THE JAIPUR V2 CRYSTAL EDITION IS BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY SENSE ! BEST FLEXING PEN AND COOL DEMONSTRATOR ! I BOUGHT IT WITH A TWO TONE NIB AND IT'S WONDERFUL ! THE BLACK ONE IN EBONITE LOOKS GORGEOUS AS WELL !
At the 8:30 ish mark, Brian mentions spring back of a nib, in general. What we are referring to is the linear elastic region of the nib alloy. All metals behave like springs; they can be bent, to a point, and after the force bending the material is removed, the metal retains it's original shape. When a nib is "sprung" the movement of the tines goes beyond the linear elastic region and into the plastic deformation region of that metal. Plastic deformation is evident when a metal is bent and some portion of the bend remains after the removal of the force. We like to stay in that comfortable linear elastic region of flex. 😄👍
You can get a replacement ebonite feed from the Flexible Nib Factory for the Pilot 912, with two or three ink channels. It is a ludicrously awesome modification requiring almost zero effort. I actually had a 912 years ago and sold it because while the nib was nice the flow was way too dry. Bought another one and replaced the feed and it’s like a completely different feed.
My absolute favorite for cartooning. I wish FPR had some better pens for it, but I like that I can enjoy these without fear of financial ruin if I wreck it.
I have an omniflex, it's a beautifully smooth writer, one of my favorite pens. It is also probably the stiffest pen I have. which even when you try to flex it the difference in line is barely noticeable lol. I get more flex with my EF vanishing point.
It's also representative to me of a genius whose manufacturing budget is not bottomless. I think about Nathan and all the interesting ways he does the things he does, like with his commercial inkjet printers. It tells me you can do anything the big companies out there can do, you just might have to do it a little bit different.
Brian’s description of Noodler’s pens’ smell cracked me up. I love the Ahab, it smells kinda bad but once you got it working properly there’s no other pen at this price that can write like it does.
my husband told me that in lawyer school they taught the students to prepare an arguement and then at the last minute the professor told them to switch arguments and they were not prepared and the professor told them if you cant argue both sides you have no right to your opinion ... it made him a better conversationalist
For about $20.00 a Ahab I can ink up and pull out of my bag a week later and still writes well. Worth it in my opinion. My Ahab is one of my most reliable pens I own. I've never had to mess with mine alot. I have other pens I have to constantly clean the cap because of ink leaking into the cap.Nothing worse than pulling your cool fountain pen out in a meeting and having ink all over your fingers. It's always the worst time to have ink on your hands and clothes.
Love the idea of a video about whether we adapt to the pen or the pen adapts to us. Seems related to whether we want a pen that needs very little/no tinkering and being willing to tinker. So many pen minds, hands, and experiences. Thank you both for this interesting video.
I've been giving a lot of thought to this as I research my first budget bender pen. I am both a writer and an artist, and my older hands need different pens than my younger hands chose. I want a truly fine writing pen that is kind to my hands. What I came to realize is that when I am writing, the flow of thoughts and words have to be tightly integrated (I do first drafts with pen and paper, and my first rewrite begins with transcription with lots of room for notes and revision). I need the pen I use to be in tune with how I write my drafts, period. I don't want a pen that gets in the middle of that process. I've decided (after hours of research and handling different pens) that the Pilot Falcon with SF nib (or maybe SEF) is the right pen for me. But for art there is a different mental and creative process going on, and I find exploring how a pen behaves with different handling is par of that creative process. But I've got pens, most inexpensive, that work in different ways that I use in my art, and I'm looking for more. Must have a glass pen. Must have an army of cheap pens to load with lots of colors all in a row. I am enamored with color inks now (I've used acrylic inks, but they are limited to dip pens and brush, plus I am working more with paper now than wood and canvas) I'm pretty limited in access to physical sources but I finally found Goulet website. Total nerd joy when I landed on the ink blob section. I did not realize the artistic potential of all. those fantastic colors. I am enamored, and now have a huge list of samples in my wishlist. Oh this is heaven, heaven, heaven.
Would be nice to see an episode that caters to artists. All artists that use dip pens are looking for a good dependable flex pen that mimics a dip nib. Noodlers gives the best variable line while still being in a good price range. Learn to love the smell. The rest on your list are not worth it for artists.
I'd say the only other pen worth it for artist is the pilot falcon. some art supplies are expensive. and spending 200$ on a fancy reusable pen isn't even that bad. but with that said they make fountain pens that take dip pen nibs. like osprey milano. plus the other stuff like it. if you really want a flex pen that mimics a dip nib. then just use a dip nib.... but with that said, the line variation you can get from a fountain pen is always gonna be less than with a brush pen. which are also available with refillable fountain pen bodies. so for broader lines they work good. also great for shading and blending with diluted ink.
I love my vintage Waterman pens. There is no better flex pen than the Waterman #2. If you get one restored with new sac etc you will have no problem with them. A friend of mine that is what I would call an artist, tried mine and now has her own couple of vintage #2 Waterman nibs and it is working great for her.
As an artist modern pens can’t give you a brush or dip pen line. Vintage Waterman gets close. Ahab modern alternative. But depending on your project the tool that gets it done is what you use. Honestly the aluminum Muji is inexpensive and that nib can get done for most line variation. Reverse for fine lines and can cover a wide variation.
The Pilot 912 FA is awesome when it gets enough ink. I bought a three-groove ebonite feed from The Nib Factory and now it's one of my favorite pens. Pilot really needs to address this issue. It's the first pilot that I wasn't happy with right out of the box.
it's a pen made for writing Japanese they don't often need to use as much ink per stroke. which is something pilot should do but that's basically making a separate pen exclusive for western markets.
it could be. I haven't had to take apart any of my more expensive pilot fountain pens I just have a ch91 soft medium. it has a much tighter fitting nib than the metro which i can pull that nib out with my bare hands. I wouldn't do it myself but you can pull the nib and feed out with a grippy rubber glove or goulet rubber grip. you aren't likely to damage the feed or pen but you could bend the nib slightly which isn't common but it's a risk to be aware of.
Triple tail has replaced just about every other pen I use. My trick is putting Noodler’s finicky inks in the finicky pen. And it balances out. Socrates in a Triple Tail? Perfect. I gotta get some Kung Te-Cheng.
I have a Noodler's Ahab and was my first try of a flex nib. This is NOT a flex pen without a LOT of finger pain. I put a Goulet stub nib in it and now love it! Buy and ahah and put a Goulet nib in it.
Love this incredible banter... live for it. Love you two... Epic, "smells aside..." Goulet Pens just increases the inherent value of whyvwe even are a community... whereby collecting, hobbyists, writers, or what have you... love you guys/gals at Goulet Pens....
