For me, what is the point of flex nibs if you don't have that line variation? It is tough to beat the vintage pens, but you would think they should with modern technology.
I would never have thought that being called an inky savage would feel so nice😂 Thanks for the awesome content, Roy, and thanks for being such a cool guy🤙
Fantasic lesson on the two Omniflex nibs. Exceedingly informative. Thoroughly enjoyed your enthusiasm and technical knowledge. You definitely have me as a subscriber. Thank you.
I have a Conklin durograph with the old flex nib and it writes very wet without the railroading you experienced. I think from reading reviews there is a lot of variation in quality with the old nibs. But I was very surprised how well it writes and consistently. It may be due to the ink. I used the expensive pilot black which flows beautifully.
About a year ago, I got suckered into buying one of the Conklin Crescent 120th Anniversary Fountain Pens from those guys in New Jersey. It was on closeout. Besides being heavy and awkward to hold, the nib made the pen a certifiable POS. This new Jowo Omniflex nib may make this pen usable. Thanks for the review.
@Dave H Hi Dave, You could reach out to Conklin Customer service and Yafa Pens would send you a new nib for free . This way you you can compare the 2 omniflex nib if that's what came with your Crescent fill pen
A very interesting comparison. I have that very Conklin Freedom Edition pen with the FLEX nib. In using it I've never experienced the ink starvation and railroading that you show in the video. I use mostly Waterman Serenity Blue ink. Still, I would like to find the Jowo Omniflex nib so I can compare the two.
I do wonder how the new omniflex would keep up if the scallops were carved a bit more. I am sure a clever person could change the feed to ebonite hmmmm
I prefer the look of the old Omniflex, with a heart-shaped breather and more extreme side-slits. Pity JoVo didn’t include an inspiring breather shape-but I get that performance (and cheap price), rather than beauty, are the key criterion. It’s still a bit sad that modern manufacturers seem to either dislike or misunderstand perfect flex performance in a steel nib. I guess I’ll just stick with my 1910 era Gillot Principalitys and 604EFs on oblique holders.
Question: When writing with normal pressure, is the line about equal to a Medium nib? Also, is it fairly easy to maintain a consistent line, or is it all over the place? I'm asking because if I got one, I'd mostly use it for journaling, and I'm pretty set on using American wide-ruled paper. Anyways...Great video! 👍Thanks for sharing.
To my eye, looking at the first two lines of your writing sample, the old looks a little better (more variation) than the new. Perhaps it is an inferior experience, but has better results.
You're right. The problem is that with bad dry steel flexing nib all one can do is to write some &&&& and couple of words and that's it! Also, one must put a really good pressure on the nib to have line variation, which makes the hand extremly tired after couple of lines. Than the disappointing pen is stucked in the shelf and never used again ☹️ At least that's what happend with my 3 "flexing" steel pens. (I also happened to have vintage pen with semiflex gold nib and that's a difference.) IMHO steel flexing pens must be wet in the first instance. They are not everyday pens in our times for quick notes in the office unfortunatelly... Also - dip pens with flex nibs (even just Zebra G, which is absolutely absolutely great nib) have way much bigger line variation! Like 1000%! (And they are still made of steel). So to write just some calligraphy samples they are much better than fountain pens, and way less expensive. (Unless the fountain pen is real vintage wet noodle, but they are rare and $$$.) I hope the new hype for flex nibs brings some "flex revolution" soon :) (Also in paper industry).
I think JoWo is trying to please flex nib fans while still retaining a nib that can be used daily. That explains the lesser line variation. It's a good middle road for first time flex nib people while not diving all the way head first in.
I have an exactly same red blue white Conklin, it a particular pen that cost me days and hours to adjust it. The tine is in horrible shape out of the box, I polished it bending it to an ideal working order. The original feed won’t draw inks to the nib except I twist the converter to saturated the feed. I replace with a spare moonman feed, they are completely identical, it draw inks automatically now, however ink starvation problem still there, I still need to saturating the feed to able to write a thick line. Maybe I should try out the new jowo flex nib.
