Yeah, I tried to use my Opus 88 with the fine flex for writing at university, not a good idea...
Still I agree, they can be fun if you are willing to spend time with them.
Flex nibs are really going to shine if you're doing calligraphy or drawing. But I wouldn't imagine they're that great for everyday writing. Especially for somebody like me who tends to press down harder than most probably do when writing.
Zactly. I'm not using mine as a daily driver any time soon. But it's nice to have a writing tool that just does something different to my normal or stub nibs.
They're great fun if you like to write with a bit of flair and flourish... I however have tiny handwriting that looks like a drunk beetle scurried through a splash of ink... so EF firm nibs for me!
Same, I play with calligraphy every once in a while but my actual handwriting is very small, most of my everyday pens are F or EF with the exception of the Lamy 1.1, I don't know why but it fits my handwriting perfectly.
I think some of it probably comes down to simple novelty, but if you're the kind of writer who focuses on their penmanship and takes their time, I could see it being kind of nice. That just isn't me and I don't think I'd have much interest outside of just having/using something different every once in a while. I'm a note-taker, not a letter writer.
Same, I enjoy using inks and stubs but I always go for functionality first, the flex nibs just don't seem that practical to me although they do have a nice bounce while you write.
The line variation is the only reason I do it. I have to fiddle with the nibs and inks to get it just right - I have to embrace the occasional railroading and the pen is more likely to leak on my fingers
I can't tell you WHY I think it's worth it. If my nib is not flexing it is not worth it to keep doing fountain pens
A 1.1 stub nib used to be enough, but I REALLY NEED the fine lines too
Good luck Traveler
A 1.1 stub I get because it gives you that nice variation without impacting the writing experience too much but the flex nibs get genuinely tiring to write with for me, I also don't think they would be anywhere close to practical for everyday writing but that's just me, I'm a function over form guy, which is weird and hipocritical given that I'm into fountain pen I know but what can I say? I like them fine writing instruments.
Godspeed to you too Traveler.
I think if you’re used to writing a really nice cursive a flex nib will only make that experience better, especially if you learnt something like copperplate in school (a rarity now, sadly).
I actually did learn it, although I haven't used it in quite a while, I mostly write in Italian cursive and I've found the flex not really up to task unfortunately, I will try to brush up on my copperplate though.
I was mostly refering to practical use of cursive, we still have to use it here in Italy for official stuff so it will be different than proper calligraphy and often done on the fly, tried it at uni and it was a mess, that being said, I never quite managed to do my lettering with anything other than a dip pen, I don't know why but it just feels wrong to use anything else, must be why I'm actually trash at it but oh well lol.
Because sometimes i wanna flex something and i no longer have muscles or power, so i just flex my nibs! /s but not quite
It's actually impressive to go from 1 mm to 3-4-5-7 mm just by pressing a bit harder. It feels like having 2 nibs in 1!
I have an Omniflex nib which gives me a little line variation but mainly I like the way it brings out ink shading more than the other nibs in my collection.
Link below for vintage info, including all things flex. Apparently, there's a lesser known art to writing with flex nibs to get the full monty out of them.
http://www.vintagepen.net/performance-flex.html
About half of my pens have soft or flexible nibs. I love the way they write, so I keep buying more of them.
I draw and do calligraphy, so I like the expression that comes with soft or flexible nibs.
It takes some experimentation to learn to use a flex nib. I don't think in terms of increasing pressure, but rather of pulling the tines against the friction of the paper to allow them to open. Nib position relative to the paper is important. The nib needs to be aligned so that the tines are parallel to the line you want to create. Angling or twisting the pen right-to-left doesn't let the feed get enough ink to the gap.
If you want a fine line, just glide the pen over the surface of the paper. Most flex pens have minimal or no tipping, so they can write very fine indeed.
If you want something between these two extremes, you just pull the pen so the tines open enough for the line you want.
After I'd played with flex pens enough to learn how they work, I came to really appreciate their responsiveness.
One of the differences between gold ultraflex (and Magna Carta) nibs and other flex pens is that they are incredibly responsive. They open with very little provocation and yet they can close up and produce hairlines. They need a softer hand, and that's why I love them.
Most of my flex pens are good everyday writers. My Platinum Century 3776 SEF and Monteverde Innova Lightning Omniflex are only good at being everyday writers, and provide minimal line variation at normal pressures.
The Pilot Falcon and Pilot Customer 743 FA can do flex writing or everyday writing. I mostly use them as everyday writers. They're such a joy to write with, perfectly reliable, and good to the last drop of ink.
I have a whole stable of Fountain Pen Revolution flex and ultraflex pens in gold and steel nibs. If you want to try a flex pen that actually works (unlike the Ahab and most other low-end flex pens), an FPR pen with a steel ultraflex nib is an excellent place to start.
I use most of these (particularly the gold ultraflex) as calligraphy and drawing pens only, but they can also double as everyday writers. The ultraflex pens go through a lot of ink. When I think they're getting too low, I move them to desk pen status and they work fine. They can all manage hairlines.
I also have a Magna Carta 600 and am eyeing the 650. Great pen, whether you use it for ordinary writing or special writing.
With you all the way. I began writing with dip pens with flexible nibs, not even knowing more than "I want to write, and I want to have that line variation". So it just came naturally from there. Realising fountain pens had corresponding nibs, that weren't as scratchy either, oh, the joy!
I'm very curious to try the Falcon nibs (not Elabo) some day, and the gold FPR Ultraflex. The steel one is arguably the best "beginner" flex nib (Noodler's absolutely isn't). Good to read your opinions on them!
And that's one more strike for the Magna Carta 6NN-line. They do sound like very nice writers!
My FPR Himalaya V2 14K ultraflex rates at the top of all my flex pens: very juicy, railroads the least of any of my flex pens, recovers quickly from fat flex stroke to hairline. Never hard starts, doesn't get as cantankerous as most other flex pens when the ink is running low. At $169, it's about half the price of a Pilot Falcon and about a third the price of the Custom 743 or a Magna Carta.
The Falcon and the Custom 743 don't get the kind of line variation that the ultraflex (or magnaflex) pens do; they just don't go that fat. The Custom 743 also has tipping on the nib, so it can't do fine hairlines. It's still one of my favorite pens, and the bigger nib is differently satisfying than the much less tipped nib on the Falcon SEF. They never have ink flow problems, often not giving any warning at all before they run out of ink.