I'm glad to know the Noodler's flex nib requires a lot of pressure. I have been curious about flex nibs and got the Noodler's to start off with, for the affordability of it, and I was surprised by how much force it needed. I was worried I was pushing too hard on it. So good, I will practice with it some more, knowing this! Noodler's pens have that funk, though. That's the best way to describe the smell: funky. (Much love to Noodler's, nonetheless!)
I gave up on my omniflex, and wondered what they were smoking when coming up with the name. It felt like no flex unless you were trying to break the nib.
I have the triple tail, it’s my 3rd fountain pen in my huge collection of 5 pens. It does have a slight smell and leaves a smell on your fingers but it’s not really that awful and is a gorgeous pen to write with. I am however considering storing it near some strong nice smelling essential oils in hope it absorbs their smell instead! Once you see what this nib can do and for the price then it’s a great purchase in my opinion.
FWIW, the Mont Blanc Calligraphy nib is a superb modern flex nib that I would equate to Vintage Semi-Flex. It beats some of my 40s Watermans and 50s Pelikans (modifed for increased flex). Other than price, I'm surprised I don't see it mentioned more when the conversation of flex comes up. Mine flexes from XF/XXF to about BB with very moderate pressure, with quite excellent spring back. Also, I love the smell of Noodler's resin.
Personally, the best bouncy nib or call it semi-flex nib out there without breaking the bank is the Pilot Soft nib. I have a Soft Medium that is really outstanding. The Falcon nib writes without any skippings by using Pilot Iroshizuku or Sailor inks, any other brand will not work well.
I just got this pen. I would like it except I get ink all over my hands just writing with it and ink leaks into the cap. So far FPR is saying this is normal as it is a “wet” pen. Getting ink all over your hands just writing with it is not very appealing. I may be looking for a new pen.
That’s a really interesting topic: whether the pen should adapt to you, or you to the pen. I’ve discovered that I’m firmly in the latter category, and I _sort of_ feel like that’s more of an outsider position - at least based on what I see in message boards and comments sections. When I was getting into the phase of collecting where you start trying all different types of pens/nibs/inks/etcetc., I had always heard this process discussed in terms of “try different things to find out what YOU like, and what configurations work for YOU.” But for me, it was more of a process of learning all the various ways that I could actually _adjust my writing style_ to get the best results out of this or that PEN.
Pilot 912FA with a triple slit ebonite feed works really well… I would like to try one with John Mottishaw’s Spencerian grind… For more flourished writing a dip pen with a Gillott 303 or Leonardt Principal FE are much better propositions
I've got two Noodlers Ahab pens and yes, they do have an organic odor to them. After leaving them out for a few days it settles down. Must admit though the nib is nice, but you do have to work that baby. Drew's list is spot on in my book; the Falcon is without doubt my favorite flex pen. (I just wish the pen body was a bit more hefty)
I’ve always been 100% fine with the vegetal resin smell. I guess some people just have a different threshold for sense sensitivity. I used to work in a restaurant that used a lot of cilantro, and it turns out there’s just a certain percentage of people who can’t stand it (and swear that it tastes like ‘soap in the mouth’). it’s crazy, but there you have it , what can u do ? nothing. At least I know what I’m gonna do: continue to *NOT* be one of those people , haha :D
I have to agree with Drew about the Pineider nib being the most beautiful nib. The first time I saw the quill nib I fell in love, I think it's absolutely amazing, the only other nib competing with it being a nib I saw on a Pelikan.
The whole conversation about skipping a shower would never have happened before Covid. But there it is, and we all just nod and think, yeah, I've totally done that, and quite often over the last two years. 🤣
The Triple Tail doesn’t smell nearly as bad as the rest of the Noodlers range. It’s made of a different material. Mine had a slight Noodlers smell, but I suspect that is because it had been stored with other Noodlers pens. I washed it and left it to air dry and the smell was pretty much gone.
You're right - it's definitely not as bad! I think it still has a bit of a smell because the filling mechanism is still made made with the other materials. It has a different odor than the rest of the Triple Tail. - Drew
I am in love with my 912. Maybe I write English the way other people write Japanese😆 but it feels totally comfortable to me. I've never actually had a pen that wrote as well as my 912, and I own around 30 fountain pens both vintage and modern. For me it is a sublime experience. It's also just an amazing drawing tool.
I’m ordering a triple tail in my eternal search for a wet pen. It is the triumph of hope over experience, since an Arab I once had never would write no matter what I did.
Triple tails are my favorite. I have two. I actually have one in Blue! It’s a pen show exclusive from 2021, but I talked to some folks at the Philadelphia pen show this year and tracked some down.
I’ve used the grip I use with pencils and ballpoints my whole life because that grip makes it easier to apply the necessary pressure. With fountain pens, though, you don’t need to apply pressure, so when I started using them I changed to a more typical grip.
Does anyone else constantly change hand positions while writing? And yes, i change, or adapt, my hand positions for different pens. I never gave it any thought before today. Will have to question my whole life now. Thanks Boys... the Mediator (INFP)
My flex nib journey began with dip pen nibs, so I'm very accustomed to learning to 'work' with the pen. I'm inclined to suggest that that fountain pens ask for more from the user than ball points. Every flex nib has a learning curve, and for me, that's part of the fun. Many pens make me slow down because they don't feed ink as quickly as I write; otherwise, they soak the paper if I don't write like a demon. Calligraphy in general is about consistency, and line variation through nib flexing is the most demanding form of calligraphy, other than pen turning.
You are both correct in the triple tail smell. The PEN does not smell like the other cellulose offerings from noodler's. The PISTON MECHANISM inside the pen smells like the other noodler's pens
I have a genuine Namiki Falcon and it is a lovely, lovely experience. Perhaps second only in my mind to the Visconti palladium dream nib. The Falcon is also a great quality pen. I've had mine for maybe fifteen years and it's still great. And how about "Spring nib" instead of "bouncy nib"?
Two thoughts: I wonder writers from Asian countries that have been trained in brush caligraphy tend to write with a higher writing angle, ergo the writing angle for the 912. When writing Chinese or Japanese caligraphy, teh brish is almost vertical. Just a thought. With regards to flexible nib writing, the feed is so important. I would argue that you need ti be discussing the nib/feed combo for good flex writing.
Hi, just wanted to say about noodler’s that i have bought a creeper with very little smell out of the box and after a week or so no smell at all. I recently (a week ago) received my ahab and it has a bit of odor but it is not stinky!! Sorry Drew i really don’t think it smells bad. For some reason it reminds me of a factory smell. I own the conklin omniflex and i love it . However I’m a lefty and this pen just writes smoothly. If i think of my noodlers,it took me a while to adjust my writing to the pen. To a certain extent the pen should accommodate most hands, not the extremes grip, but to the general public ,middle of the road writers! Hope you had a great valentines day!
