One product category that we are seeing more and more is the refillable rollerball (sometimes referred to as the "inkball") pen. These first went mainstream several years ago with an inexpensive version released by ink maker Herbin, followed by TRAVELER'S Company releasing a version of their Brass Fountain Pen with a refillable rollerball tip. Recently, another pen garnering a lot of attention is Kakimori's "Frost" pen, which is available in both a fountain pen and rollerball format. We've had a lot of questions recently about the rollerball/inkball functionality, so I thought I'd take the opportunity and do a bit of an overview of how these work and how they perform.
The Kakimori Frost pen ships with a twist converter, while the TRAVELER’S Company brass pen is advertised as cartridge only. However, it will take the Kaweco Mini Converter if you absolutely insist on using bottled ink.
How they work: This one's pretty easy. These refillable rollerballs all use a fountain pen-style nib unit that accepts standard international ink cartridges and Schmidt-style converters. You fill the pen as you would any standard cartridge/converter fountain pen, using fountain pen ink. (While not every manufacturer announces the maker of the rollerball nib/tip unit, Kakimori has specified that it is Schmidt, so if you see "made in Germany" you can probably assume that's who it is.)
Predictably, early iterations of these products weren't as reliable as the versions now available. Performance has improved - particularly the consistency of the ink flow - and I've found the pens themselves easier to clean. But why would you opt for one of these "inkball" refillable rollerballs as opposed to a fountain pen? Here are a few considerations:
Office Use. Despite their growing popularity, fountain pens continue to draw a lot of attention in the workplace. If you prefer to remain inconspicuous while still being able to write with your fountain pen ink, these pens are a good alternative.
Permanent or Pigmented Inks. Kakimori makes an extensive line of pigment inks, which are both lightfast and water-resistant. While I've not had a bad experience using Kakimori inks in standard fountain pens, those who are concerned about cleaning and clogging might feel better using a Kakimori-branded pen or a non-fountain pen altogether. I currently have a Frost rollerball loaded with the special ink I mixed in Tokyo at the Kakimori store, and I have had no issues.
Consistent Line Width. While fountain pens are known for line variation depending on the angle of your handwriting and the grind of the nib, ballpoints and rollerballs typically produce a single consistent line width while writing. Note that the one variable here is ink and paper. Since these "inkball" pens use fountain pen ink, the wetness of the ink and absorbency of the paper you are using can cause a wider line than the stated .5mm tip size.
A writing sample of the .5mm rollerballs, on Rhodia Premium paper. Note the consistent line width across both brands, with two very different inks.
A Few Downside Considerations
Cleaning and Clogging. I would be more conscientious about cleaning these rollerball tips than a standard fountain pen nib, since any sort of roller tip does have extra moving parts (the metal ball) that can get gummed up. The good news is that refillable rollerballs using the Schmidt nib unit clean identically to standard fountain pen nib units, though sometimes you have to flush them a few more times to remove stubborn clogs and residual ink. I typically take a bulb syringe and flush these pens in the same way you would flush a fountain pen. Ultrasonic cleaners can also be helpful.
Leakage. Especially wet, free-flowing fountain pen inks may leak out the front of the nib and/or cause the pen to "blob" on the page while writing. I've only had this happen with a couple of inks, one of which was the ultra-lubricated Tom's Studio Fineliner-specific Midnight Blue ink that probably wasn't intended to be used with this pen in the first place. Most standard inks work perfectly fine.
In the event the tip does become irreparably clogged or damaged - which I personally have yet to experience in either of the models shown here - these nib units are replaceable. Both TRAVELER'S Company and Kakimori use a standard rollerball unit manufactured in Germany by Schmidt, and sell replacements to fit their respective pens. You are also not locked into one writing "mode." Note that these rollerball units are threaded identically to each brand’s fountain pen nib units, so you can use them interchangeably in your Kakimori Frost Pens and TRAVELER'S Brass Fountain Pen. (I do not believe these nib units are interchangeable between brands, since they use slightly different housings.)
Both pens are compact, but I would only call the TRAVELER’S Brass Pen a true “pocket pen”.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
I've enjoyed using the "inkball" option fairly regularly, and overall I'm pleased with how these pens perform. While I might not reach for them as my primary writing option (I still prefer the softer feel of fountain pens and refillable fineliners), those looking for a reliable second option for using their fountain pen ink should give these a try. I am consistently impressed with how clean a line this current generation of refillable rollerballs can write.
The two pens featured in this post are the Kakimori Frost and the TRAVELER'S Company Brass Ballpoint, and are priced at $54 and $75, respectively. Additional nibs can be purchase for around $16. As noted above, both pens are compatible with their brand's fountain pen nibs, so there's no need to purchase a second pen - just the nib - unless you'd like to have both inked up at once.
The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of both Kakimori and TRAVELER'S Company products. You can view these both in our physical Nashville Shop or our online store.