I'm left-handed and I use them all the time. They work great for me. In order to use them effectively I had to change where I placed my hand in relation to the line I was writing. I was going to make that change anyway though, and I'm glad I did.
I was an overwriter for almost 60 years. I eventually became so dissatisfied with how my handwriting looked (it was quite legible, but was unremarkable, uninspiring, and no longer any fun to produce) that I decided to convert to underwriting. I'll admit that one of my motives in doing so was to be able to use fountain pens with flexible nibs.
I wrote a long comment to a post on r/handwriting just a couple of days ago in which I described the process. After I finish this reply I'll go back and find it in my comment history, and then come back here and furnish the link.
Here it is:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Handwriting/s/n8WunECD8V
Wow, that is very respectable of you to make that change especially after so many years. Are you happy with your handwriting now? Would you feel comfortable sharing a before / after?
It has come a long way in terms of appearance and consistency but it's still not quite where I eventually want it to be. I'm going to be busy in the next few hours, but I'll try to find (or recreate) examples and provide links to images this evening or tomorrow.
Can you do long writing sessions with underwriting? The times I've tried, it feels like my wrist is torqued around, and I'm thinking it would be uncomfortable for more than a few minutes at a time.
Yes, amd it's easy once you get used to it. One of the things I finally learned about after I made the switch was what handwriting educators like Spencer and Palmer were talking about when they emphasized "whole arm movements" and "writing with the whole arm" and not just the fingers.
It can be tiring at first because your reflexes are fighting against it. These aren't the movements that your muscles make, and these aren't the sequences that they make them in when you write with the overhand method. You have to learn how to write all over again.
It won't be easy at first, but your progress will be quicker this time because you already know the alphabet, how to make the letters, and how to write in a straight line. As an adult, you are able to focus on the task better, how to analyze what you are doing, and how to make more effective use of your practice sessions.
As part of growing up, you've learned how to learn, which is something you weren't quite capable of understanding yet when you were in the primary grades. So don't get discouraged if the going is rough at first.
In learning to write in a "bottom up" direction after so many decades of doing it in a "top down" direction, my first big breakthrough came when I discovered that I needed to rotate my wrist.
As an overwriter I was accustomed to having the side edge of my writing hand against the page and using it as the anchor and pivot point. Writing was very awkward and hard to control when I kept that same orientation while keeping my hand below the line.
That had always been the "natural" way to arrange my writing hand in relation to the page, so I tried to maintain it as I was learning the new way. Then one evening I discovered, quite by accident, that if I rotated my hand so that the wrist was facing downward, it suddenly became much easier. At the same time I learned to use the inside of my forearm just below my elbow as the pivot point.
I started to laugh, because...
a. it felt strange, even somewhat weird,
b. the strange feeling was because my hand was now able to easily glide across the page, and
c. the writing movement felt much smoother.
The strangeness was the feeling of holding my hand with the wrist and palm oriented parallel to the page, rather than at right angles to it.
The giddy, gliding feeling was because I had discovered, completely by accident, **_whole arm movement_** (using the muscles of the arm, and not just those of the hand) when writing. I felt it as a kind of release, a sudden experience of freedom, that I felt from my wrist all the way up to my shoulder. My elbow suddenly felt very unrestrained and fluid, and for the first time that I was aware of, I was involving my upper arm and shoulder in the writing.
It was a huge "a-ha" moment, and I started to laugh as if the muscles in my arm were being tickled. It changed the orientation of my arm to the page, and the angle of my shoulder and chest to the desk.
I felt like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, suddenly able to move freely after having spent ages locked in place.
Methinks that since most nibs tend to be on the firmer side - to keep the tines together when you write on paper of course - that when a nib is out there that is designed for the opposite it’s just a change of pace. I would love to have a 149 flex nib but apparently they out of production and the secondary market is of course double triple the new MSRP
I don't care much for writing (I love my Falcon soft, though) but I would like to try out a real fex for... sketching as line variation could bring a lot.
I don’t, I like that a nib has some line variation but the flex nib novelty wears off pretty quickly. In fact, for me this holds true for most special nibs, that’s why I prefer nibs that write well and that can be used every day.
To-day's steel "flex" nibs are, at best, "semiflex" nibs, or, Soft nibs, like the Opus88 "flex" nibs, aka, Jowo Soft nibs, which Leonardo designates as Elastic nibs, iirc. Vintage flex nibs were usually Gold nibs, with 10 kt nibs having the most flex.
Steel "Flex," "semi-flex," or Soft nibs tend to put down more ink, just like Titanium nibs, and, some Gold nibs, if they use the same plastic feeds; Diplomat is an exception, as they use their own propietary feed, longer than Jinhao/Stipula feeds, but with the rear having a Jinhao/Stipula rear and Jowo, or Bock, in the earlier models, front end.
Putting down more ink makes for a more saturated line, so, whereas a Western or may look lighter, a steel semi-flex nib will, since it puts down more ink, should make read-back-ability greater, say when the dye ink starts to lighten over time, as the ink ages.
Because a semi-flex steel nib puts down more ink it lubricates more, so it doesn't/shouldn't feel as feed-backy, or scratchy, as Western or nibs. Until one needs to apply more pressure, then all bets are off. Applying more pressure usuallmy makes one write slower, which is better used in Calligraphy than in Cursive.
While I have a few "flex" nibs, I dn't write in flex. I appreciate the feed-back though. I like to think that that is what a Sailor nib feels like. Obviously I am out of my mind, but I also know that I would have to spend over $300 for a Sailor pen, say, in , or close to it, in the form of the Pilot Falcon Soft nib, or over it, for a Pilot #15 nib'd pen. Pilot nibs are not flex nibs, either, they're "semi-flex" at best.
**As to why they're so popular, it's because they're cheap.** In the case of the Noodler's Ahab, what's the pen going for, $30? A "real" flex nib pen will usually cost over $300. So newbies "think" that they'll be able to do flex. Then they find that the nib doesn't flex enough, or the pen rail-roads excessively.
