Noodler's Flex Pen

[shaylenwilliams]

Just got the pen this evening and its been all fun since! I am very impressed at how much line variation you can get from these pens. It is, as another noted, a bit on the firmer side of flex. But not in that its difficult to flex, more in that it wont flop around like a noodle as soon as it hits the page.

 

My only problem with this new pen is that I only got one! Now my family is trying to pry it off me... Its my pen darnit!

 

I think it is a good amount of flex for beginners. I'm quite happy with mine, especially for $14.

[CarolinaWriter]

Still waiting for mine...

[sentraser165]

I also got mine today. I used it with Black Swan...OMG. The amount of shading is absolutely preposterous. This is actually the first time I have used a flex pen, so it is going to take getting used to. The amount of pressure you have to put forth is perfect for me. For 14 bucks, what a solid deal!

[Yoda4561]

I have a sample of black swan and some other inks, but I'm not going to dive into those until I get somewhat competent with the pen. Here's some watered down kung te cheng and #41 brown (way watered down ). While the handwriting is atrocious I think it's representative of the amount of width variation the pens are capable of.

 

Wide Ruled Ampad Recycled legal pad. Noodler's Clear Demonstrator Flex nib.

 

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r54/Yoda4561/Pens%20and%20Ink/morflex.jpg

[79spitfire]

Still waiting for mine...

 

Me too! Can we cry together?

[shaylenwilliams]

I also got mine today. I used it with Black Swan...OMG. The amount of shading is absolutely preposterous. This is actually the first time I have used a flex pen, so it is going to take getting used to. The amount of pressure you have to put forth is perfect for me. For 14 bucks, what a solid deal!

 

Couldn't agree more! I am excited to get some other inks loaded up into this too. Since it is so wet, ooh... 1670? Will I get all my gold?! Or the red sheen in PR Ebony Blue and Electric DC Blue? The latter would be pretty hard to clean from it I suspect. Wait, am I not supposed to talk about putting non-Noodler's in it? Oops! I will so buy a few more of these pens when the opportunity arises.

[Senate1123]

Got my Noodler's Flex Pen today but didn't get a chance to ink it up until now. I have it filled with Noodler's Black Swan Ink, just cause it seemed the right combo.

 

So my assessment of the flex is that it is pretty good. It does require a good amount of pressure but that's not always a bad thing. I'd prefer the nib to be a little bit finer in unflexed position but I can deal. I do find that I'm not getting a huge about of shading with the Black Swan Ink. This pen writes rather wet for me and most of the time I just get a rather dark purple/black pool of letters. However, if I exert a lot of pressure to get a very broad thickness, the shading is beautiful.

 

Overall, I like this pen. For $14, I can't really fault this pen much. My Mottishawed Falcon is a lot nicer in terms of line variation and flex feel, but it is also ~20 times the cost. Kudos to Noodler's for a wonderful pen. My only suggestions are a finer point and possibly put this flex nib on the Nib Creaper Pen. I find the construction of that pen to be much more to my liking.

[arz]

My only suggestions are a finer point and possibly put this flex nib on the Nib Creaper Pen. I find the construction of that pen to be much more to my liking.

 

I couldn't agree more, Senate1123! I got both the Dec 25 and demonstrator flex nibs, expecting the quality of the nib creaper demonstrator and have to admit I find the flex bodies feel and look cheaper in comparison. The plastic on my creaper is glossy, while the flex pen has a lot of visible imperfections and smells (I have found this with the 2 wality pens I've got, also). I guess that this is due to the ebonite feed?

 

I need to write more with the flex pen, since it's the writing experience that matters most. However, I am so impressed with the nib creaper (and I also lucked out at there being no leaking of ink below the piston), that it's hard not to be a bit disappointed with the flex pens when I compare them specifically with the creaper.

[yourmanpann]

I didn't think I was a flex nib kinda guy, but for $14 I had to give it a try. Pen (clear demo) arrived yesterday along with a sample of Noodler's Nikita (Goulet's choice, not mine). I filled both the Noodler's pen and another recent acquisition (also a clear demo), a Monteverde Artista, with Nikita.

 

I was right, I'm not a flex nib kinda guy. I got the Noodler's pen to flex, but with what seemed to me to be an awful lot of pressure. Seems to be a very wet flow. When I compared the page (Clairefontaine 90gsm) on which I had written with both pens, I had show through with the Noodler's (especially when flexed) but none with the Artista.

 

This morning after reading this thread I pulled out both pens, which had been stored capped and nib up in one of my pen glasses overnight, and the Artista started right up. The Noodler's pen is clogged.

 

I paid a bit more than twice the price of the Noodler's for the Artista, and it was well worth it. I don't miss the flex.

 

My Noodler's flex pen is likely to show up in the For Sale forum soon.

