The part that amazes me is he throws down a bunch of feeds (that are very similar looking...at least to me) and goes about telling us about each different feed....not only the make and model, but the year of the feed too. Most people would have to line them out and have notes next to them for reference.
This is so very informative. I wish the details were easier to see, but I don't really know how one could light the scene in such a way that the details of such a small dark piece could be more defined.
Acid etching varies by plastic type - you would need a different procedure for a Parker lucite feed vrs. a black injection molded feed made more recently. The manufacturers of plastic feeds have that as part of the strategy to increase revenue...you see, they really do mean it when they say you can only have the feed serviced by them. They are the ones who designed the feed and its plastic to match their procedure only - it equals higher captive revenue! Each plastic feed differs a lot.
Ebonite is universal, plastic is highly restricted - ebonite needs no etching and can be carved and shaped as well as heat set for a large variety of nibs (see other video on setting nibs and feeds). You would need to try several types of acids to find the right one for that particular plastic - and they have to be so strong that they smoke on the plastic when applied...which is far more dangerous than carving ebonite as one would whittle a wooden dowel.
At 11:05 after Nathan said he’s been using power tools in a semi-dangerous fashion since he was a kid...I thought he was missing 2 fingers on his left hand
This is wonderful. I have more than 100 ebonite pens with ebonite feed. It is fascinating to work with/on ebonite feeds. I mostly heat treat them. Since I do not use flex nibs but only normal nibs in F. M or B, this is sufficient to manage the flow as desired. Change of nibs usually requires some adjustment of the feed, and ebonite feed facilitates that. Plastic feed is rotten, unreliable.
Awesome vid. Now us non-experts need a place where we can buy a 12-pack of ebonite feeds so we can learn all these tricks. Where can I buy spare feeds? You know between heat setting and other modifications I'm going to trash at least a couple feeds in the learning process.
I think my Noodler's flex has a pretty generous feed. But I don't do much drawing. I might just get a new another one and mod the feed so I can doodle. Can't go wrong for $14.
I'm unclear as to which part of the feed is being removed, perhaps you could find the time to clarify... I'm trying to adjust the feed from an Ahab. There seems to be a large channel (which I suppose is the air channel?) with a smaller channel (the ink channel?) That runs through the bottom of the larger channel. In the video, are you deepening the air channel - and thus needing to recut the ink channel at the bottom? Or are you widening the sides of the air channel without affecting the deeper ink channel? I suppose this would be clear from the image you've uploaded in the past, but unfortunately it seems to have been removed. Perhaps you could re-upload?
Do all of Nathan's fountain pens have an ebonite feed? I use his ink but have bot bought one of his pens yet though he has a fantastic UK supplier so I will do soon.
Yes, even down to his free charlie pen, all wonderful ebonite feeds. Often they need an initial cleaning due to machining residue and then require reassembly and heat setting (which is easily done with a cup of near-boiling water) along with a little bit of fiddling, but every one of nathan's pens has the potential for greatness. I set aside even my gold nib stuff for the charlie when it comes to much of my note taking. I'm less a fan of the nib creaper /w flex nib than the ahab and konrad, due to the creaper's flex nib and feed being simply too small to handle any serious flexing without a lot of mods that make it too wet for everyday writing, but I've since switched a soft gold nib onto it from a broken 40's schaffer and it's now my best writer. Also, the ahab is the best supported of his pens, though I like the piston design of the konrad, I do love the 308 refillable cartridges which let me take my ahab on a plane without needing a bottle, an $80 visconti vial, or throwing away a cartridge from my pen every time I get on board. Get an ahab (demonstrator is most fun, also get a set of 308 cartridges, they're reusable and in the states are 5 for 5$ ) and do not despair if it doesn't write amazingly out of the box. Spend a little time pulling the ebonite out, washing it, and then seating it /w 8-10 veins of the ebonite showing, and you'll be in love. Also works great with a bunch of custom nibs that can be found everywhere.
Bah...I tried increasing the channel on the top of the ebonite feed with a knife and it did nothing at all. No ink flow whatsoever...complete ink starvation. I'm guessing the lack of the little pig-tail like the plastic feed has makes the ebonite feed completely useless? That or I didn't get deep enough...I'll get the dremel out like you did.
The part that amazes me is he throws down a bunch of feeds (that are very similar looking...at least to me) and goes about telling us about each different feed....not only the make and model, but the year of the feed too. Most people would have to line them out and have notes next to them for reference.
Excellent. “The passion of the artwork.” Loved the history lessons and the tinkering lessons.
This is so very informative.
I wish the details were easier to see, but I don't really know how one could light the scene in such a way that the details of such a small dark piece could be more defined.
Acid etching varies by plastic type - you would need a different procedure for a Parker lucite feed vrs. a black injection molded feed made more recently. The manufacturers of plastic feeds have that as part of the strategy to increase revenue...you see, they really do mean it when they say you can only have the feed serviced by them. They are the ones who designed the feed and its plastic to match their procedure only - it equals higher captive revenue! Each plastic feed differs a lot.
