Make Your Own Paint Pens | Refillable Markers

Acrylic paint projects - tote bags and glass painting

Acrylic paint works great for rocks, shoes, glass, tote bags, and endless other projects

The Problem: Acrylic Paint Is Thick

If you've tried using acrylic paint in a refillable marker, you've probably noticed it takes forever for paint to reach the tip on first use. Sometimes it barely flows at all.

Here's why: Paint pens work beautifully with thin liquids like inks, alcohol-based paints, and stains. You can use these straight from the bottle - no prep needed.

But acrylic paint? It's thick. The molecules are large and move slowly through standard marker nibs. Getting paint from the barrel to the tip becomes a frustrating waiting game.

The Common Solution: Thinning (And Its Downsides)

Most people thin acrylic paint with water - usually about 35% water to 65% paint. This works, but it changes the paint:

Colors look washed out
Coverage gets weaker
The paint doesn't stick to surfaces as well

Some folks get better results using airbrush medium instead of water. It thins the paint without diluting it as much. But you still need a lot of it.

The goal? Thin as little as possible to keep the paint's true color and adhesion.

A Better Fix: High-Flow Nibs

The Japanese pen company Teibow solved this by engineering nibs specifically for thick paints. The fibers are packed looser, creating bigger channels for paint to flow through.

We import custom nibs using the same design. They work with acrylic paint using much less thinning - sometimes half as much as standard nibs require.

How Much Difference?

Standard nibs need 35-50% thinning. High-flow nibs often work with 15-25% thinning. That's a huge difference in paint quality.

Why This Matters

Less thinning means:

Brighter, truer colors
Better coverage in one coat
Stronger adhesion to surfaces
Paint that lasts longer on your projects

And here's the bonus: when a nib wears out, you don't buy a whole new marker. Just replace the tip for less than the price of a new marker and keep using your pen.

Want to Learn More About Acrylic Paint Markers?

The UK-based Zieler Art Supply has a really helpful guide covering techniques for painting rocks, glass jars, shoes, and more with acrylic markers.

High-Flow Nibs for Acrylic Paint

Two styles available - both designed specifically for thick paints

Chisel Tip - Wide lines, lettering, broad strokes

10 nibs - $9.99

Round Tip - Great for painting, precision detail work, touchups