At the 8:30 ish mark, Brian mentions spring back of a nib, in general. What we are referring to is the linear elastic region of the nib alloy. All metals behave like springs; they can be bent, to a point, and after the force bending the material is removed, the metal retains it's original shape. When a nib is "sprung" the movement of the tines goes beyond the linear elastic region and into the plastic deformation region of that metal. Plastic deformation is evident when a metal is bent and some portion of the bend remains after the removal of the force. We like to stay in that comfortable linear elastic region of flex. 😄👍
THE JAIPUR V2 CRYSTAL EDITION IS BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY SENSE ! BEST FLEXING PEN AND COOL DEMONSTRATOR ! I BOUGHT IT WITH A TWO TONE NIB AND IT'S WONDERFUL ! THE BLACK ONE IN EBONITE LOOKS GORGEOUS AS WELL !
My absolute favorite for cartooning. I wish FPR had some better pens for it, but I like that I can enjoy these without fear of financial ruin if I wreck it.
Brian’s description of Noodler’s pens’ smell cracked me up. I love the Ahab, it smells kinda bad but once you got it working properly there’s no other pen at this price that can write like it does.
It's also representative to me of a genius whose manufacturing budget is not bottomless. I think about Nathan and all the interesting ways he does the things he does, like with his commercial inkjet printers. It tells me you can do anything the big companies out there can do, you just might have to do it a little bit different.
You can get a replacement ebonite feed from the Flexible Nib Factory for the Pilot 912, with two or three ink channels. It is a ludicrously awesome modification requiring almost zero effort. I actually had a 912 years ago and sold it because while the nib was nice the flow was way too dry. Bought another one and replaced the feed and it’s like a completely different feed.
I have an omniflex, it's a beautifully smooth writer, one of my favorite pens. It is also probably the stiffest pen I have. which even when you try to flex it the difference in line is barely noticeable lol. I get more flex with my EF vanishing point.
For about $20.00 a Ahab I can ink up and pull out of my bag a week later and still writes well. Worth it in my opinion. My Ahab is one of my most reliable pens I own. I've never had to mess with mine alot. I have other pens I have to constantly clean the cap because of ink leaking into the cap.Nothing worse than pulling your cool fountain pen out in a meeting and having ink all over your fingers. It's always the worst time to have ink on your hands and clothes.
Love the idea of a video about whether we adapt to the pen or the pen adapts to us. Seems related to whether we want a pen that needs very little/no tinkering and being willing to tinker. So many pen minds, hands, and experiences. Thank you both for this interesting video.
I've been giving a lot of thought to this as I research my first budget bender pen. I am both a writer and an artist, and my older hands need different pens than my younger hands chose. I want a truly fine writing pen that is kind to my hands. What I came to realize is that when I am writing, the flow of thoughts and words have to be tightly integrated (I do first drafts with pen and paper, and my first rewrite begins with transcription with lots of room for notes and revision). I need the pen I use to be in tune with how I write my drafts, period. I don't want a pen that gets in the middle of that process. I've decided (after hours of research and handling different pens) that the Pilot Falcon with SF nib (or maybe SEF) is the right pen for me. But for art there is a different mental and creative process going on, and I find exploring how a pen behaves with different handling is par of that creative process. But I've got pens, most inexpensive, that work in different ways that I use in my art, and I'm looking for more. Must have a glass pen. Must have an army of cheap pens to load with lots of colors all in a row. I am enamored with color inks now (I've used acrylic inks, but they are limited to dip pens and brush, plus I am working more with paper now than wood and canvas) I'm pretty limited in access to physical sources but I finally found Goulet website. Total nerd joy when I landed on the ink blob section. I did not realize the artistic potential of all. those fantastic colors. I am enamored, and now have a huge list of samples in my wishlist. Oh this is heaven, heaven, heaven.
Triple tail has replaced just about every other pen I use. My trick is putting Noodler’s finicky inks in the finicky pen. And it balances out. Socrates in a Triple Tail? Perfect. I gotta get some Kung Te-Cheng.
Love this incredible banter... live for it. Love you two... Epic, "smells aside..." Goulet Pens just increases the inherent value of whyvwe even are a community... whereby collecting, hobbyists, writers, or what have you... love you guys/gals at Goulet Pens....
