Hi Gary, I'm glad you found the video helpful! I actually learned a lot after posting this video from the helpful feedback I received in the comments. Lining up the Noodler's nib/feed correctly with the holder is really important. Also, in case it's of interest, these days I most often draw with a dip pen holder fitted with a Zebra G nib because that setup offers even greater variety of line. And, Blue Dew fountain pens makes a very nice flex nib pen that works well and gives a very nice variety of line (though you have to draw slower so that the ink doesn't skip.) Happy drawing! :-)
I'm so glad you found my video helpful! There have been lots of great - and even more helpful? - comments, so hopefully you'll be all set to get the best use out of your pen. By the way, I also really like the Sailor Fude Nib pen as well as the Pilot Falcon fountain pen.🙂
You might want to purchase a small strip called a “grip” for removing your nib and feed, and you might also want to purchase an “Ink Miser,” a small receptacle that helps you fill a pen from a bottle that is nearly empty. Both products will help keep your fingers clean when you work with your pens. They are available at Goulet Pens for a few dollars.
Hi Barbara, Thanks so much for the helpful information! The "grip" strip certainly would have come in handy when I did this video!😂 (And it sounds like the "ink miser" would also really help.) Now a question for you: I have a nearly empty bottle of DeAtrementis Document Ink that seems "sludgy." Is it best to just toss, or can the ink be thinned out with a little water and still be used?
I’m a bit late to the party. But I’ll add my couple coppers in. You can get silicone grease from a local hardware store in the plumbing section, “Plumbers grease”. Just make sure it’s pure silicone grease. You will need it to lube the piston on your converter and to use on the converter threads where it screws onto the section. As people mentioned, the nib and feed go into the section in a specific way and must be aligned properly. After cleaning your pen, grease it, then reassemble with the piston rod pushed in on the converter. It makes assembly so much easier. The Ahab can make use of Noodler’s 308 refillable cartridges. Nathan Tardif hates the idea of disposable cartridges. They are bad for the environment and they are obscenely expensive for the amount of ink you get. Nathan in one video commented that a sea turtle had died from ingesting an ink cartridge. The sea turtle thought it was a small jellyfish. Hearing of this caused Nathan to come up with his refillable cartridges. Don’t give up on the Ahab. It’s an amazingly versatile pen. So are the Konrad and the Nib Creeper (Standard). You can see some of the intricacies of the Ahab and other Noodler’s pens and inks by looking up inkneedlastforever on UA-cam. Yes Noodler’s pens need tweaking to get the most out of them. But they are soooooo good for artists to use because of the crazy line variations you can get. Especially with the Triple tail or Neponset which have 3 tine nibs. With those, you can go from a hairline to the width of a stub nib or even wider. Check in on that UA-cam channel and then visit Goldspot pens or Goulet pens to see what they offer in the way of pens and accessories from Noodler’s. If you dive deep, into the pens you might realize they have much more to offer that you might have thought.
Talk about being late to the party....I've taken FOREVER to respond to your thoughtful and helpful reply on my Noodler's Fountain Pen video. My apologies! Although I've been using a Pilot Falcon for my finished illustrations, my Platinum Preppy sketch pen seems to be wearing out so I think I'll return to working with the Noodlers Ahab for my sketches. Getting pure silicone grease/"plumbers grease" is on my list of to-do errands for today. And I will look carefully at the nib/feed opening so that I'm not jamming it in against the grain, so to speak. Thanks again for the great tips! 🙂
@@JoanaMirandaStudio No need for apologies. I’m a big fan of Noodler’s Pens because I know what they are capable of and I hate to see anyone give up on them. Nathan did a great thing when designing his pens. He used the most affordable, environmentally friendly and durable materials he could find to have his Ahabs, Konrads and Nib Creepers made from. I think at this point I have 7 Ahabs, 5 Konrads and 4 Nib Creepers. But I only keep about 2 inked up at a time. Please catch a few UA-cam videos about the Ahab pens regarding how to adjust them. Usually you want about 8-9 fins of the feed exposed for “normal” use. If you want more ink flow, move the feed out a fin at a time and test it. If you want less ink flow, push the feed in a fin at a time and test it. Get some rubber gloves if you don’t want inky fingers. LOL!! Good luck and I hope you’ll discover a renewed interest in Noodler’s pens.
Nice. I have this pen, and it wrote directly out of the box without any issues. I like it, and I use it to write notes for my PhD dissertation. I am using Noodlers black. It is really nice. The important thing to know is that the nib section has a slot where you should put the nib in. So, the nib does not slide into the section in all angles. This is why you had difficulties pulling out and putting in the nib and the feed. It is also better to put on some silicone grease on the threads and the piston after you clean your pen thoroughly. If you don't, the piston will get stiff, and it will be difficult to push and pull. BTW, I really like your drawings. I wish I could draw like you.
