Identifying 'flex' Nibs

[PenFan95]

This Waterman 52 wet noodle (from Mauricio) with a red keyhole wet noodle has adequate ink flow to keep up with that degree of flex.

(thumbnail image)

 

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Flex/Waterman-Reds.jpg

 

I see

[SamCapote]

These are both wet noodles. The Waterman 5 with the red keyhole (shown previously), and Waterman 52 that is an XXF==>BB are compared in these photos I took with a macro lens on my cell phone camera.

 

• http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Flex/IMAG0005.jpg

• http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Flex/IMAG0007.jpg

• http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Flex/IMAG0008.jpg

• http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Flex/IMAG0009.jpg

• http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Flex/IMAG0010.jpg

[PenFan95]

These are both wet noodles. The Waterman 5 with the red keyhole (shown previously), and Waterman 52 that is an XXF==>BB are compared in these photos I took with a macro lens on my cell phone camera.

 

• http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Flex/IMAG0005.jpg

• http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Flex/IMAG0007.jpg

• http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Flex/IMAG0008.jpg

• http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Flex/IMAG0009.jpg

• http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Flex/IMAG0010.jpg

 

If I have that kind of money, I'm thinking of buying another Waterman

[thesteampunkraven]

the daiso fountain pen (the one with the brillo nib) is slightly a modern flex.

[ReadyFireAim]

Generally there are advantages and disadvantages to various materials.

 

Gold nibs are generally smoother because they must have iridium bulbs on the end to keep from wearing out.

They can not put down a hairline like steel but you can use them for a very long time.

Flex ranges from nonexistant to very good.

 

Steel calligraphy nibs will out flex gold and throw down hairlines but they wear out quickly and are a real pain in the back side to make work in fountain pens.

They are generally not smooth & take a lot of practice to use.

 

Stainless Steel flex nibs are available from only 2 companies (Noodler's & FPR) and require grinding in order to write fine lines like steel nibs.

They also require modification (sometimes extensive) in order to flex as easily as soft gold nibs.

Edited November 7, 2017 by Bordeaux146

[thesteampunkraven]

Can't you just get a flex dip pen nib and stick it into another pen? (Assuming you removed the pen's original nib)

[ReadyFireAim]

Can't you just get a flex dip pen nib and stick it into another pen? (Assuming you removed the pen's original nib)

 

Steel or gold?

What kind of properties do you want it to have?

 

Big flex, soft flex, snap-back, hairline, smoothness, lasting ability or something else.

The near perfect nib is extremely hard to come by...Unfortunately

Edited November 8, 2017 by Bordeaux146

[sidthecat]

This very day I'm carrying an itty-bitty Wahl-Eversharp ringtop that originally had a 0 nib but that I exchanged for a Leroy Fairchild dip pen nib that is flexier than anything that's ever been installed on a fountain pen. This is an extreme situation, and probably the next step is confinement.