Desiderata Flex Pen

[Ego Id Veto]

Hey all,

 

I bought one of the Desiderata Flex Pens from their Etsy store a few weeks ago.

 

It arrived yesterday, and I decided to do a review. I haven't done many reviews, I hope this is good enough! If it's missing any info, please let me know and I'll include it

 

 

As a calligrapher myself, I was interested to see how a Zebra G nib (one of my favourites for Copperplate writing) would go in a fountain pen. I wasn't disappointed.

 

The review was done using Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun on Rhodia dotpad.

 

I put pressure on the nib throughout the review just to see if the feed would keep up, hence why my writing looks a tad strange.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some pics of the pen itself:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the filling system; a sac siliconed on to the section. My only quibble is that the ink tends to form globs at the end due to surface tension, and you have to mess around with it to get it to flow down to the section.

 

 

Here you can see why it's a "second". The cap doesn't quite fit. But seeing that it's completely functional, I don't mind in the least.

 

 

 

 

The only problem I have with the pen is that the design of the section means that my middle finger tends to slip off it and onto the feed, where it becomes covered in ink, often without me noticing.

 

I love this pen, to the point where I even took it to uni and took down notes with it! Congratulations Pierre of Desiderata on designing a fun calligraphy pen that WORKS, without the hassle of other modern flex brands.

 

 

Edited August 28, 2014 by Ego Id Veto

[siima]

Very interesting pen. Where can I get one?

[Ego Id Veto]

Very interesting pen. Where can I get one?

I believe it's kind of a prototype, and Desiderata is working on producing more soon. So far as I know, you can't get them anywhere just yet.

[kidde]

You are close, yours is a first generation production version. Mine is a prototype. You have purple heart/cedar, I believe mine to be Delrin.

I think Pierre is working to increase production but, as the feed and final assembly is by hand, it may not be as fast as we would like.

I will say I really, really like mine. If you notice me commenting every time these pens get mentioned it's because I tried to convert pens to use dip nibs. I could never get the feed right. So I guess a little jealousy, but a lot of respect for accomplishing what I could not. As long as his pen works as it does. I will sing his is praises, but if he tries to take shortcuts I will make it know.

 

Paul

[Drone]

Very cool. Thanks for the look. I will follow this thread, keep us up to date if and when these pens go mainstream.

[PrestoTenebroso]

Hey all,

 

I bought one of the Desiderata Flex Pens from their Etsy store a few weeks ago.

 

It arrived yesterday, and I decided to do a review. I haven't done many reviews, I hope this is good enough! If it's missing any info, please let me know and I'll include it

 

 

As a calligrapher myself, I was interested to see how a Zebra G nib (one of my favourites for Copperplate writing) would go in a fountain pen. I wasn't disappointed.

 

The review was done using Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun on Rhodia dotpad.

 

I put pressure on the nib throughout the review just to see if the feed would keep up, hence why my writing looks a tad strange.

 

Daedalus 1.jpg

 

Daedalus 2.jpg

 

Daedalus 3.jpg

 

Daedalus 4.jpg

 

Daedalus 5.jpg

 

 

 

Here are some pics of the pen itself:

 

20140828_005846.jpg

 

20140828_005908.jpg

 

20140828_005915.jpg

 

20140828_005943.jpg

 

20140828_005949.jpg

 

 

This is the filling system; a sac siliconed on to the section. My only quibble is that the ink tends to form globs at the end due to surface tension, and you have to mess around with it to get it to flow down to the section.

 

20140828_010038.jpg

 

Here you can see why it's a "second". The cap doesn't quite fit. But seeing that it's completely functional, I don't mind in the least.

 

20140828_005922.jpg

 

 

 

The only problem I have with the pen is that the design of the section means that my middle finger tends to slip off it and onto the feed, where it becomes covered in ink, often without me noticing.

 

I love this pen, to the point where I even took it to uni and took down notes with it! Congratulations Pierre of Desiderata on designing a fun calligraphy pen that WORKS, without the hassle of other modern flex brands.

 

 

Thank you for the thorough review. I'm glad you're pleased. I'm working on different designs for the section, and my machinery has been worked out so caps will match barrels again.

[Ego Id Veto]

Thank you for the thorough review. I'm glad you're pleased. I'm working on different designs for the section, and my machinery has been worked out so caps will match barrels again.

Perhaps in your next design you could include something to break the surface tension of the ink. It tends to get stuck in a blob at the end of the sac, and it is tough to get it to run back down into the section without tapping it and making a mess.

[fountainpagan]

This is a beautiful pen. I need one, need one, need one.

 

I cannot enter their site.

 

Could you tell me where could I get one, please?

 

Look what I get:

 

http://www.desideratapens.com/

 

they ask for a password!!!!!!!

Edited September 11, 2014 by fountainpagan

[Ego Id Veto]

This is a beautiful pen. I need one, need one, need one.

