Push the knob down to write...if placed in the shirt pocket it automatically closes the pen.

Gee just remembered I've some old Jotters and Parker Flighters.....but my wife; the Ball Point Barbarian, has our better ball points...........don't know if any are gel in I don't use them.

I have a new desk unit that sits on my desk, so I could bring up my agate bP/MP holder....and then use the well balanced Pelikan 450 mechanical pencil more than that ball point.

Have done so.....I never liked MP's, including Jotters including my bought new in '70/71  P-75 BP/MP...depending on the cartridge. It was on hand and no BP in the near, when I wanted to write a small note. Six weeks later when it ran out of ink...and I had to puzzle how to reload it....that was then the first time I'd use my fountain pens.

Perhaps I should put that back in the book case...a very dangerous 'writing instrument' to make a guy put down all his fountain pens for six weeks.

 

 

When everything goes as planned I have only 7 fountain pens inked in I want to use up more inks.................lately having bought too many inks and did the unforgivable...visited the ink section, I had for a sort time 20 well over my once max oof 17 inked.  Ran through seven....

Got to stay away from the ink section.

 

IMO Rollerball and BP's including gel pens are; limited in color, monotone, no line variation boring!!!!!

 

[amper]

On 3/5/2023 at 8:38 AM, MidSouthern-Dad said:

I view rollerballs as incorporating the worst features of fountain pens and ballpoints.

 

Same. It's either a fountain pen for me, or a ballpoint, for papers on which a fountain pen won't work. 21 years ago, I bought a Graf von Faber-Castell rhodium Guilloche rollerball to serve as my fancy credit card thermal paper receipt signing pen, and immediately replaced the rollerball refill with a Schmidt 2010M ballpoint refill designed to fit rollerball pens. I don't use it anymore, since credit card receipt signing has become a thing of the past. I do still carry a Fisher Bullet Space Pen pressurized ballpoint as an emergency backup/survival pen.

 

On 3/5/2023 at 6:22 PM, Longhand Writer said:

I seem to spend about as much time trying to get some of my fountain pens to write well as I do actually writing with them.

 

My fountain pens are not something I ever really need to think about, at all, unless I mistreat them. I uncap them, I write, I cap them. I can't think of the last time I had a pen fail to write immediately, but then, for the past 10 years, I've been using Platinum Preppy and TWSBI ECO pens, both of which are known for having excellent sealing systems with tightly fitting double caps that prevent the pen from drying out. In fact, until a few weeks ago, I hadn't actually fully disassembled and cleaned a fountain pen for over 5 years, and that was only because I was switching inks on a pen.

 

On 2/17/2023 at 8:03 PM, Mercian said:

Personally, I find the ‘wastefulness’ of a single-use pen/refill to be distasteful

 

That, too, which is why I also don't use cartridge fountain pens.