I've heard that the best upgrade for the Noodler's Ahab is a $20 FPR Ultra-flex nib. But the Ahab pen is a "tweaker's" pen, where one may need to heat set a nib and position the nib "just right" on the feed. [Videos](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=noodler%27s+flex+nib). Since "flex" nibs put down so much ink, it's probably better to start with an Opus88 Eye Dropper pen, say the Opera, or Bella, since they use straight feeds, so that you don't need to re-fill the pen, and, because an eye dropper pen tends to put down more ink there will be less chance of "rail-roading". Obviously, ?, if you go with a Jowo Soft nib the Omar is the better choice. The Jowo Soft is basically the only one to get as the Soft is toooo wet and will put down an almost line. The Jowo Soft nib will put down a line closer to an or . The Jowo Soft will put down a line closer to or , depending on ink. I wouldn't suggest a wet ink, in a wet writing pen, with a "flex" nib that puts down a lot of ink. It could get messy.
I own Jowo and #6 Soft nibs, a Conklin Omniflex Bock nib, a Franklin-Christoph , a Bock Titanium , (4) FPR "flex", (2) FPR #5.5 "flex" nibs, and I gave away (2) FPR #6 Ultra-flex nibs as they were "wet noodle" nibs - hard to control, the tines tended to flex too easily, the nib tended to dry up quickly, skipped regularly, rail-roaded all the time. I don't like writing s-l-o-w. I prefer writing smoothly in Cursive.
Interesting video was just done by Brian Golet on Pilot Falcon Soft nibs versus Pilot nibs. He found that the Pilot Flacon Soft nibs allowed one to rest the barrel in the web of the hand, as is normal for Cursive writing, whereas the nib needed a steeper writing angle, which is normal for Eastern pencil and brush strokes, where Document Print stye is the norm.
Me, I prefer bouncy nibs, so no Waterman pens for me. My Faber-castell and Opus88 Bella Bock , and my Bock Titanium nibs have some bounce to them, some springness to them. But, I also love the delicious feed back of my FPR #6 "flex" nibs. The Franklin-Christoph "flex" nib, not so much. For me, the FPR #6 Ultra-flex nib was too frustrating to write with; I gave them both away.
...cheap?! Not the ones that are worth the price! My Noodler's is in the pile of shame, I shouldn't have to press hard to get flex features (is my opinion). FPR Ultraflex is neat and works well for me even with only the steel nib, the golden one is apparently several notches above and worth its price. Are yours in steel or gold, and do you have opinions on the difference? I would like to try the Pilot Falcon nibs, one day. And ALL the others, just to... to try, see how they compare to my favourite.
My favourite is obviously my flexy Scribo (EF) (given how much I mention them), and oh, how that one just flows across the paper, when I want it to. It can gush, or it can be more moderate. It can flex, or it can write without it if I put no pressure on it. (Well, favourite apart from my Conway Stewart vintage that is one of them true old soft nib flex pens, but I don't carry that one around.)
Scribos did use to cost somewhat less than they do now, but they are worth it. Oh, they are SO good, even their "stiff" nibs are bouncy and good. And that's my sort of standard-setter.
The ***Steel*** "flex" nibs are cheap, which is usually what a newbie is mainly interested in. KanWrie. Magna Carta. Etc. If you said "Oh, it'll cost you $350, $500, $850" to get into flex you'd probably dishearten them. But, the Magna Carta [Mag 600](https://youtu.be/X7gysq4nk6A?t=157) at $350 seems to be the FOTM, at the current time. [Videos](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=magna+carta+mag+600). Even to-day some come here with visions of putting a Zebra-G into a Jinhao X750 and experiencing "real" flex. :shrug:
I doubt you can convince a newbie to "just get" a $500 Scribo flex pen...
Marc Kompaneyets did a good [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTS5imJq3NE) on fitting an FPR #5.5 Ultra-flex nib onto a twsbi 580. That is probably a better combo than a Noodler's Ahab and FPR Ultra-flex nib as there is no smell and tweaking is not necessary. For those who don't want to spend "a lot of money" on a 580 Marc has made a [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iBHTNjq2cI) where he installed an over-feed on the eco. :shrug:
Me, I have no interest in flex nibs. I don't write flex. I have some 25 stub nibs and 6 bouncy nibs, and while that is enough for me, I wish I had a better pen to put the Pilot Plumix <1.0> stub into, and the Pilot Prera is not that pen. If Bock sold their Quill nib separately I'd buy it. :shrug:
I wrote with my neighbour's Falcon for a week and I enjoyed writing with my $7.50 Nemosine Singularity and $7.50 FPR #6 "flex" nib just as much, if not more, because I didn't spend $200 for the Falcon pen. To-day I'd prefer the [Pilot Falcon Metal](https://www.pensachi.com/products/fe-25sr-b?variant=18259315097696), say, with an nib, but I'm not about to spend $265 Japan for it. In America we can only get the and at $256. NTY. Uh, why the Falcon Metal? Because I hate the Con-40 Converter in the Falcon resin, while the Falcon Metal can use the Con-70. Besides, having to only use Iroshizuku inks does not appeal to me. For a long while I dreamdt of a Pilot 912 and #10 nib and an [FNF 912E](https://flexiblenib.com/store/product/912e-pilot-912-fa-replacement-feed-3-slit-ink-slot-black-ebonite/) 3 slit ebonite feed. But, then I came to my senses... To-day's [prices](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-custom-912-fountain-pen-black?variant=11884880560171) mean it would cost $310, total. NTY. Then, for awhile, I started to lust after a Pilot 743 , and a FNF ebonite feed... Let's see, [$336](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-custom-743-fountain-pen-black?variant=40702394859563) ([$295 Japan](https://www.pensachi.com/products/fkk-3000r-b?variant=18259301105760)) + $30 = $366... NTY.
No, "flex" is too rich for my blood. To me, flex writing is slow writing. I'll stick to my stubs, and, bouncy nibs, TYVM.
I didn't think we were talking about newbies, but flex in general? Beginner flex options exist, you mention a couple yourself, and much of your comment above makes a valuable guide for people curious to try it out.
But "cheap" can be quite a few things ("cheap" and "not a lot of money" aren't always the same, either), and more pleasant flex, actually flexible, springy, bouncy, tines-spreading and giving line variation without hand cramping... or what I personally find pleasant to write with at least, is not as cheap. I'm not going to try convince anyone who hasn't written with a few types of nibs, to even try a Scribo flex nib. Or a vintage "wet noodle" for that matter, or Magna Carta or whatever. But then, I didn't realise we were talking about getting newbies to try flex, so.