My Triple Tail certainly has a funky smell but to a more tolerable degree than the Ahab. My Ahabs are so pungent that they seem to impart some of their honk on any other (non Noodler's) pens in the same case. That's not a good thing for me. The biggest problem with my TT is that it suffers from the same issue as my Ahabs. If placed nib-down while inked, it may be fine for ages but it will randomly decide to suddenly puke out its entire reservoir into the cap. Only my Noodler's pens do this, and they all do. It's why, while the TT is less fussy than my Ahabs by a long stretch, it'll never be a daily writer for me. It's fun, yes, but its finicky instability relegates it to remain as yet another specialist pen, like my set of Pilot Parallels, that I rarely use.
Forgot to mention aluminum Muji pen. Inexpensive and nib gives a great variation. An urban sketching option and use Platinum Carbon Ink. A watercolor palette and sketchbook good to go.
I just knew Brian was going the say "Mediator" over "Debater." I have an ENTP sister and an INFP mum. It is amazing how similarly they can argue but one cares not about feelings and the other cares much!
FPR has both steel and 14k gold flex nibs. They actually flex and have ebonite nibs that are tuned to feed the nib. I guess you don't carry them for some reason. I've had three Noodlers including the Triple Tail meh, built my own franken pens, an Ackerman fp that takes dip nibs etc. All in a frustrated search of a good flex fp. FPR is maybe the one company doing this right. Not sure why with all the fp companies out there today almost none make a true flex. And clearly a steel nib is more than capable of true flex. All super flexy dip pen nibs are steel. Build it and we will come! The Falcon is quite decent but $140 and not even that flexy. Brian says well it's a niche market, of course the market will remain niche if entry level is $140 and studded with cheaper disappointments.
THE JAIPUR V2 CRYSTAL EDITION IS BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY SENSE ! BEST FLEXING PEN AND COOL DEMONSTRATOR ! I BOUGHT IT WITH A TWO TONE NIB AND IT'S WONDERFUL ! THE BLACK ONE IN EBONITE LOOKS GORGEOUS AS WELL !
Have you guys ever experimented with the Jinhao + Zebra G Nib hacks? The G nib is a very popular flexible artist dip pen nib and some people have experimented with adding them to certain Jinhao pens and I’m super curious how they come out in terms of the flow etc
Metal spring (bending) is described by two properties, E, modulus of elasticity, a material specific property and I (moment of inertia) which is based on the geometry of the item. Stiffer nibs will have a larger E and will be thicker. Some values of E: 11 to 12 ksi Gold (alloy dependent) 16 ksi titanium 28 ksi stainless steel
It’s like playing basses, fender does different necks, so does musician, and everything else, they’re fun to play around with, but if you want a tool that works in all occasions, you’d better adapt to a sandberg xD
Ive found the fountain pen revolution ultra-flex pens are noodlers killers. Its more flexible, has a wet ebonite feed and does extreme flex with very little pressure, its also less stinkey and prettier.
love this video. I had the triple tail and didn't get any flex out of it. I guess you have to press down really really hard to get it to work. I really prefer the vintage gold nib for any flexing.
Drew is right re: triple tail. I was almost knocked out when I opened the so called "no smell" triple tail. I can't even imagine how the others must stink... This one was overwhelming.
Sorry, Drew, but I actually like the smell of the new Noodler's pens. True, I wouldn't wear that scent as an aftershave, but I do enjoy it! It might help to know that I've smelled a LOT of different chemicals in lab and work situations, so I'm accustomed to a wide range, but I'll stick with my answer. :) The Triple Tail does smell a bit, but is not the same in fragrance or in strength. I'm with Brian! I do think there is a significant difference in expectation between a soft / bouncy nib and a flex nib though. They're similar but NOT the same thing and I appreciate the Goulet Team Caution when discussing modern not-quite-a-real Flex nib. All that said, I am a LOUSY flex writer so it really isn't something that I seek anymore.
I've the Pilot Falcon SEF and the Pilot 742 FA, both write incredibly well, the FA feed won't keep up if you try to do a long text in copperplate calligraphy but, for what I do these pens are amazing (basically I write the titles of my composition with the FA, and the music itself with the Falcon and the 823 Fine comes in from time to time for longer texts above or bellow the staff, just because I love writing with that nib). My only regrets are the feed for the FA and the converter size for the Falcon, other than that, these are exceptional pens, and I know that I can change the feed on the FA with a far better one, it is something I'm thinking about, but I've not yet reached a point where I'm annoyed by that nib too often and thus I don't feel the need to switch with a better feed, but yes it can't keep up with fast writing and long writing, but as I was used to write my title with a dip pen, I'm still writing them the same way so very slowly and with pauses from time to time, which lets the feed recover.
I have both the Pilot Falcon F nib and 912 FA in black with silver nib and I totally agree, the 912 is a beautiful pen with incredible flex *when it works*, it's the most finicky out of all of my pens. On the other hand, the falcon doesn't flex to the same degree but it's much more consistent and you can still get a decent line and smoother ink flow.
I bought a Diplomat Aero Silver Matte and had some initial difficulties. The step from the section to the body was uncomfortable to say the least. I wanted it to work for me so I had to make minor adjustments in how I held the pen. Motivation was important. My.father was part of the design engineering team on the Goodyear blimp during WW II. I’ve settled on blue inks and bought the matching pencil for a perfect pairing.
The 14k flex nibs on Scribo pens are real flex nibs, and I think the other Italian pens, Leonardo and Santini, are supposed to be good. One of the best modern flex nibs I have is on an Osprey pen from the USA, and it's their "Phosbronze" nib, with ebonite feed.
Man I LOVE everything about my Pilot Falcon. I just wish there was one like it that was a good pocket pen or pen to take with you. I know I could bring it with me but it’s just so precious I don’t want to risk it’s safety haha
Can we have a rundown of affordable (not gold) SOFT nibs as well? I've bought two flex nibs and I don't get on with either 😿 so next stop try soft nib?
Wow at around 7:00 ( just prior to on timeline ) the bit on the pilot FA angling was so helpful / ordered a new ebonite feed but questioning the urgency of the purchase at this point - still fine with it but thanks for the 50 degree vs 45 degree tip / worked for me / I draw everyday with this thing
Hi, I'm Paolo from the @fountainpentolive an Italian channel, I've been following you for a long time, and I wanted to congratulate you. I agree with some of the pens you mentioned, and in my experience I have tried many, in my opinion none yet come close to true vintage flexible nibs. But if today I had to mention some modern nibs, certainly in the top 5, I would insert the Calligraphy nib by Montblanc 149, one of the few that gives me the same feeling as vintage nibs. In addition to this I would insert the Pilot Falcon nibs and probably also the Scribo nibs. p.s. I confirm the strong smell of Noodler's. 😂👍🏻👍🏻
I have 912 to with ebonite feed and it’s great, but I will say the quill nib is beautiful to look at and bouncy, but I did spring the nib (it’s currently getting repaired by Richard binder lol) but that was my fault. I do wanna try a ASC “magic” flex or super flex nibs, bc I believe the feeds have a slit in them to flex with the nib.