 

I cannot enter their site.

 

Could you tell me where could I get one, please?

 

Look what I get:

 

http://www.desideratapens.com/

 

they ask for a password!!!!!!!

Go to their Facebook page, they don't have a website yet.

[fountainpagan]

Thank you Ego.

 

I have achieve to contact Presto Tenebroso on Etsy.

 

I can hardly wait for thr pens to be available.

[FedericoMedina]

Certainly looking forward to these and their availability. well done. Well done.

[legume]

Thank you for the thorough review. I'm glad you're pleased. I'm working on different designs for the section, and my machinery has been worked out so caps will match barrels again.

 

 

Perhaps in your next design you could include something to break the surface tension of the ink. It tends to get stuck in a blob at the end of the sac, and it is tough to get it to run back down into the section without tapping it and making a mess.

 

Maybe he can repurpose and add in agitator beads in there meant for nail polishes like these. I'm sure they're available on Etsy, Amazon, Ebay, etc. too in different sizes.

Edited September 15, 2014 by legume

[PrestoTenebroso]

I believe it's kind of a prototype, and Desiderata is working on producing more soon. So far as I know, you can't get them anywhere just yet.

FountainPagan in his excitement figured out the website address below!

 

Very cool. Thanks for the look. I will follow this thread, keep us up to date if and when these pens go mainstream.

Beginning of next month...

 

Perhaps in your next design you could include something to break the surface tension of the ink. It tends to get stuck in a blob at the end of the sac, and it is tough to get it to run back down into the section without tapping it and making a mess.

I talk about that lower in this response. Try washing the inside of the sac.

 

This is a beautiful pen. I need one, need one, need one.

 

I cannot enter their site.

 

Could you tell me where could I get one, please?

 

Look what I get:

 

http://www.desideratapens.com/

 

they ask for a password!!!!!!!

Wow. You're persistent! The PW is there because I'm still working on it!

 

Go to their Facebook page, they don't have a website yet.

Soon to be at the beginning of next month.

 

Certainly looking forward to these and their availability. well done. Well done.

Check out that website FountainPagan deduced during the beginning of next month.

 

 

 

 

Maybe he can repurpose and add in agitator beads in there meant for nail polishes like these. I'm sure they're available on Etsy, Amazon, Ebay, etc. too in different sizes.

Agitator beads are an interesting idea, but once you get your hands on one, you might see that it's a little overkill. If ink beading is that much of a problem, you could try getting a cotton swab and washing the inside with soap and water then rinsing. Most likely the beading is because the ink doesn't want to be in contact with the inside of the sac. Anything you can do to make them get along might even out your flow.

[siopaopei]

very nice review. and nice handwriting too.

[PrestoTenebroso]

Inexpensive, high performance, "modern vintage" flex fountain pens. Designed, engineered and handmade with American labor in the USA.

The website is here:

www.DesiderataPens.com

[FedericoMedina]

 

Inexpensive, high performance, "modern vintage" flex fountain pens. Designed, engineered and handmade with American labor in the USA.

The website is here:

www.DesiderataPens.com

 

ordered as soon as i got the email last night

[Drone]

 

Inexpensive, high performance, "modern vintage" flex fountain pens. Designed, engineered and handmade with American labor in the USA.

The website is here:

www.DesiderataPens.com

 

 

So this means pen sales have started in earnest? Is that a Zebra Comic G dip nib in the pens I see on your Web site? If it is a Comic G nib, did you plate it? It looks like it might be gold-tone plated in your pictures, but it may not be - the white balance seems way off. Thanks, David

[PrestoTenebroso]

 

So this means pen sales have started in earnest? Is that a Zebra Comic G dip nib in the pens I see on your Web site? If it is a Comic G nib, did you plate it? It looks like it might be gold-tone plated in your pictures, but it may not be - the white balance seems way off. Thanks, David

Sales have begun! It is a Zebra G in there. Yes the white balance is screwy. No gold plating here!

[kidde]

Just the normal ZebraG. They are chromed and last longer than raw steel dip nibs. If you keep them clean and dry they hold up quite well. Buying a few spares isn't a bad idea as they do wear and at some point rust is inevitable.

I am still jealous of Presto getting his pens to feed, I still try to convert some of mine. When I get sick of fiddling and want to write I ink up my Daedalus. Thanks again Pierre.

 

Paul

[PrestoTenebroso]

Just the normal ZebraG. They are chromed and last longer than raw steel dip nibs. If you keep them clean and dry they hold up quite well. Buying a few spares isn't a bad idea as they do wear and at some point rust is inevitable.

I am still jealous of Presto getting his pens to feed, I still try to convert some of mine. When I get sick of fiddling and want to write I ink up my Daedalus. Thanks again Pierre.

 

Paul

You're very welcome, Paul!