Affordable Fountain Pens That Write Like A Pro Pen

Affordable fountain pens have been around for centuries but in recent years they’ve seen an explosion in popularity. Thanks to companies that are making them affordable and easy to find. With their sleek designs and high-quality materials, you can buy these pens at any price range. They come in different styles and colors, too.

One of the questions people ask most often is “what is an affordable fountain pen?” because they have quite a few expensive fountain pens in their collection. The affordable fountain pens include both expensive and cheap fountain pen brands that are still maintaining good quality products. They can be bought at your local shops or online stores.

Affordable fountain pens today offer numerous features that make them ideal for a variety of uses. They can be used for writing, drawing, painting, calligraphy, or lettering. Some models have retractable nibs while others feature fixed nibs. Fountain pens don't need to be intimidating, expensive, and maintenance-intensive. You can really find lots of fountain pens that are affordable. Some are bad and some are really good.

Fountain Pen Terminology | Affordable Fountain Pens

Fountain pen terminology refers to the language used in describing different parts of the fountain pens that we use. Some people refer to this as "nomenclature" while others call it "terminology". There are many terms that are commonly used when talking about fountain pens. These include fine nibs, barrels, feeders, ink flow, piston filler, shape, barrel twist, ink cartridge, and even color. Like any hobby, there‘s a language in the fountain pen world you need to understand. So that you can tell the difference between the different pens. Here are some below:

The Nib | Affordable Fountain Pens

The first thing you need to know is the nib. A nib is this little metal part at the end of a fountain pen that allows you to write. A fountain pen works by using capillary action as well as gravity to transfer the fountain pen ink from the inside to the outside of the pen. The fountain pen nib or point. Most fountain pens have replaceable nibs. This means that if you want to change the nib on your pen. You just unscrew the fountain pen nib from the body of the pen and then screw on another one. Fountain pen nibs come in various sizes and shapes. Some nibs are wide, thin, stubby, fine nib, and broad.

The Ink Feed | Affordable Fountain Pens

On the underside of the nib, you can see the fountain pen ink feed which helps to create the capillary action and get the ink onto the page. Unlike ballpoint or rollers, nibs come in varying widths. The finest ones are EF which stands for extra fine then there’s F for fine.

The most common nib size is M for medium. If you want a broad nib, you get a letter B; even wider is a letter BB; and if you want it real broad, which is usually only used by signature artists, you get a letter 03B nib. Some nibs are angled at the tip, so they're called OBs. When you start out using fountain pens, they recommend you use a medium nib, a fine liner, or an extra-fine liner pen, because these pens are easier to learn with, and you can eventually upgrade to more broad nibs.

The Converter | Affordable Fountain Pens

The converter is an attachment that allows you to use a fountain pen inside your ballpoint pens. Some converters have two parts: one that screws into the side of your fountain pen and another part that has a ballpoint refill. Most fountain pens don't come pre-loaded with fountain pen ink and you can either buy cartridges but they're more expensive on a per-use basis instead, you can buy ink converters so you can choose from whatever kind of ink you want. They normally cost between 1 to 5 dollars but you'll save money over time compared to cartridge refills.

The Piston Filler | Affordable Fountain Pens

This one has no cartridge and you just turn the knob at the bottom of the fountain pen to either suck ink in or push ink out. Usually, you find this kind of mechanism in more expensive fountain pens. Some people prefer the piston filler or ink converter because they're less expensive than cartridges and also less harmful to the environment because you have fewer pieces of waste. This piston filler was invented by John Singer Sargent who was an American painter and sculptor. Known for his portraits of famous people like Queen Victoria and President Lincoln.

Barrel Twist | Affordable Fountain Pens

A barrel twist is a type of fountain pen where you unscrew the top of the pen and rotate it clockwise to make sure all the ink comes out of the ink reservoir and then screw it back together. Barrel twists are often found in cheaper fountain pens. You should never ever try to take apart a fountain pen without taking proper precautions. You could easily damage the pen or yourself. Barrel twist refers to a method of imparting structure in wood. The technique consisted of cutting a piece of timber into strips about 2" wide. Then use hand tools to cut these strips into smaller pieces until the desired size was achieved.