The Noodler’s pens remind me of my father’s fishing tackle box - I don’t mind it, but it does catch your attention. But, I don’t notice it and I have several pens made of the material. The smell kinda fades over time.
I got the Conklin Empire with the Omniflex nib, and I hate it (the nib). Everyone I talked to when I was seeing if it was a common issue just said they replaced it because it was garbage. It was nice to know it wasn’t just a ‘me’ problem and that I’m not alone in hating it, but I was surprised it made this list. You’re right that the feed can’t keep up (at all), and if you want to write at anything greater than a snail’s pace, it’s going to let you down
It's a mixed bag, for sure. I love its affordability and accessibility, and many people love the way it writes! It's so close to greatness, but falls a bit short in terms of performance, in my opinion. - Drew
I'd respectfully disagree with Drew's comment that the Falcon is the closest to what you'd think of as a flex pen. The 912 FA (especially with 3rd party feed for better flow), would claim that title.
I absolutely would agree with you if the feed functioned better out of the box. For the record, I do own one with a third party feed and it's my #1 favorite pen. I miss it, though! It's been gone for almost a year for some custom urushi work! - Drew
I picked up the 912 FA with a 3rd party ebonite feed and it is amazing Iroshizuku Shin-ryoku ink… Took me a bit to find and ink that I liked in it but I love the way it writes with this ink… That said though I like flexing the nib I really like how fine of a line you can put down with it for normal writing.
Re: the Noodler's pen smell and cheese smell. I love cheese, I'll still say it stinks. Lol. I was CACKLING through that whole conversation. Also, if you have to pure *more* pressure on a Noodler's pen than the omniflex, I'd end up hurting myself if I used the Noodler's pen, holy wow. I thought I had to push hard on my omniflex.
I have a Namiki Falcon - Black/Silver owned for 12 years I use it for sketching and drawing . It is fantastic , the flex has gotten better with age I was really sorry to hear that Pilot has the pens now, but that didn't make me me happy. Sorry just not a brand I care for. I also have a Sailor 1911 Naginata Togi Fountain Pen - Black/Silver which I can get thick and thin lines with it . My pens are used for Drawing - My ink of choice is De Artramentis Document ink, I was using noodlers, but I find that the De Artramentis works better and I can lay a watch over and it doesn't smear! Nice info keep up the good work.
I have the Noodler’’s triple tail pen, and in my opinion it has a very pungent scented smell to my nose and so I side with Drew. Others have used more expressive terms, but it wouldn’t meet You Tube’s guidelines.
I like to use different fountain pens and I think that when you do own many of them, you are used to adjust to the pen. For me it’s a form of art and it make’s me enjoy writing even boring stuff, like signing tons of bills and contracts. A new pen is a new challenge.
10:06 - I am glad to hear that I am not imagining that stench!! BTW : the plastic handles on screwdrivers from XCelite Tools smell the same. We engineers say they smell like “baby vomit.” Sorry, I hope that’s allowed 😮
The Pilot 743 with an FA nib beats the crap out of all these pens. It’s feed is good, it’s got great flex, the Con-70 converter, you get those handsome Pilot 823 looks, and it’s pretty smooth for a genuinely flexible nib. I’m honestly shocked you didn’t mention it.
The Fountain Pen Revolution is the best non vintage flex I have experienced. It's amazing
THE JAIPUR V2 CRYSTAL EDITION IS BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY SENSE !
BEST FLEXING PEN AND COOL DEMONSTRATOR ! I BOUGHT IT WITH A TWO TONE NIB AND IT'S WONDERFUL !
THE BLACK ONE IN EBONITE LOOKS GORGEOUS AS WELL !
At the 8:30 ish mark, Brian mentions spring back of a nib, in general. What we are referring to is the linear elastic region of the nib alloy. All metals behave like springs; they can be bent, to a point, and after the force bending the material is removed, the metal retains it's original shape. When a nib is "sprung" the movement of the tines goes beyond the linear elastic region and into the plastic deformation region of that metal. Plastic deformation is evident when a metal is bent and some portion of the bend remains after the removal of the force. We like to stay in that comfortable linear elastic region of flex. 😄👍
+1 for enjoying the noodler's musk. I have 4 noodler's and I love them all.
You can get a replacement ebonite feed from the Flexible Nib Factory for the Pilot 912, with two or three ink channels. It is a ludicrously awesome modification requiring almost zero effort. I actually had a 912 years ago and sold it because while the nib was nice the flow was way too dry. Bought another one and replaced the feed and it’s like a completely different feed.
I love it so much! I was meh on the pen until I got that feed. Now it’s my favorite.
You don't sell them, but the FPR EF Ultraflex is a great flex nib pen.
My absolute favorite for cartooning. I wish FPR had some better pens for it, but I like that I can enjoy these without fear of financial ruin if I wreck it.
I never could get mine do write well without railroading
@@slo_carry why do you think that happen? were u holding it write? or maybe is was pen jus broken or something?
@@slo_carry I have put FPR utraflex into Ahab and railroading is gone. But i kind of slow writer.
@@slo_carry I had to heat set mine
I bought a Pilot Falcon with soft fine nib from y'all several years ago, and it is still one of my favorite pens. It is always inked up at all times!
I have an omniflex, it's a beautifully smooth writer, one of my favorite pens. It is also probably the stiffest pen I have. which even when you try to flex it the difference in line is barely noticeable lol. I get more flex with my EF vanishing point.
Thanks for passing that along, Sarah! - Drew
"Who does like the smell of Noodler's?"
I do. It is weird, but kinda interesting and then, more you get into it, gets pleasant.
It's also representative to me of a genius whose manufacturing budget is not bottomless. I think about Nathan and all the interesting ways he does the things he does, like with his commercial inkjet printers. It tells me you can do anything the big companies out there can do, you just might have to do it a little bit different.
“First, you must acquire a taste for freeform jazz.”
- Patrick Star on sniffing resins
Love Drew's little eagle noise @2.17. 😆
"who actually likes the smell of noodler's pens"
me... i love the smell of noodler's vegetal resin pens
Triple tail smells good.
I don’t mind that smell at all.
Brian’s description of Noodler’s pens’ smell cracked me up. I love the Ahab, it smells kinda bad but once you got it working properly there’s no other pen at this price that can write like it does.
my husband told me that in lawyer school they taught the students to prepare an arguement and then at the last minute the professor told them to switch arguments and they were not prepared and the professor told them if you cant argue both sides you have no right to your opinion ... it made him a better conversationalist
For about $20.00 a Ahab I can ink up and pull out of my bag a week later and still writes well. Worth it in my opinion. My Ahab is one of my most reliable pens I own. I've never had to mess with mine alot. I have other pens I have to constantly clean the cap because of ink leaking into the cap.Nothing worse than pulling your cool fountain pen out in a meeting and having ink all over your fingers. It's always the worst time to have ink on your hands and clothes.
