Definitely! :) I'm personally collecting all the Noodler's pens as I go, I have every evolution. It's really been neat to follow along as Nathan improves each model of pen, he is incredibly dedicated to the writing community, and to providing the best pen he can at a low cost.
Yes, you can do this. The piston itself only moves inside the pen, so anywhere the piston is, you can still put the blind cap back on. That's a great question and something I could have pointed out in the video if I'd thought about!
I like them both for different reasons, honestly. The Ahab is bigger and fits my big hands better, the Konrad is nice because it's a little easier to fill and has the ink window. It's a preference thing, really.
Noodler's is really cutting a new path with their flex pens, and as such there's a lot of evolution that going to occur. I already know there is at least one other new pen in the works (the Neponset), so you'll see a lot of new stuff coming out in the next couple of years. The Konrad is already coming out in a couple of demo colors (smoke and blue), and likely a whole lot more colors, too.
With a regular 'first fill' from a dry pen, I got about 1.1ml. But if I expel all the air out, I can get somewhere between 1.3ml and 1.4ml. The Nib Creaper flex is about .9ml, and the Ahab (piston) is 1.9ml, Ahab eyedropper is almost 6ml.
I do have a video on that already. I can't link to it here in my comment (thanks UA-cam), but look up the title "Noodler's Konrad Flex Pen - Ink Nouveau" on my channel, I uploaded it May 1st, 2012. I show all three in that video.
Hmm...that's a tough question because it depends what you want. In general, I would say yes, the Konrad is probably a better pen to recommend 'in general', but the Ahab still has some cool stuff like the ability to convert it to an eyedropper and carry around 6ml of ink in the pen. The Konrad is a more fitting size for large and small hands alike, and is a little more conservative style than the Ahab. I won't say that it 'is or isn't better, I'll leave it up to you to decide for yourself :)
I love the Konrad size and nib too, and thanks for this video--mine is one of the few that leaks, and I'm going to boldly go take it apart and see if a good cleaning will make it happy. Heat setting the feed is gonna have to wait!
A note on the Konrad: If you buy one, it is in your best interest to watch a video about heat setting ebonite nibs. I recently travelled with one from Seattle to New Orleans, and the First stroke of my pen, once I landed, was blotch and blot city and the cap was full of ink - but a heat set fixed it right up. FYI... (P.S.: Is there a video on traveling with pens and ink? If so, where? If not, wow, now that would be useful...)
Heatsetting is almost a requirement for all the Noodler's pens. We have a FP101 on Flying with Fountain Pens (blog.gouletpens.com/2012/08/fp101-flying-with-fountain-pens.html) if that's what you're looking for. - Colin
I am getting ready to order mine!! I izz excited...this is going to be my first time actually ordering from Goulet..(although I am an avid watcher of your videos) Cheers from Grand Junction, Co~
I now have 2 Konrads - the Narwhal, and the brilliantly named Black Pearl - and I have not had the issues with these that I had with the Nib Creaper pens that I got.. Am kinda tempted to replace my Nib Creapers with Konrads now..
Inky fingers are a way of life for me these days :) I'm a lot better about it than I was when I first started, but since I handle so many pens and inks every day, I also am not as super careful as I once was either. I take pride in a little ink on my hands, so I am only but so careful ;)
I have the clear rollerball version of the Konrad family. It's bloody brilliant! The converter works well and it hasn't leaked or spit ink on me yet! I doubt I'll buy a Konrad Flex because I have multiple Ahabs that I'm pleased with. But the rollerball version is excellent and I expect this pen will perhaps make those unhappy with the Ahab Flex pens a little happier. :) Thanks, Brian!
Alright, good for you! Thanks for supporting my shop, the videos are fun but my store is where I actually pay my bills ;) I'll keep on making them though, as long as I'm around!
Great vid! Question please: when the ink level gets low can you point the nib upward and extend the piston until you see ink in the window (reducing the bubble) while still being able to put the blind cap back on? This would totally be awesome with regards to preventing gushing / burping ink. I know you can do this with the small noodlers rollerball. Thank you!
