I Don't Have The Experience To Decide! Advice?

[makeitnew]

Hello people,

 

I'm looking for a new pen since the tragic downfall of my Edison Collier. It was a fine pen but a bit limited and a bit fragile. So now I regularly use a Kaweco Sport ice blue. It works once I leveled the tines. I also ordered a Conklin All American flex nib in beautiful yellowstone but to my dismay its unusable and getting sent back. I've done everything on the default list except start carving up the feed to improve flow which literally stops and won't fill the channel to the point where there is no ink the nib at all. Vapor locked if you will.

That being said, I do enjoy flex. I enjoy playing with comic g nibs and some sumo ink, and I want my next pen to have flex. That leads me down the pilot path.....which is complicated. The best nib to modify is on the 912 fa #10, but the best flowing replacement ebonite feeds (3 channel from a well know producer) are for the pilot 743/823 fa size 15# If i wanted a wet consistent line all the time this is the feed for me. but I also at some point would like the spencerian modifications....this is best done on the 912...which has no k (known to me) up-gradable feed.

 

I'm in a catch 22.....I don't want railroading and drying up. I want to be able to draw or write quickly if needed or take my time and be precise with calligraphy or whatever my heart desires.

 

for the price i'd prefer just a standard falcon but from all the videos of it's performance i'm not impressed, honestly with any of them. The one that looked good had the 3 slit feed. Problem is...this seem to restrict me to the 743, that's not the best modification platform, because the 823 doesn't come with a FA nib option that i've found.

 

 

So how do I do this. I'd prefer a #10, can't get a feed. I can get a 743 full setup, but not great for spencerian. I can get the 912, and wait for the new feed release and HATE my expensive pen that runs dry on me even slightly, or hard starts....can't stand them.

I'm pretty sure the 743 is my only option but i thought i'd ask. my research efforts can only extend to the point of educated guessing from here. Are there any other options besides abandoning flex...which I don't really want to do. JoWo's are nice but....they don't have the character. I priced and edison flex nib...(the custom one) on a basic pen was up to about 400 bucks easy. If it costs that much i'd be afraid to use it. it would never get inked. To nice to pretty. I can feel ok drawing with an expensive pen if that's part of it's function (and nice signatures and notes for people/cards).

i'm about to give up and get an ahab and razor blaze the feed. I won't be pleasant though. Just not what I like pens for. Cheap and usable isn't the same thing and the experience of a nice pen. I like my kaweco but....i wish i was using something better. I like my edison a lot but still didn't have the line variation experience I've always wanted.

Go with the 743? I have no idea at this point. My biggest goal is to not run dry in the feed with a flex. If i could draw one big squiggly line till the cart ran dry i'd love it. lol

 

 

[sirgilbert357]

I've heard you actually CAN order the 823 with the FA nib, but you have to order it from Japan, and only certain vendors sell it in that configuration. I do not know who to point you to, unfortunately.

 

On the ebonite feeds, I have no idea there. Seems like a hassle to modify a modern pen. I think you should go vintage if you want real flex.

Edited June 20, 2019 by sirgilbert357

[Honeybadgers]

the 823 is available with the FA nib at MSRP with a warranty from tokyo pen quill shop. It's a special order, so you may have to wait a couple weeks, but he got mine within a couple days. Expect about $300.

 

And you can upgrade the feed with a feed from Flexible Nib Factory. It's labeled as the 743 feed, but it's identical to the 823 (they're interchangeable with the nibs) and the fit is factory. Go with the two slot ebonite feed, NOT the three, unless you plan on completely dedicating the pen to writing in spencerian, the 2 channel ebonite feed is more than enough, as the 3 makes it all but unusable in everyday writing. The feed is about $25, but the fit is absolutely factory perfect. Gilbert is incorrect in the hassle, it's a straightforward "pull FA nib out, slide into new feed, slide new feed/nib into pen, done" kind of job. The feeds are bespoke, and require no modification.

 

The FA nib is a proper semiflex nib, easily on par with vintage semiflex. If you want a wet noodle, you can find them for under $300 in the vintage world, but the 823 will be very good, new, warrantied, and with a vac filler. It's a great everyday writer and can put down some proper flex. There should be no difference in difficulty having the #15 FA nib modified, as it's already softer than the #10. Honestly, I don't think I'd bother having more flex added, just having the nib ground to a needlepoint. It already throws down 1.3mm shades, and I don't ask any more than that of even my wettest noodle vintage pens.

 

 

Pen

 

http://www.japanshop-quill.com/pilot-custom823.htm

 

Feed in black ebonite

 

https://flexiblenib.com/store/product/pilot-743-replacement-feed-2-slit-ink-slot-black-ebonite/

 

Feed in red ebonite

 

https://flexiblenib.com/store/product/pilot-743-replacement-feed-2-slit-ink-slot-red-ebonite/

 

If you do decide you want to run with the #10 and want the stock feed channeled, PM me. I can do it properly, with needle files. It'll keep up with Joey's FNF feeds.

 

Here's an example of what I did to a PenBBS feed.