Just leave it at home if you gotta fly. 😂
Love the idea of a video about whether we adapt to the pen or the pen adapts to us. Seems related to whether we want a pen that needs very little/no tinkering and being willing to tinker.
So many pen minds, hands, and experiences.
Thank you both for this interesting video.
I've been giving a lot of thought to this as I research my first budget bender pen. I am both a writer and an artist, and my older hands need different pens than my younger hands chose. I want a truly fine writing pen that is kind to my hands. What I came to realize is that when I am writing, the flow of thoughts and words have to be tightly integrated (I do first drafts with pen and paper, and my first rewrite begins with transcription with lots of room for notes and revision). I need the pen I use to be in tune with how I write my drafts, period. I don't want a pen that gets in the middle of that process. I've decided (after hours of research and handling different pens) that the Pilot Falcon with SF nib (or maybe SEF) is the right pen for me.
But for art there is a different mental and creative process going on, and I find exploring how a pen behaves with different handling is par of that creative process. But I've got pens, most inexpensive, that work in different ways that I use in my art, and I'm looking for more. Must have a glass pen. Must have an army of cheap pens to load with lots of colors all in a row. I am enamored with color inks now (I've used acrylic inks, but they are limited to dip pens and brush, plus I am working more with paper now than wood and canvas) I'm pretty limited in access to physical sources but I finally found Goulet website. Total nerd joy when I landed on the ink blob section. I did not realize the artistic potential of all. those fantastic colors. I am enamored, and now have a huge list of samples in my wishlist. Oh this is heaven, heaven, heaven.
Would be nice to see an episode that caters to artists. All artists that use dip pens are looking for a good dependable flex pen that mimics a dip nib. Noodlers gives the best variable line while still being in a good price range. Learn to love the smell. The rest on your list are not worth it for artists.
I'd say the only other pen worth it for artist is the pilot falcon. some art supplies are expensive. and spending 200$ on a fancy reusable pen isn't even that bad. but with that said they make fountain pens that take dip pen nibs. like osprey milano. plus the other stuff like it. if you really want a flex pen that mimics a dip nib. then just use a dip nib....
but with that said, the line variation you can get from a fountain pen is always gonna be less than with a brush pen. which are also available with refillable fountain pen bodies. so for broader lines they work good. also great for shading and blending with diluted ink.
I love my vintage Waterman pens. There is no better flex pen than the Waterman #2. If you get one restored with new sac etc you will have no problem with them. A friend of mine that is what I would call an artist, tried mine and now has her own couple of vintage #2 Waterman nibs and it is working great for her.
I love my noodlers Arab flex!
As an artist modern pens can’t give you a brush or dip pen line. Vintage Waterman gets close. Ahab modern alternative. But depending on your project the tool that gets it done is what you use. Honestly the aluminum Muji is inexpensive and that nib can get done for most line variation. Reverse for fine lines and can cover a wide variation.
Fountain pen revolution!! They have awesome flex nibs
I love noodlers pen smell , pure inspiration
"Do you...get a lot of line variation with that?"
"No!"
🤣I love the...'flexible' definition of flex nibs here....
The Pilot 912 FA is awesome when it gets enough ink. I bought a three-groove ebonite feed from The Nib Factory and now it's one of my favorite pens.
Pilot really needs to address this issue. It's the first pilot that I wasn't happy with right out of the box.
Agree. I bought a replacement ebonite feed from there too and it makes a world of difference.
it's a pen made for writing Japanese they don't often need to use as much ink per stroke. which is something pilot should do but that's basically making a separate pen exclusive for western markets.
I've wanted to get that ebonite feed but I doubt I have the skill to replace the nib and feed on my own. Is it difficult to do?
it could be. I haven't had to take apart any of my more expensive pilot fountain pens I just have a ch91 soft medium. it has a much tighter fitting nib than the metro which i can pull that nib out with my bare hands.
I wouldn't do it myself but you can pull the nib and feed out with a grippy rubber glove or goulet rubber grip. you aren't likely to damage the feed or pen but you could bend the nib slightly which isn't common but it's a risk to be aware of.
@@BloodSprite-tan Thanks! I'm sure I would end up mangling the nib and breaking everything. I'm kind of a klutz in that regard. ;)
Triple tail has replaced just about every other pen I use. My trick is putting Noodler’s finicky inks in the finicky pen. And it balances out.
Socrates in a Triple Tail? Perfect. I gotta get some Kung Te-Cheng.
I have a Noodler's Ahab and was my first try of a flex nib. This is NOT a flex pen without a LOT of finger pain. I put a Goulet stub nib in it and now love it! Buy and ahah and put a Goulet nib in it.
Love this incredible banter... live for it. Love you two... Epic, "smells aside..." Goulet Pens just increases the inherent value of whyvwe even are a community... whereby collecting, hobbyists, writers, or what have you... love you guys/gals at Goulet Pens....
Thanks for passing along the kind words! Our community really is amazing! - Drew
Noodlers smell reminds me of some kind of old fashion plastic. Like something from your grandfathers childhood.
Yeah, love the Pilot Falcons soft nibs, have all of them. I wish more companies offered the replacement nibs.
I agree with the selection of the Pilot Falcon as Drew's #1 choice. I own that pen and absolutely love it.
I'm glad to know the Noodler's flex nib requires a lot of pressure. I have been curious about flex nibs and got the Noodler's to start off with, for the affordability of it, and I was surprised by how much force it needed. I was worried I was pushing too hard on it. So good, I will practice with it some more, knowing this! Noodler's pens have that funk, though. That's the best way to describe the smell: funky. (Much love to Noodler's, nonetheless!)
I have the omniflex. It writes well, but I can get more flex out of my TWSBI EF then the Omniflex. Thanks for the video.
I gave up on my omniflex, and wondered what they were smoking when coming up with the name. It felt like no flex unless you were trying to break the nib.
@@derrenbrown4792 I know what you mean. I thought I ruined the nib when trying to get some width out of it. I had to realign the tines.
I agree. I have a Conklin Duragraph with an Omniflex nib, and it's a very comfortable writing experience, but there is zero line variation for me!
I had to check out my tines also, and I didn't think I pushed that hard.
As someone who really hates strong smells, I prefer to side with Drew about the Noodlers pen. Just to be safe
I tried putting my smelly noodlers pen in a drawer and the sun to get rid of the vomit smell. No luck. It went in the bin eventually.
I like the smell of my noodler pen. it's not as bad as some of my vintage pens.
