Noodler's Ahab Flex Pen

[SamCapote]

JonB & Blooze, fabulous photos!!!

Edited November 28, 2011 by watch_art

[Caifanito]

Howdy all,

 

I received a tweet about the Ahab a few days ago and it caught my attention. AFter reading a few reviews and taking a double look at the price I think I'm ready to stop by my local pen store to pick up a few.

 

Now, I do have a question...i read the first 1.5 pages of this great thread and I couldn't find a clear answer. I think I know the answer, but I rather be safe...is the Ahab a piston-only pen? So you can't use cartridges on it, correct?

 

The reason I ask is because I've been using only Florida Blue cartridges on my Waterman Expert II so if I pick up the Ahabs I will also have to pick up some ink bottles.

 

I happened to stumble upon a pen store close to my office so I will be stopping by this week. The place is called Pen Boutique in Columbia, MD...prices seem reasonable and they also sell on ebay. So far I'm thinking of picking up the following:

 

Ahab in Jade with Waterman Green ink

Ahab in Lapis Blue with Noodler's Baystate Blue

Ahab in December 25th with Pelikan Edelstein Ruby

 

 

Thanks all!

[crunchmaster]

I don't think of Baystate Blue as being a good shading ink, so not really suited to the Ahab--or at least, not an ink that would bring out the Ahab's special qualities. It may feather some on cheaper paper, too, which detracts from the flex effect. Some people like it in italic nibs, though. I don't know anything about those other inks, but I'm sure you can find reviews here on FPN.

 

If I were you, and I were going to buy three Ahabs and three inks, I'd make at least one of them a Noodler's Black Swan ink--after all, it's made for the flex pens! I have Black Swan in Australian Roses, and it's great. You might also find this interesting:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/208811-black-swan-in-north-african-violets

 

Oh, and the Ahab is a plunger/piston filler, but can also be used as an eyedropper. No cartridges. (That's a good thing! )

Edited November 27, 2011 by crunchmaster

[JonB55198]

Now, I do have a question...i read the first 1.5 pages of this great thread and I couldn't find a clear answer. I think I know the answer, but I rather be safe...is the Ahab a piston-only pen? So you can't use cartridges on it, correct?

 

Correct. It is Piston Only. It's really one of the best filling mechanisms. Filling from a bottle is much cheaper than from carts also. Another advantage of bottles is that you can mix inks to create your own colors.

[USMCMom]

Now, I do have a question...i read the first 1.5 pages of this great thread and I couldn't find a clear answer. I think I know the answer, but I rather be safe...is the Ahab a piston-only pen? So you can't use cartridges on it, correct?

 

Correct. It is Piston Only. It's really one of the best filling mechanisms. Filling from a bottle is much cheaper than from carts also. Another advantage of bottles is that you can mix inks to create your own colors.

 

Nathan said that the Ahab can also be used as an eyedropper.

[JonB55198]

Now, I do have a question...i read the first 1.5 pages of this great thread and I couldn't find a clear answer. I think I know the answer, but I rather be safe...is the Ahab a piston-only pen? So you can't use cartridges on it, correct?

 

Correct. It is Piston Only. It's really one of the best filling mechanisms. Filling from a bottle is much cheaper than from carts also. Another advantage of bottles is that you can mix inks to create your own colors.

 

Nathan said that the Ahab can also be used as an eyedropper.

 

Ah yes... that too! The thing will hold a ton of ink. The only draw-back is that you cannot tell how much you have left unless you are using the Demonstrator.

[Inka]

Actually as mentioned the Ahab is advertised that it can be converted to use as an eyedropper-filler easily, so in retrospect it's not a "piston-fill only" pen, although true it cannot use carts.

As for telling the ink level, seems to me just partially removing the barrel will give a clear view of the piston-cell that is transparent, demonstrator or not, unless you convert to eyedropper-fill.

Borrowing one of Sams pics here, you could easily see the ink level when the barrel rear is even partially removed from the front section, even lacking an ink-view window it's better than nothing...

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/pens/Ahab/AhabPlungers.jpg

 

 

If converted to eyedropper, I'd suspect like most EDs the Ahab would begin to write a little heavier/ wetter as it nears the end of ink supply, as the hand warms the ink expanding it and it creates increased pressure in the barrel.

[Earthdawn]

Is that smaller tube inside the filler tube needed? I only ask as it Is not on the other model noodlers has.

[Inka]

Is that smaller tube inside the filler tube needed? I only ask as it Is not on the other model noodlers has.

if it's what I think you're referring to then, yes, the smaller "tube" is needed.

It's the plunger, or piston, it's how the pen is filled with ink and why you see a black tapered knob on the rear and an o-ring inside the outer chamber/ barrel.

With the plunger pressed toward the nib/ front section, insert nib into ink up to section, while holding there slowly pull back on the plunger and the chamber fills with ink.

It's actually a very old filling system and so simple and sturdy there's little to go wrong with it, I have a pen or two here in old cigar boxes dating back to the early 1900s with a filler very similar to the Ahab.

[JonB55198]

Is that smaller tube inside the filler tube needed? I only ask as it Is not on the other model noodlers has.

if it's what I think you're referring to then, yes, the smaller "tube" is needed.

It's the plunger, or piston, it's how the pen is filled with ink and why you see a black tapered knob on the rear and an o-ring inside the outer chamber/ barrel.

With the plunger pressed toward the nib/ front section, insert nib into ink up to section, while holding there slowly pull back on the plunger and the chamber fills with ink.

It's actually a very old filling system and so simple and sturdy there's little to go wrong with it, I have a pen or two here in old cigar boxes dating back to the early 1900s with a filler very similar to the Ahab.

 

I think Earthdawn meant the drain tube. But, I'm not sure if it is needed....