"Old" vs. "JoWo"....... LOL. For those that don't already know, "Old" = "Bock" in this case. Quite frankly, even though the new JoWo Omniflex seems better, I don't think I would ever purchase a flex nib that didn't come with an ebonite feed. I have yet to find a truly satisfying flex nib that came with a plastic feed.
I hear you on that. Just be advised, the old omniflex nibs are not made by Bock. Where there are brands out there that use a Bock flex nib that looks the same as the old omniflex, (the Marlen Aleph flex pen for example), the old omniflex are in fact not Bock even thought they look the same. The old omniflex were made in China.
@@PenBoyRoy Well Hell. Thanks for correcting me. I had thought that ALL of the old Yafa nibs were Bock and suffered the similar levels of suckage. I may have to give the Omniflex a try.
the old omniflex looked weird and ugly but at least it has some flex but railroads and dries out quickly the new omniglex looks cool but doesn't flex, you have to put so much pressure on it to flex that it feels like you are grinding a nail against sandpaper, save yourself the trouble and get the steel ultra flex nib from fountain pen revolution or buy a vintage pen
For me, what is the point of flex nibs if you don't have that line variation?
It is tough to beat the vintage pens, but you would think they should with modern technology.
I would never have thought that being called an inky savage would feel so nice😂 Thanks for the awesome content, Roy, and thanks for being such a cool guy🤙
Fantasic lesson on the two Omniflex nibs. Exceedingly informative. Thoroughly enjoyed your enthusiasm and technical knowledge. You definitely have me as a subscriber. Thank you.
YOU READ MY MIND ~! Thank for the video! I'VE BEEN LOOKING & RESEARCHING THESE NIBS
Glad to see this comment! Dumb a$$ filter didn't delete it! Im glad you liked the video.
I have a Conklin durograph with the old flex nib and it writes very wet without the railroading you experienced. I think from reading reviews there is a lot of variation in quality with the old nibs. But I was very surprised how well it writes and consistently. It may be due to the ink. I used the expensive pilot black which flows beautifully.
Just ordered an omniflex pen. Never thought I’d be so excited to write something.
About a year ago, I got suckered into buying one of the Conklin Crescent 120th Anniversary Fountain Pens from those guys in New Jersey. It was on closeout. Besides being heavy and awkward to hold, the nib made the pen a certifiable POS. This new Jowo Omniflex nib may make this pen usable. Thanks for the review.
@Dave H
Hi Dave,
You could reach out to Conklin Customer service and Yafa Pens would send you a new nib for free . This way you you can compare the 2 omniflex nib if that's what came with your Crescent fill pen
A very interesting comparison. I have that very Conklin Freedom Edition pen with the FLEX nib. In using it I've never experienced the ink starvation and railroading that you show in the video. I use mostly Waterman Serenity Blue ink. Still, I would like to find the Jowo Omniflex nib so I can compare the two.
I do wonder how the new omniflex would keep up if the scallops were carved a bit more. I am sure a clever person could change the feed to ebonite hmmmm
I’ve got two JoWo Omniflex nibs; a #6 on a Conklin All-American, and a #5 (or #5.5, I forget) on a Monteverde Monza.
They both blow dogs for quarters.
Never heard that saying before. What exactly does it mean?
@@billable1861 They suck. HARD.
I prefer the look of the old Omniflex, with a heart-shaped breather and more extreme side-slits. Pity JoVo didn’t include an inspiring breather shape-but I get that performance (and cheap price), rather than beauty, are the key criterion. It’s still a bit sad that modern manufacturers seem to either dislike or misunderstand perfect flex performance in a steel nib. I guess I’ll just stick with my 1910 era Gillot Principalitys and 604EFs on oblique holders.
I think cutouts from the side inwards are an ineffective way to increase flex in general
Question: When writing with normal pressure, is the line about equal to a Medium nib? Also, is it fairly easy to maintain a consistent line, or is it all over the place?
I'm asking because if I got one, I'd mostly use it for journaling, and I'm pretty set on using American wide-ruled paper. Anyways...Great video! 👍Thanks for sharing.
To my eye, looking at the first two lines of your writing sample, the old looks a little better (more variation) than the new. Perhaps it is an inferior experience, but has better results.
