Can You Make An Inexpensive Flex Pen? (Noodlers Ahab)
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- Here I try to take the Noodler's Ahab and make it into a serious flex pen that can compete with other more expensive pens.
Here's a list of the items I use to inspect, tune, and grind my nibs:
www.amazon.ca/shop/doodlebud/...
Here's the video of me "hacking" the feed so it no longer railroads. Again, dial it way back from what I did.
• Noodlers Ahab Nib Adju...
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I lost patience with budget flex nibs that I moved to vintage flex. Now that I have some skill to tinker, it’s hard to go back to after the vintage flex. Wish I had this video a few years ago! Well laid out for those wanting to try the flex nib on a budget.
Want to get a really nice vintage flexer one day!
@@Doodlebud I think you’ll enjoy the vintage flex. Merry Christmas DB
A whisper of silicone grease on the piston fill assembly and threads after initial cleaning eases the filling effort. The clip which is a whaleback trademark also enables a finger pinch to get past thick flannel shirt pockets material. when pocketing the Ahab. Dipping the pen in water and then shaking into a garbage can works wonders on feed issues as fountain pen ink viscosity changes once out of the bottle. Also the nib works very thin in reverse writing
...or a lubricating ink. Any of Noodler's Eel Inks.
What a great video! I appreciate the honest, down-to-earth evaluation of expectations versus reality. I've cleaned, taken apart and reassembled my Ahab a half-dozen times, and still couldn't achieve the writing effects I wanted when I bought it. Now I have a new plan: to try an untipped nib! The joke is, I bought a second Ahab off eBay a year ago, and the seller sent me a bunch of extra nibs. I stuck them in my parts supply box, unsure of why he sent them. I just looked them over, and found what appears to be an untipped replacement nib. Thanks, Doodlebud!
Hope you find the extra nibs 👍
Interesting way to modify a nib! Still feel like a noob so this is good information for me! Thanks for sharing!
My first flex pen was a dip pen, and it kind of set the bar for steel flex pens for me.
For sometimes less than the cost of a Noodler's Ahab, I have found that the Esterbrook 2/9048 Falcon nib is about the same as the dip pens I'd used in the 1980s, in regards to flex. I did get the nib separate from the body, but it's still available in a pen, should you wish to hunt for it. (Some of the other nibs supposedly flexible from vintage Esterbrook pens I've gotten, with much less flexibility than the Falcon.)
Does give me hope that someday, there may be a good flex nib again. Who knows? Maybe you. 👍 Maybe I need to get an Ahab to play with...
Didn't know the esterbrooks had flex nibs available
@@Doodlebud Like the modern ones, the Esterbrook "flex" nibs are not as flexible as vintage gold ones. And, like the vintage gold ones, still a bit hit or miss with the level of flex. Look for anything that was for "shaded writing," and kind of keep your fingers crossed. 😁
Modern steel flex is generally more consistent, pen to pen, than most vintage ones, in my experience. If a modern pen claims flex, you can expect a certain level, consistently. Vintage, some brands have more flex, but you would have to test a pen for the flex, personally.
And online sellers can be unscrupulous. I have a Wahl-Eversharp Skyline that was sold as flexible, that the nib is stiff enough to drive into cured white oak with no problems. Actually more of a manifold nib (for carbon copies.)
Intrigued as to the Cursive Italic Flexi you’re intend/ to buy. Lovely writing sample. Interesting video. Merry Christmas Doodle Bud to you and your family. And a happily healthy peaceful new year. D
Great channel mate! Thank you for your time and sharing. I’m new into this passion of calligraphy and I keep learning. I want to buy some decent tools.
I love Noodler's pens. I have never had one write perfect out of the box but following Nathans great videos once you get them writing good they are amazing pens.
Interesting, never thought about a cursive flex nib... nice results :).
Is definitely worth it from what I see, especially if you enjoy messing around with the pens; but you need the patience... like everything that you modify I guess :D.
A Zebra G Jinhao 450 still does for me, as far as a cheap flex pen goes. You do have to modify that plastic feed by heat setting (actually using a heat gun to properly modify it), opening the channels on it to get rid of the railroad and open up the shoulders on the back end of the nib... you need a little more effort to put in it, but your efforts will be rewarded :).
absolutely love the ahab
I had a lot of issues with my Ahab, specially when trying to flex it. I tried a bunch of things and nothing. I kept writing with it because it was one of my first pens and eventually it just sorted itself out. Didn’t do anything to it other than to keep using it. I have heard similar things from others. I keep meaning to get another one and keep some sort of a journal with it to do a more scientific experiment. To have at least one point of data on my hypothesis that they just need to be broken in rather than doing any kind of crazy fiddling with it.