Tell the Tard (my cute pet name for Nathan) to bring back the Konrads that are a uniform color/design between the three main sections. I love the regular old cheaper Konrads (not talking the acrylic/ebonite versions), but I hate the mix and match look. My idea Konrad would be 100% Pina Tortoise. 🤤 Any of the Noodler’s tortoise materials would be great. I remember the original rollerball was a great dark brown tortoise material.
This is such a great pen. Will they be making it with a standard nib as well? They are long forgotten now but I loved the original pen with the std non-flex nib. Its a bit too small for my giant hands, so the konrad would be the perfect pen if it was also offered in the standard nib. Hope you can pass the word to Nathan
Goulet Pen Company & Noodler's Co. are the peanut butter & jelly of my pen world. Thank you for this video - just to confirm - a Konrad feed can fit and work in a brush pen body, correct?
I recently purchased this pen. But i have difficulties in filling it up. Even with Sailor black ink bottle design, ink can't cover the grip section and i can barely fill it up. Is there an easier way to fill this pen?
I don't own the pen. But watching the video I was thinking: since the piston mechanism comes out, is it possible to fill it with a syringe from the back and then just put the piston back in place?
Nice to see a guy that works in the pen industry with his fingers all inked up. Makes me feel better as a non-pro with inked up fingers.
Definitely! :) I'm personally collecting all the Noodler's pens as I go, I have every evolution. It's really been neat to follow along as Nathan improves each model of pen, he is incredibly dedicated to the writing community, and to providing the best pen he can at a low cost.
Yes, you can do this. The piston itself only moves inside the pen, so anywhere the piston is, you can still put the blind cap back on. That's a great question and something I could have pointed out in the video if I'd thought about!
It's always worth a shot taking it apart first, worst case you'll learn a little more about how the pen works!
I think you're right, this pen 'fixes' a lot of the little quirks that some people have with the Ahab. It's a pretty cool pen.
I like them both for different reasons, honestly. The Ahab is bigger and fits my big hands better, the Konrad is nice because it's a little easier to fill and has the ink window. It's a preference thing, really.
Noodler's is really cutting a new path with their flex pens, and as such there's a lot of evolution that going to occur. I already know there is at least one other new pen in the works (the Neponset), so you'll see a lot of new stuff coming out in the next couple of years. The Konrad is already coming out in a couple of demo colors (smoke and blue), and likely a whole lot more colors, too.
With a regular 'first fill' from a dry pen, I got about 1.1ml. But if I expel all the air out, I can get somewhere between 1.3ml and 1.4ml. The Nib Creaper flex is about .9ml, and the Ahab (piston) is 1.9ml, Ahab eyedropper is almost 6ml.
I do have a video on that already. I can't link to it here in my comment (thanks UA-cam), but look up the title "Noodler's Konrad Flex Pen - Ink Nouveau" on my channel, I uploaded it May 1st, 2012. I show all three in that video.
Hmm...that's a tough question because it depends what you want. In general, I would say yes, the Konrad is probably a better pen to recommend 'in general', but the Ahab still has some cool stuff like the ability to convert it to an eyedropper and carry around 6ml of ink in the pen. The Konrad is a more fitting size for large and small hands alike, and is a little more conservative style than the Ahab. I won't say that it 'is or isn't better, I'll leave it up to you to decide for yourself :)
I love the Konrad size and nib too, and thanks for this video--mine is one of the few that leaks, and I'm going to boldly go take it apart and see if a good cleaning will make it happy. Heat setting the feed is gonna have to wait!
A note on the Konrad: If you buy one, it is in your best interest to watch a video about heat setting ebonite nibs. I recently travelled with one from Seattle to New Orleans, and the First stroke of my pen, once I landed, was blotch and blot city and the cap was full of ink - but a heat set fixed it right up. FYI... (P.S.: Is there a video on traveling with pens and ink? If so, where? If not, wow, now that would be useful...)
Heatsetting is almost a requirement for all the Noodler's pens. We have a FP101 on Flying with Fountain Pens (blog.gouletpens.com/2012/08/fp101-flying-with-fountain-pens.html) if that's what you're looking for. - Colin
The Goulet Pen Company Excellent - thank you!
This pen is great with one of the Goulet #6 nibs. They're super smooth, and I love it! Thank you!