Would be nice to see an episode that caters to artists. All artists that use dip pens are looking for a good dependable flex pen that mimics a dip nib. Noodlers gives the best variable line while still being in a good price range. Learn to love the smell. The rest on your list are not worth it for artists.
I'd say the only other pen worth it for artist is the pilot falcon. some art supplies are expensive. and spending 200$ on a fancy reusable pen isn't even that bad. but with that said they make fountain pens that take dip pen nibs. like osprey milano. plus the other stuff like it. if you really want a flex pen that mimics a dip nib. then just use a dip nib.... but with that said, the line variation you can get from a fountain pen is always gonna be less than with a brush pen. which are also available with refillable fountain pen bodies. so for broader lines they work good. also great for shading and blending with diluted ink.
I love my vintage Waterman pens. There is no better flex pen than the Waterman #2. If you get one restored with new sac etc you will have no problem with them. A friend of mine that is what I would call an artist, tried mine and now has her own couple of vintage #2 Waterman nibs and it is working great for her.
As an artist modern pens can’t give you a brush or dip pen line. Vintage Waterman gets close. Ahab modern alternative. But depending on your project the tool that gets it done is what you use. Honestly the aluminum Muji is inexpensive and that nib can get done for most line variation. Reverse for fine lines and can cover a wide variation.
I’ve always been 100% fine with the vegetal resin smell. I guess some people just have a different threshold for sense sensitivity. I used to work in a restaurant that used a lot of cilantro, and it turns out there’s just a certain percentage of people who can’t stand it (and swear that it tastes like ‘soap in the mouth’). it’s crazy, but there you have it , what can u do ? nothing. At least I know what I’m gonna do: continue to *NOT* be one of those people , haha :D
I have a Noodler's Ahab and was my first try of a flex nib. This is NOT a flex pen without a LOT of finger pain. I put a Goulet stub nib in it and now love it! Buy and ahah and put a Goulet nib in it.
I'm glad to know the Noodler's flex nib requires a lot of pressure. I have been curious about flex nibs and got the Noodler's to start off with, for the affordability of it, and I was surprised by how much force it needed. I was worried I was pushing too hard on it. So good, I will practice with it some more, knowing this! Noodler's pens have that funk, though. That's the best way to describe the smell: funky. (Much love to Noodler's, nonetheless!)
my husband told me that in lawyer school they taught the students to prepare an arguement and then at the last minute the professor told them to switch arguments and they were not prepared and the professor told them if you cant argue both sides you have no right to your opinion ... it made him a better conversationalist
The whole conversation about skipping a shower would never have happened before Covid. But there it is, and we all just nod and think, yeah, I've totally done that, and quite often over the last two years. 🤣
That’s a really interesting topic: whether the pen should adapt to you, or you to the pen. I’ve discovered that I’m firmly in the latter category, and I _sort of_ feel like that’s more of an outsider position - at least based on what I see in message boards and comments sections. When I was getting into the phase of collecting where you start trying all different types of pens/nibs/inks/etcetc., I had always heard this process discussed in terms of “try different things to find out what YOU like, and what configurations work for YOU.” But for me, it was more of a process of learning all the various ways that I could actually _adjust my writing style_ to get the best results out of this or that PEN.
I am in love with my 912. Maybe I write English the way other people write Japanese😆 but it feels totally comfortable to me. I've never actually had a pen that wrote as well as my 912, and I own around 30 fountain pens both vintage and modern. For me it is a sublime experience. It's also just an amazing drawing tool.
FWIW, the Mont Blanc Calligraphy nib is a superb modern flex nib that I would equate to Vintage Semi-Flex. It beats some of my 40s Watermans and 50s Pelikans (modifed for increased flex). Other than price, I'm surprised I don't see it mentioned more when the conversation of flex comes up. Mine flexes from XF/XXF to about BB with very moderate pressure, with quite excellent spring back. Also, I love the smell of Noodler's resin.
I have the triple tail, it’s my 3rd fountain pen in my huge collection of 5 pens. It does have a slight smell and leaves a smell on your fingers but it’s not really that awful and is a gorgeous pen to write with. I am however considering storing it near some strong nice smelling essential oils in hope it absorbs their smell instead! Once you see what this nib can do and for the price then it’s a great purchase in my opinion.