[79spitfire]

The tiny tube on the inside? Yes, it's what gives the pen the ability to nearly fill on two strokes, it provides a lower resistance path for the ink to the top of the piston chamber. If you were make it into an eyedropper pen it wouldn't be necessary, but as the pen got lower on ink it would serve as a path for the air pressure to equalize inside the pen.

[Earthdawn]

The tiny tube on the inside?

 

Yes thats what I talking about.

 

Thank you 79spitfire, JonB55198 & Inka

 

My issue was trying to fill the pen with some of the ink samples I got with the pen. With the tube there I could not use a syringe to fill it nor could I get it to fill directly from the sample bottle itself. I guess I need a regular bottle to fill from. It needs to be submerged most of the way up to fill. I watched the video of the other Noodlers flex that Goulet has up and that pen did not have the tube so you were able to use a syringe with ease to fill it.

 

Any thoughts or has anyone else filled there Ahab from a smaple ink bottle?

 

Thanks !!!

Edited November 28, 2011 by Earthdawn

[Grendel]

Any thoughts or has anyone else filled there Ahab from a smaple ink bottle?

Unscrew the filling mechanism, dump the ink into it, and put it back together.

 

For the record: fantastic pen ! Outstanding price/performance ratio and a good writer, I'm an impressed happy camper !

[Caifanito]

thank you all for the input!

 

I'm hoping to buy the pens today or tomorrow since I leave for NYC Wednesday morn.

[andyslo]

How's the smell? My Noodler's large rollerball still has a..."fragrance" that makes me uneasy when I uncap it.

 

 

Wow I thought that was just me. Love the pen, but the smell makes me queasy. I plan on leaving it out in the fresh air for awhile. But to repeat, I like the pen, the value and how it writes. Worth my $20.

[barefeetz]

I ordered 2 Ahabs today: a Lapis Inferno and a Medieval Lapis. SWMBO will certainly allow me to keep one. I think

[manashttu]

I got two Ahabs over the weekend.

 

I am a fan of my Pelikan M800's, but I must say that what Noodler's has done with this pen is truly remarkable. The large nib is super smooth, and the filling system is just slick as snot. Holds a ton of ink in two or three quick pumps. The build quality is good, and the pen is well balanced.

 

Though the pen is marketed as a flex pen, for those of us not all that intrigued by artistic writing and drawing, the subtle flex of this pen makes it for a usable and pleasurable daily writer. With no pressure, it makes a nice fine line comparable to my M800's extra fine. With just a slight but purposeful application of pressure, a more wet expressive line with nice shading can be made. This makes the pen extremely versatile. Forget the extreme flex; this is just a quality writing nib in a solid package.

 

At the office, I find myself leaving the M800 and Parker 75 as ornaments for my pocket as I write with the Ahab. It works great for extra fine edits in the margins of documents, writing notes to colleagues and clients, and doodling during phone calls. All in one pen.

 

I am VERY impressed.

[Sayon]

I have to say I am not happy with my Ahab. It belches ink over my page. The feathering is just ridiculous on any paper I try. I have taken the pen apart multiple times and cleaned and re-cleaned.

 

Tonight when I tried again I took another look at the feed and it looks like maybe it wasn't properly machined? Could someone with more experience with FPs give me

some feedback and tell me if this is normal?

 

 

 

In the picture you can see that the top part of the feed channels go all the way to the middle but the bottom channels stop quite a bit before it. When you look at the feed it looks as though the feed when into the machine at a very slight angle which threw everything off. As I said this is the first feed I have seen outside of a pen so you're help is appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

P.S. - I'm sorry the picture is so bad. iPhone with a little led handheld light.

[threeamigos]

I have to say I am not happy with my Ahab. It belches ink over my page. The feathering is just ridiculous on any paper I try. I have taken the pen apart multiple times and cleaned and re-cleaned.

 

Tonight when I tried again I took another look at the feed and it looks like maybe it wasn't properly machined? Could someone with more experience with FPs give me

some feedback and tell me if this is normal?

 

 

 

In the picture you can see that the top part of the feed channels go all the way to the middle but the bottom channels stop quite a bit before it. When you look at the feed it looks as though the feed when into the machine at a very slight angle which threw everything off. As I said this is the first feed I have seen outside of a pen so you're help is appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

P.S. - I'm sorry the picture is so bad. iPhone with a little led handheld light.

 

It looks like the fins vents don't reach the channel.

[El Mocho]

I got two Ahabs, in Jade and Demonstrator (clear). I told myself I'd try the Jade and if I didn't like it, the clear would be a present for an artist friend who complained about the lack of line variation in fountain pens.

 

I have both of them filled now. So far, I have only messed about with the flex. With no pressure, I find the nib a little wider than the original Noodlers flex pens, and fairly smooth, so far that I'd like it as general-use pen. I did flush the pens with soapy water and pulled the nib and feed from the demonstrator, but that doesn't seem like a horrible operation. Soapy water will get the job done, but soapy water all around a pulled nib and feed will do the job faster.

 

Now, my quibble: Anyone know a good way to get the ink out of the plunging rod at the end of the filler? It is hollow, and in his video of the pen, Nathan says that capillary action will allow it to serve as an ink reserve for a few extra sentences, paragraphs, or even a page. I've gotten a bit more than that. I have had the best luck wiggling the end of the nearly-empty filler and tapping it. The breather tube tends to break the vapor lock of the ink in the end of the plunger rod and allow it to drop into the main part of the filler and down into the feed.

 

If you just use the same color, this isn't a problem, but if you change colors, that will mean more to flush.

 

Some of this is me needing to study how the breather tube works. I had a fair amount down back in the filler and twiddled with the piston, which sucked some back up into the plunger rod! It's not a large amount of ink, but I think Nathan's frugality would want the last bit of ink available.