Hi Childe, Thanks so much for watching my video and for taking the time to write! Your tips are excellent. Now that my close-up vision has changed (headed back to the eye dr tomorrow!) I think I missed seeing the slot in the nib section. I will go back and look at the pen again now! Where do you get silicone grease, and what kind do you use? :-) Joana P.S. While you're probably not water-coloring your PhD dissertation, I did find that Noodler's black ink isn't waterproof on all papers. For that reason, I've stuck with the DeAtrementis Document Inks.
@@JoanaMirandaStudio You are welcome! Actually, your videos deserve more likes and views. Your drawings are beautiful. You can get silicone grease on gouletpens.com or amazon. Make sure that it is 100% pure silicone grease. It can be used for any piston or self-filler fountain pen. You are right, Noodlers black is not water-proof on all papers, but it is water-proof on every paper that has cellulose in it. I have tested the ink on all the papers that I have, and it is water-proof on all of them. However, you should let the ink dry completely before applying any water-colour.
@@Taib89 Hi Childe, I just took apart my Noodler's Ahab pen again (with much difficulty) and looked at the nib holder with my jeweler's loupe. You were absolutely right! Because I didn't see the "shelf," the nib was jammed in the wrong way. It's actually a miracle I didn't break the pen trying to get it out! I will add silicone grease to my list of future art supply purchases. Thanks so much for the great tips! :-) Joana
i did not know that you could possition the nib for flex like further in or out. mine is seated all the way in. If i were you id just use a syringe to fill the pen you avoid all sorts of messes. The downside to that is the ebonite feed will take a while to soak but you can dip it in the ink thats what i do.also my fill compartment doesnt match well with the threads it only grips in the last few turns which is weird but its a nice pen.
Hi KNO, thanks for watching my video and for taking the time to comment. These days, I've been alternating with either using my Carter's vintage fountain pen (gold flex nib), or using a Platinum Preppy fountain pen. The Platinum Preppy is cheap (around $7). The original one I bought came with an ink cartridge. The store clerk also sold me a box of the same black ink cartridges (which were supposedly filled with waterproof ink.) Unfortunately, the ink was not waterproof. However, I discovered that you can get a converter for the pen (also inexpensive) and now I use DeAtrementis ink in my Platinum Preppy pen. I use the same ink in my vintage fountain pen and have had no problems adding watercolor or ink washes over the lines. The Platinum Preppy is my current go-to travel sketching pen; the vintage fountain pen stays at home with my bigger sketchbooks. :-) Happy drawing!
Very helpful I hope got one on the way!
Hi Gary, I'm glad you found the video helpful! I actually learned a lot after posting this video from the helpful feedback I received in the comments. Lining up the Noodler's nib/feed correctly with the holder is really important. Also, in case it's of interest, these days I most often draw with a dip pen holder fitted with a Zebra G nib because that setup offers even greater variety of line. And, Blue Dew fountain pens makes a very nice flex nib pen that works well and gives a very nice variety of line (though you have to draw slower so that the ink doesn't skip.) Happy drawing! :-)
Thank you for posting this. My first true fountain pen is this exact one and i couldnt get it to work correctly. Hoping this works!
I'm so glad you found my video helpful! There have been lots of great - and even more helpful? - comments, so hopefully you'll be all set to get the best use out of your pen. By the way, I also really like the Sailor Fude Nib pen as well as the Pilot Falcon fountain pen.🙂
You might want to purchase a small strip called a “grip” for removing your nib and feed, and you might also want to purchase an “Ink Miser,” a small receptacle that helps you fill a pen from a bottle that is nearly empty. Both products will help keep your fingers clean when you work with your pens. They are available at Goulet Pens for a few dollars.
Hi Barbara, Thanks so much for the helpful information! The "grip" strip certainly would have come in handy when I did this video!😂 (And it sounds like the "ink miser" would also really help.) Now a question for you: I have a nearly empty bottle of DeAtrementis Document Ink that seems "sludgy." Is it best to just toss, or can the ink be thinned out with a little water and still be used?
Joanna, I don’t know the answer to that question. I am guessing that somebody here will know it, though.
I’m a bit late to the party. But I’ll add my couple coppers in.
You can get silicone grease from a local hardware store in the plumbing section, “Plumbers grease”. Just make sure it’s pure silicone grease. You will need it to lube the piston on your converter and to use on the converter threads where it screws onto the section. As people mentioned, the nib and feed go into the section in a specific way and must be aligned properly. After cleaning your pen, grease it, then reassemble with the piston rod pushed in on the converter. It makes assembly so much easier.
The Ahab can make use of Noodler’s 308 refillable cartridges. Nathan Tardif hates the idea of disposable cartridges. They are bad for the environment and they are obscenely expensive for the amount of ink you get. Nathan in one video commented that a sea turtle had died from ingesting an ink cartridge. The sea turtle thought it was a small jellyfish. Hearing of this caused Nathan to come up with his refillable cartridges.
Don’t give up on the Ahab. It’s an amazingly versatile pen. So are the Konrad and the Nib Creeper (Standard).
