Best type of pen to use?

[chubbychipmonk]

Ok so am new to the whole arts & crafts thing but am trying this out as a new hobby!

Basically I want to know what is the best type of pen I need to write on wood? Not thick wood, little wooden heart type wood that I can buy in a craft shop.

I'm thinking of the style of writing where the letters have over exaggerated full stops at either end of the letter IYSWIM. What kind of pen do I need??

Sounds like you need a calligraphy set.
Cheap version is a set of four or five felt tips with angled nibs (a fiver) all the way up to hundreds for tip-top gold nibs and dipping ink.

Take your wood and go to the craft shop (or stationer) and explain what you want to achieve - they'll help you.

I don't think a calligraphy set would write well on wood. Also, with angled nibs, you should only make pens strokes in a downwards direction , not like ordinary writing which is fluid.

I wonder if something like Sakura glaze/gel pens would do the job or even a Sharpie (check for bleeding first though)

As SoupDragon said, bleeding is the thing that you do have to worry about if you are writing onto plain uncoated wood. If there is some sort of coating, then you need a pen which will stay on there and dry. I have promarkers which are really good as they have thick and thin ends, but not sure whether they would bleed.

I like Posca pens but have used Sakura and Sharpies successfully as well. I usually seal mine with Mod Podge.

HTH