Kanwrite EF Ultra Flex nib initial review

[tommym]

Continuing with my efforts to support India's fountain pen industry, I swapped out another one of my JoWo EF nibs for a Kanwrite EF Ultra Flex. I knew in advance that the reviews of these Ultra Flex nibs were not that favorable. Still, the whole point of moving away from Montblanc was allowing me to swap out different nibs and feeds. My initial thoughts of this nib were that the reviews were correct, as it requires too much pressure to get a substantial change in line width, and the stock plastic feed (with Pilot's Iroshizuku Kiri-Same ink) could not supply enough ink to keep up with demands. Maybe a wetter ink would work better, or maybe adding an ebonite feed would help. I removed the nib/feed from the housing, cleaned and flushed the surfaces, and retested the nib. No change.

 

So this swap was a bust!

 

Except it wasn't!

 

As I noodled with the nib last night, I just used the nib as a standard nib applying no additional pressure to the nib, and I noticed that the line work was a bit more dynamic from my non-flex Kanwrite EF nib. The line work seemed to vary from an XXF to a fat EF. So though this is not why I bought this nib, I like what I see when I use this nib as a standard nib with consistent light pressure. My subsequent request to Kanwrite would have been for a non-flex XXF nib. However, this EF Ultra Flex seems to bridge the gap between the two, so I'll hold off on that request. This nib may end up being my go-to EF nib!

 

The writing sample below has some thin grey lines below the text. The text and lines were done with the Kanwrite EF Ultra Flex nib. I can't do that with the non-flex EF nibs.

 

Tommy

 

 

 

[VillersCotterets]

Despite the Ultra Flex name, I also consider the Kanwrite EF UltraFlex nib to be more of an regular nib, but with the slot cut very far back, which gives it a little suppleness in normal writing.  From my experience, Kanwrite nibs run a little smaller than advertised, halfway between European and Japanese designations. For me, it's a very pleasant compromise.

Japanese F < Kanwrite F < German F

[tommym]

I must admit that this Kanwrite Ultra Flex is also the coolest-looking nib and feed in my collection! 

 

Tommy

 

[K Singh]

I am not into flex writing, so haven't tried their flex nibs yet. Perhaps using the pen in eyedropper mode or with an ebonite feed might help with the flow. But, like you said, it's probably not worth it if it takes too much pressure for line variation.

[miig]

I like those a lot. If I'm not mistaken, there is quite a bit of OEM versions of those out there. I think the Fountain Pen Revolution Ultraflex is a modified Kanwrite.

[tommym]

Well, I used the Kanwrite EF Ultra Flex again for a few hours this morning, and there was something so so familiar about the line work of this nib. And then it struck me; this nib's linework and feel are reminiscent of my old Montblanc 145 with its custom ground EF nib. It's like an old friend came home, and I didn't recognize him when he first walked in the door. Strange how these things work!

 

I have to order me another one of these nibs!

 

Tommy

[tommym]

One final thought on this nib. I'm unsure if this is just the luck of the draw, but this particular Kanwrite EF Ultra-Flex walks the line between an XXF and EF. Thus, it also uses less ink than the Kanwrite EF. Therefore, I can pen more pages per converter fill. There were times I traveled when access to bottled ink or cartridges was extremely limited to nil. Thus, the number of pages per fill was a priority for me. This brings back many good memories from the past, but a reminder that sometimes history can and will repeat itself.

 

Tommy

 

 

[Detman101]

On 6/16/2023 at 1:53 PM, tommym said:

One final thought on this nib. I'm unsure if this is just the luck of the draw, but this particular Kanwrite EF Ultra-Flex walks the line between an XXF and EF. Thus, it also uses less ink than the Kanwrite EF. Therefore, I can pen more pages per converter fill. There were times I traveled when access to bottled ink or cartridges was extremely limited to nil. Thus, the number of pages per fill was a priority for me. This brings back many good memories from the past, but a reminder that sometimes history can and will repeat itself.

 

Tommy

 

 

Where can I buy one of these? I'd like one in Titanium if possible...

