MB released 146 Flex in resin

[pengonnapen]

in the meantime I tried a few more inks, read a bunch of ink properties articles on this forum etc.

today I went to the local MB boutique and got the permanent blue, the ink which is highly recommended in the 149 thread.

 

its been by far the best ink I have used in this pen. there is no railroading and I can do japanese EF sized strokes without any skipping. Its doing fairly well on cheap office paper (little spreading) and does not skip on glass like paper as in the clairfontaine.

 

I am usually emptying the reservoir weekly, do you recommend to flush and clean before every refill? I'll try to go with ~4 refills/1 month of use and see how it goes.

 

 

[Karmachanic]

If you stay with the MB Permanent Blue there's no reason, in my view,  to flush more than once a year.  If that.

 

I have a 234 1/2 that's been drinking the same ink for 4+ years without a flush.  I finally flushed the Soennecken after years with one ink because I needed to sent it off for cork replacement.

[pengonnapen]

29 minutes ago, Karmachanic said:

If you stay with the MB Permanent Blue there's no reason, in my view,  to flush more than once a year.  If that.

 

I have a 234 1/2 that's been drinking the same ink for 4+ years without a flush.  I finally flushed the Soennecken after years with one ink because I needed to sent it off for cork replacement.

good to know, thanks!

 

I have been using Pilot Asa Gao for more than a year in my Lamy 2000 without any issues, wasn't sure about permanent inks.

[fpupulin]

7 hours ago, pengonnapen said:

in the meantime I tried a few more inks, read a bunch of ink properties articles on this forum etc.

today I went to the local MB boutique and got the permanent blue, the ink which is highly recommended in the 149 thread.

 

its been by far the best ink I have used in this pen. there is no railroading and I can do japanese EF sized strokes without any skipping. Its doing fairly well on cheap office paper (little spreading) and does not skip on glass like paper as in the clairfontaine.

 

I am usually emptying the reservoir weekly, do you recommend to flush and clean before every refill? I'll try to go with ~4 refills/1 month of use and see how it goes.

 

 

 

I would rather suggest you flushing more frequently. Nanoparticules tend to accumulate, and even though I would not suggest you a thoroughly cleaning at each refill, giving the rhythm you are planning to refill your pen I would clean it with 10-20 complete flushes each month.

 

By the way, Blue Permanent is a true keeper for Montblanc flexible nibs. The color is great and the behavior is phenomenal. Do not forget, however, that is a nano pigmented ink...

[pengonnapen]

22 hours ago, fpupulin said:

 

I would rather suggest you flushing more frequently. Nanoparticules tend to accumulate, and even though I would not suggest you a thoroughly cleaning at each refill, giving the rhythm you are planning to refill your pen I would clean it with 10-20 complete flushes each month.

 

By the way, Blue Permanent is a true keeper for Montblanc flexible nibs. The color is great and the behavior is phenomenal. Do not forget, however, that is a nano pigmented ink...

I'll keep that in mind, thanks.

 

Its truly great, the "dry" inks have trouble with thin lines, "wet" inks produce too thick of transitions between letters, the permanent blue solves both issues for me.

 

The pen gets better everyday but that's mostly me improving to handle it, it feels like a completely different writing instrument compared to the stiff nibs which I am used to.

[twangsta]

Finally got my pen this morning.

Never used a flex before and the only other EF I have is one of my school pens which I still have, an old Parker 45. 

I used Diamine Onxy black on a Bloc Rhodia No 13 pad, not sure where that stands as far as paper goes.

At first I was a bit shocked at how needle like and scratchy it felt.
I tried to flex and it seemed to work well, no railroading or skipping whatsoever. 

After a few minutes I discovered the rhythmic dance of press and release, press and release, such a revelation and so much fun.

I've written cursive all my life, it's not always been pretty, and for the last three decades of the five I've in, it's been mostly utilitarian without a second thought.

In preparation for my new journey I started working my way through a spencerian course, I'd say I'm about half way. 

At had so many apprehensions about it, the purchase from ebay to a relative in a distant continent, they were incapable of even taking photos in focus, nor were they able to understand what bits ware of interest even after much instruction, but yesterday being about a month later, I was thrilled to see the Pen serial number match the box etc, pen in perfect mint condish, but no stamps or any such on the service manual, what had me really worried that the one detail that did come through on one of the photo's was the fact that it had a "curved nib" sticker on it, well it all turned out ok but the sticker thing is rather curious!

I've' read this thread many times over. I'm at the dawn of my honeymoon period but so far I'm thrilled, I also managed to get to the factory of Magna Carter and tried the Mag 600, luckily I had discovered the rhythmic thing to this flex writing just earlier in the day so I didn't look like a total git to the owner. The 600 is true flex and is awesome, they are very different pens, the MB held it's ground, both pens are superb, the MB is a scaled down writer as it's line is finer with no pressure and feels more precise perhaps, the 600 is a different machine, smother as it wasn't as fine, and had good amount of travel ( when flexing) as it's a much larger nib, it's very good but if I had to pick one, the MB flex is more versatile for everyday use. I made a deal for a 600 in polished black ebonite with gold trim, stunning pen and will be a great complement to the 146 flex. 

