Struggling to install FPR Ultra Flex nibs in FNF housing

[WolfeyedWitch]

I have several nibs from FPR, both flex and ultra flex. I am trying to install them in FNF Jowo housing. However, they aren't cooperating. There is a significant gap between the nib and feed, meaning the pen refuses to write. I have previously installed an FPR ultra flex in my Noodler's pens (Creaper, Neponset, and Ahab) without issue, so this isn't my first time swapping nibs around. From other posts on here, it seemed like no modifications were needed to use these nibs and housings together.

 

Am I missing something? It's a tight fit, and I don't want to accidentally damage something while trying to fiddle with it without any idea of what I'm doing. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

 

Flex:

 

Ultra flex:

[Detman101]

Which model JOWO feed did you get from FNF?
Ebonite...
or
Plastic...

 

If Ebonite, you can dip the assembled nib in close-to-boiling water for 30 seconds, then push up on the feed and hold in place until it cools in the position you desire for optimal ink-conduction.

If Plastic, you can dip the assembled nib in close-to-boiling water for 30 seconds, then push up on the feed carefully and be ULTRA mindful not to snap the assembly and hold in place until it cools in the position you desire for optimal ink-conduction.

 

EDIT:

The only problem with this method is that if you live in a hot environment, the Ebonite will revert to the original shape and you will have to repeat the process to keep it writing. 
I had to do this once a month for my old flex pens I used Ebonite FNF parts on because I carry my pen in my pants pocket. The heat from my thigh would be enough to reset the feed to its natural non-functional shape.

 

EDIT: 

This issue is partly why I stopped pursuing "Flex". FNF is probably the best Feed/Housing producer in the aftermarket realm. 
Between the difficulty in finding a competent nib that doesn't lose its snapback, the issues with feed compatibility, and the ever-present peer-pressure to "Go Vintage" ...everything led me to just getting an oblique CI-Stub in my "Opus-88 Demo" and calling it a day.
Haven't looked back ever since...

 

Good luck,

-DM-

[WolfeyedWitch]

@Detman101 they're ebonite, so I will definitely be giving that a try, thank you.

[Karmachanic]

Jowo Nibs made to fit 6mm feed.  FPR 6.3mm.

[WolfeyedWitch]

Update:

 

Thank you @Detman101 for the heat set idea/instructions. I'd only seen heat setting in the FPR instruction video, where the feed is pressing too hard against the nib rather than too far away. It worked wonderfully! I was able to set the nib in my FNF feed, and install the unit on my Opus 88 Minty, and this was the result:

 

 

 

Only time will tell if it keeps working like this, but for the moment, I have a working Jowo FPR flex nib unit.

[WolfeyedWitch]

Also, for anyone who wants this result without all the hassle, FPR now sells Jowo compatible units with feeds from FNF:

 

https://fprevolutionusa.com/collections/fpr-fnf-nib-units/products/fpr-fnf-6-chrome-ultra-flex-jowo-compatible-nib-unit-ebonite-feed

[Jamerelbe]

3 hours ago, WolfeyedWitch said:

Also, for anyone who wants this result without all the hassle, FPR now sells Jowo compatible units with feeds from FNF:

 

https://fprevolutionusa.com/collections/fpr-fnf-nib-units/products/fpr-fnf-6-chrome-ultra-flex-jowo-compatible-nib-unit-ebonite-feed

 

I was about to suggest this - FPR nibs (made by Kanwrite) have a different form factor to JoWo nibs, and won't normally fit a nib assembly designed for JoWo.  Glad to hear you were able to make the combo work with some judicious heat setting, but FPR's custom designed nib units will get the job done with much less fuss!

[mke]

1 hour ago, Jamerelbe said:

FPR nibs (made by Kanwrite) have a different form factor to JoWo nibs, and won't normally fit a nib assembly designed for JoWo

 

I thought Kanwrite offers their nibs including Jowo housings? Can anybody - who bought directly from Kanwrite - confirm this assumption?

[Jamerelbe]

25 minutes ago, mke said:

 

I thought Kanwrite offers their nibs including Jowo housings? Can anybody - who bought directly from Kanwrite - confirm this assumption?

