Kirjoituspää

Kirjoituspää is a Finnish term that translates to "writing head" or "writing point." It generally refers to the part of a writing instrument that makes contact with the surface to transfer ink or other marking material. This can encompass a variety of forms depending on the tool.

In the context of pens, the kirjoituspää is most commonly a ballpoint, rollerball, or fountain pen nib. A ballpoint pen utilizes a small rotating ball, typically made of tungsten carbide, which picks up ink from a reservoir and deposits it onto the writing surface as it rolls. Rollerball pens function similarly but often use a larger ball and a more liquid ink, resulting in a smoother writing experience. Fountain pen nibs are typically made of metal and have a slit that allows ink to flow from the reservoir to the tip through capillary action.

For pencils, the equivalent of a kirjoituspää is the graphite core, often referred to as the lead, though it contains no actual lead. This graphite wears down as it is drawn across paper, leaving a mark. In specialized writing tools like styluses for digital devices, the kirjoituspää is often a conductive tip designed to interact with touchscreens. The design and material of the kirjoituspää significantly influence the line width, ink flow, and overall writing quality of the instrument.