The Pilot 912 FA is awesome when it gets enough ink. I bought a three-groove ebonite feed from The Nib Factory and now it's one of my favorite pens. Pilot really needs to address this issue. It's the first pilot that I wasn't happy with right out of the box.
it's a pen made for writing Japanese they don't often need to use as much ink per stroke. which is something pilot should do but that's basically making a separate pen exclusive for western markets.
it could be. I haven't had to take apart any of my more expensive pilot fountain pens I just have a ch91 soft medium. it has a much tighter fitting nib than the metro which i can pull that nib out with my bare hands. I wouldn't do it myself but you can pull the nib and feed out with a grippy rubber glove or goulet rubber grip. you aren't likely to damage the feed or pen but you could bend the nib slightly which isn't common but it's a risk to be aware of.
Personally, the best bouncy nib or call it semi-flex nib out there without breaking the bank is the Pilot Soft nib. I have a Soft Medium that is really outstanding. The Falcon nib writes without any skippings by using Pilot Iroshizuku or Sailor inks, any other brand will not work well.
I've got two Noodlers Ahab pens and yes, they do have an organic odor to them. After leaving them out for a few days it settles down. Must admit though the nib is nice, but you do have to work that baby. Drew's list is spot on in my book; the Falcon is without doubt my favorite flex pen. (I just wish the pen body was a bit more hefty)
In terms of materials properties, the characteristic you guys are referring to (structurally) is called ‘elastic limit’. Beyond that point, you get a permanently deformed nib. With regards to a pen being adapted to your handwriting/way to hold it or the other way around, my two cents on that is that it depends on what you do with it. Calligraphy, for instance, it’s a discipline; taking notes: you want your pen to be your slave - some say ‘workhorse’.
I have to agree with Drew about the Pineider nib being the most beautiful nib. The first time I saw the quill nib I fell in love, I think it's absolutely amazing, the only other nib competing with it being a nib I saw on a Pelikan.
I’m ordering a triple tail in my eternal search for a wet pen. It is the triumph of hope over experience, since an Arab I once had never would write no matter what I did.
Triple tails are my favorite. I have two. I actually have one in Blue! It’s a pen show exclusive from 2021, but I talked to some folks at the Philadelphia pen show this year and tracked some down.
I just got this pen. I would like it except I get ink all over my hands just writing with it and ink leaks into the cap. So far FPR is saying this is normal as it is a “wet” pen. Getting ink all over your hands just writing with it is not very appealing. I may be looking for a new pen.
Hi, just wanted to say about noodler’s that i have bought a creeper with very little smell out of the box and after a week or so no smell at all. I recently (a week ago) received my ahab and it has a bit of odor but it is not stinky!! Sorry Drew i really don’t think it smells bad. For some reason it reminds me of a factory smell. I own the conklin omniflex and i love it . However I’m a lefty and this pen just writes smoothly. If i think of my noodlers,it took me a while to adjust my writing to the pen. To a certain extent the pen should accommodate most hands, not the extremes grip, but to the general public ,middle of the road writers! Hope you had a great valentines day!
My Triple Tail certainly has a funky smell but to a more tolerable degree than the Ahab. My Ahabs are so pungent that they seem to impart some of their honk on any other (non Noodler's) pens in the same case. That's not a good thing for me. The biggest problem with my TT is that it suffers from the same issue as my Ahabs. If placed nib-down while inked, it may be fine for ages but it will randomly decide to suddenly puke out its entire reservoir into the cap. Only my Noodler's pens do this, and they all do. It's why, while the TT is less fussy than my Ahabs by a long stretch, it'll never be a daily writer for me. It's fun, yes, but its finicky instability relegates it to remain as yet another specialist pen, like my set of Pilot Parallels, that I rarely use.
Pilot 912FA with a triple slit ebonite feed works really well… I would like to try one with John Mottishaw’s Spencerian grind… For more flourished writing a dip pen with a Gillott 303 or Leonardt Principal FE are much better propositions
My flex nib journey began with dip pen nibs, so I'm very accustomed to learning to 'work' with the pen. I'm inclined to suggest that that fountain pens ask for more from the user than ball points. Every flex nib has a learning curve, and for me, that's part of the fun. Many pens make me slow down because they don't feed ink as quickly as I write; otherwise, they soak the paper if I don't write like a demon. Calligraphy in general is about consistency, and line variation through nib flexing is the most demanding form of calligraphy, other than pen turning.