I'm rather looking forward to this journey, two great examples of what flex has to offer in modern writing instruments. I get to pickup my 600 sometime next month, I think my core pen collection is all done, with just these two. Given my twisby broad to my sister, have a set of pilot parallels, I think it's all I need unless I get into offset holders and go down that rabbit hole, highly unlikely but you never know. 

Have loved every sample of writing on these pages and I refrain from posting any, it's years away from the likes of @fpupulin 's work.

Cheers all.
 

[ThriveCelebrated]

My 146C is a treasured instrument. Happy to have come across it, and pointed pen calligraphy, recently. Many thanks to members who have shared their interest of both pen and art.

 

[fpupulin]

8 hours ago, ThriveCelebrated said:

My 146C is a treasured instrument. Happy to have come across it, and pointed pen calligraphy, recently. Many thanks to members who have shared their interest of both pen and art.

 

Bravo! It is right to treasure such a pen.

[txomsy]

And such a writing hand!

[dftr]

On 11/10/2023 at 2:35 PM, pengonnapen said:

good to know, thanks!

 

I have been using Pilot Asa Gao for more than a year in my Lamy 2000 without any issues, wasn't sure about permanent inks.

BTW, another ink I've found that works great is Diamine Deep Dark Blue.

It is not permanent but has some water resistance.

I have not noticed any staining.

Amazing flow/saturation.  MB permanent blue has slightly violet/purple hue that I don't like as much.  

I started having some skips today and tried to prime the feed and realized the ink was gone.  Silly not to check the ink window

[a student]

19 hours ago, ThriveCelebrated said:

My 146C is a treasured instrument. Happy to have come across it, and pointed pen calligraphy, recently. Many thanks to members who have shared their interest of both pen and art.

 

Very nice indeed!

[ThriveCelebrated]

Here’s to many more years, for us all!

 

[como]

@ThriveCelebrated Congratulations on your new 146C! May it give you many years of joy! The 149C and 146C are here to stay. They work so well as daily writer as well as competent calligraphy tools. Being Meisterstück, they are never going out of style.

[fpupulin]

@ThriveCelebrated, @como, you are right. I still do not know what to expect later this year for the Meisterstück 100th Anniversary celebration, but both the flexible Meisterstück they released in the last years are - at least for me - a most extraordinary celebration of Meisterstück resilience. They testify to the ability of this line of pens to resist the changing times and, like their beautiful nibs, always return to full shape and remain current.

[Arcadian]

On 11/11/2023 at 2:10 AM, fpupulin said:

 

I would rather suggest you flushing more frequently. Nanoparticules tend to accumulate, and even though I would not suggest you a thoroughly cleaning at each refill, giving the rhythm you are planning to refill your pen I would clean it with 10-20 complete flushes each month.

 

By the way, Blue Permanent is a true keeper for Montblanc flexible nibs. The color is great and the behavior is phenomenal. Do not forget, however, that is a nano pigmented ink...

 

I filled my Hemingway with Midnight Blue yesterday, and for once decided to look at the little product information slip that is included in the box. To my surprise, it says that permanent inks are not to be used in flex nibs! I don't think I have come across this information before. Does anyone know a reason why flex nibs would be particularly incompatible with permanent inks? 

 

 - P. 

[arcfide]

15 hours ago, Arcadian said:

 

I filled my Hemingway with Midnight Blue yesterday, and for once decided to look at the little product information slip that is included in the box. To my surprise, it says that permanent inks are not to be used in flex nibs! I don't think I have come across this information before. Does anyone know a reason why flex nibs would be particularly incompatible with permanent inks? 

 

 - P. 

 

The flow of the inks can be a little different, and the flex nibs have to have relatively tight tines at the tip, which could encourage more particulate to accumulate. However, in general, with the permanent inks you are mostly fine, but the flex nib's design might be more apt to cause trouble, which is why I think they put that warning on there. Frequent and regular pen hygiene should keep you out of trouble at least if you are using Montblanc permanent inks. 

[txomsy]

Well it may also be because they tend to be drier, and for wide strokes you want a wetter ink to avoid railroading.

 

Also, like nail nibs, it may be aimed at reducing illiterate/careless users' complains.

 

Best would be to ask Montblanc.

[Dankoh69]

Can anyone help to confirm that with the piston fully retracted, there is supposed to be a gap as indicated by the orange arrow?  Thanks. 

[Andrew_L]

2 hours ago, Dankoh69 said:

Can anyone help to confirm that with the piston fully retracted, there is supposed to be a gap as indicated by the orange arrow?  Thanks. 

 

Yes, but it's not a gap, it's a groove on the piston knob.

[Dankoh69]

4 hours ago, Andrew_L said:

 

Yes, but it's not a gap, it's a groove on the piston knob.

Thanks much Andrew. I was wondering if I assembled it incorrectly after greasing the piston.