Ink Color | Affordable Fountain Pens

An ink color fountain pen is a writing instrument that uses a series of chambers or ink reservoirs for storing different colors of ink, usually black, red, blue, green, brown, yellow, purple, orange, and pink. Black ink is opaque, meaning that it doesn't absorb light as much as other colors do. It's great for shading and adding depth to your artwork. Blue ink is transparent and will allow light through.

Green ink is translucent and will let some light pass through it while blocking others. Red ink is semi-transparent and will let some light through while blocking others. Brown ink is semi-opaque and will block some light while letting others through. Purple ink is semi-translucent and will let some light through while blocking most others. Yellow ink is semi-translucid and will let some light go through while blocking most others. White ink is completely transparent and will let all light through. Gray ink is completely opaque and will not let any light through.

Best Affordable Fountain Pens For Fountain Pen Lovers & Beginners

There are lots of different reasons why people buy fountain pens. Some people like them because they are an investment piece that will last for years, some people do not have much space in their home, and others just love how elegant looking the pen looks when writing on paper.

Whether you're shopping around for back-to-school items or have a newfound desire for better handwriting, you've come to a good place. With their precise nibs and smooth writing experience. It’s for the people who care for their handwriting to be especially flawless.

However, if you're new to using fountain pens, it can be easy to become swayed by all the different types of fountain pen options available. Variety can be overwhelming, especially if you don't know what you're looking for. But don't worry! We're here to help you choose the best fountain pens for beginner writers.

Why Choose A Fountain Pen | Affordable Fountain Pens

There is a good reason why fountain pen users always prefer fountain pens over other types of pens such as roller ballpoints or fine tips. Here are some reasons why you should do it:

Consistent Writing | Affordable Fountain Pens

Fine tips or other kinds of writing instruments may be brilliant when you first use them, but with time, they might not write so well. However, because of friction and decreased ink levels, the writing becomes less fine and the color starts fading. It’s no longer as good as it was at the start.

You don't face this problem with fountain pens! Thanks to their refillable ink cartridge and metallic pen tip, the writing remains pretty consistent for a long period of time. After all, the tip might get a bit blunt with time, but it won't happen for a long time if it's used regularly.

Sustainability And Longevity | Affordable Fountain Pens

Fountain pens have been used for writing since the mid-18th century. They have continued to evolve over the years and now offer many different features that improve the user experience and create new design opportunities. With their unique shape, they can be used both in an office setting and on paper products. In this way, they contribute to sustainability and durability.

It also makes them eco-friendly because you're not contributing to the waste that comes from throwing away a pen when it runs out of ink. A ballpoint or gel pen may work for up to a few months, but a fountain pen usually lasts longer than that. It depends on how carefully you use the pen.

A Good Writing Experience | Affordable Fountain Pens

Because fountain pens use liquid ink which is refilled every few weeks, the writing is much more smooth than ballpoint pens. Thanks to the metallic nib and ink, there is minimal friction, so the pen glides smoothly across the paper.

With a good smooth writing experience on fountain pens, they feel like a very fine-tipped pencil when you write in them. The ink flow should be just right so that you can still write legibly even if your hand isn’t perfectly steady. So, the writing process is more enjoyable and easier than ever before. And you can write faster without having to use your hands too much.

Actualization & Sophistication | Affordable Fountain Pens

While this may not have anything to do with the ergonomic aspects of the pen, anyone who uses a fountain pen has a whole new level of writing experience. A fountain pen is personal to every individual, so you have more opportunities to experiment with your own writing style.

You can also buy fountain pens in different nib sizes, which means you can always choose one for your needs. Furthermore, fountain pens tend to be sleek, elegant designs which are always a bonus when they’re displayed in your front pocket!

How Fountain Pens Work | Affordable Fountain Pens

If you haven’t used a fountain pen before but want to learn how they work, you may be wondering how they differ from the generic ballpoint pens. There are three main parts to any fountain pen: nib, ink cartridge, and feed.

Pen nib: This is the tip, which you use to write with

Ink Cartridge: This is where you put the ink. It‘s either a pre-loaded or a refillable cartridge. And either a piston or a vacuum style.

