Looking For A Good Lasting Fountain Pen (Perhaps A Flex Nib)

[TestTube]

So, I have 3 Pilot Metropolitans at the moment but I'm looking for a Fountain Pen that will last me a while; and I really like the concept of a flex nib pen.

 

I was looking at the Pilot Falcon Soft Gold in Fine, any other suggestions?

 

I also see that the regular Falcon is 152$ and the metal version is 240$. Although this price jump doesn't seem justifiable, some have said that the regular one feels cheap. I want something that feels solid and high quality.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm looking to spend anywhere under 250$. Thanks.

[Tseg]

Most fountain pens can last a lifetime, whether gold or steel nibbled, if cared for. Once you want a flex nib things become more limited. You may want to consider an ebonite or acrylic Himalaya with flex nib from Fountain Pen Revolution.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Even cheap fountain pens will last a long time as long as you don't use them as a pogo stick. I've a number of 90-70 and almost new 30-40 year old pens. A pretty....and light and nimble Esterbrook that is only 80-60 year old is still good. Will have to put a rubber new sack in it every ten years of so.....no big deal. A lever pen is the fastest loading of all pens.

Eventually you will need a nail P-51....it's obligatory to have at least one.

 

40-20-10 year old or new Brand Name Cartridge/Converter pens, should be built sturdy enough to give it to your great grand kids....even the cheaper ones.

So used is good....as long as someone has not screwed up the nib, by over smoothing it.

You do need a loupe....a good coated glass one of 10 X costs some $35 but is a once in a life time buy. You can get a cheap 40X Chinese one that is really 10X....of course you will have to buy them time and again............in sometimes one does get what one pays for.

You also need a rubber baby bulb to clean your CC pens. A needle syringe and they have legal rubber ones, to re-fill the super expensive cartridges.....and cartridges have always been super expensive....even back in B&W TV days.

Bottled ink is so much cheaper.

 

How much flex do you want?????

Semi-flex? Not a nib for super fancy writing, does add that old fashioned fountain pen flair with out you having to do anything. Mostly found in vintage German '50's-70 nibs and a Pilot 8xx, with a modified nib. The same modification of half moon grinds that is mentioned below.

 

Superflex? And if so how much? I break down superflex into three levels, Easy Full Flex, which can be achieved easiest by buying an Ahab, and having half moons ground into the nib.

 

With half the pressure needed to spread the tines of an Easy Full Flex nib, is the fabled Wet Noodle. which cost good $$ money....and hopefully the fella selling you the nib that spread it's tines so well in his pictures on Ebay or Youtube hasn't sprung the nib by over stressing it. Normally superflex nibs are 5X to 6X.....and 7X tine spread a light down stroke is very, very rare.............out side of sprung nibs.

 

...............and something you really don't want....the very, very rare and $$$ Weak Kneed Wet Noodle***. I certainly don't want one of them..........why I'd have to learn how to write!!

How much time are you going to dedicate to learning how to draw the letters....for what ever flex you want in your 'flex' pen.............would help to know which flex rate you want. To me saying I want a flex pen, is like saying I want a powerful motor in a car....4 cylinder,**** 6, 8? 12?

Of course I'm a bit OCD on that. Jargon is concepts easily defined by an agreed terminology word.

 

I'm pretty sure you don't want regular flex....for your flex pen. Might be you'd be satisfied with a semi-flex. I do suspect you want some sort of superflex nibbed pen. All I can do is suspect.

 

I do suggest working your way up the flex ladder.........well, I did so I didn't have to have my waterwings on when I jumped into the deep end of the pool; when I started hunting 'Flexi' nibs. Though by then I had heard the term superflex.

Some folks, jump into the deep end of the superflex pool, with out waterwings, and run screaming back to nails.............not even later getting into semi-lex ....because they were bitten by a poisonous superflex nib. And are now allergic to flex of any kind.

 

Most come over from nails and are heavy handed. I was Ham Fisted myself.

It took me three months to lighten my Hand up when I moved from nail to semi-flex so I wasn't maxing the nib....a 3 X tine spread max, all the time. It was a Pelikan 140 OB.

I'd heard of semi-flex, and when testing the nib on my thumbnail, at the flea market, suddenly knew what all the fuss was about.

 

You don't want to max the nib all the time. Richard Bender in his site, has a great article on metal fatigue. So I strive to never max my nibs. I have a 5X Easy Full Flex Pelikan 100n, that I strive to only take 4X....same goes for my Wet Noodles. I do have a couple of the rare 7 X ones....XXF....and I really have to sweat to make it write so light....EF requires thought from me, so tend to scribble at F...........it will go BBB, but I strive to keep them at BB only.

I'm too lazy.....I do have to have the book out when I want to do fancy.

 

By the way not all Waterman 52 nibs are superflex......many are&$$$$.

There are weird modern grinds that are supposed to give you superflex....but such grinds could well mean the nib will be shot in three or so years or even less....but if cheap enough....good enough.

Do see the Ahab Mod .... the Pilot half moon grind, will take an Ahab to first stage of superflex.

 

Stiff nib Italic, can give you great styles also.....and cost much less....again you have to learn to draw the letters.

I'm lazy, I have Easy Full Flex and Wet Noodles, but all I do is scribble normal....not trying to be fancy. It's really a waste.

 

***Can be easily met and matched by some real flexible dip pens like a Hunt 99-100-101.

Suggest getting some dip pens, for superflex to start with.

The cheapest way to master Spenserian or Copperplate and to see if you are willing to put the work into learning to draw the letters..........until you know them well enough you don't have to use the book.

 

**** Porsche also makes a powerful 4 cylinder car; not all are super 6's.

Edited June 15, 2018 by Bo Bo Olson

[Driften]

The biggest difference between the resin and metal falcon is the metal one can use the con-70 converter that holds more ink. The resin one with the con-40 they supply with it these days runs out of ink really fast. The resin one is light weight and to some light = cheep. For other light means less fatigue. I don't think there is anything on the resin falcon that is going to wear out quickly. Using a Falcon does feel different then many pens. It has a lot more bounce. Pilot does not sell these as "flex" pens but as soft nibs. Don't expect a nib that will go from XF - BBB. That is not what these are made to do. If you are looking for a normal pen with a little extra character sure the Falcon can be a nice pen if it fits you.

[sidthecat]

I use my dip pen hybrids for regular ol’ writing, because I don’t want to have to be careful.

That said, I like the springiness of such nibs and the thick-and-thin expressiveness of the line that I can control with a light hand.

 

I’m sure others have already suggested you try out a few dip pens before taking the plunge, and I can only concur. I will observe, however, that the most noodly of noodles are pretty stiff compared with certain types of 19th-century dip nibs. Therein lies madness, so stay out of that basement.