Thanks! It works well, that's why I use it so much :)
I am getting ready to order mine!! I izz excited...this is going to be my first time actually ordering from Goulet..(although I am an avid watcher of your videos)
Cheers from Grand Junction, Co~
I now have 2 Konrads - the Narwhal, and the brilliantly named Black Pearl - and I have not had the issues with these that I had with the Nib Creaper pens that I got.. Am kinda tempted to replace my Nib Creapers with Konrads now..
Good to hear! I enjoy mine :)
I cant wait to add this Noodlers to my collection!
I knew if I waited long enough there would be a noodler's flex pen that I liked.
Thanks for another great review. The styling reminds me very much of a Matador or early Pelikan.
How interesting to use rice as a backdrop for the pens!
Inky fingers are a way of life for me these days :) I'm a lot better about it than I was when I first started, but since I handle so many pens and inks every day, I also am not as super careful as I once was either. I take pride in a little ink on my hands, so I am only but so careful ;)
I have the clear rollerball version of the Konrad family. It's bloody brilliant! The converter works well and it hasn't leaked or spit ink on me yet!
I doubt I'll buy a Konrad Flex because I have multiple Ahabs that I'm pleased with. But the rollerball version is excellent and I expect this pen will perhaps make those unhappy with the Ahab Flex pens a little happier. :)
Thanks, Brian!
I have just bought a konrad fountain pen!!! I hope it works as good as you say, because vintage flex fountain pens are soooo expensive
They really are expensive! The Konrad is a great pen to mess around with, I think you'll have fun.
Alright, good for you! Thanks for supporting my shop, the videos are fun but my store is where I actually pay my bills ;) I'll keep on making them though, as long as I'm around!
Great vid! Question please: when the ink level gets low can you point the nib upward and extend the piston until you see ink in the window (reducing the bubble) while still being able to put the blind cap back on? This would totally be awesome with regards to preventing gushing / burping ink. I know you can do this with the small noodlers rollerball. Thank you!
It does! It's about the size of an m400 though.
Yeah, definitely. The size of this pen is pretty close to an m400, the styling isn't too far off either.
Great pen! I love it!
Unfortunately not. The diameter of the hole inside the Konrad is just a bit bigger than the Konrad rollerball :(
Tell the Tard (my cute pet name for Nathan) to bring back the Konrads that are a uniform color/design between the three main sections. I love the regular old cheaper Konrads (not talking the acrylic/ebonite versions), but I hate the mix and match look. My idea Konrad would be 100% Pina Tortoise. 🤤 Any of the Noodler’s tortoise materials would be great. I remember the original rollerball was a great dark brown tortoise material.
Thanks I'll check into that.
This is such a great pen. Will they be making it with a standard nib as well? They are long forgotten now but I loved the original pen with the std non-flex nib. Its a bit too small for my giant hands, so the konrad would be the perfect pen if it was also offered in the standard nib. Hope you can pass the word to Nathan
Goulet Pen Company & Noodler's Co. are the peanut butter & jelly of my pen world. Thank you for this video - just to confirm - a Konrad feed can fit and work in a brush pen body, correct?
Thank you very much for a helpful video.
I didn't know how to fill the first fountain pen. Mine is not transparent.
I just ordered the Red Mesa Tortoise!
Which one do you prefer??ahab or Konrad. Coz I've bought one from you guys and wanted to know if I made a mistake??
What's the ink capacity on the Konrad?
I recently purchased this pen. But i have difficulties in filling it up. Even with Sailor black ink bottle design, ink can't cover the grip section and i can barely fill it up. Is there an easier way to fill this pen?
I don't own the pen. But watching the video I was thinking: since the piston mechanism comes out, is it possible to fill it with a syringe from the back and then just put the piston back in place?
ahab or konard? which one would you prefer?
Why don´t you have green Konrads?
Great .. how does it write?!
can the konrad be turn to an eyedropper?
Not that I'm aware. The Ahab can, but you can't remove the piston mechanism from the Konrad. - Colin
Because they don't exist! Yet, at least.
Still?
can i use a parker ink on that?
+rollingleaf71 Yeah, any fountain pen ink will work in the Noodler's Konrad.
+The Goulet Pen Company thank's a lot quick response! ima purchase 1 now!\m/\m/
I Love Inky Fingers!
lol why would you do an overview without actually using the pen?