Hi, I'm Paolo from the @fountainpentolive an Italian channel, I've been following you for a long time, and I wanted to congratulate you. I agree with some of the pens you mentioned, and in my experience I have tried many, in my opinion none yet come close to true vintage flexible nibs. But if today I had to mention some modern nibs, certainly in the top 5, I would insert the Calligraphy nib by Montblanc 149, one of the few that gives me the same feeling as vintage nibs. In addition to this I would insert the Pilot Falcon nibs and probably also the Scribo nibs. p.s. I confirm the strong smell of Noodler's. 😂👍🏻👍🏻
I’ve used the grip I use with pencils and ballpoints my whole life because that grip makes it easier to apply the necessary pressure. With fountain pens, though, you don’t need to apply pressure, so when I started using them I changed to a more typical grip.
Does anyone else constantly change hand positions while writing? And yes, i change, or adapt, my hand positions for different pens. I never gave it any thought before today. Will have to question my whole life now. Thanks Boys... the Mediator (INFP)
Sorry, Drew, but I actually like the smell of the new Noodler's pens. True, I wouldn't wear that scent as an aftershave, but I do enjoy it! It might help to know that I've smelled a LOT of different chemicals in lab and work situations, so I'm accustomed to a wide range, but I'll stick with my answer. :) The Triple Tail does smell a bit, but is not the same in fragrance or in strength. I'm with Brian! I do think there is a significant difference in expectation between a soft / bouncy nib and a flex nib though. They're similar but NOT the same thing and I appreciate the Goulet Team Caution when discussing modern not-quite-a-real Flex nib. All that said, I am a LOUSY flex writer so it really isn't something that I seek anymore.
I gave up on my omniflex, and wondered what they were smoking when coming up with the name. It felt like no flex unless you were trying to break the nib.
Two thoughts: I wonder writers from Asian countries that have been trained in brush caligraphy tend to write with a higher writing angle, ergo the writing angle for the 912. When writing Chinese or Japanese caligraphy, teh brish is almost vertical. Just a thought. With regards to flexible nib writing, the feed is so important. I would argue that you need ti be discussing the nib/feed combo for good flex writing.
You are both correct in the triple tail smell. The PEN does not smell like the other cellulose offerings from noodler's. The PISTON MECHANISM inside the pen smells like the other noodler's pens
love this video. I had the triple tail and didn't get any flex out of it. I guess you have to press down really really hard to get it to work. I really prefer the vintage gold nib for any flexing.
I just knew Brian was going the say "Mediator" over "Debater." I have an ENTP sister and an INFP mum. It is amazing how similarly they can argue but one cares not about feelings and the other cares much!
Great discussion! I just got (from Goulet Pens, great service, guys!) the Pilot 912 with FA nib, and it's terrific for drawing. I'm a lefty, who never learned to hold the pen underneath the writing, so unfortunately I can't use a "wet" fountain pens for everyday writing. When writing, I have to "push" the nib left to right, instead of "pulling" it along, which makes for some nasty, scratchy writing with fine points including flex nibs like the 912. But for cartooning? Excellent! Good line variation, easy to flex but enough feedback for good control. I'm also a fan of the Conklin American with omniflex nib, and had fun with the Noodlers Triple Tail (also from Goulet Pens). Not covered here, maybe since it's not normally sold in America, is the Pilot Medium Soft, another "bouncy" and very smooth nib that I am enjoying with the Pilot Custom 74. Very fun video, thanks.
FPR has both steel and 14k gold flex nibs. They actually flex and have ebonite nibs that are tuned to feed the nib. I guess you don't carry them for some reason. I've had three Noodlers including the Triple Tail meh, built my own franken pens, an Ackerman fp that takes dip nibs etc. All in a frustrated search of a good flex fp. FPR is maybe the one company doing this right. Not sure why with all the fp companies out there today almost none make a true flex. And clearly a steel nib is more than capable of true flex. All super flexy dip pen nibs are steel. Build it and we will come! The Falcon is quite decent but $140 and not even that flexy. Brian says well it's a niche market, of course the market will remain niche if entry level is $140 and studded with cheaper disappointments.
