Can I Use Gelly Roll Pens on Stainless Steel

It's the gel pen that started it all. As the first pen to use gel in its ink formula, the Gelly Roll paved the way for other well-known gel pens such as the Hi-Tec-C and Signo. With its smooth-flowing ink, pigmented colors, and huge range of finishes, the Gelly Roll's iconic status should come as no surprise. Crafters and DIY-ers in particular love this line of pens as it offers everything from glitter to metallic to raised ink. Whether you're a crafter or just looking to add pizazz to your writing, come along as we explore the many iterations of the Gelly Roll!

Watch our lineup video below to see all of the Sakura Gelly Roll lines in action!

Characteristics of the Sakura Gelly Roll

Form Factor

Many of the lines under the Gelly Roll family have the same body design topped with rounded, color-coded caps. Some caps feature an icon that designates which line it belongs to (ie, a shooting star icon for the Stardust line), while others are sprinkled with glitter to show that the ink is sparkly.

The retractable Japanese version of the Gelly Roll called the Ballsign Knock is the exception. With a completely different design from the capped Gelly Rolls, the Ballsign Knock has a sleek, modern look that is slightly thicker at the grip for added comfort.

Tip Size

Sakura uses two different measurements for tip size: line width and ball width. JetPens uses ball width on our website as this most accurately represents the tip size when compared with other brands. Gelly Rolls come in medium tip sizes ranging from 0.6 to 1.0 mm, while the Japanese Ballsigns range from 0.4 to 0.8 mm.

Colors

Gelly Rolls come in a variety of colors and finishes from standard matte shades to brilliant metallic tones to lustrous fluorescing hues. Some lines even feature a raised 3-D ink for crafting purposes. See the Product Lines section below for writing samples of each line.

Sakura Gelly Roll Product Lines

Sakura Gelly Roll Classic

Writing sample

As the original Gelly Roll, the Classic line is a great introduction to the Gelly Roll world. With smooth flowing ink and a range of vibrant colors to choose from, they're perfect for everyday writing as well as craft projects.

Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic and Ballsign Kirara

Writing sample

For a subtle sparkle, the Metallic Gelly Roll gives off a pearly metallic sheen with extremely fine bits of glitter that are visible only when you look closely. The Japanese version called the Ballsign Kirara features the same formula, but comes in a smaller 0.8 mm tip size (versus the Metallic 1.0 mm tip size).

Sakura Gelly Roll Gold and Silver Shadow and Ballsign Fuchidoru

Writing sample

One of the most unique formulas in the Gelly Roll family, the Shadow series features a gold or silver ink with a color outline that gives a cool, metallic look. The outline effect shows up best on absorbent papers, so we recommend using the pens for cards, letter-writing, or other paper crafts. The Ballsign Fuchidoru is the Japanese version of the Shadow pens and is only available in silver. A retractable version is also available, called the Ballsign Fuchidori.

Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust

Writing sample

Like the twinkling stars of the Milky Way, the Stardust ink is speckled with glitter particles that give off a beautiful sparkle when it catches the light. Use it to add some glam to personalized notes, or to add shine to crafts and art pieces.

Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight

Writing sample on white and black paper.

The Moonlight line leads a double life—by day, it writes like an ordinary gel pen, but by night, the Moonlight formula emits a luminous glow that fluoresces under black light. The crisp, opaque ink performs well on colored paper, including black, making it ideal for crafting and scrapbooking. It's available in a variety of colorful and muted colors. We're especially smitten with the range of subtle gray hues.

Sakura Glaze and AquaLip

Writing sample

The Glaze and AquaLip pens contain a 3-D ink with a glossy finish that can write on different surfaces—excellent for art projects. Because of the unique consistency, write slowly to allow a thick line to form and let it dry completely for the best effect.

Sakura Souffle

Writing sample on white and black paper

As with the Glaze line, the Souffle features a raised, 3-D ink that writes on various surfaces, but is matte instead of glossy. Unlike the more vibrant Glaze, the colors of the Souffle are pastel and show up brilliantly on black paper. We especially enjoy using this pen to write on photos!

Sakura Ballsign Knock

Writing sample

Before the Gelly Roll, there was the Ballsign. Sakura of America changed the name to Gelly Roll for the US market to distinguish and emphasize the new gel ink formula. Although it uses the same ink, this pen is still known as the Ballsign in Japan. The Ballsign Knock is the retractable version of this classic gel pen and is available in a variety of colors and finishes, including metallic, neon, pastel, and glitter. It's excellent for everyday writing as the tip sizes are smaller than its American counterparts. The Ballsign is also available in multi pen form with a sophisticated design that is school- and office-appropriate.

How to Use the Sakura Glaze

Decorate Scrapbooks with the Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight

Do Crafts with the Sakura Gelly Roll

You can use any of the Gelly Roll lines for crafting purposes. From matte to metallic finishes, flat to raised ink, you can create any kind of effect with the Gelly Rolls!

Products used: Glaze

Make Artwork with the Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic

Create beautiful and elegant artwork with the different effects that Gelly Rolls offer. Mimic twinkling stars with the Stardust pens, or the sheen from the moon on a still ocean with the Metallic pens.

Products used: Metallic, Stardust, and Moonlight.

Write Letters with the Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust

Letters and personalized notes are more fun to write when you use Gelly Rolls! Whether it's the outline feature of the Shadow line, or the sparkly glitter of the Stardust pens, the recipient will be captivated by the cool effects.

Products used: Stardust

Sakura Gelly Roll: The Story

Back in the '80s when ballpoint and rollerball pens dominated the pen world, Sakura dreamed of creating an ink formula that was smoother than clumpy ballpoints, but not as runny as rollerballs. They suspected that the answer lay in a unique property of gels to be solid at rest and more liquid and free-flowing when disturbed. Termed thixotropic action, this property combines the best features of both oil- (ballpoint) and water-based (rollerball) inks.

Not just any gel would do, however. The perfect ratio of viscosity to thixotropic action was needed to produce a gel ink that could write well. After testing all sorts of gels, including agar, grated yam, egg whites, and more, Sakura finally stumbled upon xanthan gum. Often used as a thickening agent in foods (salad dressings and jams for example), xanthan gum provided the ideal ratio of viscosity to thixotropic action in the new ink formula. Elated by their success, they immediately filed a patent—history was about to be made.

The journey didn't end there. To ensure the smoothest writing experience, Sakura re-engineered the ball at the tip of the pen to have a smoother surface that could accommodate the new ink. They also leveraged their experience in pigments to give the ink the vivid colors we know and love. With all the different pieces finally in place, the Gelly Roll was born.

On A Roll (Conclusion)

We're just as obsessed with Gelly Rolls now as we were in our middle school days, and we can't wait to see what Sakura will come up with next! Which Gelly Roll line is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

Can I Use Gelly Roll Pens on Stainless Steel

Source: https://www.jetpens.com/blog/sakura-gelly-roll-a-comprehensive-guide/pt/858