How To Write With A Flex

[hharry]

I bought a very nice Mont Blanc 3x. A real vintage, late sixties and with a semi-flex nib.

Sofar sogood. I don't have a 'deathgrip" but i don't know how to make the flex work. I want it to swirl and dance and show some line variation but it doesn't.

Is there a specifigue way to write with a flex? Are there any threads or Youtube clips so I can learn to make the most use of this nice little pen?

 

I've checked for batteries but it is all manual I guess..

[piembi]

Well, I don't know how you usually write so I can only explain what I do to write with the 1950s/60s nibs:

 

Usually I do write very lighthanded. Only the weight of the pen is used. I can write very fast and with nearly no flex at all with any vintage German pen. This way the nib is soft but not flexible.

 

If I want to add some flex, I slow down. I write at 60-70% of my usual speed. And while slowing down I use a tad of pressure on the downstrokes. Now I do get some line variation due to a flexible nib.

 

If I want to get significant line variation, I slow down even more and add a second tad of pressure.

 

For me writing with significant flex means writing slowly and carefully - not the usual high speed scribble I am used to.

[picautomaton]

in addition, the link contained in the first post of this thread may help - https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/153853-writing-from-the-shoulder/page__pid__1531442__st__0entry1531442

[Val]

If you're not getting any line variation with pressure, you really might not have a flex nib. All it is is adding pressure on the downstroke. What's much harder is controlling the transitions and keeping nice lines when doing the unflexed parts (with almost no pressure).

 

Whenever I think foolishly that this isn't something that I can really achieve, or isn't worth it, or whatever, I go look at azavalia's videos on youtube. There are others, but his videos show him writing at a very natural speed with fountain pens that are no better than mine (he even shows the Noodler's flex). Here's my favorite: http://www.youtube.com/user/azavalia1#p/u/3/ipRJ1NpXWoc

[linearM]

I've found that pens from the 20's,30's , and early 40's seem to have the best nibs for flexibility. Semi flex nibs can require a bit of work to get the Shading you are looking for. A full flex nib would make things easier.

 

When you are writing make certain you are holding the pen perpendicular to your line of writing rather than at an angle like you would to do an italic script. Try to develop a cadence or rhythm in your writing that produces slightly more pressure on the downstroke. It may take bait of practice at first. Best of luck.

[dnayakan]

I presume you are applying pressure into the direction of writing rather than down onto the paper. That is, on the down stroke, you want to apply the pressure in the direction of your chest rather than pressing down into the paper. Do you see the tines flex when you do this? As much as people say you can write at any speed with a flex pen (which is true) good flex writing requires you to slow down because you want to adjust to the rate at which the tines open and close.

 

Cheers, DJ

Edited September 27, 2011 by dnayakan

[davisgt]

When I'm using my wet noodle of a nib on the Waterman 12 that I own, it is almost impossible not to flex. The slightest amount of pressure will produce an amazing amount of line variability. With a good flex nib, you don't have to work very hard at all.

 

Todd

[phlosar]

I agree with davisgt. For a true wet noodle, flex is present just in writing, no pressure needed at all. It is hard to determine the flexibility of a pen just by the writing sample, because it is not clear whether the pen was manhandled to flex. The wet noodles are my favorites.

 

For the OP, if you don't have a wet noodle, then slow writing with slight pressure (more for semi-flex) will produce the line variation. Don't apply too much pressure or you'll end up with a sprung nib (tines don't flex back into their original position).

[Mauricio]

The following link has the basic instructions to learn to write with flexible nibs ... HOW TO START USING A FLEX NIB

 

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

Semi-flex adds a bit of flair to your writing.

It is not an easy full flex/super flex do the splits nib.

 

Regular flex with a lot of pressure will spread it's tines 3 X.

Semi-flex will spread it's tines 3 X at half the pressure of that hard pressed regular flex.

The next step up is the 'flexi' nib, that I call a maxi-semi-flex/'flexi' nib. That spreads it's tines 3 X's with half the pressure of a semi-flex.

 

These will give you a Snidely Whiplash (thin) handlebar mustache with a capitol L.

 

Easy full flex/super flex spreads 4-5 X with half the pressure of a maxi-semi-flex/'flexi' nib. This will give you a full thick English handlebar mustache with a capitol L.

 

You are not going to be getting easy full flex 4-5 X tine spread out of a semi-flex.

You are going to be getting some wider parts of letters, like the last half of an n, if it is the last letter in a word, or a descender that you put a tad more effort on, or a cross of a t, might have a bit more flare than normal.

 

The more flexi a pen, the slower you have to go, the more you have to draw, to get the big writing variation.

 

Semi-flex adds some flare, maxi-semi-flex/'flexi' gives you a bit more and easier. You can get a bit more fancy.

 

For real line variation, in semi or maxi/'flex' a vintage Oblique will give you a nice pattern.

Otherwise you need a full flex nib...I have two that are 'semi-flex'. They are a lot of hard work...so I never want a Noodler's nail/regular if lucky full flex nib.

 

Get an easy full flex/ super flex; and not a Noodlers.

 

Richard has a good article about over flexing a nib...it's a 100% need to read.

I try to stay under the max flex my nib will give me.

 

I recommend getting a stiff nib calligraphy set and learning a stiff italic nib calligraphy alphabet. There are 5-6 basic strokes that can be incorporated into writing with an easy full flex nib.

They are different strokes but I think an italic alphabet can help fancy in an easy full flex nib.

[Mickey]

Here's a quick and dirty hint. For maximum apparent line variation with a flex FP, line up the pen with your writing's normal slant. That way the angle at which your pen most easily flexes will be in line with the stroke which tends to naturally apply a little pressure to the nib, i.e., the pull stroke. The closer the axis of your pull stroke is to your letters' downstrokes, the greater the natural variation. (This is also easier on the nib.) This will probably cause you to adjust your paper position.

 

For a quick start finding the right paper orientation, write a sentence on a piece of paper using a pencil Then, place your pen on the page and rotate the paper until the slant of the penciled sentence lines up with the pen barrel. That's your new paper orientation.

[Ernest]

I learn my flex by watching AntonioZ writes on You tube.

Google his name.

Then practice, practice, practice....

[Shangas]

The rule with flex is to rearrange the words of that famous saying.

 

Light hands make many works.

[Pickwick]

I've found that pens from the 20's,30's , and early 40's seem to have the best nibs for flexibility. Semi flex nibs can require a bit of work to get the Shading you are looking for. A full flex nib would make things easier.

 

When you are writing make certain you are holding the pen perpendicular to your line of writing rather than at an angle like you would to do an italic script. Try to develop a cadence or rhythm in your writing that produces slightly more pressure on the downstroke. It may take bait of practice at first. Best of luck.

 

You may need to take a bit of care with the pens that flex from that period. I had a Waterman 'Ideal' with a 14K gold nib, eventually it split in half, and I wasn't putting any excessive pressure on it.

 

Kind regards,

 

Picwick