THE JAIPUR V2 CRYSTAL EDITION IS BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY SENSE ! BEST FLEXING PEN AND COOL DEMONSTRATOR ! I BOUGHT IT WITH A TWO TONE NIB AND IT'S WONDERFUL ! THE BLACK ONE IN EBONITE LOOKS GORGEOUS AS WELL !
I bought a Diplomat Aero Silver Matte and had some initial difficulties. The step from the section to the body was uncomfortable to say the least. I wanted it to work for me so I had to make minor adjustments in how I held the pen. Motivation was important. My.father was part of the design engineering team on the Goodyear blimp during WW II. I’ve settled on blue inks and bought the matching pencil for a perfect pairing.
Have you guys ever experimented with the Jinhao + Zebra G Nib hacks? The G nib is a very popular flexible artist dip pen nib and some people have experimented with adding them to certain Jinhao pens and I’m super curious how they come out in terms of the flow etc
The Triple Tail doesn’t smell nearly as bad as the rest of the Noodlers range. It’s made of a different material. Mine had a slight Noodlers smell, but I suspect that is because it had been stored with other Noodlers pens. I washed it and left it to air dry and the smell was pretty much gone.
You're right - it's definitely not as bad! I think it still has a bit of a smell because the filling mechanism is still made made with the other materials. It has a different odor than the rest of the Triple Tail. - Drew
Metal spring (bending) is described by two properties, E, modulus of elasticity, a material specific property and I (moment of inertia) which is based on the geometry of the item. Stiffer nibs will have a larger E and will be thicker. Some values of E: 11 to 12 ksi Gold (alloy dependent) 16 ksi titanium 28 ksi stainless steel
Wow at around 7:00 ( just prior to on timeline ) the bit on the pilot FA angling was so helpful / ordered a new ebonite feed but questioning the urgency of the purchase at this point - still fine with it but thanks for the 50 degree vs 45 degree tip / worked for me / I draw everyday with this thing
I have a Namiki Falcon - Black/Silver owned for 12 years I use it for sketching and drawing . It is fantastic , the flex has gotten better with age I was really sorry to hear that Pilot has the pens now, but that didn't make me me happy. Sorry just not a brand I care for. I also have a Sailor 1911 Naginata Togi Fountain Pen - Black/Silver which I can get thick and thin lines with it . My pens are used for Drawing - My ink of choice is De Artramentis Document ink, I was using noodlers, but I find that the De Artramentis works better and I can lay a watch over and it doesn't smear! Nice info keep up the good work.
I have both the Pilot Falcon F nib and 912 FA in black with silver nib and I totally agree, the 912 is a beautiful pen with incredible flex *when it works*, it's the most finicky out of all of my pens. On the other hand, the falcon doesn't flex to the same degree but it's much more consistent and you can still get a decent line and smoother ink flow.
What's the best fountain pen and nib for old-fashioned shorthand where thick and thin strokes change the meaning? I.e. you need to be able to draw a character once with a thin line then once again with a thick line?
Forgot to mention aluminum Muji pen. Inexpensive and nib gives a great variation. An urban sketching option and use Platinum Carbon Ink. A watercolor palette and sketchbook good to go.
Man I LOVE everything about my Pilot Falcon. I just wish there was one like it that was a good pocket pen or pen to take with you. I know I could bring it with me but it’s just so precious I don’t want to risk it’s safety haha
The Noodler's Neponset with it's triple-tined nib and ebonite feed would be on the top of my list and it's an ebonite pen to boot so no smell. I opened up the ink channels slightly on the feed of mine per Nathan's video and the line variation I can get is fantastic. I have to use top quality paper though because it does put down a ton of ink. It's one of my favourite pens.
Ive found the fountain pen revolution ultra-flex pens are noodlers killers. Its more flexible, has a wet ebonite feed and does extreme flex with very little pressure, its also less stinkey and prettier.
I bought a couple of nice vintage waterman and Conklin. A topic of interest would be if these vintage flex pens can be relied on for everyday writing use, or do they remain mainly a novelty collector’s item!
The 14k flex nibs on Scribo pens are real flex nibs, and I think the other Italian pens, Leonardo and Santini, are supposed to be good. One of the best modern flex nibs I have is on an Osprey pen from the USA, and it's their "Phosbronze" nib, with ebonite feed.