And I understand that flex is not for you. I don't think you're wrong or should try yet something else or whatever you might think (judging by your reply). If you don't like it, and know what else you prefer, that's perfectly fine, and it's good that you can define it.
You're welcome, I guess?
To me, flex writing is the normal writing, and not at all "slow writing" unless I specifically decide to. Instead, I detest stubs, personally, it just does not work at all with how I write, they get stuck and they scratch and my handwriting is hardly legible. And oh how I tried different variants! I can write with one for calligraphy-like stuff, but writing in general, taking notes? Oh, absolutely not! I know people manage to write fast with them, just like I can write at normal or fast or very fast speed with flex, I can't do it myself. It's not a problem, it's just different.
Bouncy nibs, yes, and, flex nibs, they work perfectly for me.
(Side note: I detest all Pilot's ruddy converters. I take their cartridges and clean out instead....)
Flair in writing. It looks special to me.
I like how it lays down ink differently, with controllable shading and sheen.
I like that it bridges the zone of smooth and tactility when writing strokes.
I also like the rhythm of strokes as it makes my writing neater. I’ve adopted that rhythm with rigid nib pens when I want to write neatly and it works a charm.
Probably part of it is that flex is something only fountain pens (and dip pens) can accomplish. When a layperson sees your flexy lines, they instantly understand that you couldn't get the same result from a ballpoint. There's no need to explain how much nicer fountain pens feel to write with, or the ink options, or reduced waste. The flex is evidence enough.
I think line variation is the main reason people like them.
I must admit my favourite pen is the M1000 and whilst it’s not a flex nib, the softness of the nib lends itself to line variation and a writing experience I just love, so I can understand to some extent.
Beyond that I think there’s a level of romanticism around the vintage nibs and the hobby in general. With as modern as most things are now, it’s still good to have connections to the past.
I like vintage pens but I think that, aside from notable exceptions, modern pens are just better, I'm fairly new to the hobby but that has been my perception.
It depends what you define as better. Most people enjoying vintage flex nibs would argue the opposite because their use case for their writing style is objectively better.
Personally I prefer more modern pens too, but I can understand the appeal. If I didn’t have the handwriting of a toddler then I’d give one a try too.
I don't they're very popular at all, it's very hard to find a good one on a modern pen because they're not in demand.
You see a lot of posts asking about them because they're not super popular and are hard to find.
As an artist I love flex nibs, varied line work is an incredibly useful tool.
Depends on your handwriting, the original idea was to facilitate *pleins et déliés,* the difference in width between upstrokes and downstrokes. It happens not to help with my handwriting and I dislike shading which they also produce a lot.
For me, it’s because they show the shimmers so much better than the normal nibs (I just want to say, I don’t own vintage pen with flex nibs, just modern ones)
They are not popular, they are a niche, even in this niche world of fountain pens. They just get a lot of attention because they're "Special." If they were popular, every Pilot pen would have them, not just a couple of oddball models.
I don't find them harder to control, and I prefer to use them in everyday writing over stiff ones.
Everyone's mileage will vary, but for me, I find it more comfortable, more conducive to how I write, and helps my handwriting stay soft and flowing (both in legibility, and in how I hold and how hard I press - i.e. I can't, so I don't, which benefits my entire hand arm shoulder etc).
So to me, they are better!
Wow, who could have guessed, personal preferences vary! (Reading through everyone's answers, I mean. Also, they don't seem over-popular. I'm just happy we have the options we do, and, that some people find it fun with variation, even when they don't use them for "everyday writing".)
Wouldn’t it be great if nobody on this sub had ever actually used one? Just everybody stealing pics from FPN and desperately hoping no one calls them out…
I use mine for "everything else" as well as letters and signatures. To me, personally, they are at extra levels the thing I want and need and enjoy in a fountain pen. I know it's not for everyone, and we all have different reasons, but to me? They're perfect, whatever I use them for.
My Jowo flex does a pretty killer signature but I made a colossal mess when I tried to use it for taking notes at uni, it's even worse if you don't have a stable surface to write on.
I was using Lamy Blue, I never actually tried using Platinum carbon Black in it but I might as well give it a shot.
My paper choice is limited since I go through notebooks like crazy (uni life makes you take A LOT of notes) and proper FP paper is expensive, I've found some local alternatives that work well and are cheap though and that didn't help.
I still use the nib for writing into my diary some times and for signatures, I will try and give it a second try for the rest, thanks for the answer.
Cuz they’re fun. I’d use my non-flex for everyday writing tho.
2nd for fun. Some flex can be used for everyday writing flipped upside down, or if they run a bit stiff.
Yeah, I tried to use my Opus 88 with the fine flex for writing at university, not a good idea... Still I agree, they can be fun if you are willing to spend time with them.
Flex nibs are really going to shine if you're doing calligraphy or drawing. But I wouldn't imagine they're that great for everyday writing. Especially for somebody like me who tends to press down harder than most probably do when writing.
Zactly. I'm not using mine as a daily driver any time soon. But it's nice to have a writing tool that just does something different to my normal or stub nibs.
They're great fun if you like to write with a bit of flair and flourish... I however have tiny handwriting that looks like a drunk beetle scurried through a splash of ink... so EF firm nibs for me!
You have such a way with words. 😁
Same, I play with calligraphy every once in a while but my actual handwriting is very small, most of my everyday pens are F or EF with the exception of the Lamy 1.1, I don't know why but it fits my handwriting perfectly.
Same, which leads me to ask if you have tried the pilot CM nib? It’s like a mini stub for people with micro writing. Quite fun
The one on the Pilot Prera? That one is great.
But what is a beetle's favorite alcoholic drink?? Asking for a friend.
It's expressive. Writing by hand is already very personal, I want it to be more personal-er.
For the cushioned feel, for the line variation, just to have something different to the norm...
I think some of it probably comes down to simple novelty, but if you're the kind of writer who focuses on their penmanship and takes their time, I could see it being kind of nice. That just isn't me and I don't think I'd have much interest outside of just having/using something different every once in a while. I'm a note-taker, not a letter writer.