 

Edited June 20, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[Uncial]

I'd recommend the 823 from Tokyo Quill. You may have to wait a while and definitely go on their wait list as they seem to sell out of their batches incredibly fast. The one caveat to bear in mind is that some have reported that their feeds have been a little ink stingy. I haven't found that to be the case, but I have noticed that some inks can result in railroading. I thought it might be an issue with dry inks, but the fills I've used in the last year don't really tally in that way. It appears to be very random in a way I don't understand with some inks railroading and others delivering a flawless performance regardless of whether they are dry or wet.

 

I'm a little intrigued to know how your Edison Collier turned out to be fragile.

[makeitnew]

Thank you all for the info it sounds like the 823 is the way to go I'm not sure if I'll end up doing this spencerian cuz I've never used a falcon did before it may be sufficient by itself. It's nice to know that I can have the number 15 adjusted to what I'm potentially looking for down the road. And thank you for the suggestion of modifying a feed for me while the idea is appealing to get the 912 model I prefer parts that I can order off the shelf.

 

As far as the Edison being fragile some of it is my fault. I bought a nice pen for daily use and I didn't care that it was expensive. I'd have it in my pocket at work like every other pen I've ever owned in my life. It was a Collier in persimmons. I've actually had this happen to 2. I'll be getting in and out of a boat or maneuvering around a small area and as my pants tighten, not that I wear super tight pants, and then pressure even light pressure gets applied to the pain area by bumping into something or sliding across something it will snap right above the threads on the body. technically I still have it but its supegueld. This effect is even more pronounced when the cap is on tight which is what happened to my second one the cap got tight on the threads which applied torsion to the body one light bump to the pain and snap. With the 823 I wouldn't take it to work that's why I have a kaweco now which makes me sad because I liked my nice fountain pen at work for my daily writing. What I really need for work is the cheapest metal body you can throw a Jowo on.

 

 

Please excuse grammar and typos or perhaps other errors I'm on the phone at the moment as opposed to my computer

[sirgilbert357]

By "hassle" I just mean researching and finding the correct parts that will give you vintage level flex performance in a modern pen package. It sounds like Honeybadgers has found a combo that works quite well. If I were looking for flex, I'd be tempted to give that a shot.

[Honeybadgers]

Alternatively if you want a turnkey modern flex pen with no hassle, an FPnibs.com superflex 14k JoWo in one of their pens with a channeled feed is about $400 but will give you beyond vintage wet noodle performance.

[langere]

For an inexpensive flex, have you thought about Fountain Pen Revolution that sells flexy Indian pens? They are pretty inexpensive, less than $50 with the ultra flex, That way, if something happens to it, it's no big deal to buy a new one.

 

And FPN pens tend to be better than Noodlers.

 

Erick

[makeitnew]

I looked through fpnibs.com I foudn the nib but not sure what pen you're recommending with it. I saw their in house brand if that's what you mean.

 

I just looked at some waterman....and that's seems cool but i've been told perhaps i should leave those for somebody less accident prone and i tend to agree. once they are gone...they are gone, but being clueless on the matter less a little bit of research what's this honeybadgers you speak of? googling that with the word pen attached came up with some comical results.

[langere]

You can order most pens at FPR with the flexy nibs, so just go ahead and order one.

 

They have great customer service too, so feel free to ask if you cannot decide.

 

Erick

[SchaumburgSwan]

On the ebonite feeds, I have no idea there. Seems like a hassle to modify a modern pen. I think you should go vintage if you want real flex.

 

+1

 

Yes, vintage pens! Mabie Todd Swan, Waterman, De LaRue/Onoto... just to drop some of the brands known for exceptional flex nibs.

 

 

 

I looked through fpnibs.com I foudn the nib but not sure what pen you're recommending with it. I saw their in house brand if that's what you mean.

 

I just looked at some waterman....and that's seems cool but i've been told perhaps i should leave those for somebody less accident prone and i tend to agree. once they are gone...they are gone, but being clueless on the matter less a little bit of research what's this honeybadgers you speak of? googling that with the word pen attached came up with some comical results.

 

I respect your point here, to be accident prone sometimes helps. ;-)

 

Those vintage pens are not gone, but they will cost you some time to find what you like - the nibs are usually not telling by inscribtion what they are, and a lot of different grades of flex or non flex were offered.

 

Best

Jens

Edited June 25, 2019 by SchaumburgSwan

[Honeybadgers]

I looked through fpnibs.com I foudn the nib but not sure what pen you're recommending with it. I saw their in house brand if that's what you mean.

 

I just looked at some waterman....and that's seems cool but i've been told perhaps i should leave those for somebody less accident prone and i tend to agree. once they are gone...they are gone, but being clueless on the matter less a little bit of research what's this honeybadgers you speak of? googling that with the word pen attached came up with some comical results.

 

It's a custom order from Pablo, but he takes a JoWo 14k nib, thins it, narrows the tines, grinds it ultrafine, and adds a keyhole breather to extend the slit. You can then pay him to modify either a TWSBI VAC700R or one of their in-house pens by channeling the feed, and mating the two. I have a VAC700R that he modified to accept one of his ultraflex nibs, and it's an absolute monster. It's terrible as an everyday writer, it's far, far too flexible for that. It's specifically for writing letters and general calligraphy/art. He can tone it down and you can buy just a normal semiflex too, which is cheaper.

 

Just email him, his english is superb and his customer service excellent.

 

I recommend staying away from the indian flex nibs. They're just never up to snuff, and the performance of the ultraflex is just... mushy.

Edited June 25, 2019 by Honeybadgers