Trying To Do The Ahab Extra Flex Mod, Pen Dries Out

[Fabienne]

Oddly enough I don't have the address of the Penners' blog but I do know if you Google it, it comes up first in the list.

[betweenthelens]

Thanks! Will do.

[Sinistral1]

I agree with Fabienne that you now have the perfect nib to try it with, now that it's bent. And, if it's not repairable, then you could also think about using your Dremel to grind down the end of the nib, removing the damage and creating a flexible italic nib in the process!

[Fabienne]

Ooooo, scary good idea. I take it that the iridium tip does not have to be part of an italic nib. Pardon my innocence in asking, but I don't know that. I suspect there is no iridium tip on those but am not sure.

[Sinistral1]

Since the Ahab nib has no tipping material to begin with, she would just need to smooth the new tip and it should work. What has she got to lose? If it's going in the bin anyway, I'd give it a shot and see what happens.

[betweenthelens]

I agree, Sinistral1. I'm going to bite the bul… uh, nib and get down to business on it.

[French]

I've been following this thread and have had similar experience with one of my Ahabs. It wasn't as good a writer as the other one, I thought I would tinker...I tinkered, thought I ruined the feed, let the pen sit for months, then got brave ground wings onto the nib, heat set the nib to the feed, and behold, I'm proud of my first venture into the world of nib customization. I'm no nibmeister, I wouldn't dream (maybe nightmare) about trying something similar on a more expensive pen, nor would I have taken the dremel to the nib if I didn't read about others on FPN doing it and having good result (and thinking what do I have to lose as that pen was destined for the trash heap anyway). Thank everyone who has posted about Ahabs and tinkering, without you sharing your knowledge, I never would have had the courage to not just throw the pen away after my first stumbling point.

 

Please pardon the poor quality of my pictures, it seems I have the same level of talent for photography as nibwork

[Fabienne]

Hooray! It is an excellent learning experience. My Ahabs are my most favorite pens now. I am amazed at how flexy they are. Great sense of accomplishment!