Images: Chris Holden
A Guide to the AJOTO Pen refills
We make pens that function as well as they look and at the heart of every AJOTO pen is the beautiful ink.
To get the most out of your pen we have written the following guide to answer some of the common questions we are asked about the ink in our Pens, from the difference between a Rollerball and a Ballpoint to The AJOTO Pens' compatibility with other brands and styles of ink refill.
WHAT KIND OF INK REFILL COME WITH MY AJOTO PEN?
All Ajoto pens include one capless 0.6mm liquid ink black rollerball refill manufactured by our partner in Germany. The resulting flow is as smooth as a fountain pen but as versatile as a ballpoint. It's what makes a Rollerball ink one of the best choices for your favourite everyday tool. We also sell blue, red, and green packs of rollerball refills, online and in our partner stores.
OKAY, BUT IS A ROLLERBALL THE SAME AS A BALLPOINT?
Although these refills look similar they are in fact different technologies from how they work to how they are formulated.
•A Rollerball pen is water-based ink very similar to a fountain pen ink. The liquid ink is stored in a reservoir which is released onto the paper when a little pressure is applied to the ball. As the ink is water-based it has a low viscosity, which makes the writing experience super smooth and gives it a consistent line. The ink is absorbed into the paper as you write and has a rich colour. Depending on the paper the ink will take a little longer to dry.
•The ballpoint pen is an oil-based ink, this ink is thicker and more viscous than a rollerball. Generally, the ball is slightly larger and you need to put more pressure when you write to get a wider line. These inks are more smudge-resistant, fast-drying and have little to no bleedthrough as they sit on top of the paper. You also find that you can write on more surfaces than rollerball, however the writing and drawing experience, mark and line weight is less consistent.
Both Rollerballs and Ballpoints use capillary action to release the ink, however more care is needed when storing a rollerball due to the lower viscosity of the liquid ink that can potentially leak a little easier if it comes into contact with an absorbent material such as pocket lint or paper.
HOW LONG DOES THE INK LAST?
Our Rollerball refills are specially designed for capless use and have a one-year dryout guarantee once the grey protective cap is removed.
The refills have a large reservoir and should last at least a couple of months with daily use.
WHERE CAN I BUY REFILLS FOR MY AJOTO PEN?
You can buy AJOTO rollerball refills in our online shop and our selected retailers around the world. All replacement refills are shipped in a pack of three so you can be sure to have a spare refill on hand when it comes to continuing your creative tasks. We ship Worldwide and if your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase some, please contact us and we shall do our best to facilitate your order.
IS AJOTO PEN COMPATIBLE WITH OTHER REFILLS?
Yes, your AJOTO pen is compatible with other refills.
•Rollerball - You can also use similar refills from other brands of capless rollerball pens, just check that they match or send us an email if you are unsure and we will happily qualify this for you. Rollerballs must have a Length of 97.5mm and a diameter of 6.9mm.
•Ballpoint - If you do want to try a ballpoint refill we suggest that you look for ‘G2 ISO 12757’ Ballpoint Refills as these should work with your AJOTO pen.
•Other styles - There are some Gel refills that will work with your AJOTO pen too and we suggest selecting one with a G2 ISO 12757 design. However, we suggest against using fibre nibs or refills that require a cap as these will tend to dry out when used in your AJOTO pen.
Please check before ordering and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.
HOW SHOULD I STORE MY ROLLERBALL REFILLS?
Store your rollerball refill with the cap covering the nib to protect the refill from drying out when they are not in use and out of the Pen, these also helps protect against leaks. Also, we recommend keeping your refills in a cool dry place and out of reach of the sun, this way will slow the evaporation of the water in the ink.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY REFILL STOPS WORKING?
This is usually down to one of the following three reasons.
1 The ink has dried at the nib blocking the flow of ink from the refill - To rectify this
Try running the pen under warm water if you suspect dried ink might be clogging the mechanism. Warm water helps dissolve the blockage, allowing ink to flow freely once more. Be cautious not to immerse the entire pen; only submerge the tip.
Another method to dislodge a clog is by gently shaking the pen up and down. This motion can often free the ink flow. Additionally, firmly pressing the rollerball onto a piece of paper may help disperse the blockage with downward pressure.
These are straightforward remedies for ink flow issues. If none of these methods work, it's possible the cartridge is faulty, especially if it's a new refill.
2 If the refill has been dropped or damaged in a fall - it’s time to replace the refill.
3 The refill is empty and run out of ink - it’s time to replace the refill.
In the rare case that you have recently purchased a Pen or pack of refills and one of the refills isn’t working then please contact us immediately stating the three-digit number on the side of the refill. This must be done within 2 weeks of purchase for a replacement refill to be sent out.
We hope this guide helps and if you have any more questions please feel free to contact us so we can help you keep making your mark.