I've heard some have the se experience. I tried & tired & tried and it never improved. So took matters into my own hands
QC is completely non-existant with Noodler's pens, and the Ahabs are nightmares. I know how to set an ebonite feed. I know how properly to install the nib/feed, and still they are unreliable to the point of uselessness. Any pen that randomly barfs capfuls of ink is pointless, and don't even get me started on those abominable vegetal resin "converters" which are so permeable--as vegetal resin generally is--as to also be useless.
Random Barfs - great name. For a garage band. 🤦♀️😆📢
You should try and take a Dremel and grind out the shoulders like a pilot FA nib and see if you can make it flex with less pressure. Keep up the good stuff doodlebud!
That might be next. Wanted to start off ith something anyone could do with minimal skill/modifications first. But might take it further
Noodler's flex nibs are simply too stiff. (I have 5.) I have done the very thing suggested, taking a Dremel grinder and carving out the side shoulders about 5/8" from the tip. This matches the top profile of something like the FPR ultra flex no.6. On one I went too far (about 1/4" wide) and it's almost too soft and flexy. Of course you can just buy an FPR pen with their wonderful flex nib which is pretty much identical to the result. I've also put FPR flex nibs into Noodlers pens like the Konrad V2 - currently my favorite flex writers I have two of them. It's a little mystifying to me why Noodlers doesn't make such a nib. Seems completely obvious, a narrower piece of metal will flex more. And steel is in no conceivable way inferior as a springy material to a gold alloy. Zebra G nibs are absolute proof of this and also virtually all flexi dip pen nibs are steel!
I will try this with the Opus 88. Not a flexpert, but will try it. Happy Holidays 🎂
Great video, Doodlebud! I just got my first Noodler Ahab a few months ago (in 2023) and I've only needed to heatset it once after the unboxing. It works really well & I'm really loving this pen!!
wonderful progress! your writing is really cool too
It's definitely improved since I first started the channel
Great video, Doodlebud! I’ll try this on my Ahab. I’d recommend you give the Noodler’s Neponset a try.
It’s got mixed reviews, but Nathan modified the pen slightly to fix the railroading. The music nib on it has as much line variation as a Waterman wet noodle I have, and it’s more flexible than the Triple Tail.
Keep up the great content! Happy Holidays!
Very nice handwriting! 😃
Saw your Tofino vid and wondered if you were Vancouver! BC BOIS! Love the Vancouver Pen Shop, such great people!
I'm in the lower mainland 👍
Oh how excited I became when you showed the different nib for the Ahab, but then my bubble was burst when you said there were still modifications needed for the feed, that is not in my wheelhouse. Guess I will just stick with my metal nibbed Blue Pumpkin dip pen...oh, well.
Just take off the clip!! I *hate* clips and take them off every pen I can. Thank you for your always entertaining videos.
The modification is pretty minimal. Just open up the slot if the feed a bit. I might do a seperate video showing it's pretty easy
@@Doodlebud I am terrified to mess around with my new pens in any way, I am even affraid to touch a nib, let alone take one out... ACK!! 😐
@@chrisannm5240 if you have Noodler's pens--or any pen designed with a removable nib/feed, you need to overcome your fear. If you can't, stick with Safaris, ALs, Pelikans.
@@jacobus57 I have a Monte Verde Ritma and a new Conklin Endura limited edition in Abalone, both with JoWo black stainless steel nibs and I do not plan on ever messing with either of these!
I'm not really into flex, but, y'know, it'd be nice to have one pen that will satisfy the occasional urge. And, since I'm a typical Yorkshireman, a budget way to achieve that does appeal.
And now, I've bought a second hand Ahab! So this was the first video I decided to seek out again to learn about my new purchase 👍🏼
That ink is gorgeous! such a nice ruby shade of red I love it! Seems to be well behaved to.
It really is! Great with flex
I would recommend people try and experiment with cheap flex pens, particularly those with easily interchangeable nibs, before buying a vintage (and often costly) flex pen.
Hmm I paid $100 for vintage Pelikan 400NN from 50s...did you see how flexy it is? If no check YT for samples...I can say that NO new pen can touch it, the nib feeling of course...
