rollerball vs ballpoint

Chrono

Chrono

Joined
May 29, 2002
Messages
80
Hello

What exactly the difference between rollerball and ballpoint pens? They both seem to have a tiny ball in the tip that rotates. In my experience ballpoints write easier but the roller ball produces a nicer line. What causes this? Is it just because I'm left handed?
Thanks

Ryan
 
My experience is that rollerballs write with less pressure. For that reason I like them better.
They also tend to smear more easily and dry up faster. The only one I've seen that doesn't smear are the Schaeffer rollerballs--the plastic-bodied ones are about $6.
 
The difference is all in the INK.

Ballpoints use a thicker ink that is almost a paste in some cases.

Rollerballs tend to smear easier because the ink is less viscous, similar to fountain pen ink.

For what its worth, Rollerball inks are harder to wash of checks in general then ballpoint pens. For those us that live in high mail theft areas, this is something to consider.
 
Since Roller balls and Fountain pens share the same ink, they both suffer from evaporation loss. Which means a Roller ball refill can dry out when stored. Cross makes a version with gelatin mixed in the ink to prevent this issue.
 
Cross's new Ion pens are using the "gel" ink in their refill cartridges. Having run one cartridge dry already, it seems to me to be a good compromise between the standard ballpoint and the rollerball.
 
I put a Parker gel refill in my Rotring ballpoint pen. Wow! What a difference. Very smooth. As stated above it seems to be a good compromise.
 
My Rotring 600 with Parkers gel refills dont use a cap. I dont particularly care for caps myself.
 
Roller Balls don't work well for Leftys. You drag your hand over the ink and it smears.
 
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