You're right. The problem is that with bad dry steel flexing nib all one can do is to write some &&&& and couple of words and that's it!
Also, one must put a really good pressure on the nib to have line variation, which makes the hand extremly tired after couple of lines. Than the disappointing pen is stucked in the shelf and never used again ☹️
At least that's what happend with my 3 "flexing" steel pens. (I also happened to have vintage pen with semiflex gold nib and that's a difference.)
IMHO steel flexing pens must be wet in the first instance. They are not everyday pens in our times for quick notes in the office unfortunatelly...
Also - dip pens with flex nibs (even just Zebra G, which is absolutely absolutely great nib) have way much bigger line variation! Like 1000%! (And they are still made of steel).
So to write just some calligraphy samples they are much better than fountain pens, and way less expensive. (Unless the fountain pen is real vintage wet noodle, but they are rare and $$$.)
I hope the new hype for flex nibs brings some "flex revolution" soon :) (Also in paper industry).
Dude... when you see the word “OMNIFLEX” just run... old , new same shit different smell
I think JoWo is trying to please flex nib fans while still retaining a nib that can be used daily. That explains the lesser line variation. It's a good middle road for first time flex nib people while not diving all the way head first in.
My duragraph was an Omniwriter, as it skipped and ran dry. Now it is an OmniJinhao lol
(put in a Jinhao nib)
Shouldn't have to do that. Not cool... you should get the nib exchanged.
@@PenBoyRoy Act like a Jinhao, get treated like a Jinhao
Hahah!!
@@gabemadorma2933 jinhaos for me have been great
“I personally”... that kicks my OCD in. 😬 ay ay ay
I have an exactly same red blue white Conklin, it a particular pen that cost me days and hours to adjust it. The tine is in horrible shape out of the box, I polished it bending it to an ideal working order. The original feed won’t draw inks to the nib except I twist the converter to saturated the feed. I replace with a spare moonman feed, they are completely identical, it draw inks automatically now, however ink starvation problem still there, I still need to saturating the feed to able to write a thick line.
Maybe I should try out the new jowo flex nib.
The old non works great but the new one is having issues only wires when I write upside down...
Your handwriting is amazing!
Thank you!
Does the "new" actually flex? The "old" sure as Hades don't.
"Old" vs. "JoWo"....... LOL. For those that don't already know, "Old" = "Bock" in this case. Quite frankly, even though the new JoWo Omniflex seems better, I don't think I would ever purchase a flex nib that didn't come with an ebonite feed. I have yet to find a truly satisfying flex nib that came with a plastic feed.
I hear you on that. Just be advised, the old omniflex nibs are not made by Bock. Where there are brands out there that use a Bock flex nib that looks the same as the old omniflex, (the Marlen Aleph flex pen for example), the old omniflex are in fact not Bock even thought they look the same. The old omniflex were made in China.
@@PenBoyRoy Well Hell. Thanks for correcting me. I had thought that ALL of the old Yafa nibs were Bock and suffered the similar levels of suckage.
I may have to give the Omniflex a try.
Montblanc's Expression Calligraphy Flex nibs are very competently done.
So the problem was the cheap plastic feed, not the nib. Bock gets a bad rap sometimes, but I do appreciate their bounciness.
Love the review, but I have to say that the old Omniflex nibs were, in fact, bad. Horrid QC. So much so that I swore off Conklin pens, sadly.
I fell ya man. You gotta draw a line in the sand and stick to it sometimes.
And now I'm glad I never pulled the trigger on one.
Could you swap the old nlb for the new one?
sure you can.
Can you buy only the Jowo nib?
Yes. They are sold separately
❤️❤️👍❤️❤️
I am a savage but not a inky one lol
Haha!!
the old omniflex looked weird and ugly but at least it has some flex but railroads and dries out quickly
the new omniglex looks cool but doesn't flex, you have to put so much pressure on it to flex that it feels like you are grinding a nail against sandpaper, save yourself the trouble and get the steel ultra flex nib from fountain pen revolution or buy a vintage pen
The old and the new are awful... OMNIflex?? OMNI???? No fucking way