 

-DM-

[tommym]

31 minutes ago, Detman101 said:

Where can I buy one of these? I'd like one in Titanium if possible...

 

-DM-

 

For the steel nibs, I have purchased many Kanwrite nibs on eBay from the seller Kiwipens. I've heard that you can now get an optional ebonite feed with these nibs, but haven't seen it listed as an option for the current ones on eBay. In any case, the plastic feed on my EF ultra-flex steel nibs works just fine. If Kanwrite ever sells these ebonite feeds separately, I may purchase a few. 

 

For the Titanium nibs, I order mine directly from Kanwrite.

 

https://kanpurwriters.com/product/titanium-nib-unit/

 

Note that under the options tab; J-thread = Jowo, B-thread = Bock. You can also choose between a plastic or an ebonite feed. 

 

Tommy

[Penguincollector]

  Oh, I am taking notes. I have yet to try a titanium nib, and I really like the FPR/FNF EF Ultraflex.

[tommym]

1 hour ago, Penguincollector said:

  Oh, I am taking notes. I have yet to try a titanium nib, and I really like the FPR/FNF EF Ultraflex.

 

 

FPR Ultra Flex steel nibs are known to have more flex than their Kanwrite counterparts, so I'd e-mail FPR for their recommendations regarding a swap to a corresponding stock Kanwrite Titanium Ultra Flex nib. The FNF ebonite housing/ebonite feed system (I have one) filled a niche concerning the nuances of the Indian 35 mm nibs; however, Kanwrite now making inroads into that niche market. As I mentioned previously, you can now get ebonite feeds with Kanwrite's Jowo and Bock threaded plastic housings. Time will tell if one system is superior to the other. 

 

Tommy

[Penguincollector]

34 minutes ago, tommym said:

 

 

FPR Ultra Flex steel nibs are known to have more flex than their Kanwrite counterparts, so I'd e-mail FPR for their recommendations regarding a swap to a corresponding stock Kanwrite Titanium Ultra Flex nib. The FNF ebonite housing/ebonite feed system (I have one) filled a niche concerning the nuances of the Indian 35 mm nibs; however, Kanwrite now making inroads into that niche market. As I mentioned previously, you can now get ebonite feeds with Kanwrite's Jowo and Bock threaded plastic housings. Time will tell if one system is superior to the other. 

 

Tommy

  Mine is the Bock version with the ebonite feed, it’s wonderful- goes from hairlines to swells with ease. I don’t think one has to be superior to the other, they probably both have qualities that will be suited to different writers. 

[arun.upb]

I have the KW "ultra-flex" steel nibs in ef, f and m, bought in 2020-22. Although these nibs are soft, I would not use the adjective "flex". I found the ef and f nibs to be a bit too scratchy for my taste. I have not yet tried their titanium version.

 

KW offers smaller size - #4 - flex nib (steel). This one, I find it to be "softer", again no flex in my experience. They are obviously incompatible with the #6 (35) unit.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Detman101]

On 10/22/2024 at 12:50 PM, tommym said:

 

For the steel nibs, I have purchased many Kanwrite nibs on eBay from the seller Kiwipens. I've heard that you can now get an optional ebonite feed with these nibs, but haven't seen it listed as an option for the current ones on eBay. In any case, the plastic feed on my EF ultra-flex steel nibs works just fine. If Kanwrite ever sells these ebonite feeds separately, I may purchase a few. 

 

For the Titanium nibs, I order mine directly from Kanwrite.

 

https://kanpurwriters.com/product/titanium-nib-unit/

 

Note that under the options tab; J-thread = Jowo, B-thread = Bock. You can also choose between a plastic or an ebonite feed. 

 

Tommy

Awesome. My Opus-88 Demo only takes Jowo compatible feeds and nibs. 
I have the compatible feed from FNF for when I want to use FPR flex nibs.
I may stick with an FPR Semi-flex nib as getting the titanium one from Kanwrite is almost $50 with shipping.
The Ultraflex ones get loose too quickly with regular flexing...partly why I wanted the Titanium, I suspected it would keep its "SNAP-BACK" longer....

 

-DM-