MechPen
The Journal
Fountain, Gel, or Rollerball: Which Pen Is Right for You?
Fountain, gel, and rollerball pens each move ink to the page differently. A practical comparison of smoothness, maintenance, cost, line quality, and how each behaves on cheap paper.
Understanding Pencil Lead Grades: The HB Scale Explained
The HB scale decoded: what the H, B, and F letters mean, how US pencil numbers like #2 map to HB, and which grades suit writing, drafting, or sketching.
Fountain Pen Nib Sizes Explained
What EF, F, M, and B nib widths actually mean, why Japanese nibs run about a size finer than Western ones, and how ink and paper change the line you get.
How to Clean a Fountain Pen
A step-by-step routine for flushing a fountain pen with cool water, tackling stubborn pigmented inks, drying it properly, and knowing what to avoid, like hot water and ultrasonic cleaners.
How to Choose an EDC Pen
How to pick an everyday-carry pen that lasts: body materials, the refill standards that matter most, deployment styles, clips, and matching weight and size to how you carry.
Paper and Ink: Understanding Feathering, Bleed, and Ghosting
Feathering, bleed-through, and ghosting explained, plus the paper and ink factors behind each and how better-sized, heavier paper fixes fuzzy lines and show-through.
Mechanical Pencil Lead Diameters: A Complete Guide
A complete guide to mechanical pencil lead diameters from 0.3mm to 2.0mm: which size to choose, why thin leads snap, and how diameter and grade are separate choices.
Which Pencil Lead Grade Actually Fits What You're Drawing (and Why Softer Leads Snap More)
A task-by-task guide to picking a pencil grade — drafting, note-taking, sketching, shading — plus the real reason softer, darker leads break more easily than hard ones.
A Japanese Medium Nib Isn't a Western Medium: What the 0.2mm Difference Looks Like on Paper
Why a Japanese Medium nib writes like a Western Fine, worked conversions between the two sizing standards, and what the width difference actually changes on the page.
How Long Will Your Ink Refill Actually Last, at How Much You Actually Write?
Worked numbers for how far a fountain pen cartridge, converter fill, gel refill, or rollerball refill actually goes, based on tip size, handwriting size, and daily pages.
How Long Does Fountain Pen Ink Take to Dry? It Depends on Your Nib, Paper, and Hand
Worked dry-time numbers across nib widths, paper types, and humidity — and what actually helps left-handed writers avoid smearing a line that's still wet.
Why a Heavier Pen Can Feel Lighter in Your Hand Than a Light One
A worked comparison of two pens with different weights and balance points, showing why where the mass sits matters more than how much of it there is.