Collector/feeder: this is the part where the ink sits before it flows through the nib. It prevents too much ink from flowing into the nib, which keeps it from leaking.

As the said before, the pen works by gravity. When you write down something, the ink flows from the tip of the pen onto the paper. The ink flow is managed by the collector, which prevents the ink from smudging the paper by collecting the extra ink.

Fountain Pen Buying Guide

An online fountain pen buying guide provides information about fountain pens, including brand names, models, ink types and nibs, cap materials and barrel materials, paper options, and much more. Before we begin exploring product options, let’s start by looking at what features we considered while making this list.

Size Of The Pen

You need to be able to use the pen for a long time without having to change it. If you use a pen that’s not comfortable for you, it won’t feel right. When choosing a pen, always choose one that feels comfortable in your hand.

We recommend going with a medium-sized fountain pen that’s comfortable for most people to write with. Pens too bulky or slender will take more effort for you to hold on to, which will result in faster fatigue while writing.

The Width Of The Nib

It depends on your personal preferences, but most people usually choose one brand over another because of their personal preferences. If you prefer smooth handwriting, you may want to go for a medium or broad nib. But if you prefer bolder, more prominent fonts, a broader nib might suit you better.

However, if you're a beginner, we recommend sticking to a standard nib width and avoiding extremes of broad or fine.

The Style Of The Nib

The most important part of selecting a fountain pen for your writing needs is choosing the right nib style for you. There are basically two broad categories of shapes to put them into- rounded or squared. The round nibs come in different widths, such as bold, medium, and fine.

They're designed according to different styles, including Italian, calligraphic, and oblique. Usually used by people to write letters or do calligraphies. They can also be used for headings or subheadings in routine writing.

Material Of The Nib

The material of the pen is mainly important in terms of durability. As a beginner, you should focus on experimenting with different pens and not worry too much about their longevity.

However, stainless steel is by far the most common material. As you move up to pricier pens, their nibs become more sophisticated, with gold nibs, platinum nibs, and other combined metal nibs to make the writing experience more smooth.

However, a lot of things go into making a good pen, including the materials used to make it. The material may be good but the nib quality and the ink-to-nib connector play an important role when deciding how well the pen actually works.

Weight of the pen

This refers to the weight of the pen when empty. Ballpoint pens weigh less than fountain pens because they don't have ink inside them. Ink cartridges for ballpoints weigh about 1 gram each. Each cartridge for a fountain pen weighs anywhere between 2 grams or more, depending on how much ink the pen has in it.

As the shape of the pen itself, the weight is important for the ergonomics of writing with the pen. A pen should be small enough to carry easily and large enough to write with comfortably. If a pen is so heavy or bulky that you get tired from writing just a few words with it, then it's probably not the best choice for you.

External Design And Body Style Of The Pen

It doesn't really matter which pen you choose, but it's the first thing you see if you're looking to buy one. You should choose the color and design of the writing instrument according to your personal taste. It doesn't matter if it's a funky neon exterior, wood style, or sleek metallic design; it all comes down to which one you like best.

Now you have an idea of what makes a great fountain pen, let's take a look at some of the top brands available today.

The Difference Between Inexpensive And Expensive Fountain Pens

One of the biggest things that people who are new to fountain pens often wonder about is what makes one pen more expensive than another. Is it really worth spending hundreds or thousands more on a pen when there are so many options out there? Here, we want to talk to you about some of the more important differences between expensive and inexpensive writing instruments.

Expensive vs. Inexpensive Fountain Pens

At their most basic level, fountain pens are fairly simple objects. A pen, a body to hold it, and a reservoir to hold ink. Of course, pens aren't just made up of three pieces, but in most cases, that's what makes them work. It’s amazing that something so seemingly simple can have such a wide range of options and prices.

We want to discuss the parts of a fountain pen that have a significant influence on its price and/or performance, one by one. We want to help you decide whether a pen is right for you by giving you some tools to consider. Remember that everyone has different tastes, so be willing to compromise and just present why each specific variable can affect the price of a pen for any given person.

