The Ultimate Pen Materials Guide (2026)

The ultimate guide to fountain pen materials has arrived! From brass and celluloid to modern acrylics, Brian dives into 35+ materials used in fountain pens—breaking down their pros, cons, durability, feel in hand, and the traits that set them apart. Ultimate Pen Materials Blog: coming soon! Link will be here when it's published. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 04:02 METALS 04:36 Aluminum 06:20 Brass 08:05 Copper 09:28 Steel 10:44 Stainless Steel 12:31 Titanium 13:34 Sterling Silver 14:51 Bronze 16:00 Gold 17:49 Rose Gold 18:18 Rhodium 19:00 Platinum 19:26 Palladium 19:52 Ruthenium 20:26 Osmium 21:00 Iridium 21:36 PLASTICS 21:47 Resin vs. Plastic 24:34 ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) 25:50 PMMA (poly methyl methacrylate/Acrylic/Plexiglass) 27:07 CAB (Cellulose butyrate/Butyrate) 28:27 Acrylester (Acrylic acetate) 30:52 Urethane resin (Alumilite) 31:37 Polycarbonate 32:25 Polystyrene 33:00 Polypropylene 33:45 Volcanic resin (Lava resin) 34:22 Nitrocellulose (Cellulose Nitrate/Guncotton/True Celluloid) 36:32 Cellulose acetate (Vegetal resin) 38:02 Bakelite 38:44 EVERYTHING ELSE 39:17 Hard rubber (Ebonite) 41:45 Wood 43:31 Carbon Fiber 44:44 Fiberglass 45:24 Glass 46:06 Leather 46:39 Urushi Lacquer 47:49 Abalone Shell (Mother of Pearl) + Other Shells LINKS TO PRODUCTS FEATURED: LAMY AL-star: https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/lamy-al-star-fountain-pens Kaweco AL Sport: https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/kaweco-al-sport-fountain-pens Diplomat Aero Flame: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/diplomat-aero-fountain-pen-flame Pilot Vanishing Point: https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/pilot-vanishing-point-fountain-pens Traveler’s Brass Pen: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/travelers-company-brass-fountain-pen Kaweco Liliput Fireblue: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/kaweco-liliput-fountain-pen-fireblue LAMY 2000 Stainless Steel: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/lamy-2000-fountain-pen-stainless-steel Monteverde Innova Titanium: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/monteverde-innova-titanium-fountain-pen Pilot Sterling Silvern Koushi: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-sterling-fountain-pen-silvern-koushi Visconti Homo Sapiens Bronze age: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/visconti-homo-sapiens-fountain-pen-bronze-age TWSBI ECO Indigo Blue w/ Bronze: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/twsbi-eco-fountain-pen-indigo-blue-bronze TWSBI Diamond 580 Smoke RoseGold II: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/twsbi-diamond-580-fountain-pen-smoke-rosegold-ii Pilot Falcon Black/Rhodium: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-falcon-fountain-pen-black-rhodium LAMY studio palladium: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/lamy-studio-fountain-pen-palladium LAMY Lx ruthenium: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/lamy-lx-fountain-pen-ruthenium LAMY safari: https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/lamy-safari-fountain-pens Pilot Custom 823: https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/pilot-custom-823-fountain-pens Sailor 1911L: https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/sailor-1911l-fountain-pens LAMY 2000 Black: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/lamy-2000-fountain-pen-black Pelikan M1000 Black/Green: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pelikan-m1000-fountain-pen-black-green Monteverde Invincia Deluxe Rose Gold: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/monteverde-invincia-deluxe-fountain-pen-rose-gold Visconti Homo Sapiens Carbon Abyssus: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/visconti-homo-sapiens-fountain-pen-carbon-abyssus-limited-edition-1 Namiki Emperor: https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/namiki-emperor-fountain-pens Edison Pens: https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/edison-fountain-pens Franklin-Christoph Model 31 Fabalone Abalone: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/franklin-christoph-model-31-fountain-pen-fabalone-abalone-limited-edition Diplomat XO: https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/diplomat-xo-fountain-pens Edison Premiere Delphinium: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/edison-premiere-fountain-pen-delphinium Jinhao Gold Dragon: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/jinhao-999-dragon-fountain-pen-gold-red Noodler’s Ahab Lapis Inferno: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/noodlers-ahab-flex-fountain-pen-lapis-inferno Conklin 1898 Cosmic Cloud: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/conklin-1898-fountain-pen-cosmic-cloud-special-edition Monteverde Innova Fiberglass: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/monteverde-innova-fiberglass-fountain-pen-sapphire-special-edition Noodler’s Boston Safety Pen: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/noodlers-boston-safety-pen-chestnut Pilot Vanishing Point Birchwood: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-vanishing-point-fountain-pen-birchwood-red Jacques Herbin Glass Pen: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/herbin-round-glass-dip-pen-blue SHOP at our store! https://www.gouletpens.com/ LEARN more on our blog! https://www.gouletpens.com/blogs/fountain-pen-blog SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/GP-YTsubscribe