You can see some of the intricacies of the Ahab and other Noodler’s pens and inks by looking up inkneedlastforever on UA-cam. Yes Noodler’s pens need tweaking to get the most out of them. But they are soooooo good for artists to use because of the crazy line variations you can get. Especially with the Triple tail or Neponset which have 3 tine nibs. With those, you can go from a hairline to the width of a stub nib or even wider. Check in on that UA-cam channel and then visit Goldspot pens or Goulet pens to see what they offer in the way of pens and accessories from Noodler’s. If you dive deep, into the pens you might realize they have much more to offer that you might have thought.
Talk about being late to the party....I've taken FOREVER to respond to your thoughtful and helpful reply on my Noodler's Fountain Pen video. My apologies! Although I've been using a Pilot Falcon for my finished illustrations, my Platinum Preppy sketch pen seems to be wearing out so I think I'll return to working with the Noodlers Ahab for my sketches. Getting pure silicone grease/"plumbers grease" is on my list of to-do errands for today. And I will look carefully at the nib/feed opening so that I'm not jamming it in against the grain, so to speak. Thanks again for the great tips! 🙂
@@JoanaMirandaStudio No need for apologies. I’m a big fan of Noodler’s Pens because I know what they are capable of and I hate to see anyone give up on them. Nathan did a great thing when designing his pens. He used the most affordable, environmentally friendly and durable materials he could find to have his Ahabs, Konrads and Nib Creepers made from. I think at this point I have 7 Ahabs, 5 Konrads and 4 Nib Creepers. But I only keep about 2 inked up at a time. Please catch a few UA-cam videos about the Ahab pens regarding how to adjust them. Usually you want about 8-9 fins of the feed exposed for “normal” use. If you want more ink flow, move the feed out a fin at a time and test it. If you want less ink flow, push the feed in a fin at a time and test it. Get some rubber gloves if you don’t want inky fingers. LOL!! Good luck and I hope you’ll discover a renewed interest in Noodler’s pens.
Nice. I have this pen, and it wrote directly out of the box without any issues. I like it, and I use it to write notes for my PhD dissertation. I am using Noodlers black. It is really nice.
The important thing to know is that the nib section has a slot where you should put the nib in. So, the nib does not slide into the section in all angles. This is why you had difficulties pulling out and putting in the nib and the feed. It is also better to put on some silicone grease on the threads and the piston after you clean your pen thoroughly. If you don't, the piston will get stiff, and it will be difficult to push and pull.
BTW, I really like your drawings. I wish I could draw like you.
Hi Childe, Thanks so much for watching my video and for taking the time to write! Your tips are excellent. Now that my close-up vision has changed (headed back to the eye dr tomorrow!) I think I missed seeing the slot in the nib section. I will go back and look at the pen again now! Where do you get silicone grease, and what kind do you use?
:-) Joana
P.S. While you're probably not water-coloring your PhD dissertation, I did find that Noodler's black ink isn't waterproof on all papers. For that reason, I've stuck with the DeAtrementis Document Inks.
@@JoanaMirandaStudio
You are welcome! Actually, your videos deserve more likes and views. Your drawings are beautiful.
You can get silicone grease on gouletpens.com or amazon. Make sure that it is 100% pure silicone grease. It can be used for any piston or self-filler fountain pen.
You are right, Noodlers black is not water-proof on all papers, but it is water-proof on every paper that has cellulose in it. I have tested the ink on all the papers that I have, and it is water-proof on all of them. However, you should let the ink dry completely before applying any water-colour.
@@Taib89 Hi Childe, I just took apart my Noodler's Ahab pen again (with much difficulty) and looked at the nib holder with my jeweler's loupe. You were absolutely right! Because I didn't see the "shelf," the nib was jammed in the wrong way. It's actually a miracle I didn't break the pen trying to get it out!
I will add silicone grease to my list of future art supply purchases. Thanks so much for the great tips!
:-) Joana
@@JoanaMirandaStudio You are welcome. Looking forward to more amazing drawing videos from your channel.
@@Taib89 Thanks, Childe! You are the best! :-)
i did not know that you could possition the nib for flex like further in or out. mine is seated all the way in. If i were you id just use a syringe to fill the pen you avoid all sorts of messes. The downside to that is the ebonite feed will take a while to soak but you can dip it in the ink thats what i do.also my fill compartment doesnt match well with the threads it only grips in the last few turns which is weird but its a nice pen.
Hi KNO, thanks for watching my video and for taking the time to comment. These days, I've been alternating with either using my Carter's vintage fountain pen (gold flex nib), or using a Platinum Preppy fountain pen. The Platinum Preppy is cheap (around $7). The original one I bought came with an ink cartridge. The store clerk also sold me a box of the same black ink cartridges (which were supposedly filled with waterproof ink.) Unfortunately, the ink was not waterproof. However, I discovered that you can get a converter for the pen (also inexpensive) and now I use DeAtrementis ink in my Platinum Preppy pen. I use the same ink in my vintage fountain pen and have had no problems adding watercolor or ink washes over the lines. The Platinum Preppy is my current go-to travel sketching pen; the vintage fountain pen stays at home with my bigger sketchbooks. :-) Happy drawing!