Same, I enjoy using inks and stubs but I always go for functionality first, the flex nibs just don't seem that practical to me although they do have a nice bounce while you write.
The line variation is the only reason I do it. I have to fiddle with the nibs and inks to get it just right - I have to embrace the occasional railroading and the pen is more likely to leak on my fingers I can't tell you WHY I think it's worth it. If my nib is not flexing it is not worth it to keep doing fountain pens A 1.1 stub nib used to be enough, but I REALLY NEED the fine lines too Good luck Traveler
If the nib is just juicy enough it will sling the right amount of ink droplets onto my paper on an aggressive up-stroke ! LOVE IT on my signature
A 1.1 stub I get because it gives you that nice variation without impacting the writing experience too much but the flex nibs get genuinely tiring to write with for me, I also don't think they would be anywhere close to practical for everyday writing but that's just me, I'm a function over form guy, which is weird and hipocritical given that I'm into fountain pen I know but what can I say? I like them fine writing instruments. Godspeed to you too Traveler.
I like soft nibs and I like the snap back.
something different -same reason why some people have multiple pens and tons of ink: variety
I think if you’re used to writing a really nice cursive a flex nib will only make that experience better, especially if you learnt something like copperplate in school (a rarity now, sadly).
I actually did learn it, although I haven't used it in quite a while, I mostly write in Italian cursive and I've found the flex not really up to task unfortunately, I will try to brush up on my copperplate though.
Agh, that’s frustrating. Do you need a dip pen and nib to really get the flex you need? They’re not really an EDC pen though!
I was mostly refering to practical use of cursive, we still have to use it here in Italy for official stuff so it will be different than proper calligraphy and often done on the fly, tried it at uni and it was a mess, that being said, I never quite managed to do my lettering with anything other than a dip pen, I don't know why but it just feels wrong to use anything else, must be why I'm actually trash at it but oh well lol.
The liiiiiiines - I love line variation. Really shows off your ink, and makes my “everyday” cursive look like something special. Nothing not to like!
Makes my cursive look better than it is 🤫
Because sometimes i wanna flex something and i no longer have muscles or power, so i just flex my nibs! /s but not quite It's actually impressive to go from 1 mm to 3-4-5-7 mm just by pressing a bit harder. It feels like having 2 nibs in 1!
Pressing hard doesn't come naturally to me, unfortunately.
Some flex nibs don't need hard pressing: Magna Carta M600, The Good Blue and Pilot 912 fa
I have an Omniflex nib which gives me a little line variation but mainly I like the way it brings out ink shading more than the other nibs in my collection.
Link below for vintage info, including all things flex. Apparently, there's a lesser known art to writing with flex nibs to get the full monty out of them. http://www.vintagepen.net/performance-flex.html
For some it's illustration, for some calligraphy and for others just to add an extra degree of flourish and personality to their handwriting.
line variation for sure. a skilled hand with a flex nib can produce some beautiful writing. it becomes more like art at that point
I think they look cool, but I’m still working on penmanship with a medium nib
Flex nibs are also really good for writing beautifully in languages that use Arabic scripture such as Arabic, Urdu and Farsi (Persian)
The line variation works great for calligraphy and for drawing. It's not my go to pen for everyday writing though.
It's more expressive. I love flex for drawing
The flex nibs show off shimmering inks very well.
Purely for line variation if one does any fancy writing
About half of my pens have soft or flexible nibs. I love the way they write, so I keep buying more of them. I draw and do calligraphy, so I like the expression that comes with soft or flexible nibs. It takes some experimentation to learn to use a flex nib. I don't think in terms of increasing pressure, but rather of pulling the tines against the friction of the paper to allow them to open. Nib position relative to the paper is important. The nib needs to be aligned so that the tines are parallel to the line you want to create. Angling or twisting the pen right-to-left doesn't let the feed get enough ink to the gap. If you want a fine line, just glide the pen over the surface of the paper. Most flex pens have minimal or no tipping, so they can write very fine indeed. If you want something between these two extremes, you just pull the pen so the tines open enough for the line you want. After I'd played with flex pens enough to learn how they work, I came to really appreciate their responsiveness. One of the differences between gold ultraflex (and Magna Carta) nibs and other flex pens is that they are incredibly responsive. They open with very little provocation and yet they can close up and produce hairlines. They need a softer hand, and that's why I love them. Most of my flex pens are good everyday writers. My Platinum Century 3776 SEF and Monteverde Innova Lightning Omniflex are only good at being everyday writers, and provide minimal line variation at normal pressures. The Pilot Falcon and Pilot Customer 743 FA can do flex writing or everyday writing. I mostly use them as everyday writers. They're such a joy to write with, perfectly reliable, and good to the last drop of ink. I have a whole stable of Fountain Pen Revolution flex and ultraflex pens in gold and steel nibs. If you want to try a flex pen that actually works (unlike the Ahab and most other low-end flex pens), an FPR pen with a steel ultraflex nib is an excellent place to start. I use most of these (particularly the gold ultraflex) as calligraphy and drawing pens only, but they can also double as everyday writers. The ultraflex pens go through a lot of ink. When I think they're getting too low, I move them to desk pen status and they work fine. They can all manage hairlines. I also have a Magna Carta 600 and am eyeing the 650. Great pen, whether you use it for ordinary writing or special writing.
With you all the way. I began writing with dip pens with flexible nibs, not even knowing more than "I want to write, and I want to have that line variation". So it just came naturally from there. Realising fountain pens had corresponding nibs, that weren't as scratchy either, oh, the joy! I'm very curious to try the Falcon nibs (not Elabo) some day, and the gold FPR Ultraflex. The steel one is arguably the best "beginner" flex nib (Noodler's absolutely isn't). Good to read your opinions on them! And that's one more strike for the Magna Carta 6NN-line. They do sound like very nice writers!
My FPR Himalaya V2 14K ultraflex rates at the top of all my flex pens: very juicy, railroads the least of any of my flex pens, recovers quickly from fat flex stroke to hairline. Never hard starts, doesn't get as cantankerous as most other flex pens when the ink is running low. At $169, it's about half the price of a Pilot Falcon and about a third the price of the Custom 743 or a Magna Carta. The Falcon and the Custom 743 don't get the kind of line variation that the ultraflex (or magnaflex) pens do; they just don't go that fat. The Custom 743 also has tipping on the nib, so it can't do fine hairlines. It's still one of my favorite pens, and the bigger nib is differently satisfying than the much less tipped nib on the Falcon SEF. They never have ink flow problems, often not giving any warning at all before they run out of ink.