I have a genuine Namiki Falcon and it is a lovely, lovely experience. Perhaps second only in my mind to the Visconti palladium dream nib. The Falcon is also a great quality pen. I've had mine for maybe fifteen years and it's still great. And how about "Spring nib" instead of "bouncy nib"?
Re: the Noodler's pen smell and cheese smell. I love cheese, I'll still say it stinks. Lol. I was CACKLING through that whole conversation. Also, if you have to pure *more* pressure on a Noodler's pen than the omniflex, I'd end up hurting myself if I used the Noodler's pen, holy wow. I thought I had to push hard on my omniflex.
Very cool review. Honesty baby ! You have the courage to say 912 is finicky, and let us decide if we can live with a finicky pen. Can you start doing stereo equipment reviews, too? I would trust your reviews. I will order from you !
I like to use different fountain pens and I think that when you do own many of them, you are used to adjust to the pen. For me it’s a form of art and it make’s me enjoy writing even boring stuff, like signing tons of bills and contracts. A new pen is a new challenge.
It’s like playing basses, fender does different necks, so does musician, and everything else, they’re fun to play around with, but if you want a tool that works in all occasions, you’d better adapt to a sandberg xD
Drew is right re: triple tail. I was almost knocked out when I opened the so called "no smell" triple tail. I can't even imagine how the others must stink... This one was overwhelming.
I got the Conklin Empire with the Omniflex nib, and I hate it (the nib). Everyone I talked to when I was seeing if it was a common issue just said they replaced it because it was garbage. It was nice to know it wasn’t just a ‘me’ problem and that I’m not alone in hating it, but I was surprised it made this list. You’re right that the feed can’t keep up (at all), and if you want to write at anything greater than a snail’s pace, it’s going to let you down
It's a mixed bag, for sure. I love its affordability and accessibility, and many people love the way it writes! It's so close to greatness, but falls a bit short in terms of performance, in my opinion. - Drew
I'd respectfully disagree with Drew's comment that the Falcon is the closest to what you'd think of as a flex pen. The 912 FA (especially with 3rd party feed for better flow), would claim that title.
I absolutely would agree with you if the feed functioned better out of the box. For the record, I do own one with a third party feed and it's my #1 favorite pen. I miss it, though! It's been gone for almost a year for some custom urushi work! - Drew
I picked up the 912 FA with a 3rd party ebonite feed and it is amazing Iroshizuku Shin-ryoku ink… Took me a bit to find and ink that I liked in it but I love the way it writes with this ink… That said though I like flexing the nib I really like how fine of a line you can put down with it for normal writing.
Question: Are there pens that are out of the beginner level pen level? For example, I have had the Noodler’s Boston Safety Pen and I now have the Triple Tail. I can not get either of them to write. I know they are different nibs and somewhat different pens, but I am wondering if these pens are outside my current level? I sold the BSP and I have heat set the triple tail and tried different inks. Mr. Tardif has me perplexed.
Noodler's pens often require a good amount of fiddling in order to get them performing well. We'd be happy to help, if you'd like to email us at info@gouletpens.com. - Drew
Where does the Executive Vibe Stonegraph flex go in this discussion? I have this pen and an Artgraph Line, Art nib from Executive Vibe that I bought just as I was getting into the hobby. Don't seem to be able to get the hang of either of these. A few months ago, I bought a Conklin Duragraph flex and can write just fine with it. I admit when I bought the two Executive Vibe pens I was just barely into the hobby and did not do my homework.
I like a variety of pens with various feels & grips/sweet spot holds AND I know what I use each one for! I like a soft fine bib when writing letters & things I should be writing slowly allowing for more thought as each word making each sentence flows out of this nib. Someone has swiped this pen of mine & I’m quite hampered these days! I like the Pilot E95s which allows fast writing as does the short sailor both in Fine. Nibs are stiff & I don’t need time to settle into penmanship. If my handwriting starts getting sloppy, I go back to my Safaris in various nib sizes and also my 1.1 or other stub nibs which make me practice fancier writing. I have a variety of other pens I like to get out & just do meditational writing by copying out some appropriate paragraphs. Great to also look at someone else’s writing then figure out how they write, holding pen, forming letters, ink, paper, etc. As good as a fine yoga practice …