I got a Charlie for free with some ink and it smells absolutely foul, if I actually paid money for that I would be pissed
I’ve never smelled either one, but based on the passion behind Drew’s position on this, I’m convinced it’s got a (less than favorable) smell. 🤣
It does indeed. - Drew
I have the triple tail, it’s my 3rd fountain pen in my huge collection of 5 pens. It does have a slight smell and leaves a smell on your fingers but it’s not really that awful and is a gorgeous pen to write with. I am however considering storing it near some strong nice smelling essential oils in hope it absorbs their smell instead! Once you see what this nib can do and for the price then it’s a great purchase in my opinion.
FWIW, the Mont Blanc Calligraphy nib is a superb modern flex nib that I would equate to Vintage Semi-Flex. It beats some of my 40s Watermans and 50s Pelikans (modifed for increased flex). Other than price, I'm surprised I don't see it mentioned more when the conversation of flex comes up. Mine flexes from XF/XXF to about BB with very moderate pressure, with quite excellent spring back.
Also, I love the smell of Noodler's resin.
Personally, the best bouncy nib or call it semi-flex nib out there without breaking the bank is the Pilot Soft nib. I have a Soft Medium that is really outstanding. The Falcon nib writes without any skippings by using Pilot Iroshizuku or Sailor inks, any other brand will not work well.
"V2" pens from FPR with ultraflex nibs are great....
I can’t get my V2 to even write. I swapped the ultra flex nib nib into an Ahab, thought. Chef’s kiss.
@@wompus_king really? I have two (Himalayas) and both worked right out of the box.
Second this. People looking for modern flex should also consider nibs from FPR and Kanwrite.
I just got this pen. I would like it except I get ink all over my hands just writing with it and ink leaks into the cap. So far FPR is saying this is normal as it is a “wet” pen. Getting ink all over your hands just writing with it is not very appealing. I may be looking for a new pen.
That’s a really interesting topic: whether the pen should adapt to you, or you to the pen. I’ve discovered that I’m firmly in the latter category, and I _sort of_ feel like that’s more of an outsider position - at least based on what I see in message boards and comments sections.
When I was getting into the phase of collecting where you start trying all different types of pens/nibs/inks/etcetc., I had always heard this process discussed in terms of “try different things to find out what YOU like, and what configurations work for YOU.”
But for me, it was more of a process of learning all the various ways that I could actually _adjust my writing style_ to get the best results out of this or that PEN.
Pilot 912FA with a triple slit ebonite feed works really well… I would like to try one with John Mottishaw’s Spencerian grind… For more flourished writing a dip pen with a Gillott 303 or Leonardt Principal FE are much better propositions
Yes! I have one like that and it's absolutely incredible. - Drew
I've got two Noodlers Ahab pens and yes, they do have an organic odor to them. After leaving them out for a few days it settles down. Must admit though the nib is nice, but you do have to work that baby.
Drew's list is spot on in my book; the Falcon is without doubt my favorite flex pen. (I just wish the pen body was a bit more hefty)
I love my noodlers Arab flex pen! Smells.... but slowly getting better. 😆
I’ve always been 100% fine with the vegetal resin smell. I guess some people just have a different threshold for sense sensitivity. I used to work in a restaurant that used a lot of cilantro, and it turns out there’s just a certain percentage of people who can’t stand it (and swear that it tastes like ‘soap in the mouth’). it’s crazy, but there you have it , what can u do ? nothing.
At least I know what I’m gonna do: continue to *NOT* be one of those people , haha :D
I have to agree with Drew about the Pineider nib being the most beautiful nib. The first time I saw the quill nib I fell in love, I think it's absolutely amazing, the only other nib competing with it being a nib I saw on a Pelikan.
SO SO PRETTY - Drew
The whole conversation about skipping a shower would never have happened before Covid. But there it is, and we all just nod and think, yeah, I've totally done that, and quite often over the last two years. 🤣
The Triple Tail doesn’t smell nearly as bad as the rest of the Noodlers range. It’s made of a different material. Mine had a slight Noodlers smell, but I suspect that is because it had been stored with other Noodlers pens. I washed it and left it to air dry and the smell was pretty much gone.
You're right - it's definitely not as bad! I think it still has a bit of a smell because the filling mechanism is still made made with the other materials. It has a different odor than the rest of the Triple Tail. - Drew
That’s true, I use one of the large refillable cartridges in mine and I get the Noodlers smell when I unscrewed the barrel to refill the pen.
I am in love with my 912. Maybe I write English the way other people write Japanese😆 but it feels totally comfortable to me. I've never actually had a pen that wrote as well as my 912, and I own around 30 fountain pens both vintage and modern. For me it is a sublime experience. It's also just an amazing drawing tool.
Re: Ahab, the (gnarly) smell is part of the charm, LOL!
You guys are the best thing since Car Talk. Keep it coming!
I’m ordering a triple tail in my eternal search for a wet pen. It is the triumph of hope over experience, since an Arab I once had never would write no matter what I did.
Triple tails are my favorite. I have two. I actually have one in Blue! It’s a pen show exclusive from 2021, but I talked to some folks at the Philadelphia pen show this year and tracked some down.
I’ve used the grip I use with pencils and ballpoints my whole life because that grip makes it easier to apply the necessary pressure. With fountain pens, though, you don’t need to apply pressure, so when I started using them I changed to a more typical grip.
Does anyone else constantly change hand positions while writing? And yes, i change, or adapt, my hand positions for different pens. I never gave it any thought before today. Will have to question my whole life now. Thanks Boys... the Mediator (INFP)
My flex nib journey began with dip pen nibs, so I'm very accustomed to learning to 'work' with the pen. I'm inclined to suggest that that fountain pens ask for more from the user than ball points. Every flex nib has a learning curve, and for me, that's part of the fun. Many pens make me slow down because they don't feed ink as quickly as I write; otherwise, they soak the paper if I don't write like a demon. Calligraphy in general is about consistency, and line variation through nib flexing is the most demanding form of calligraphy, other than pen turning.
Yes ..pens that you need to conform to👍🏽
You are both correct in the triple tail smell. The PEN does not smell like the other cellulose offerings from noodler's. The PISTON MECHANISM inside the pen smells like the other noodler's pens
You nailed it! - Drew
I have a genuine Namiki Falcon and it is a lovely, lovely experience. Perhaps second only in my mind to the Visconti palladium dream nib. The Falcon is also a great quality pen. I've had mine for maybe fifteen years and it's still great. And how about "Spring nib" instead of "bouncy nib"?
Two thoughts:
I wonder writers from Asian countries that have been trained in brush caligraphy tend to write with a higher writing angle, ergo the writing angle for the 912. When writing Chinese or Japanese caligraphy, teh brish is almost vertical. Just a thought.