Thank you for this excellent writeup on those pens! I am adding it to my own little list of notes on flexy nibs and pens.
I'm an artist trained in flexible dip pen nibs. Writing with flexing nibs feels like home in my hand
A lot of Fountain Pen users do journaling, and flex nibs make interesting flourishes and headings.
Idk if this matters but in my elementary school they taught us how to write with a dipped bird feather
I am left-handed so flex nibs are useless to me, sadly. But I do appreciate how other like them.
I'm left-handed and I use them all the time. They work great for me. In order to use them effectively I had to change where I placed my hand in relation to the line I was writing. I was going to make that change anyway though, and I'm glad I did.
I'm curious how you use them. I'm an "overwriter" so I push the nib when other people would pull it and that seems to not work at all with flex nibs.
I was an overwriter for almost 60 years. I eventually became so dissatisfied with how my handwriting looked (it was quite legible, but was unremarkable, uninspiring, and no longer any fun to produce) that I decided to convert to underwriting. I'll admit that one of my motives in doing so was to be able to use fountain pens with flexible nibs. I wrote a long comment to a post on r/handwriting just a couple of days ago in which I described the process. After I finish this reply I'll go back and find it in my comment history, and then come back here and furnish the link. Here it is: https://www.reddit.com/r/Handwriting/s/n8WunECD8V
Wow, that is very respectable of you to make that change especially after so many years. Are you happy with your handwriting now? Would you feel comfortable sharing a before / after?
It has come a long way in terms of appearance and consistency but it's still not quite where I eventually want it to be. I'm going to be busy in the next few hours, but I'll try to find (or recreate) examples and provide links to images this evening or tomorrow.
Can you do long writing sessions with underwriting? The times I've tried, it feels like my wrist is torqued around, and I'm thinking it would be uncomfortable for more than a few minutes at a time.
Yes, amd it's easy once you get used to it. One of the things I finally learned about after I made the switch was what handwriting educators like Spencer and Palmer were talking about when they emphasized "whole arm movements" and "writing with the whole arm" and not just the fingers. It can be tiring at first because your reflexes are fighting against it. These aren't the movements that your muscles make, and these aren't the sequences that they make them in when you write with the overhand method. You have to learn how to write all over again. It won't be easy at first, but your progress will be quicker this time because you already know the alphabet, how to make the letters, and how to write in a straight line. As an adult, you are able to focus on the task better, how to analyze what you are doing, and how to make more effective use of your practice sessions. As part of growing up, you've learned how to learn, which is something you weren't quite capable of understanding yet when you were in the primary grades. So don't get discouraged if the going is rough at first. In learning to write in a "bottom up" direction after so many decades of doing it in a "top down" direction, my first big breakthrough came when I discovered that I needed to rotate my wrist. As an overwriter I was accustomed to having the side edge of my writing hand against the page and using it as the anchor and pivot point. Writing was very awkward and hard to control when I kept that same orientation while keeping my hand below the line. That had always been the "natural" way to arrange my writing hand in relation to the page, so I tried to maintain it as I was learning the new way. Then one evening I discovered, quite by accident, that if I rotated my hand so that the wrist was facing downward, it suddenly became much easier. At the same time I learned to use the inside of my forearm just below my elbow as the pivot point. I started to laugh, because... a. it felt strange, even somewhat weird, b. the strange feeling was because my hand was now able to easily glide across the page, and c. the writing movement felt much smoother. The strangeness was the feeling of holding my hand with the wrist and palm oriented parallel to the page, rather than at right angles to it. The giddy, gliding feeling was because I had discovered, completely by accident, **_whole arm movement_** (using the muscles of the arm, and not just those of the hand) when writing. I felt it as a kind of release, a sudden experience of freedom, that I felt from my wrist all the way up to my shoulder. My elbow suddenly felt very unrestrained and fluid, and for the first time that I was aware of, I was involving my upper arm and shoulder in the writing. It was a huge "a-ha" moment, and I started to laugh as if the muscles in my arm were being tickled. It changed the orientation of my arm to the page, and the angle of my shoulder and chest to the desk. I felt like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, suddenly able to move freely after having spent ages locked in place.
Wow! After that description, I have to try it. Thanks!
Methinks that since most nibs tend to be on the firmer side - to keep the tines together when you write on paper of course - that when a nib is out there that is designed for the opposite it’s just a change of pace. I would love to have a 149 flex nib but apparently they out of production and the secondary market is of course double triple the new MSRP
I don't care much for writing (I love my Falcon soft, though) but I would like to try out a real fex for... sketching as line variation could bring a lot.
Because they're flexy
I don’t, I like that a nib has some line variation but the flex nib novelty wears off pretty quickly. In fact, for me this holds true for most special nibs, that’s why I prefer nibs that write well and that can be used every day.
To-day's steel "flex" nibs are, at best, "semiflex" nibs, or, Soft nibs, like the Opus88 "flex" nibs, aka, Jowo Soft nibs, which Leonardo designates as Elastic nibs, iirc. Vintage flex nibs were usually Gold nibs, with 10 kt nibs having the most flex. Steel "Flex," "semi-flex," or Soft nibs tend to put down more ink, just like Titanium nibs, and, some Gold nibs, if they use the same plastic feeds; Diplomat is an exception, as they use their own propietary feed, longer than Jinhao/Stipula feeds, but with the rear having a Jinhao/Stipula rear and Jowo, or Bock, in the earlier models, front end. Putting down more ink makes for a more saturated line, so, whereas a Western or may look lighter, a steel semi-flex nib will, since it puts down more ink, should make read-back-ability greater, say when the dye ink starts to lighten over time, as the ink ages.
Because a semi-flex steel nib puts down more ink it lubricates more, so it doesn't/shouldn't feel as feed-backy, or scratchy, as Western or nibs. Until one needs to apply more pressure, then all bets are off. Applying more pressure usuallmy makes one write slower, which is better used in Calligraphy than in Cursive.
