Nakaya "Elastic" Flexi Nib

[QM2]

http://queenmargot.com/nakayap2.jpg

 

I am posting a writing sample of the nib on my Nakaya Piccolo -- a Super-Extra-Fine Elastic nib. Nakaya's "elastic" nib is semi-flexible. Its most distinguishing feature is the construction: The flex is achieved by cutting out the sides of the nib. The Elastic nib feels very flexible as you write with it, but does not actually produce visible line variation during regular handwriting.

 

http://queenmargot.com/nakaya_sefe1.jpg

 

The samples are written on Rhodia 5x5 grid paper. The ink is Noodler's Nightshade. The flow on this nib has been increased from the original settings, as I had miscalculated and the Super-Extra-Fine was too fine for me (a first!).

 

Now here is a sample where I intentionally press down to achieve flex. Please keep in mind that I am very bad at using flex nibs and at copperplate writing!

 

http://queenmargot.com/nakaya_sefe3.jpg

 

Here is a closeup of the same sample, for a better view of the line variation:

 

http://queenmargot.com/nakaya_sefe.jpg

 

What makes this pen different from other semi-flex nibs, is the contrast between how flexible it feels to write with and how subtle it actually looks on paper. Over the past year, I have discovered that I prefer italic nibs to flex -- but as far as modern flexis go, the Nakaya Elastic nib is certainly the most unique I have experienced.

 

Close-up pictures and a description of these nibs are available on Nakaya's website:

 

http://www.nakaya.org/elastic_nib_1.jpg

Edited October 28, 2008 by QM2

[bgray]

Very cool...thanks for posting.

 

I've considered taking my dremel to a standard nib to grind the wings like that just to experiment.

[QM2]

Very cool...thanks for posting.

 

I've considered taking my dremel to a standard nib to grind the wings like that just to experiment.

 

I am not sure whether that's all there is to it. When the nib flexes, it seems that not just the tines spread, but the entire feed flexes as well. Is that an illusion?...

[Immoteus]

Thanks for the writing sample. When I had a Nakaya Piccolo with a Elastic SEF, I found the nib very similar to the nib on the Pilot Falcon(the pen, not the nib) in terms of flex. Meaning the nib can be described as "semi-flex" to "soft" depending on the user.

[callida]

Thanks so much for posting the sample and explanation - it's extremely useful.

[Ondina]

Thank you for the review, this is one of my dream pens, but the cost is prohibitive. Is very interesting to know that the nib is a semi-flex, not a full flex one. Could you compare to a Custom 742/743 FA in terms of flex? (I know this is subjective, but.... just your opinion).

 

I've considered taking my dremel to a standard nib to grind the wings like that just to experiment.

If you ever do this, please share the results, the same thought crossed my mind.Given the cost of that nib alone, many of us would risk to give it a go. Although QM2 says the feed also flexes!. That is something else...

[Heirphoto]

Remember that Nakaya also makes a "flex" which is different than the "Elastic". The flex moves in the conventional manner throughout the tines but still does not seem to give the line variation of the older "noodle" type nibs.

 

I just received a flex on one of my Nakayas so have had little time to really explore it's possibilities.

 

Tony

 

[QM2]

Remember that Nakaya also makes a "flex" which is different than the "Elastic". The flex moves in the conventional manner throughout the tines but still does not seem to give the line variation of the older "noodle" type nibs.

 

I just received a flex on one of my Nakayas so have had little time to really explore it's possibilities.

 

I think that the elastic nib is made from the flex nib you mention, and not from a stiff nib. I know that at least two other FPN members have pens with these nibs -- Phthalo and LeighR -- and it would be great to get their impressions.

 

LeighR's website has some writing samples both of the flex and the elastic Nakaya nibs. She gets a great deal of line variation from these.

http://www.leighreyes.com/blog/?attachment_id=999

http://www.leighreyes.com/blog/?attachment_id=353

 

 

Could you compare to a Custom 742/743 FA in terms of flex? (I know this is subjective, but.... just your opinion).

 

I don't have those, sorry! I think Phthalo may, and if so perhaps she will comment.

Edited October 28, 2008 by QM2

[solitaire]

Thanks QM2 that's very interesting.

I have a Falcon, and a Decapod with elastic nib. Both were modified for extra flex by John Motishaw.

The end result is a close one. They are very much alike in my opinion.

 

As an aside - I believe that Nakaya has several different feeds and match them to the nib so that feed and nib work in unison.

 

Because the feed on the fine nib varieties is so narrow I have been very cautious about which inks to use.

 

Again thanks to everyone for the examples and opinions. Most interesting and useful

 

Solitaire

[QM2]

I have a Falcon, and a Decapod with elastic nib. Both were modified for extra flex by John Motishaw.

 

That is useful information; I did not know that he offered flex modification on these pens.

 

I believe that Nakaya has several different feeds and match them to the nib so that feed and nib work in unison.

 

Because the feed on the fine nib varieties is so narrow I have been very cautious about which inks to use.

