Noodler's Konrad

[UNDERDOG]

I caved and got one of the Roaring 20's Tortoise Brown Konrads from the Goulets. I'm hoping it's better than my original Flex Nib Creapers. I could hardly use them because of the excessive evaporation. Can't wait!

 

How has this worked for you evaporation wise? I also pretty much stopped using my original Flex because of the disappearing ink, but I'd love to get a Konrad if they don't have the same problem.

 

OK. I thought it was just me. I couldn't believe the "evaporation" [factor] to this pen and in the case it went.

[Zinonas]

I think a way to deal with the ink evaporation problem is to close the ventilation slit in the cap. I own a small Noodler's piston filler (not a Konrad) and used composite resin to close that hole. I suppose the same could be done with a Konrad.

[mhosea]

I think a way to deal with the ink evaporation problem is to close the ventilation slit in the cap. I own a small Noodler's piston filler (not a Konrad) and used composite resin to close that hole. I suppose the same could be done with a Konrad.

 

I don't see a ventilation hole in my Konrad cap, and it doesn't seem to be very well ventilated. I sometimes will see water condensed inside the cap of the demonstrator Konrad. Then again, I have observed no "disappearing ink" problem with either of my Konrads. They seem quite normal to me, though I don't generally leave any of my pens inked for more than a couple of weeks. Could the problem has something to do with the original flex nib not fitting the grip section as well as the Knox K35 nibs that I use?

[DistinctionJewelry]

I just got mine in Fathom's blue. It's a gorgeous color, but instead of a nice glossy finish, it's covered with fine scratches like it's been kicking around in a drawer for a couple years. Also, I filled it, and ink immediately started spilling out from it in great pools. So far, not a good introduction. Is it typical for the body finish polish to be very poor?

[P.A.R.]

DistinctionJewelry: I haven't been on in a while, but I saw some people post a while back that they had this problem and that it was remedied by removing small plastic fragments that were disrupting the seal of the piston o-ring. You might look into that.

[inkstainedruth]

I just got mine in Fathom's blue. It's a gorgeous color, but instead of a nice glossy finish, it's covered with fine scratches like it's been kicking around in a drawer for a couple years. Also, I filled it, and ink immediately started spilling out from it in great pools. So far, not a good introduction. Is it typical for the body finish polish to be very poor?

 

My second one is that color (it arrived in the mail less than a week ago), and it wrote well right out of the box, with just a flushing with soapy distilled water (then a distilled water rinse and an air-dry with the nib in a paper towel stuffed into a paper cup). And no, I'm pretty sure mine isn't all scratched up like that. Sounds as if maybe yours got damaged in transit....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[KyleKatarn]

Just received my Noodler's Konrad, together with Noodler's Bad Belted Kingfisher, in an extremely well made package from the Goulet's. This is my first flex pen, I'm still trying to get the hang of it, but loving this pen and this ink thus far.

[Rob G]

I have two Konrads - one black, one blue - and I have one hell of a time posting the caps. They just don't fit, unless the rear cap is removed. What an annoyance.

[Arkanabar]

I have a Pequod's Smoke demonstrator. I absolutely love the size, shape, and weight of this pen. It posts just fine, too; I can see that the threads on the cap meet the barrel just above the blind cap when posting.

 

Its most grievous flaw is that after only a few hours of sitting capped, horizontal, on a desk, it is too dried out to write without dunking the nib in water. I have no idea how to deal with that. I was using Borealis Black, and I was too disappointed with this behavior (which none of my other pens share) to ever ink it up again.

Edited August 2, 2015 by Arkanabar

[Tas]

I have a Pequod's Smoke demonstrator. I absolutely love the size, shape, and weight of this pen. It posts just fine, too; I can see that the threads on the cap meet the barrel just above the blind cap when posting.

 

Its most grievous flaw is that after only a few hours of sitting capped, horizontal, on a desk, it is too dried out to write without dunking the nib in water. I have no idea how to deal with that.

 

Sad to say my Ahabs and Konrad sit in a draw and now only get filled to test inks or go on an outing only to be flushed upon return.

 

The ink seems to mysteriously evaporate somehow. I even had a mix with Photo Flo in one Ahab that seemed to work for a while but not for long.

So sad as these pens have given me so much pleasure but lately as I've not been using them as often they've gone and had a sulk.

 

My two working Nib Creepers have taken the mantel now and I'm very happy with them. Mind you could be the Sailor Doyou ink working its magic. . .

[Arkanabar]

My wife's Nib Creapers all dried up. The Truk Lagoon one was in the best shape; its ink flowed like warm molasses. It got rehydrated instead of flushed, cos she loves that VMail Midway Blue. WidowMaker cleaned out of the Vulcan's Coral Creaper fairly easily. But I'm STILL cleaning Bad Black Moccasin out of the Ivory Darkness Creaper, two days later.

 

And nobody knows what sort of defect might cause a Konrad's nib to dry up in three or four hours, while capped.... zut alors!

Edited August 13, 2015 by Arkanabar

[Shubhranshu Das]

Hi, thanks for the review ... I have the Ahab and the Konrad. Between the two, out of the box, the Ahab seems wetter than the Konrad and a smoother writing experience.... My inexperience and luck of the draw regarding the pens received... But as you mentioned, great daily writers ... Need to practice using the flex capability properly...

[croccanova]

I picked up the ebonite Konrad to do some flex pen writing and haven't had the best time writing with it. Starting, railroading, and ink flow issues. I cleaned it out and tried adjusting the nib and the feed and accidentally stabbed my finger (don't worry it healed and I didn't give myself a tattoo). Today was the first time I got it to actually flex for more than just one word. We will see. Not in the best of moods with this pen.