Should I Try Another Noodler's Ahab?

[brewsky]

Let me start by saying I've been using fountain pens, and taking them apart conversely for about five years now. I purchased a noodler's ahab in hopes of getting a taste of the flex world without having to buy an old pen.

 

Well i've owned this thing for about a year now. I really like how i can completely take it apart, but part of me feels like i got a cruddy one. I have done everything under the sun to modify it with no avail. It still railroads. I tried the ease flex mod, i have modded the feed to allow for aggressive ink flow, i have also tried to adjust the nib in just about every position. No matter what i do, it railroads. I have tried numerous inks from several different companies with the same results.

 

Could it be that i am pushing it past it's desired functionality?

 

 

My REAL question, how many of you have had significant problems with yours? Should i just break down and try a new one?

[akustyk]

Nope. What I did, was get a non-flex nib for it, the Noodler's branded medium. I heat-set the feed, and the pen now writes very well. But, of course, no flex.

[linearM]

My question is what do you have against old pens? You can get an Olde refurbished pen with a 14K flex nib for a bit more than you would pay for another modern pen with a flex nib.

[brewsky]

Nothing against old pens, other then i am hesitant on price. Yet I have a numerous modern pens ranging anywhere from $20-$180. Maybe my next purchase should just be a vintage wet noodle. Thanks for the replies.

 

 

@akustyk, i dont think i would want a hard nib in this pen, it is not a bad pen, but i bought it for the purpose of flexing it. As it sits, it writes regularly just fine, but railroads when i try and flex it a bit.

[balson]

Let me start by saying I've been using fountain pens, and taking them apart conversely for about five years now. I purchased a noodler's ahab in hopes of getting a taste of the flex world without having to buy an old pen.

 

Well i've owned this thing for about a year now. I really like how i can completely take it apart, but part of me feels like i got a cruddy one. I have done everything under the sun to modify it with no avail. It still railroads. I tried the ease flex mod, i have modded the feed to allow for aggressive ink flow, i have also tried to adjust the nib in just about every position. No matter what i do, it railroads. I have tried numerous inks from several different companies with the same results.

 

Could it be that i am pushing it past it's desired functionality?

 

 

My REAL question, how many of you have had significant problems with yours? Should i just break down and try a new one?

 

how deep do you have the feed carved out. i dremeled down the feeds in the two Konrads i have about 2/3rds of the way down and that seems to work well. my biggest issue with the Konrad is i find the whole piston unit wants to unscrew when i try and use the piston.

 

if you are willing to put in the time hunting and building report with antique dealers you can find top tier user grade vintage pens priced around the same as the Konrad with shipping. most of them will just need a simple resacing. the advantage of hunting out vintage pens in the wild versus ebay is you can get a clear idea of how flexible the nib is before you buy it.

[MisterBoll]

Get another one. I have a few and one is just a dream (as dreamy as an Ahab can get all things considered) to write with - no mods - all standard issue. Another on I modded with only a dip nib works like a charm. If you want real flex spring for a decent vintage pen. They're lots of fun.

[pokermon]

They don't make em like they use to! That's all I have to say.

[cbaytan]

Yes, I adjust/bend the feed in the one glass of boling water, I cut at least 5 fins from the left bottom, I smoth the nib with a honing stone, (micro-mesh doesn't do that fast) I lubricate not so well flowing inks by dishwasher detergent, and finally I know my line width limits what I can get from Ahabs I can feel it when I flex them maximally , but I believe my Ahabs write like close to wet noodle vintage pens {I don't own one} within it's line width limitations. I didn't try carving the nib, what I get without it is enough for me.

 

I didn't succeed in my 2 Ahabs but I will use them as regular generously flowing pens with Goulet nibs. I have high hopes about Goulet nibs, actually one doesn't need any other pen than Ahabs if Goulet nibs turns out to be smooth and well writing and I didn't hear anything against them yet.

 

Ahan's size, cleanability/ adjustability and converter filling system is perfect, at least lot better than my any other pen, very reliable. 2ml volume is great you can fill the conerter then fit it to the pen . I've never used them as eyedroppers maybe I'll try one day.

[Bwassung]

I have a handful of vintage pens. Honestly, they flex the same amount as my Ahabs. The only difference I find is the vintage pens flex much easier.

 

You may just be flexing to much, or writing to fast.

Edited October 30, 2013 by Bwassung

[Pterodactylus]

http://imageshack.us/a/img843/5364/tv5h.jpg

 

(Noodler´s Ahab EMF ..... Rohrer & Klingner Salix)

[MisterBoll]

They don't make em like they use to! That's all I have to say.

 

Too true & coming from a great source of vintage flex pens!

