Noodler's Flex Nib Pens

[GouletPens]

Just a couple of quick pics here of the pen that's causing all the hubbub. I'm a TOTAL hack at using a flex nib, it's something that takes some practice. I haven't had the time to practice since they came in....hmmm... I wonder why?

 

These pics ought to be enough just to satisfy some of your initial curiosity, this is not a full review by any means! Of course there was only one choice when it came time to ink it up. Black Swan, duh.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TQHHrvdgAqI/AAAAAAAABOQ/Hmi7iWb5QvQ/s400/25Flex01.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TQHIS1ICUQI/AAAAAAAABOU/Sn_rW5Tp0jY/s400/25Flex02.JPG

 

Now I have a tiiiny bit of experience with flex nibs. I have a Waterman 52 and Mabie Todd Swallow from the 20's-30's, and I have to say that the Noodler's pen is not far off from them in terms of the way it writes. The nib is a different design on the Noodler's pen, it's a 'Nib Creaper' ventless nib that has a slit that goes all the way up into the section, that's how you get all that flex. Here's unflexed:

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TQHIXsRySgI/AAAAAAAABOY/-pyTUWzXsZE/s400/25Flex03.JPG

 

And flexed:

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TQHIcuRzp2I/AAAAAAAABOc/9dmmsiKhXgM/s400/25Flex04.JPG

 

Unlike the reviews I read about the first 'test market' of the Noodler's Flex Nib pens, I found these to flex quite easily and without a lot of effort. You definitely need to write slower, and there's a 'sweet spot' on the nib that you need to find by adjusting the angle you hold the pen, but when all's good, it's a pretty awesome little pen. It's a lot of fun to play around with, for sure! I can't wait until I have a little more time to really play with it!

[dnb]

Nice intro, Brian. Now go to bed! That's why you don't have time!! Biz, Biz, Biz!!

[WillSW]

I can't wait till you re-stock. I wish you offered the nibs in the solid colored bodies as well. Nice post.

[GouletPens]

Nice intro, Brian. Now go to bed! That's why you don't have time!! Biz, Biz, Biz!!

 

Bed? Ah yes, I keep forgetting about that

 

 

I can't wait till you re-stock. I wish you offered the nibs in the solid colored bodies as well. Nice post.

 

Nathan made the pens in red/green and clear to start. Supposedly he's going to make them in 12 colors: all of the colors of the Noodler's Piston-Fill pen that is currently offered, plus 4 other special colors (the red/green mottled resin is one of those 4). The pens are in such demand though, I'm pretty sure he's going to be forever setting flex nibs!

[UkeDan]

Argh.... I'm still waiting for mine. Should get here next Monday or Tuesday....

 

Thanks for the post. Can't wait to try it out, maybe with Army Green or Tiananmen. I also have a couple Herbins.

Edited December 10, 2010 by UkeDan

[AndiN]

Ah, you've got my interest piqued! One question, though. I picked up one of the Noodler's piston-fill pens when those came out earlier this year, and they have a very distinctive smell. Even after six months, if I use the pen it leaves the odor on my fingers. I understand that it's because of the resin the pens are made of (and that many people like the smell of those pens -- I'm just not one of them). Do the Noodler's flex nib pens have that same odor to them?

[Margana]

Yesterday I opened one of the flex nibs with the clear plastic body (demonstrator) and to my dismay it has a sickly odor to it. In fact my office now reeks of it. However, the ebonite pen I purchased from Noodler's first offering has no odor but I wouldn't mind if it did. The odor of the flex pen is off-putting while ebonite doesn't bother me at all.

[Yoda4561]

Yesterday I opened one of the flex nibs with the clear plastic body (demonstrator) and to my dismay it has a sickly odor to it. In fact my office now reeks of it. However, the ebonite pen I purchased from Noodler's first offering has no odor but I wouldn't mind if it did. The odor of the flex pen is off-putting while ebonite doesn't bother me at all.

 

 

That's the resin the pen is made of, vegetal. I noticed most of the "offensive" odor (reminds me of a bellybutton) went away after a day or so, and now mine just smells kinda like camphor with a little something else. They probably smell so strongly because they haven't been sitting on a shelf for a long time, so that's resiny freshness for you.

[arz]

The transparent creaper pen I have doesn't smell and I like the looks of its plastic (resin or whatever) better than the transparent flex nib pen. I had some Walitys that smelled like this and 6 years later there is no scent (I don't know when the odor became neutral since I stored them for that reason).

 

Is there any kind of cleaning procedure that I could embark on to temper the smell?

[Yoda4561]

The transparent creaper pen I have doesn't smell and I like the looks of its plastic (resin or whatever) better than the transparent flex nib pen. I had some Walitys that smelled like this and 6 years later there is no scent (I don't know when the odor became neutral since I stored them for that reason).

 

Is there any kind of cleaning procedure that I could embark on to temper the smell?

 

 

A warm location and good ventilation would probably work best. Really after 1 day out of the box I don't notice the smell unless I hold it up to my nose.