Trying To Do The Ahab Extra Flex Mod, Pen Dries Out

[Fabienne]

I decided to try the Ahab Flex modification. I got out the Dremel tool and took off some of the metal on either side of the nib:

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af174/fabienne301/E913C59A-D845-4BB8-A153-2CB896F59EF7_zpsxwlxmj5k.jpg

 

The nib was flexier but now the thing started to railroad. I decided that I should increase the channels on either side of the nib with an Exacto and followed the Sam Capote model. I put the pen back together and still didn't seem to be getting the correct ink flow so I did ti a couple more times ending up with about the first 4 fins on either side being widened, and cutting about 3 more channels closer to the central "trough". Things were very gushy at first but railroading started to occur and then the ink totally stopped. What should I do about this? I heard one discussion that the cut outs on either side of the nib were too deep and the feed was drying out and losing its capillary action but I am not sure whether that ended up being the real problem or not...I don't think a conclusion was reached. What do you think the problem is and how can I solve it? Here is an illustrative video of it, too. Thanks.

 

[KrazyIvan]

I would guess the wings are too long. If you look at Pendleton Browns modification, it does not expose the feed as much as yours is exposed. The feed also looks set way back in relation to the nib. It may just be an illusion caused by the cuts but it looks like it to me. (I could not get the video to play so I'm purely going by the photo.)

 

I will offer my compliments on the attempt. I have been wanting to try this for some time.

Edited January 9, 2014 by KrazyIvan

[Fabienne]

Hmmmm. Yea, he just makes an indentation and then back out again. I did adjust the feed and nib so they were closer together and played around with the proximity of them one to the other but it made no difference. You are saying that no amount of feed opening is going to keep the feed from getting dried out? I won't cry buckets over that, I do have another Ahab and can switch pieces around.

[Tas]

Hello.

Did you inadvertently bend the nib or feed so that the two are no longer touching nicely underneath . . . ?

I did but then used some boiling water on the feed to make it malleable again and set it nice and snug against the nib.

Worth a try.

[KrazyIvan]

I am not sure that opening the feed more will cause anything more than just make the pen dump all the ink. Tas does have a point though. Maybe heat setting the feed will help.

[Fabienne]

It doesn't look that way under the loupe but it's hard to tell that entirely even with good magnification. How do you heat set the feed? Soak the feed in boiling water (dunk it, really I think) or run boiling water over the assembly then press together with your fingers (with a rag to keep you from being boiled)? What was your method?

Edited January 9, 2014 by Fabienne

[betweenthelens]

Fabienne, you are braver than I! I totally screwed up my Ahab nib and I didn't even use a Dremel. I got too nervous and still managed to damage the nib, hopefully not irreparably.

[Fabienne]

Thanks but the pen does not work and so I screwed it up, too. Heh. Now I am trying to de-screw it up. I have to be smarter to do that.

[KrazyIvan]

Edited January 9, 2014 by KrazyIvan

[Florenze]

Fabienne, c'est fabuleux! It's lovely work. I don't know that you screwed up. You're finding out what doesn't work. That's called R & D in some quarters.

 

About heat setting the ebonite feed, I just pour boiling water in a glass (I use baby food jars)---then dunk the pen into the water up to the point that the neeb (nib/feed) is covered.

Then wait a bit and check to see if the feed has done the Vulcan mind-meld thing.

 

I realize this highly scientific method isn't for everyone. Hah. But seriously, I think there are varying opinions on how long to leave it in the boiling water. I'm sure they know more than I do.

But so far, this works for me with vintage and modern ebonite feeds.

 

CG's! I think you're on the right path. I'd be happy to send you a donor Ahab if you want volunteers. It's the least I can do to advance the art!

Cheers!

 

PS Ah, I see KI had already provided wise counsel while I was typing. They sure don't call him FP Sith Lord for nothing!

Edited January 9, 2014 by Florenze

[Pterodactylus]

Hi Fabienne,

I'm sorry you have problems, did you already tried to remove the breather tube?

