Noodler's Flex Pen

[ImolaS3]

Thanks Ukedan, good link

 

I think the nib on mine is just too stiff and having to press so hard is spoiling the experience. I'll play with it over the Christmas break of course and maybe extending it by a couple of mm as suggested in the thread wilkl help 'lighten' it

 

Merry Christmas

[Yoda4561]

I've gotten to the point now where I feel alot more comfortable with them. Using the flex for addresses and occasional embellishments and then using it like a normal pen with some nice XF to Medium variation when writing seems to be what works the best. Copperplate for a page or two is also doable as long as you don't try and stretch it out too far.

 

When I first got it I was a bit worried that flex nibs just weren't for me, in truth it was just that my expectations were out of line with the real capabilities of the pen, it's not something you're gonna write page after page of fine calligraphy with, but does give excellent line variation on a day to day basis which IMO is more natural and pleasing to the eye than a stub italic type. It is however harder to use when you want lots and lots of consistent line variation.

 

Comments from others who own some vintage fountain pens with flex nibs seem to put these noodler's in the middle range of flexibility, not approaching the really soft and wet-noodle ones but not too far off what an average flex nib was capable of. I really enjoy taking it all the way out though, so I'm gonna give dip pens a try with some Hunt 101 nibs which I'm told are about as flexible as you can get and still actually write with.

[kcunvong]

Wow! I just opened up my Christmas present: a Noodler's Flex pen, demonstrator! This nib is insane. I can give my Skylines a break now. Just look at the length of the tines! They go all the way into the base of the pen's body. The flex is amazing! I don't have a ruler with me, but it easily goes from xxf to bbb, at LEAST. I can't wait to go to work to test this guy out. I've never been a fan of demonstrators, but I think I may have just changed my mind. I have to admit, the finish is a bit strange. Maybe some sort of soft acrylic? Brillant pen, otherwise. Currently testing it out with PR Sonic Blue.

[Yoda4561]

Wow! I just opened up my Christmas present: a Noodler's Flex pen, demonstrator! This nib is insane. I can give my Skylines a break now. Just look at the length of the tines! They go all the way into the base of the pen's body. The flex is amazing! I don't have a ruler with me, but it easily goes from xxf to bbb, at LEAST. I can't wait to go to work to test this guy out. I've never been a fan of demonstrators, but I think I may have just changed my mind. I have to admit, the finish is a bit strange. Maybe some sort of soft acrylic? Brillant pen, otherwise. Currently testing it out with PR Sonic Blue.

 

 

They're made of a type of Vegetal Resin, just not quite as high grade as some fancy pens and with a low quality of final polishing. There's no "finish" applied to the pen, I think they're just given a quick machine buff. From what I gather it's kinda similar to celluloid chemically, but with higher stability/chemical resistance and not capable of producing the vivid coloration celluloid can. I'm tempted to give my demo a 2000 grit sand and buff to see what the plastic is capable of.

Edited December 25, 2010 by Yoda4561

[kcunvong]

Hmmm, 2000 grit, huh. I'll have to look into that. Yeah, I was a bit surprised by the scratches already on the pen. Will it yellow with age?

[Yoda4561]

Hmmm, 2000 grit, huh. I'll have to look into that. Yeah, I was a bit surprised by the scratches already on the pen. Will it yellow with age?

 

 

I'd wager it will, here's hoping the bodies last long enough to find out.

[eds]

I seem to recall gouletpens giving away something like noodler's ebonite flex - where the flex nib is just transferred to the ebonite pen. Anybody think it's worth a try?

[Hangglidernerd]

I seem to recall gouletpens giving away something like noodler's ebonite flex - where the flex nib is just transferred to the ebonite pen. Anybody think it's worth a try?

I'm just waiting on the mail.

[kcunvong]

After a day of evaluating this pen, I've concluded that it drinks ink like... a fish... submerged in ink. Perhaps the pen should have been larger to hold more ink. The nib is really sweet, athough I wish it were 14K, rather than steel. Alas, I am probably wishing it were another pen entirely. I'm amazed, however, at the amount of flex this pen can handle. It is almost a near wet noodle Even under great pressure, and with the tines competely spread apart, ink will continue to flow through in copious amounts. With slow writing in this state, there is still no "railroading."