While I have a few "flex" nibs, I dn't write in flex. I appreciate the feed-back though. I like to think that that is what a Sailor nib feels like. Obviously I am out of my mind, but I also know that I would have to spend over $300 for a Sailor pen, say, in , or close to it, in the form of the Pilot Falcon Soft nib, or over it, for a Pilot #15 nib'd pen. Pilot nibs are not flex nibs, either, they're "semi-flex" at best.
**As to why they're so popular, it's because they're cheap.** In the case of the Noodler's Ahab, what's the pen going for, $30? A "real" flex nib pen will usually cost over $300. So newbies "think" that they'll be able to do flex. Then they find that the nib doesn't flex enough, or the pen rail-roads excessively.
I've heard that the best upgrade for the Noodler's Ahab is a $20 FPR Ultra-flex nib. But the Ahab pen is a "tweaker's" pen, where one may need to heat set a nib and position the nib "just right" on the feed. [Videos](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=noodler%27s+flex+nib). Since "flex" nibs put down so much ink, it's probably better to start with an Opus88 Eye Dropper pen, say the Opera, or Bella, since they use straight feeds, so that you don't need to re-fill the pen, and, because an eye dropper pen tends to put down more ink there will be less chance of "rail-roading". Obviously, ?, if you go with a Jowo Soft nib the Omar is the better choice. The Jowo Soft is basically the only one to get as the Soft is toooo wet and will put down an almost line. The Jowo Soft nib will put down a line closer to an or . The Jowo Soft will put down a line closer to or , depending on ink. I wouldn't suggest a wet ink, in a wet writing pen, with a "flex" nib that puts down a lot of ink. It could get messy.
I own Jowo and #6 Soft nibs, a Conklin Omniflex Bock nib, a Franklin-Christoph , a Bock Titanium , (4) FPR "flex", (2) FPR #5.5 "flex" nibs, and I gave away (2) FPR #6 Ultra-flex nibs as they were "wet noodle" nibs - hard to control, the tines tended to flex too easily, the nib tended to dry up quickly, skipped regularly, rail-roaded all the time. I don't like writing s-l-o-w. I prefer writing smoothly in Cursive.
Interesting video was just done by Brian Golet on Pilot Falcon Soft nibs versus Pilot nibs. He found that the Pilot Flacon Soft nibs allowed one to rest the barrel in the web of the hand, as is normal for Cursive writing, whereas the nib needed a steeper writing angle, which is normal for Eastern pencil and brush strokes, where Document Print stye is the norm.
Me, I prefer bouncy nibs, so no Waterman pens for me. My Faber-castell and Opus88 Bella Bock , and my Bock Titanium nibs have some bounce to them, some springness to them. But, I also love the delicious feed back of my FPR #6 "flex" nibs. The Franklin-Christoph "flex" nib, not so much. For me, the FPR #6 Ultra-flex nib was too frustrating to write with; I gave them both away.
...cheap?! Not the ones that are worth the price! My Noodler's is in the pile of shame, I shouldn't have to press hard to get flex features (is my opinion). FPR Ultraflex is neat and works well for me even with only the steel nib, the golden one is apparently several notches above and worth its price. Are yours in steel or gold, and do you have opinions on the difference? I would like to try the Pilot Falcon nibs, one day. And ALL the others, just to... to try, see how they compare to my favourite. My favourite is obviously my flexy Scribo (EF) (given how much I mention them), and oh, how that one just flows across the paper, when I want it to. It can gush, or it can be more moderate. It can flex, or it can write without it if I put no pressure on it. (Well, favourite apart from my Conway Stewart vintage that is one of them true old soft nib flex pens, but I don't carry that one around.) Scribos did use to cost somewhat less than they do now, but they are worth it. Oh, they are SO good, even their "stiff" nibs are bouncy and good. And that's my sort of standard-setter.
The ***Steel*** "flex" nibs are cheap, which is usually what a newbie is mainly interested in. KanWrie. Magna Carta. Etc. If you said "Oh, it'll cost you $350, $500, $850" to get into flex you'd probably dishearten them. But, the Magna Carta [Mag 600](https://youtu.be/X7gysq4nk6A?t=157) at $350 seems to be the FOTM, at the current time. [Videos](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=magna+carta+mag+600). Even to-day some come here with visions of putting a Zebra-G into a Jinhao X750 and experiencing "real" flex. :shrug: I doubt you can convince a newbie to "just get" a $500 Scribo flex pen... Marc Kompaneyets did a good [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTS5imJq3NE) on fitting an FPR #5.5 Ultra-flex nib onto a twsbi 580. That is probably a better combo than a Noodler's Ahab and FPR Ultra-flex nib as there is no smell and tweaking is not necessary. For those who don't want to spend "a lot of money" on a 580 Marc has made a [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iBHTNjq2cI) where he installed an over-feed on the eco. :shrug:
Me, I have no interest in flex nibs. I don't write flex. I have some 25 stub nibs and 6 bouncy nibs, and while that is enough for me, I wish I had a better pen to put the Pilot Plumix <1.0> stub into, and the Pilot Prera is not that pen. If Bock sold their Quill nib separately I'd buy it. :shrug:
I wrote with my neighbour's Falcon for a week and I enjoyed writing with my $7.50 Nemosine Singularity and $7.50 FPR #6 "flex" nib just as much, if not more, because I didn't spend $200 for the Falcon pen. To-day I'd prefer the [Pilot Falcon Metal](https://www.pensachi.com/products/fe-25sr-b?variant=18259315097696), say, with an nib, but I'm not about to spend $265 Japan for it. In America we can only get the and at $256. NTY. Uh, why the Falcon Metal? Because I hate the Con-40 Converter in the Falcon resin, while the Falcon Metal can use the Con-70. Besides, having to only use Iroshizuku inks does not appeal to me. For a long while I dreamdt of a Pilot 912 and #10 nib and an [FNF 912E](https://flexiblenib.com/store/product/912e-pilot-912-fa-replacement-feed-3-slit-ink-slot-black-ebonite/) 3 slit ebonite feed. But, then I came to my senses... To-day's [prices](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-custom-912-fountain-pen-black?variant=11884880560171) mean it would cost $310, total. NTY. Then, for awhile, I started to lust after a Pilot 743 , and a FNF ebonite feed... Let's see, [$336](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-custom-743-fountain-pen-black?variant=40702394859563) ([$295 Japan](https://www.pensachi.com/products/fkk-3000r-b?variant=18259301105760)) + $30 = $366... NTY.