With regards to flexible nib writing, the feed is so important. I would argue that you need ti be discussing the nib/feed combo for good flex writing.
Hi, just wanted to say about noodler’s that i have bought a creeper with very little smell out of the box and after a week or so no smell at all. I recently (a week ago) received my ahab and it has a bit of odor but it is not stinky!! Sorry Drew i really don’t think it smells bad. For some reason it reminds me of a factory smell.
I own the conklin omniflex and i love it . However I’m a lefty and this pen just writes smoothly.
If i think of my noodlers,it took me a while to adjust my writing to the pen.
To a certain extent the pen should accommodate most hands, not the extremes grip, but to the general public ,middle of the road writers!
Hope you had a great valentines day!
Yeah, it's not really all that bad. - Drew
My Triple Tail certainly has a funky smell but to a more tolerable degree than the Ahab. My Ahabs are so pungent that they seem to impart some of their honk on any other (non Noodler's) pens in the same case. That's not a good thing for me. The biggest problem with my TT is that it suffers from the same issue as my Ahabs. If placed nib-down while inked, it may be fine for ages but it will randomly decide to suddenly puke out its entire reservoir into the cap. Only my Noodler's pens do this, and they all do. It's why, while the TT is less fussy than my Ahabs by a long stretch, it'll never be a daily writer for me. It's fun, yes, but its finicky instability relegates it to remain as yet another specialist pen, like my set of Pilot Parallels, that I rarely use.
My Noodler's Konrad, while not the pens in question as far as this video is concerned, has a rather noticeable... fragrance.
Forgot to mention aluminum Muji pen. Inexpensive and nib gives a great variation. An urban sketching option and use Platinum Carbon Ink. A watercolor palette and sketchbook good to go.
I just knew Brian was going the say "Mediator" over "Debater." I have an ENTP sister and an INFP mum. It is amazing how similarly they can argue but one cares not about feelings and the other cares much!
Agree 100% about the Conklin Omni Flex!
FPR has both steel and 14k gold flex nibs. They actually flex and have ebonite nibs that are tuned to feed the nib. I guess you don't carry them for some reason. I've had three Noodlers including the Triple Tail meh, built my own franken pens, an Ackerman fp that takes dip nibs etc. All in a frustrated search of a good flex fp. FPR is maybe the one company doing this right. Not sure why with all the fp companies out there today almost none make a true flex. And clearly a steel nib is more than capable of true flex. All super flexy dip pen nibs are steel. Build it and we will come! The Falcon is quite decent but $140 and not even that flexy. Brian says well it's a niche market, of course the market will remain niche if entry level is $140 and studded with cheaper disappointments.
THE JAIPUR V2 CRYSTAL EDITION IS BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY SENSE !
BEST FLEXING PEN AND COOL DEMONSTRATOR ! I BOUGHT IT WITH A TWO TONE NIB AND IT'S WONDERFUL !
THE BLACK ONE IN EBONITE LOOKS GORGEOUS AS WELL !
Have you guys ever experimented with the Jinhao + Zebra G Nib hacks? The G nib is a very popular flexible artist dip pen nib and some people have experimented with adding them to certain Jinhao pens and I’m super curious how they come out in terms of the flow etc
Metal spring (bending) is described by two properties, E, modulus of elasticity, a material specific property and I (moment of inertia) which is based on the geometry of the item.
Stiffer nibs will have a larger E and will be thicker.
Some values of E:
11 to 12 ksi Gold (alloy dependent)
16 ksi titanium
28 ksi stainless steel
Triple Tail has a smell. I use both of mine daily.
And yeah. You need near nose contact. And it’s inspiring.
It’s like playing basses, fender does different necks, so does musician, and everything else, they’re fun to play around with, but if you want a tool that works in all occasions, you’d better adapt to a sandberg xD
Ive found the fountain pen revolution ultra-flex pens are noodlers killers. Its more flexible, has a wet ebonite feed and does extreme flex with very little pressure, its also less stinkey and prettier.
I hated my 912 but then I changed the feed with this 912EN Pilot 912 FA Replacement Feed, 2 Slit Ink Slot, Black Ebonite
And now it's awesome.
FPR nibs are very good flex; and Triple Tail is great but I wouldn’t touch one before a date, meeting, or meal 🤣🤣
Yes, I agree and appreciate the Pilot Falcon My favorite to date.
Noodlers certainly do add an olfactory experience to writing.
love this video. I had the triple tail and didn't get any flex out of it. I guess you have to press down really really hard to get it to work. I really prefer the vintage gold nib for any flexing.
Drew is right re: triple tail. I was almost knocked out when I opened the so called "no smell" triple tail. I can't even imagine how the others must stink... This one was overwhelming.
The perfect descriptor for Noodlers pen smell is “challengingly pungent european stinky cheese.”
Sorry, Drew, but I actually like the smell of the new Noodler's pens. True, I wouldn't wear that scent as an aftershave, but I do enjoy it! It might help to know that I've smelled a LOT of different chemicals in lab and work situations, so I'm accustomed to a wide range, but I'll stick with my answer. :)
The Triple Tail does smell a bit, but is not the same in fragrance or in strength. I'm with Brian!
I do think there is a significant difference in expectation between a soft / bouncy nib and a flex nib though. They're similar but NOT the same thing and I appreciate the Goulet Team Caution when discussing modern not-quite-a-real Flex nib. All that said, I am a LOUSY flex writer so it really isn't something that I seek anymore.
I just LOVE the Noodler's smell... sometimes, I will open my pen case just to smell those noodler's!!! Am I weird?????
No. You’re a hobbyist!
Sames!!
I've the Pilot Falcon SEF and the Pilot 742 FA, both write incredibly well, the FA feed won't keep up if you try to do a long text in copperplate calligraphy but, for what I do these pens are amazing (basically I write the titles of my composition with the FA, and the music itself with the Falcon and the 823 Fine comes in from time to time for longer texts above or bellow the staff, just because I love writing with that nib). My only regrets are the feed for the FA and the converter size for the Falcon, other than that, these are exceptional pens, and I know that I can change the feed on the FA with a far better one, it is something I'm thinking about, but I've not yet reached a point where I'm annoyed by that nib too often and thus I don't feel the need to switch with a better feed, but yes it can't keep up with fast writing and long writing, but as I was used to write my title with a dip pen, I'm still writing them the same way so very slowly and with pauses from time to time, which lets the feed recover.
I have both the Pilot Falcon F nib and 912 FA in black with silver nib and I totally agree, the 912 is a beautiful pen with incredible flex *when it works*, it's the most finicky out of all of my pens. On the other hand, the falcon doesn't flex to the same degree but it's much more consistent and you can still get a decent line and smoother ink flow.
Yes! However if you add an aftermarket feed to the 912 it's absolutely incredible! - Drew
@@Gouletpens and where might we look for such a feed?