[andymcc]

Short answer no.

I got lucky with my Ahab and it wrote as it should without hassle but was still not a great pen, my Konrad however was a horrible pen and after hours of modding and fiddling ended up in the bin, I keep thinking of trying another Noodler's pen as the cheap flex is tempting but as others have said you can find better vintage pens for the same price that offer some flex. I have 2 Parker Slimfolds with 14k nibs that cost £10 each and both flex to a similar degree to the Noodlers pens. I also have a Conway Stewart 84 that cost £30 and a Watermans W3 that was £19 both are at least semi flex and are far nicer pens to handle than Noodlers pens. Look on auction sites for pens pre 1960 with 14k nibs and you'll find loads that might not be full flex but are at the very least semi flex

[MisterBoll]

I have used the Ahab as a FLEX pen with no mods at all. Works great.

 

I also know how to use the pen - coming from an art background.

 

Sure - we all know it's a cheap pen and will never be anything else.

 

I would post photos of such writings but I am now coming from a tired background.

[Pterodactylus]

I have used the Ahab as a FLEX pen with no mods at all. Works great.

 

I also know how to use the pen - coming from an art background.

 

Sure - we all know it's a cheap pen and will never be anything else.

 

I would post photos of such writings but I am now coming from a tired background.

I would love to see some writing , please post some whenever you are ready.

 

You have to be a person with very strong muscles as you don't have issues with hand cramps and massive hand fatigue due to the huge amount of force which is needed in its factory default to flex it.

 

What I do not believe is that you did not had the need to deepen the ink channel massively and to cut of fins to get rid of most of the railroading.

IMO it's impossible that the feed in its default state can keep up when you flex it seriously.

[MisterBoll]

I would love to see some writing , please post some whenever you are ready.

 

You have to be a person with very strong muscles as you don't have issues with hand cramps and massive hand fatigue due to the huge amount of force which is needed in its factory default to flex it.

 

What I do not believe is that you did not had the need to deepen the ink channel massively and to cut of fins to get rid of most of the railroading.

IMO it's impossible that the feed in its default state can keep up when you flex it seriously.

 

I'll post some images.

 

I do have big hands and it is not what I would call an easy writing pen - certainly not something you would use for letters or journals, etc. A fanciful note or envelope works wonderfully though. Of course, sans flex, the pen works like any other but is not without maintenance needs.

 

Also - I dare not mess with the feed as I have no idea what to do and would probably turn it in to something ready for the trash bin within seconds.

 

That all being said - I'm quite sure not all Ahabs come this way so some will require work. I have one where the feed looked like it was run over by a truck. It's luck of the pen draw.

[rwilsonedn]

You could try another one, but be aware that you might have to try several--or many--before you get one you like. Quality control seems to be all but nonexistent. But if what you really want is vintage flex, or a fountain pen for copperplate, just as well stop now and save your money for a well-restored vintage pen. Ahab will never get you there--the mechanics of the nib are entirely different and the minimum width too broad imho.

ron

[Pterodactylus]

You could try another one, but be aware that you might have to try several--or many--before you get one you like. Quality control seems to be all but nonexistent. But if what you really want is vintage flex, or a fountain pen for copperplate, just as well stop now and save your money for a well-restored vintage pen. Ahab will never get you there--the mechanics of the nib are entirely different and the minimum width too broad imho.

ron

I totally agree to the quality control statement.

 

Hmmmm, you can modify quite a lot when you are willing to tinker arround with with it a lot.

But if somebody really want to write seriously Copperplate or Spencerian I would suggest to skip also the vintage fountain pen step and go straight to dip nibs with an oblique holder.

IMHO cheaper and better.

Edited October 30, 2013 by Pterodactylus

[MisterBoll]

Not the best example but you get an idea as the pen is not currently inked.

 

[Bill Broome]

I bought an Ahab and have had it 3 days. I picked it because I wanted to try the flex experience, and because it had a large girth. I was also intrigued by the Moby Dick references.

 

I followed the setup suggestions found elsewhere on FPN, cleaning the feed with a brush and ammonia water, etc., and inked it up. It writes reasonably well, considering its price, and I do like the size of the pen in my hand. But I get hardly any flex. I wondered if I had the wrong nib.

 

I'll keep the pen and use it, but not because it has line variation. I get that from italic and stub nibs.

 

As for the Moby Dick pen elements, I loved the book and I found them very amusing and clever. There is a personality behind these pens, for sure.

 

Bill

[Pterodactylus]

http://imageshack.us/a/img534/497/nniy.jpg

 

(Noodler´s Ahab EMF ..... Rohrer & Klingner Salix)