 

Obviously, YMMV.

[lefty928]

The demonstrator and red and green pens from Goulet Pens were waiting for me when I got home last night -- I was pleasantly surprised at the speedy fulfillment, and also impressed with the ample packaging. I couldn't help filling the red and green version despite the late hour (the demonstrator has a ring of deep cross-hatched scratch marks around the barrel where the cap meets it, so the plastic doesn't seem that tough -- I wanted to inspect it in daylight before filling, as my eyes aren't too good in artificial light anymore, except there wasn't any today!) and I must have lucked out, as the nib is quite flexible. I write with very little pressure and if I'm in "normal" mode, the line is quite quite fine, an EF on a Rhodia Pad. It doesn't require much effort for even me to achieve substantial flex with this nib, however, and I'm one who hesitates to put much pressure on fountain pen nibs.

 

(Because of the nib construction, btw, the fine line I get with my usual writing pressure is a dry, pale one. But the downstrokes, with added pressure, are nicely wet.)

 

I was surprised at how narrow, light, and small the pen is -- not one I'd choose for a marathon writing session, but fine for notes and such. O.K., it feels a mite flimsy. Hey, it's a $14 pen with a flexible nib. $14! And it filled quite smoothly. The red and green mottling is more attractive than one would think and the accompanying jam-packed info sheet lists some really intriguing color options in the works (ivory DARKNESS? lapis inferno?) with the promise that more will come. I'm interested to see how the breather hole in the cap affects things.

 

I don't know if the marring on the demonstrator's barrel appears on all of them or just the one I happened to get, so it might be good to either go for a color or to ask for a hand inspection before a demonstrator is sent (see above, $14, for a flex pen) if you are concerned about the finish.

[UkeDan]

Still waiting for mine...

 

Me too! Can we cry together?

Dang! (Still) Waiting for mine too!!!

Edited December 13, 2010 by UkeDan

[arz]

 

I don't know if the marring on the demonstrator's barrel appears on all of them or just the one I happened to get, so it might be good to either go for a color or to ask for a hand inspection before a demonstrator is sent (see above, $14, for a flex pen) if you are concerned about the finish.

Well, my experience is the same as yours, so it seems like it's just a quality of the resin used for these pens.

This is why I prefer the plastic on the creaper demonstrator. I thought I would like the flex demonstrator better because it is all clear, but not so.

The question I'm waiting to answer for myself is if the nib makes up for the less satisfactory experience with the body.

[Senate1123]

 

I don't know if the marring on the demonstrator's barrel appears on all of them or just the one I happened to get, so it might be good to either go for a color or to ask for a hand inspection before a demonstrator is sent (see above, $14, for a flex pen) if you are concerned about the finish.

Well, my experience is the same as yours, so it seems like it's just a quality of the resin used for these pens.

This is why I prefer the plastic on the creaper demonstrator. I thought I would like the flex demonstrator better because it is all clear, but not so.

The question I'm waiting to answer for myself is if the nib makes up for the less satisfactory experience with the body.

 

I have the same marks on mine. And it smells funky too, haha.

[bassopotamus]

I just got one this morning and so far am not real keen on it. The barrel is covered in fine scratches, far worse than what I'd expect on a "user grade" used pen.

 

I've only had a chance to try it with one ink (it showed up 20 minutes ago in a box with #41 brown) but this seems to be another Noodler's pen (like one of my aerometrics) that is really rather poorly behaved when it comes to dripping, splattering, etc. I wiped the nib down pretty well, but it is prone to either dripping or a fine mist of ink all over the page (if you write fast). It sort of looks like when they do the blood spatter tests on CSI. It's too bad, It makes a neat signature pen (mine is simple and fast) as it gives good natural line variation (and seems less prone to hanging up than a CI), but whenever I write a signature like my normal signature, it just covers the page in a fine mist of brown. At least it was cheap.

[Roberto_Notecardo]

My Noodler's Creaper arrived today from Goulet Pens. (Love how quickly Brian gets orders shipped, by the way.) I bought the demonstrator model because I thought it would be cool to see the innerds of a pen. I'm not disappointed. Also, the nib flexes more easily than my Esterbrook 2048 nib, and with none of the scratchiness, so I am thrilled with this pen! Yes, it does take quite a bit of practice to get "nice" handwriting, but that is a labor of love. It writes surprisingly smooth. My Creaper is a keeper!

 

Bob

[wisteriax]

I was really excited when I heard about this pen, and it has not disappointed. I love flex nibs, but haven't seen any at such an affordable price before.

 

Ordered mine (plus a bottle of Black Swan) from isellpens.com on Friday and received it on Saturday! I have not put it down since.