I bought a Diplomat Aero Silver Matte and had some initial difficulties. The step from the section to the body was uncomfortable to say the least. I wanted it to work for me so I had to make minor adjustments in how I held the pen. Motivation was important. My.father was part of the design engineering team on the Goodyear blimp during WW II. I’ve settled on blue inks and bought the matching pencil for a perfect pairing.
The 14k flex nibs on Scribo pens are real flex nibs, and I think the other Italian pens, Leonardo and Santini, are supposed to be good. One of the best modern flex nibs I have is on an Osprey pen from the USA, and it's their "Phosbronze" nib, with ebonite feed.
Man I LOVE everything about my Pilot Falcon. I just wish there was one like it that was a good pocket pen or pen to take with you. I know I could bring it with me but it’s just so precious I don’t want to risk it’s safety haha
Can we have a rundown of affordable (not gold) SOFT nibs as well? I've bought two flex nibs and I don't get on with either 😿 so next stop try soft nib?
Thank you Drew!
Thank you for watching! - Drew
I’m with Drew. Noodler’s pens stink. To the point where I seek out the acetate resin Konrads over the vegetal resin.
Noodler's pens smell like sustainability.
The Noodlers Kreaper (sp?) is the only fountain pen that's ever been banished from my home.
10:00 I love the smell of my Noodler's, I sometime pick it up to smell it like you would a cigar 😆
WHOA. - Drew
My Omniflex has mellowed over the past three years and is now nice and flexible.
Wow at around 7:00 ( just prior to on timeline ) the bit on the pilot FA angling was so helpful / ordered a new ebonite feed but questioning the urgency of the purchase at this point - still fine with it but thanks for the 50 degree vs 45 degree tip / worked for me / I draw everyday with this thing
Hi, I'm Paolo from the @fountainpentolive an Italian channel, I've been following you for a long time, and I wanted to congratulate you. I agree with some of the pens you mentioned, and in my experience I have tried many, in my opinion none yet come close to true vintage flexible nibs. But if today I had to mention some modern nibs, certainly in the top 5, I would insert the Calligraphy nib by Montblanc 149, one of the few that gives me the same feeling as vintage nibs. In addition to this I would insert the Pilot Falcon nibs and probably also the Scribo nibs. p.s. I confirm the strong smell of Noodler's. 😂👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you, Paolo! - Drew
Really, the Quill nib is out-flexed in this group. The 912's third-party feeds that are available make it a great pen.
I agree - the 912FA with a replaced feed is unmatched! I have one, and LOVE it! - Drew
I have 912 to with ebonite feed and it’s great, but I will say the quill nib is beautiful to look at and bouncy, but I did spring the nib (it’s currently getting repaired by Richard binder lol) but that was my fault. I do wanna try a ASC “magic” flex or super flex nibs, bc I believe the feeds have a slit in them to flex with the nib.
Can you reccomend any third party feed vendors for this nib?
I got the Madison zebra g nib variation. It’s like $30 bucks and feed is designed for the zebra g nib. Been using it since October last year.
This video makes me want to dig out my Namiki Falcon from 15 years ago.
The Noodler’s pens remind me of my father’s fishing tackle box - I don’t mind it, but it does catch your attention. But, I don’t notice it and I have several pens made of the material. The smell kinda fades over time.
I got the Conklin Empire with the Omniflex nib, and I hate it (the nib). Everyone I talked to when I was seeing if it was a common issue just said they replaced it because it was garbage. It was nice to know it wasn’t just a ‘me’ problem and that I’m not alone in hating it, but I was surprised it made this list. You’re right that the feed can’t keep up (at all), and if you want to write at anything greater than a snail’s pace, it’s going to let you down
It's a mixed bag, for sure. I love its affordability and accessibility, and many people love the way it writes! It's so close to greatness, but falls a bit short in terms of performance, in my opinion. - Drew
I'd respectfully disagree with Drew's comment that the Falcon is the closest to what you'd think of as a flex pen. The 912 FA (especially with 3rd party feed for better flow), would claim that title.
I absolutely would agree with you if the feed functioned better out of the box. For the record, I do own one with a third party feed and it's my #1 favorite pen. I miss it, though! It's been gone for almost a year for some custom urushi work! - Drew
I picked up the 912 FA with a 3rd party ebonite feed and it is amazing Iroshizuku Shin-ryoku ink… Took me a bit to find and ink that I liked in it but I love the way it writes with this ink… That said though I like flexing the nib I really like how fine of a line you can put down with it for normal writing.
I was really interested in a “bounce” nib when I got an Aurora Optima Flex, and I am happy with it.
Re: the Noodler's pen smell and cheese smell. I love cheese, I'll still say it stinks. Lol. I was CACKLING through that whole conversation. Also, if you have to pure *more* pressure on a Noodler's pen than the omniflex, I'd end up hurting myself if I used the Noodler's pen, holy wow. I thought I had to push hard on my omniflex.
I have a Namiki Falcon - Black/Silver owned for 12 years I use it for sketching and drawing . It is fantastic , the flex has gotten better with age I was really sorry to hear that Pilot has the pens now, but that didn't make me me happy. Sorry just not a brand I care for. I also have a Sailor 1911 Naginata Togi Fountain Pen - Black/Silver which I can get thick and thin lines with it . My pens are used for Drawing - My ink of choice is De Artramentis Document ink, I was using noodlers, but I find that the De Artramentis works better and I can lay a watch over and it doesn't smear!
Nice info keep up the good work.
I have the Noodler’’s triple tail pen, and in my opinion it has a very pungent scented smell to my nose and so I side with Drew. Others have used more expressive terms, but it wouldn’t meet You Tube’s guidelines.
Lol thank you for your restraint, Stuart! Haha! - Drew
I’m eyeing on this one but I’m so sensitive to smells lol
I like to use different fountain pens and I think that when you do own many of them, you are used to adjust to the pen. For me it’s a form of art and it make’s me enjoy writing even boring stuff, like signing tons of bills and contracts. A new pen is a new challenge.
I like the Noodler's pen smell.
But like I love the smell of the vegitol resin!
10:06 - I am glad to hear that I am not imagining that stench!! BTW : the plastic handles on screwdrivers from XCelite Tools smell the same. We engineers say they smell like “baby vomit.” Sorry, I hope that’s allowed 😮
The Pilot 743 with an FA nib beats the crap out of all these pens. It’s feed is good, it’s got great flex, the Con-70 converter, you get those handsome Pilot 823 looks, and it’s pretty smooth for a genuinely flexible nib. I’m honestly shocked you didn’t mention it.
That's a great one! Sadly, we can't currently import those into the US so we haven't had any hands-on experience them at our store. - Drew
When my Triple Tail was new, the room would stink like vomit lol... I haven't smelled the other one, but this one WAS intense when it was new.