Can you tell me about the cheap flex pen. And their price range.
Cause i only know expensive flex pen
@@bigchill9873
There are some new flex pens that are "relatively" cheap, like those by Noodler. As far as I know, there are no new production "wet noodles". If I am wrong, please, please let me know where to get one. LOL
It is probably just too difficult to get the tolerances of the nibs right AND match it with the section and feeder for proper ink flow.
@@ycplum7062 thanks for the response. Can you tell me the price range of these "cheap" flex pens
DOODLEBUD!! Another great video!!!
Thx buddy
Me watching this after getting a few Platinum Preppy pens, a few empty cartridges, and some Noodler's ink marked half off (store in Chicago, something to do with clearing out their stock b/c now he's being canceled but I can't find out what for -- an employee told me the same thing, lol).
Now I'm regretting starting a topical notebook in a cute Decomposition Notebook, there's so much showthrough and bleed through. Yea for post- consumer recycled paper!
Noodler's makes affordable pens for first-time buyers. Nathan, the founder, encourages the end-user to take apart the pens to understand how they work. The nibs are not expensive, and you can purchase extra feeds. I know I sound like a Noodler's salesman, I'm not. Nathan does have a channel called inklastforever, I'm not going to put a link, but anyone can search it. I do still love my Konrad, but alas, it is worn beyond repair. Mr. Nathan and Mr. Bud would be a team that would be beyond compare. Both like to improve on what they have. Suggestion, Noodler's Boston Safety pen. As I understand, the pen will use ANY type of ink.
No first time buyer should EVER get a Noodler's Nightmare. It's a perfect way to put someone off fountain pens forever. When something is unreliable garbage, it's not really affordable no matter the price point.
@@jacobus57, I've had nothing but good things to say about Noodler's pens and ink. I've never had a bad one and will always go to my Konrad. My very first pen was a 1940's Esterbrook that was complete junk. The nib was too stiff. The second pen was a Noodler's Konrad, which made me fall in love with fountain pens. I'm sorry that you've had bad luck with them.
@@RONSPOTZ agreed, it was my third pen years ago and have a bunch of them now. Even viscontis and Mont blancs can come to you terrible out of the box.
Some us get into the hobby because we like fixing and tinkering as well. There are no bad pens, if a pen doesn't work it's your fault for not fixing it.
@@jacobus57 Eh... I agree on the aspect that it wouldn't be a perfect first pen, but I see them in the same vein as buying a purpose built race car. No accoutrements and you're expected to tinker with the vehicle, especially in terms of suspension setups.
When the manufacturer is basically telling you to "take the pen apart and adjust it to your liking" Getting upset about it not working out of the box just seems kinda... Iffy. I'll leave it at that.
Flex for peace! Where there be a DoodleBud grind out there in the future? That would be cool.
Doing these 12 nibs for the giveaway convinced me I'm not going to be in the nib grind business for anything more than my personal use 😂
Thank you for the recommendation. Always looking to support American companies and haven’t had the luxury of a pen show, yet.
Have you done a video of your favorite American manufacturers- known vs unknown?
Your recommendations are some of the best on the internet. The Gravitas, Osprey and Schon would’ve taken quite some time to discover.
Haven't done one on just American made pens yet
You can always mod really cheap nibs to insane flex
Interesting.
How do i prune the feed to enable smooth flow of ink without any disruption.
Doodlebud can you direct me to the pen your referenced with a cursive italic flex? Thanks. Thank you for all the teaching you do.
I ground that one myself. It's just the regular nib from a Noodlers Ahab. The one I was thinking of getting is from Santini pens. They have lots of nib options
Amazing! You summarized my recent obsession with flex writing in the first 41 seconds of this video. All my life my handwriting has been beyond terrible. About 3 years ago, I saw some Spencerian handwriting on a channel like yours and gave it a shot. I already had been into fountain pens, so I spent time just writing words beginning with a Spencerian capital letter. My avatar was from my first attempt at a 'K' after getting an FPR Himalaya in green and black ebonite, with their ultra flex nib. I have been on this quest ever since.