For each part below, an example showing how much of an expected price gap you can expect, followed by an explanation for why that gap exists. You can see this kind of example in the brand called "Pelikan M200." For example, they may have different nibs, different sizes, and sometimes even different body materials. Prices for pens were taken from the same retailer, so they're comparable.

The Nibs

Nibs influence your writing experience, and they affect how your writing looks. Less expensive pens usually have steel nibs, so they can still write very well. However, they're not as soft or flexible as gold or titanium nibs. Cheap steel nibs may not have any tipping material at all, so they can be quite scratching to write with. Nib shapes and sizes other than fine, medium, or broad, such as stubs and italic nibs, can increase a pen's price.

Pen nib size can also affect the price of a pen, but not always. Not talking about Fine, Medium, or Broad, but the actual size of the nib itself. Bigger nibs usually cost more per pen than smaller ones. One reason for this high price is that they're made from more expensive materials. If you want to get the best writing experience, you should use larger pens. However, if you don't care about the size of the pen, then you can go for smaller ones.

The Feeds

The materials from which the feed is made will also affect its price. More expensive pens tend to have an ebony feed, while less expensive pens tend to have a plastic feed. Ebony feed paper tends to provide better ink flow and can usually be more precisely fitted to the nib, which can lead you to enjoy a better writing experience.

The difference between these two types of feed is noticeable when you start using the pen. Plastic feeds are generally softer and easier to grip, making it easier to control the pen. On the other hand, ebony feed paper is harder to find and more difficult to fit the nib. As a result, people who buy cheap pens tend to prefer plastic feeds because they feel like they give them a smoother writing experience. When buying a fountain pen, you won't often be able to choose the type of ink or feed material.

Body Materials

One of the most obvious features is the material the pen barrel is manufactured from. Therefore, it can have the greatest impact when it comes to the price of the pen A solid-colored plastic body is usually the least expensive option. Pens with fancier plastic bodies, such as those with mixed colors or sparkles, may be more expensive than pens with plainer plastic bodies. A metal pen will usually be more expensive than a plastic one. For example, a stainless steel Kaweco Sport in brass costs 3 to 4 times more than the plastic version. Even though the rest of the pens are identical.

More exotic materials and finishing options can drive prices up even further. Hand-painted finishes, such as oil paintings, cost significantly more than their factory-produced counterparts because they require a lot of time and effort to create. The same goes, which is basically a painted scene or decoration added to a fountain pen. Some of the most costly pen bodies will even feature rare materials or jewels.

The Size

The bigger the pen, the more expensive it will cost. Larger pens are usually the flagship pens a brand offers, and therefore come equipped with more options such as larger nibs, gold nib, and nicer body materials Large pens may also be heavier and have a stronger build than smaller ones.

The Brand

The brand of any particular pen can also greatly affect its price. Some brands charge a premium simply because they attach their brand name to the product. For other brands, "Made in Italy" means high quality and reliability. Some brands may include additional benefits such as free annual pen tuneups or the ability to swap pens after buying them if you decide you‘d like a different one later.

Filling Mechanism

The filling mechanism can affect the price of a writing instrument. Most basic pens just use ink cartridges. Because they have fewer parts, these products are cheaper to manufacture than their counterparts. As the number of fillers increases and becomes more complex, the cost of the pen goes up. You can see how a pen that uses a refillable cartridge is easier to use than one that uses a piston filler.

The Uniqueness

Some fountain pens have some unique features that can affect their prices. A Pilot Vanishing point has a retractable nib. You may be willing to pay a bit more for a pen with a retractable nib than one with a traditional nib and a cap. Many companies are now releasing limited edition fountain pens, which are usually sold at a premium price. You may be able to get some special colors or finishes that aren't always available and many people may pay a premium for them versus the standard offerings.

The Handmade

If you want something handmade, you'll probably need to spend more money on your purchase. This is especially true if you're looking for an unusual design or color. It's not uncommon for a handcrafted piece to cost several hundred dollars. If you're looking for a custom-made pen, there are plenty of companies out there that will make a custom pen for you. They will take into account what you want and give you a quote based on the materials used and the amount of work required.

Some people prefer buying fountain pens from small artisanal manufacturers instead of purchasing them from larger corporations. For most of these smaller pen manufacturers, each pen may be handmade with limited distribution channels, increasing the cost of each pen.

