What does a "ball point" even mean?
In short, it's the smoothest, most consistent writing pen style. The unique design places a small ball bearing at the tip of the ink cartridge. As the bearing rolls across the paper, the ink is drawn out of the cartridge and deposited on the paper. The ink also serves as a lubricant - that's why writing with a ballpoint is much smoother than a quill pen.
How does a roller ball differ from a ballpoint?
They are actually the same design (a rolling ball at the tip dispensing ink), but differ in the ink they use. Ballpoints use oil-based inks that dry faster and don't smudge. The traditional water-based inks used in roller ball designs are thinner, flow easier and require less pressure to make a mark.
What is a gel pen and why do I want one?
Gel pens use a roller ball to dispense a gel-based ink that lays down a bolder and darker line than either water-based or oil-based inks. The greater opacity makes gel based inks more visible on dark surfaces and impervious to check washing fraud. The draw back is that the gel-based inks may not coat the roller ball as evenly and could leave small gaps in the writing line.
What is check washing?
Thieves use readily available household chemicals to remove the pen ink off the checks while leaving the rest of the check intact. After drying, criminals fill in a new payee and amount. Estimates of check washing fraud are more than $900 million dollars a year and, so far, the best defense against it is using gel pens for all your check writing.
How do you add art and logos to the pens?
There are two basic processes, silkscreening and laser engraving.
Nearly all plastic body pens are silkscreened. This is the same process used on T-shirts where ink is transferred through a screen onto the pen. This process allows many color choices and provides good detail.
Laser engraving actually uses a laser to remove the top layer of material on the pen body for precise detail and refined looks. Laser engraving is especially striking when applied to painted metal bodies. The top layer is removed to expose the contrasting natural metal color underneath.
Twist or click? Which is more reliable?
Both systems use the same spring loaded ink cartridge concept and are subject to the same quality variations at each price point. So the choice comes down to personal preference. The industry tends to lean toward twist action pens for executive gifts so there is a higher quality perception with twist-action pens.
Is there any real difference between disposable and refillable ballpoint pens?
Actually, there is. Disposable pens are made with plastic internals that are only designed to last as long as the ink. Refillable pens feature precisely matched metal internals that will last for years and provide crisper action during use. And of course, the refined looks and feel will make a real impression on your guests.
What's the difference between standard and wide body pens?
Larger hands appreciate the bigger size of wide body pens. While no two people are built alike, it is possible to tailor your pen choice to the largest portion of your audience. A reunion of all-pro football players probably would have a larger percentage of big hands than say, a meeting of computer programmers.
|