OMG! That's amazing!
Every single pen I've seen with a nib swap always runs dry...this one stayed wet!!
And yet it still writes hair-thin lines too!!!
Ebonite is universal, plastic is highly restricted - ebonite needs no etching and can be carved and shaped as well as heat set for a large variety of nibs (see other video on setting nibs and feeds). You would need to try several types of acids to find the right one for that particular plastic - and they have to be so strong that they smoke on the plastic when applied...which is far more dangerous than carving ebonite as one would whittle a wooden dowel.
At 11:05 after Nathan said he’s been using power tools in a semi-dangerous fashion since he was a kid...I thought he was missing 2 fingers on his left hand
This is wonderful. I have more than 100 ebonite pens with ebonite feed. It is fascinating to work with/on ebonite feeds. I mostly heat treat them. Since I do not use flex nibs but only normal nibs in F. M or B, this is sufficient to manage the flow as desired. Change of nibs usually requires some adjustment of the feed, and ebonite feed facilitates that. Plastic feed is rotten, unreliable.
At 7:00 good way to cut your thumb off. You should secure the feed in a vise.
Brilliant!! Love this! Thank you for all that great info!
Thanks so much for showing how to deepen the channel with a Dremel. I'd like to second the request for a 12 pack of feeds to practice on.
Derby also has them for $4 - derbypen.com/noodler-s-ahab-and-or-konrad-replacement-feed.html
Anderson - www.andersonpens.com/Noodler-s-Flex-Pen-Ebonite-Feed-p/noodlers-feed.htm
So fascinating to me. It makes me feel better that other people feel the same way :) thanks man
I would love to see more videos from you!
@@neofliermike those days are gone.
Awesome vid. Now us non-experts need a place where we can buy a 12-pack of ebonite feeds so we can learn all these tricks.
Where can I buy spare feeds? You know between heat setting and other modifications I'm going to trash at least a couple feeds in the learning process.
Goulet Pens sells them.
Fountain pen revolution sells ebonite feeds for about 3 bucks a pop!
I think my Noodler's flex has a pretty generous feed. But I don't do much drawing. I might just get a new another one and mod the feed so I can doodle. Can't go wrong for $14.
I don't understand it 100%. Is this just deepening the slot which is already there? Or did I miss something?
See the image link in the description of the video. It is crisp and well lit.
I'm unclear as to which part of the feed is being removed, perhaps you could find the time to clarify... I'm trying to adjust the feed from an Ahab. There seems to be a large channel (which I suppose is the air channel?) with a smaller channel (the ink channel?) That runs through the bottom of the larger channel. In the video, are you deepening the air channel - and thus needing to recut the ink channel at the bottom? Or are you widening the sides of the air channel without affecting the deeper ink channel?
I suppose this would be clear from the image you've uploaded in the past, but unfortunately it seems to have been removed. Perhaps you could re-upload?
Do you still have the pictures? The link is dead?
Should I adjust it too much - where do I find a replacement ebonite feed?
theartyone Goulet Pens sells them
Dziękuję
Do all of Nathan's fountain pens have an ebonite feed? I use his ink but have bot bought one of his pens yet though he has a fantastic UK supplier so I will do soon.
I believe they all do have an ebonite feed, some models are available with ebonite bodies and sections as well.
Yes, even down to his free charlie pen, all wonderful ebonite feeds. Often they need an initial cleaning due to machining residue and then require reassembly and heat setting (which is easily done with a cup of near-boiling water) along with a little bit of fiddling, but every one of nathan's pens has the potential for greatness. I set aside even my gold nib stuff for the charlie when it comes to much of my note taking. I'm less a fan of the nib creaper /w flex nib than the ahab and konrad, due to the creaper's flex nib and feed being simply too small to handle any serious flexing without a lot of mods that make it too wet for everyday writing, but I've since switched a soft gold nib onto it from a broken 40's schaffer and it's now my best writer.
Also, the ahab is the best supported of his pens, though I like the piston design of the konrad, I do love the 308 refillable cartridges which let me take my ahab on a plane without needing a bottle, an $80 visconti vial, or throwing away a cartridge from my pen every time I get on board.
Get an ahab (demonstrator is most fun, also get a set of 308 cartridges, they're reusable and in the states are 5 for 5$ ) and do not despair if it doesn't write amazingly out of the box. Spend a little time pulling the ebonite out, washing it, and then seating it /w 8-10 veins of the ebonite showing, and you'll be in love. Also works great with a bunch of custom nibs that can be found everywhere.
Bah...I tried increasing the channel on the top of the ebonite feed with a knife and it did nothing at all.
No ink flow whatsoever...complete ink starvation.
I'm guessing the lack of the little pig-tail like the plastic feed has makes the ebonite feed completely useless?
That or I didn't get deep enough...I'll get the dremel out like you did.
Nope...still doesn't work.
I guess this only works for pens made for ebonite feeds.
Damnit...frickin rip off...