Is it worth it

Seeing all these examples of how different features affect the price of a writing instrument, you may be wondering if any of them are worth it at all. It depends on what kind of writing experience you want. It depends on how expensive you want a single pen to be. And it depends on your personal style and image.

Durability-wise, metal or wood pens are probably better than plastic ones. If you're accident-prone or throw your pens into a bag and carry them with you everywhere, then a metal pen will probably last longer than a plastic one. For other writing instruments, the added cost of the pen will likely be a major turnoff to most people, regardless of how attractive they are. Many people will view them as individual works of beauty and buy them to have as unique pieces of artwork.

From a practical perspective, brands don't really matter. You would either like to use a pen or not use one at all and it wouldn't matter who made it. That’s usually not how it works, but sometimes it does. Many people will pay extra for a pen from a well-known brand. It could be trust or brand loyalty that makes people feel comfortable buying from a company with a well-known name. On the one hand, small, independent manufacturers of pens are doing well and many people love their pens because they are not made by a large commercial manufacturer but instead by an individual artisan.

Conclusion

There are many types of fountain pens available today. All of them have their own advantages and disadvantages. There are cheap fountain pens that are made of plastic and are very affordable. Then there are high-quality fountain pens that are made from metal or wood and are quite expensive. If you want to get the best fountain pen possible, you need to think about what you want to write with it.

There are so many factors that go into determining the price of a writing tool. The type of material used in the pen, the size and shape of the pen, the quality of the ink inside the pen, the number of colors or finishes available, the number of refill options available, the availability of accessories such as clips and cases, the availability of additional customization options, etc., all play a role in determining its overall value.

You should also consider the time and effort involved when making a decision about which pen to buy. There are some things that can be done quickly and cheaply while others require much more planning and research to complete.

FAQS

How much does a fountain pen cost?

The cost of a fountain pen varies widely depending on where you live, how you plan to use it, and whether you choose a disposable or reusable model. A good starting point is to look at the average prices listed on sites.

What Color Pens Are Available?

Pens only come in black, blue, red, green, pink, purple, and turquoise.

What is the mechanism?

This one doesn’t have a cartridge and you simply turn the knob at the end of the fountain pen to basically suck ink in or push it back out.

What is a fountain pen?

Unlike a ballpoint pen, most fountain pens don’t come pre-loaded with ink and you can either get cartridges but they’re more expensive on a per-use cost instead, you can use a converter so you can choose from any kind of ink you want and you can just fill the ink into it.

What are the Best Value Pens?

If you’re looking for a good deal, then you might want to check out these value pens. They’re pretty inexpensive but still offer decent features.

What are the benefits of fountain pens?

It’s particularly good if you don’t know if a fountain pen is right for you so we focus on low price, easy maintenance, easy writing, and overall, a good experience at a minimal investment.

What is the difference between a ballpoint and a rollerball pen?

Unlike ballpoint or rollerball pens, nibs come in different widths.

What is the best size nib?

The most common nib is M for medium.

What is the best pen nib for beginners?

When you start for the first time, they suggest you maybe go with a medium nib, a fine, or an extra-fine nib, because they’re easiest to learn with, and later on, you can upgrade and invest in more pens with broader nibs.

What Makes a Fountain Pen Work?

A nib, a body to hold the nib and a reservoir to hold some ink.

What are the different variables that influence pen prices?

Please note that the particular pen models mentioned, will typically feature more than one price-affecting variable, so when comparing a fountain pen, they will have different nibs, sizes, and sometimes even body materials.

What are the different pen prices?

Pen prices are taken from the same retailer.

What are the most expensive finishes?

Hand-painted finishes cost significantly more due to the amount of labor involved in creating them.

How Much Does a Fountain Pen Cost?

We'd guess that the average price of a modern fountain pen is around $100.

How much does a larger pen cost?

Larger nibs will almost always cost more than smaller nibs. One reason for this is that they simply have more material, so they cost more to the manufacturer.

What are the different types of pens?

Less expensive pens tend to have plastic feeds, while more expensive pens tend to have ebonite feeds.