 

OK, I haven't bought directly from Kanwrite, but I've bought Kanwrite nib units from FPR and from Ranga.  Yes, they sell their nibs in housings that are compatible with JoWo threading - but as far as I know, they only sell these with plastic feeds. I find these work really well - so much so that when I order pens from Ranga, these days I default to (Ranga-branded) Kanwrite nibs in these JoWo-threaded housings.

 

I got in touch with Kevin from FPR and arranged the purchase of a FNF housing, because I wanted to use my gold semiflex #6 nib (made by Kanwrite, branded for FPR) in a pen threaded for JoWo.  The Kanwrite housings with plastic feed weren't cutting it for me with this nib (insufficient ink flow, especially when flexing the nib); the FNF housing with ebonite feed gives a luscious, wet writing experience.

 

I'd be interested to know if Kanwrite *do* supply JoWo-threaded nib units with ebonite feeds - but I suspect Kevin from FPR would be buying them if so.  The FNF units are about US$40 a pop, if memory serves!

 

 

[Jamerelbe]

For the sake of interest / illustration, here's a picture of some of my Kanwrite nib units, compared to a JoWo unit and the FNF unit.

 

Moving from left to right, you have:

 

1.   A JoWo #6 nib in their standard housing

2.  A FPR-branded Kanwrite "ultraflex" nib, in JoWo-compatible housing (made by Kanwrite)

3.  A Ranga-branded Kanwrite "semiflex" nib, in JoWo-compatible housing (made by Kanwrite)

4.  A FPR-branded Kanwrite ultraflex nib, in FPR's standard housing for plastic feeds (made by Kanwrite)

5.  A FPR-branded Kanwrite architect nib, in FPR's standard housing for ebonite feeds (made by Kanwrite)

6.  A FPR gold semiflex nib, in JoWo-compatible housing made by FNF

 

I don't know if the threading on FPR's 'standard' line of #6 nibs is designed by Kanwrite or custom-produced for FPR, but as you can see from the pictures it's not interchangeable with JoWo.   

 

What's also interesting to note is that Kanwrite *do* in fact make nib units with ebonite feeds (see #5) - but they use the standard 'block' feeds with a squared-off base that you see in Indian pens that rely on a direct friction-fit of nib and feed into the grip section.  These nib units can't be used in cartridge-converter pens, because there's nowhere for a cartridge to attach.  [FPR typically sell these, paired with a flex nib, on their piston-filler pens.]

 

 

[WolfeyedWitch]

Interesting! Thank you for the comparison!

[mke]

8 hours ago, Jamerelbe said:

here's a picture of some of my Kanwrite nib units

 

thank you, that is very helpful!!

[Detman101]

14 hours ago, WolfeyedWitch said:

Update:

 

Thank you @Detman101 for the heat set idea/instructions. I'd only seen heat setting in the FPR instruction video, where the feed is pressing too hard against the nib rather than too far away. It worked wonderfully! I was able to set the nib in my FNF feed, and install the unit on my Opus 88 Minty, and this was the result:

 

 

 

Only time will tell if it keeps working like this, but for the moment, I have a working Jowo FPR flex nib unit.

 Beautiful!!
Always happy to help!
🤠👍🏾

[WolfeyedWitch]

Update:

 

It stopped working! Two days, and the heat set is no longer set. Either that, or I was incredibly mistaken when I said it was working properly on Wednesday. Either way, I think this is the point where I say "*bleep* it" and decide that I'd rather pay for the results with money rather than time. I'm just going to buy the FNF/FPR units that FPR now sells. I'd rather have something that works than keep futzing about trying to do it myself.

[Detman101]

On 5/3/2024 at 10:07 PM, WolfeyedWitch said:

Update:

 

It stopped working! Two days, and the heat set is no longer set. Either that, or I was incredibly mistaken when I said it was working properly on Wednesday. Either way, I think this is the point where I say "*bleep* it" and decide that I'd rather pay for the results with money rather than time. I'm just going to buy the FNF/FPR units that FPR now sells. I'd rather have something that works than keep futzing about trying to do it myself.

Yeaaaaaaah, see....that's the whole thing that made me stop chasing "Flex".
In order to get something that works perfectly...EVERY TIME...you'll probably have to spend good money buying something that comes EXACTLY right from the factory.
Anything less....you're gonna spend time tinkering.