[Senate1123]

I seem to recall gouletpens giving away something like noodler's ebonite flex - where the flex nib is just transferred to the ebonite pen. Anybody think it's worth a try?

 

i do know that the flex nib fits into the nib creaper. the only problem is that the nib doesn't seat as far enough since i used the nib creapers feed. it'll write but it's rather prone to railroading. i'm thinking of modifying the flex nib's feed to fit into the nib creaper.

 

on a slightly separate note, i think the consistency between flex nibs are different. i have a demo version and a red/green version and for sure the red/green is much easier to flex. my demo version requires considerably more pressure to split the tines.

[Gobblecup]

I have been enjoying the Flex nib for a couple of weeks now. Mine has been great, it goes from really fine to super thick with reasonable speed and minimal pressure. I am looking forward to the music nib pen coming in the future!

[Hangglidernerd]

It's here...Now I get to go play with it at work.

[Hangglidernerd]

I've posted a little review in the reviews.....here's a preview...I like it.

[rikki]

Nathan seems to have revealed a number of the future colors for this pen in a video on his YouTube channel.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aVXYsZ476w

 

The video's prime purpose is to announce his art contest and go through all the pens the first prize winner will receive...but it also shows a number of pens that have not yet been released.

 

Starting at around the 6 minute mark, Nathan starts talking about the flex pens—first the clear demo and the December 25th everyone's familiar with, then five other pens that they're grouped with.

 

In order, from right to left:

• "Lapis Inferno" (blue with white swirls)
  
• "Vulcan's Coral" (burgundy with white swirls)
  
• "Ivory Darkness" (black with white swirls)
  
• "Cardinal Darkness" (red with black swirls)
  
• "Poltergeist Pumpkin" (orange with black swirls)
  

...Furthermore!

 

The "Ivory Darkness" is featured in

(December 30th). In its description, Nathan writes:

 

This pen will be available in limited numbers within the next two weeks. We will not have more for some time after that period and will instead issue a different pen with the Noodler's flex nib when these sell out.

So those who are interested in a specific color may want to keep their ears to the ground, lest they miss out and have to wait until some undetermined future date...

[Gobblecup]

Awesome! Thank you for posting this rikki!

[tenney]

In that video... was that Nathan speaking? Is he the one who designed and built that prototype precious metal pen? (wow... very very nice)

[rikki]

You're welcome, Gobblecup.

 

In that video... was that Nathan speaking? Is he the one who designed and built that prototype precious metal pen?

Yes, and yes.

[79spitfire]

Bet Watch_art wins...

[Gobblecup]

Bet Watch_art wins...

 

.......

[GOB Bluth]

Nathan seems to have revealed a number of the future colors for this pen in a video on his YouTube channel.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aVXYsZ476w

 

The video's prime purpose is to announce his art contest and go through all the pens the first prize winner will receive...but it also shows a number of pens that have not yet been released.

 

Starting at around the 6 minute mark, Nathan starts talking about the flex pens—first the clear demo and the December 25th everyone's familiar with, then five other pens that they're grouped with.

 

In order, from right to left:

• "Lapis Inferno" (blue with white swirls)
• "Vulcan's Coral" (burgundy with white swirls)
• "Ivory Darkness" (black with white swirls)
• "Cardinal Darkness" (red with black swirls)
• "Poltergeist Pumpkin" (orange with black swirls)

...Furthermore!

 

The "Ivory Darkness" is featured in

(December 30th). In its description, Nathan writes:

 

This pen will be available in limited numbers within the next two weeks. We will not have more for some time after that period and will instead issue a different pen with the Noodler's flex nib when these sell out.

So those who are interested in a specific color may want to keep their ears to the ground, lest they miss out and have to wait until some undetermined future date...

 

Does anyone have any clue as to when we could see the other colors? I am particularly thinking about the pumpkin. I don't want that to be hidden until October 2011, but I also don't want to purchase another color just because it is currently out. Brilliant marketing!