So, What's The Difference Between A Glass Dip Pen Like This And Like....

[TestTube]

So, what's the difference between a glass dip pen like this:

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0719X5MHG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A2MB0N7F6KWVYB&psc=1

 

at 7.99$ and this one...

 

https://www.gouletpens.com/products/rohrer-klingner-glass-dip-pen-blue?variant=11884769247275

 

at 30.00$ (plus about 8$ shipping)?

 

They're both made of glass...they both have high ratings, they both seem to hold a good amount of ink, etc.

 

So, I don't understand the difference whatsoever other than how they look.

 

Especially considering I'm going to use these for only for making ink swatches and very VERY rarely otherwise.

 

So, once again, could anyone tell me if there are any differences between the two other than looks?

 

And also, even if there are differences, for what I plan to do - could you guys tell me if I should just buy the cheaper one?

 

Thanks

[WLSpec]

I would go with the cheaper one right away unless you really like how the other one looks. They should have no difference in writing, and even if they somehow did it is super easy to alter with sandpaper or something. I have a glass dip pen and it is perfect for testing inks and such as you said. The amazon one is the better choice for sure in my opinion

[BaronWulfraed]

So, I don't understand the difference whatsoever other than how they look.

 

The Amazon one appears to be a simple (somewhat speckled) blue rod embedded within clear glass (Pyrex) (heat and twist)

 

The Goulet pen has more complex colored glass strands drizzled and rolled against clear glass. A more complex manufacturing technique.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I would go with the cheaper one right away unless you really like how the other one looks. They should have no difference in writing, and even if they somehow did it is super easy to alter with sandpaper or something. I have a glass dip pen and it is perfect for testing inks and such as you said. The amazon one is the better choice for sure in my opinion

I have a few glass dip pens. To be blunt, my cheap ones wrote better.

[Mech-for-i]

I have over the years many glass dip pens and to be honest they pretty much all practically write the same, cheap or expensive

Edited January 9, 2020 by Mech-for-i

[Charles Rice]

I have one glass pen. It is very particular about how it wants to be held. It's more of a novelty than anything else. If you're going to get one, I agree with the others - don't pay a lot. You might end up using yours once every other year like me.

[Newton Pens]

Shape of the grip - I have a cheap Chinese one, and while it writes just fine, the ridges and flat spots make it kind of hard to get comfortable with it. I'd go with the round one for the grip alone. If it has a rough spot, draw a few circles or whatever on some 800 or 1,000 grit sandpaper.

[EBUCKTHORN]

I submit this cautiously and knowing that perhaps it belongs in Chatter but there's another consideration for deciding which pen: Where you would be purchasing it.

In one case it's a small company whose only business is writing instruments and that goes out of its way to educate us. The alternative is a gigantic, and some would say, "Monstrous", entity that is changing the world consumer landscape amidst considerable criticism of its damaging practices.

Edited January 9, 2020 by EBUCKTHORN

[Margana]

The Amazon nib looks more narrow though sandpaper can improve the tip if you do it slowly. I have used dip nibs and glass pens for ink tests for at least ten years. None are any different than when they first arrived. However, my glass pen does flow more enthusiastically than a fountain pen and that can intensify the color. I like writing with it especially on projects that need multiple colors. For that reason as well as the ease with which it can be cleaned, the glass pen is always on my desk.

[flyingfox]

Not all glass pens are created equal....

 

Some don’t hold ink that well and you can only write a sentence or less. Some don’t write at all- you’d just get a blob of ink stain. With a well-made one, you can write half a page on a letter-size paper with one dip, and the line states about the same width from start to finish.

 

The glass pen I use the most is about half way in-between the two options you’ve posted, about $20.- USD. It is not really glass (acrylic? resin?), and comes with a cap. I can throw it in my pocket bag and carry it with me when I go to a pen show or a pen-related meeting, in case I have a chance to test ink.

 

I also have a great glass pen made by an artisan. But- if you are going to buy an expensive one, make sure to try it out.

[Honeybadgers]

some of the cheap chinese ones can be more of a crapshoot than a really good, finely ground one (look at a closeup of the $300 wancher glass nibs vs cheapie chinese ones) so they can be sharp. But I got lucky and the glass chinese one I ordered was ground wonderfully, and writes a treat.

 

Most useful thing ever for ink swatch cards.