Now, I am trying to add flourishes like yours to my basic Spencerian lettering. Copperplate is a bit too lacey and a bit unreadable, so I am aiming for about where you are. I really admire your skill with flex and your thin-line flourishes. Working to get there myself one day soon. Cheers, and thanks for putting out great content like this right here. 😁🖖
I'm just messing around trying to learn basic characters & strokes. Slowly improving but not really following any set scripts right now
@@Doodlebud Yeah, this hobby has a lot of territory to explore. Oh, after seeing this video, I was inspired to do some surgery on the stock ebonite feed in my Himalaya. Glad I did, the flow now is what I have been after, but had not experienced yet. 👍
Superb video watched it twice. Have learned the term untipped calligraphy nib. Very educational and interesting video. Didn’t get on with the Ahab sadly. Thought the standard unmodified Noodlers flex nib was a robust unfussy semi flex but good for everyday use and easygoing with most paper. However you’ve turned it into what it should be. I can’t wait to see your Cursive italic Flex Pen. Thank you. D
That pen clip on the ahab is horrendous 😂
Yeah the clip is pretty bad. But I am surprised how far I can push this pen
Flexy pen is good if you can write...like you 😊 I can't....for now...still learning
For me, a hairline with no pressure is the starting point of all things flex. The ratio of fat line thickness over thin line thickness does not matter nearly as much.
You might want to try the FPR ultra flex nib. It uses even more ink than the Noodler's, might be a good challenge for your suped up nib!
Got one & they are pretty good for the price point 👍
@@Doodlebud Could you do a vid with that nib on your Ahab? Would love to see it! 😁
Since line variation is so sought after, why doesn't anyone just sell pens/nibs to perform this way to begin with? Or, am I just not knowledgable enough to know that some companies are providing this product?
Fountain pen revolution & Osprey Pens do a great job
How do you push the feed further in than the nib?
WE ARE ALL "Suckers for line variation" Everyone who's ever had ink stained fingers arrives here. (How many of us do not use black ink because it just disappears into the laser printer black text? We want different. The Ahab is accurately named - it's a white whale you ain't ever gonna catch. But wait! Look at what you've accomplished! I guess we should "Call you Ishmael." ) I don't think an untipped nib is a problem. My first DIY italic I ground right through the tip material. But all I had to do is just some figure 8s on the highest-grit pad every couple of weeks. EF will always be scratchy.
Wouldn't we all just love to see a chart of pen & nib ratings. Start with a standard ink - something good quality, widely available. Then test the pens & nib combinations for rate of flow, various forces on the nib. Width of stroke in different directions (and for pens with variation like the flex nibs - test multiples of the pen/nib combo, new ones, ones used for a period of time. As part of this test all the top selling inks (reduce Noodler's and the inks to the different types they have, so not all the colors). And then try out different papers. There just might be an easily flexed nib, good flowing ink, that everyone would immediately go to. Wow! line variation without slowing down to a crawl! The other companies would then begin making pens similar to it. Now someone could say, I have a Pelikan X05, and I use ink X on Laser Jet paper... but if I use ink Y, and buy the slightly higher quality (smoother) paper..... my class notes can look like the Declaration of Independence! Right now I'll tell you my favorite pen - that's easy I've got several - I'm sure your favorite pen is the same - it's "The other one." If I write a list is that ink/nit too wet? If I write a journal entry... maybe not.
What about a wet italic nib standard test? Draw an 11" line in 2 seconds and a well tuned italic will railroad 2/3rds down the page. If it railroads at 1/3rd ? it's too dry. If it goes all the way? it's too wet.
Sounds like you just nominated yourself to do an extensive set of nib/pen/ink tests! 😜
@@Doodlebud Oh boy. This wouldn't be the first thankless task I've backed into..... I'd rather write my book idea with the pens I have then figure out the ideal pen.
Hello! How can I buy one of those pen? I need it extra fine flexible. To buy on line please.
I replied to your other comment. You get them online at his site thegoodblue.co.uk
You need a blotter, buddy! 🖌👨🦰✒️
This was a well-meant 1/3 Toblerone. Let's say the feed capillary enlargement was another third. There is now only the smell problem left to solve to make it a whole!
Well..... A having a toblerone next to you as you use the pen would get rid of the smell
@@Doodlebud 😂 this does not count of course. Merry Christmas!
My favorite pens are flex. 🤗
It’s a $20 pen don’t be so harsh with the expectations. It works . Kaweco ink works well with these pens in my experience.
Man let me tell you something. I remember when we were under Communist rule as a kid, in primary school, the most of us had some decent fountain pens for how much was costing and some Chinese ones had also golden nibs. Most were not solid gold but like 10% from all were made in real gold! And now people in my country write with Bic pens! That’s sad!