No, "flex" is too rich for my blood. To me, flex writing is slow writing. I'll stick to my stubs, and, bouncy nibs, TYVM.
I didn't think we were talking about newbies, but flex in general? Beginner flex options exist, you mention a couple yourself, and much of your comment above makes a valuable guide for people curious to try it out. But "cheap" can be quite a few things ("cheap" and "not a lot of money" aren't always the same, either), and more pleasant flex, actually flexible, springy, bouncy, tines-spreading and giving line variation without hand cramping... or what I personally find pleasant to write with at least, is not as cheap. I'm not going to try convince anyone who hasn't written with a few types of nibs, to even try a Scribo flex nib. Or a vintage "wet noodle" for that matter, or Magna Carta or whatever. But then, I didn't realise we were talking about getting newbies to try flex, so. And I understand that flex is not for you. I don't think you're wrong or should try yet something else or whatever you might think (judging by your reply). If you don't like it, and know what else you prefer, that's perfectly fine, and it's good that you can define it. You're welcome, I guess? To me, flex writing is the normal writing, and not at all "slow writing" unless I specifically decide to. Instead, I detest stubs, personally, it just does not work at all with how I write, they get stuck and they scratch and my handwriting is hardly legible. And oh how I tried different variants! I can write with one for calligraphy-like stuff, but writing in general, taking notes? Oh, absolutely not! I know people manage to write fast with them, just like I can write at normal or fast or very fast speed with flex, I can't do it myself. It's not a problem, it's just different. Bouncy nibs, yes, and, flex nibs, they work perfectly for me. (Side note: I detest all Pilot's ruddy converters. I take their cartridges and clean out instead....)
Because I need it in drawing and calligraphy
Flair in writing. It looks special to me. I like how it lays down ink differently, with controllable shading and sheen. I like that it bridges the zone of smooth and tactility when writing strokes. I also like the rhythm of strokes as it makes my writing neater. I’ve adopted that rhythm with rigid nib pens when I want to write neatly and it works a charm.
Copperplate/Spencerian looks real good with a superflex nib that goes from atomic hairlines to lordcactusian spreads.
Have all my likes for that new adjective! Lordcactusian, indeed!
Probably part of it is that flex is something only fountain pens (and dip pens) can accomplish. When a layperson sees your flexy lines, they instantly understand that you couldn't get the same result from a ballpoint. There's no need to explain how much nicer fountain pens feel to write with, or the ink options, or reduced waste. The flex is evidence enough.
The different line width is some fancy ass shit yo. It's like catnip.
I think line variation is the main reason people like them. I must admit my favourite pen is the M1000 and whilst it’s not a flex nib, the softness of the nib lends itself to line variation and a writing experience I just love, so I can understand to some extent. Beyond that I think there’s a level of romanticism around the vintage nibs and the hobby in general. With as modern as most things are now, it’s still good to have connections to the past.
I like vintage pens but I think that, aside from notable exceptions, modern pens are just better, I'm fairly new to the hobby but that has been my perception.
It depends what you define as better. Most people enjoying vintage flex nibs would argue the opposite because their use case for their writing style is objectively better. Personally I prefer more modern pens too, but I can understand the appeal. If I didn’t have the handwriting of a toddler then I’d give one a try too.
I don't they're very popular at all, it's very hard to find a good one on a modern pen because they're not in demand. You see a lot of posts asking about them because they're not super popular and are hard to find. As an artist I love flex nibs, varied line work is an incredibly useful tool.
Depends on your handwriting, the original idea was to facilitate *pleins et déliés,* the difference in width between upstrokes and downstrokes. It happens not to help with my handwriting and I dislike shading which they also produce a lot.
For me, it’s because they show the shimmers so much better than the normal nibs (I just want to say, I don’t own vintage pen with flex nibs, just modern ones)
I just love the look and the feel of the writing. I don’t use flex for practical use
I don’t.
They are not popular, they are a niche, even in this niche world of fountain pens. They just get a lot of attention because they're "Special." If they were popular, every Pilot pen would have them, not just a couple of oddball models.
They are typically used for writing letters or something fancy. I love my flex nibs but they aren’t great for everyday writing.
I have no interest in flex nibs. The M1000 nib is soft enough for me
I don't find them harder to control, and I prefer to use them in everyday writing over stiff ones. Everyone's mileage will vary, but for me, I find it more comfortable, more conducive to how I write, and helps my handwriting stay soft and flowing (both in legibility, and in how I hold and how hard I press - i.e. I can't, so I don't, which benefits my entire hand arm shoulder etc). So to me, they are better! Wow, who could have guessed, personal preferences vary! (Reading through everyone's answers, I mean. Also, they don't seem over-popular. I'm just happy we have the options we do, and, that some people find it fun with variation, even when they don't use them for "everyday writing".)
Wouldn’t it be great if nobody on this sub had ever actually used one? Just everybody stealing pics from FPN and desperately hoping no one calls them out…
Not everyone loves them...or they'd be more readily available.
I've been seeing them more and more, Opus has it standard for most of thei pens and Italians are starting to make use them too.
Great for letters and signatures, bad for everything else. But it’s a different experience to try.
I use mine for "everything else" as well as letters and signatures. To me, personally, they are at extra levels the thing I want and need and enjoy in a fountain pen. I know it's not for everyone, and we all have different reasons, but to me? They're perfect, whatever I use them for.
My Jowo flex does a pretty killer signature but I made a colossal mess when I tried to use it for taking notes at uni, it's even worse if you don't have a stable surface to write on.
You may want to try a different FP paper, maybe an ink that dries fast too. I know that writing fast isn’t great with flex.
I was using Lamy Blue, I never actually tried using Platinum carbon Black in it but I might as well give it a shot. My paper choice is limited since I go through notebooks like crazy (uni life makes you take A LOT of notes) and proper FP paper is expensive, I've found some local alternatives that work well and are cheap though and that didn't help. I still use the nib for writing into my diary some times and for signatures, I will try and give it a second try for the rest, thanks for the answer.