It offers some great line width variations, and is neither too firm nor too noodley. And with a lighter hand, it is fine for faster jotting.

 

I did note that after being capped overnight standing nib, the next morning I had to work a little to get it flowing again. But I had left it with just a drop of ink inside.

 

I got the December 25 version - it has a classy, vintage look. The green is subdued enough within the red to be useful year round. Not too "Christmas-y" at all.

 

The Black Swan ink works really nicely in this pen, and offers what I think is a great deal of lovely shading. I'll post a sample later.

 

It's been awhile since I have worked on my handwriting but this combo makes me want to practice until I can do it some justice.

I'll definitely pick up another one, but I'm waiting to see what other colors might be available in future.

[Surfbits]

Received mine today from Goulet Pens. I chose the Red and Green one. I inked it up with a new bottle of Noodler's Heart of Darkness. First impressions are that it's a very wet pen. With more pressure, it's really wet and wide. It works so much better on a good fountain pen type paper like my Clairfontaine paper, white, 80g. The 90g seems keep the ink too wet for too long of a time.

I think the pen feels a little small in my hand, but I'm used to a big Lamy. Even though it feels smaller then I like, it still sits in my hand very comfortably, and I have to say that writing with it is an effortless job.

All in all, to this point, I have to say that it's a great pen for $14. It's a different pen then my Parker 51 or my Esterbrook J, or my new Waterman Phileas. But... it's in my daily rotation for the time being.

[Yoda4561]

Anyone have advice on setting the nib and feed to reduce flow when flexed?? My demonstrator has been great, predictable, wet without being too wet. My christmas pen however is a bit of a gusher, and also seems to be a bit dryer when not flexed. I kind of want to put black swan in it full time, and it's just a bit too wet for that when flexing on most of the paper's I've used (hp 32lb laserjet, some bagasse like paper from steno pads, copy paper is no-go)

 

I've tried setting the feed and nib identically to my demo pen, but it was kinda set like that to begin with so it didn't really help. It actually doesn't feed too much when flexing a line, it's when the tines come back together that it spooges a ton of ink back into the letter.

 

Right now I've got the feed pushed in further by about 1 feed... groove thing... dunno what those are called. It's a little better but I'm sure there's some other way I'm not aware of to get it to feed just right.

 

**edit: Since it was my free sample and a nice time of year for red ink, I tried nikita in it first and wow.. that almost made me write the ink off, talk about a firehose. It spewed twice as much ink as it did with Black Swan loaded up. Feathered on EVERYTHING and gushed a pool when flexing. :bonk: Not a knock on the pen or the ink, it's just not very good in flex pens I think. Works great in my safari.**

 

**PS: the red part of Black Swan stains fingers like no other noodler's ink I've used, I suggest gloves or or something when filling if you don't want stained fingers.

Edited December 13, 2010 by Yoda4561

[Roberto_Notecardo]

My Noodler's Creaper arrived today from Goulet Pens. (Love how quickly Brian gets orders shipped, by the way.) I bought the demonstrator model because I thought it would be cool to see the innerds of a pen. I'm not disappointed. Also, the nib flexes more easily than my Esterbrook 2048 nib, and with none of the scratchiness, so I am thrilled with this pen! Yes, it does take quite a bit of practice to get "nice" handwriting, but that is a labor of love. It writes surprisingly smooth. My Creaper is a keeper!

 

Bob

 

I may have endorsed too quickly. A few hours later, and I'm getting frustrated by the amount of railroading I'm getting. Maybe it has something to do with the ink? I started off using Waterman Havana and had almost no problems. I then switched to Private Reserve Tropical Blue and now I'm having the railroading issue.

[Yoda4561]

My Noodler's Creaper arrived today from Goulet Pens. (Love how quickly Brian gets orders shipped, by the way.) I bought the demonstrator model because I thought it would be cool to see the innerds of a pen. I'm not disappointed. Also, the nib flexes more easily than my Esterbrook 2048 nib, and with none of the scratchiness, so I am thrilled with this pen! Yes, it does take quite a bit of practice to get "nice" handwriting, but that is a labor of love. It writes surprisingly smooth. My Creaper is a keeper!

 

Bob

 

I may have endorsed too quickly. A few hours later, and I'm getting frustrated by the amount of railroading I'm getting. Maybe it has something to do with the ink? I started off using Waterman Havana and had almost no problems. I then switched to Private Reserve Tropical Blue and now I'm having the railroading issue.

 

 

The ink really does seem to have a big effect. I've noticed the more heavily surfactant loaded inks (that make soap bubbles when you shake, or coat the sides of a bottle easily) seem to railroad the least, the inks that are more watery with little soaping up don't seem to maintain that sheet when flexing, I think it's kinda like how blowing bubbles works, you gotta have the right ink to maintain that film.