 

Very interesting; I had tried to find information on their different feed styles, but no luck so far. I just took out my Piccolo to check once again, and the feed is definitely flexible. Not sure whether I could capture this on camera, but it works kind of like a spine - curving in different locations and to different extents and then straightening out again. Is this the sort of feed you have on your elastic as well?

 

As for ink tolerance, I must say that mine was pretty forgiving even before John modified the flow. I was able to use even the saturated bulletproof Noodler's inks in my super-extra-fine elastic.

 

[feiye]

Thank you for the review, this is one of my dream pens, but the cost is prohibitive. Is very interesting to know that the nib is a semi-flex, not a full flex one. Could you compare to a Custom 742/743 FA in terms of flex? (I know this is subjective, but.... just your opinion).

I have a flexible Nakaya nib and I've tried the Elastic, the flexible one gives you more line variation but both can't compare to the Custom 742 FA.

[ksskss]

Thank you for this posting. This was very helpful to me in helping me to decide on my next pen.

 

---

Ken

[Ondina]

Thank you for the review, this is one of my dream pens, but the cost is prohibitive. Is very interesting to know that the nib is a semi-flex, not a full flex one. Could you compare to a Custom 742/743 FA in terms of flex? (I know this is subjective, but.... just your opinion).

I have a flexible Nakaya nib and I've tried the Elastic, the flexible one gives you more line variation but both can't compare to the Custom 742 FA.

 

Thanks, Feiye, that's what I wanted to know, if the Custom is the more flexible one out of the box.

[FlexiCat]

Thank you for the review, this is one of my dream pens, but the cost is prohibitive. Is very interesting to know that the nib is a semi-flex, not a full flex one. Could you compare to a Custom 742/743 FA in terms of flex? (I know this is subjective, but.... just your opinion).

I have a flexible Nakaya nib and I've tried the Elastic, the flexible one gives you more line variation but both can't compare to the Custom 742 FA.

 

 

What can you tell us about the Custom 742/743 FA nibs regarding flexibility. Are these Nakaya nibs? This is the first I've heard of them...and they are more flexible than the Nakaya fine and medium flex nibs?

[Titivillus]

Thanks for the sample. That is one thing that I agonized about and didn't have done to the pen that I eventually will recieve.

 

K

[Siv]

What can you tell us about the Custom 742/743 FA nibs regarding flexibility. Are these Nakaya nibs? This is the first I've heard of them...and they are more flexible than the Nakaya fine and medium flex nibs?

These are Pilot pens and are probably the only modern 'flexible' nibs in current factory produced fountain pens. They aren't wet noodles but they give decent line variation. I say factory because Nakaya also have a flex nib but these are more bespoke so don't really quality as factory. Of course the 742/743 are officially only sold in Japan.

http://ujuku.ath.cx/ujuku-shop/kaimono/fountain_pen/pilot/fountainpen/Jpeg/0f_12.jpg

 

[QM2]

What can you tell us about the Custom 742/743 FA nibs regarding flexibility. Are these Nakaya nibs? This is the first I've heard of them...and they are more flexible than the Nakaya fine and medium flex nibs?

These are Pilot pens and are probably the only modern 'flexible' nibs in current factory produced fountain pens. They aren't wet noodles but they give decent line variation. I say factory because Nakaya also have a flex nib but these are more bespoke so don't really quality as factory. Of course the 742/743 are officially only sold in Japan.

 

Cool, they use the same cut-out sides method. Are these steel nibs?

Edited November 1, 2008 by QM2

[Immoteus]

What can you tell us about the Custom 742/743 FA nibs regarding flexibility. Are these Nakaya nibs? This is the first I've heard of them...and they are more flexible than the Nakaya fine and medium flex nibs?

These are Pilot pens and are probably the only modern 'flexible' nibs in current factory produced fountain pens. They aren't wet noodles but they give decent line variation. I say factory because Nakaya also have a flex nib but these are more bespoke so don't really quality as factory. Of course the 742/743 are officially only sold in Japan.

 

Cool, they use the same cut-out sides method. Are these steel nibs?

The Pilot FA nibs are made out of 14k gold.

[QM2]

Are these steel nibs?

The Pilot FA nibs are made out of 14k gold.

 

Thanks, that makes sense. They looked steel-colour on the image, so I thought I'd ask.

[feiye]

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk41/souveran/nakaya-flex.jpg

 

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk41/souveran/pilot.jpg

 

The Pilot 742 FA is much easier to flex but the ink flow cuts out if you're writing too fast. No such problem with the Nakaya flexible nib but it takes more effort to coax line variation from the Nakaya. The Nakaya nib feels more durable and less fragile but it can be frustrating trying to get significant amount of flex from it. The Pilot springs back much better than the Nakaya but the ink flow cutting out can be a real pain.

 

Overall, the Nakaya is more user friendly in my experiences as it doesn't have the ink flow problem but obviously, the Pilot is far far far more affordable. Just my 2 cents.