[Pterodactylus]

And heat set the feed is for sure a good idea to ensure that the feed and nib are in close contact (especially when you worked on the nib before.

Edited January 9, 2014 by Pterodactylus

[Pterodactylus]

The feed of this pen is it´s weakest part, even I modified it heavily I did not succeeded to get rid of the railroading completely.

 

Not every ink perform equally well in this pens.

Maybe it´s too wet or it does not perform well in this pen at all.

 

For me till now iron gall ink performs best in my Ahab. (I use Rohrer & Klingner Salix)

 

Bo Bo Olson had also the problem in the beginning that it was too wet, he removed the breather tube and this fixed the issue for him.

I also use it without the tube.

 

I made some pictures of my modified feed for you.

As you can see I deepened the ink channel massively and removed also the first fins.

 

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img706/1784/uncw.jpg

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img42/6474/h5nv.jpg

 

http://imageshack.us/a/img839/9369/0d9y.jpg

 

Heat set the feed first, remove the breather tube and try some other inks might be the first things you should try before modifying the feeed further.

[Fabienne]

OK, many thanks. I did not remove the breather tube. I religiously replaced it during all of my exercises. Perhaps I should sacrilegiously take it off and try again. PS,KI, Very slick tip about that silicon or soft plastic pad for pulling out nibs. I will use that idea with gusto.

 

Lands sake, Ptero, that looks like the Marianas Trench! And I thought I was massively changing this thing. My word. Well, I will soldier on with it. Maybe I do need to do more surgery. But first, the breathing tube comes out. Then heat set, then surgery. Nice job of your surgery, Ptero...very neat. I may have a Dremel tool small enough to do some parts of that, too! Or just use the Exacto so the feed won't go flying and get ripped up.

Edited January 9, 2014 by Fabienne

[Pterodactylus]

I used a needle file to deepen the ink channel.

Keep us informed how it develops.

 

 

Btw. my feed is a bit shorter than normal (you might noticed this) because the front tip was broken off when I received the pen (new.... you recognize the awesome QC from Noodler´s? Also the seller didn´t checked it before sending it).

I bought it from the US (Goulet) so sending it back from Europe was no option for me (waited 1,5 month to receive it), so I reshaped the front (with sandpaper).

 

 

Another thing that I do not like from Noodler´s as a brand.

They are selling these pens to tinker arround with it, but they do not sell the parts which are most likely needed as spare part when something went wrong.

You can´t buy spare nibs or spare feeds.

 

That they sell spare O-Rings which nobody needs is almost an affront.

 

Oh of course you can buy a complete repair package..... a new pen

Edited January 9, 2014 by Pterodactylus

[Pterodactylus]

Mine also needed many surgeries before I got it writing quite ok.

 

This explains the ugly looking fin changes , it was at the time when I considered it as my worst pen and almost thrown it into the bin several times, because I couldn´t make it write ok (and of course the awful smell.....)

Edited January 9, 2014 by Pterodactylus

[KrazyIvan]

PS Ah, I see KI had already provided wise counsel while I was typing. They sure don't call him FP Sith Lord for nothing!

 

You are too kind.

 

 

PS,KI, Very slick tip about that silicon or soft plastic pad for pulling out nibs. I will use that idea with gusto.

 

 

 

That one always comes in handy. I use those that are intended for opening jar lids but I also use the cabinet liner stuff found at dollar stores.

 

The feed of this pen is it´s weakest part, even I modified it heavily I did not succeeded to get rid of the railroading completely.

 

 

 

You are not kidding. I have the Konrad and the Creeper. The Creeper I have only made railroad once. I had to play around a bit to get the Ahab working. I swapped the nib on the Konrad so railroading is not an issue. I have been surprised that the Creeper works so well.

[grainweevil]

What ink are you using, Fabienne? I've found that can make quite a difference and it's worth trying a few, although in my case it always seems I'm trying to stem the flow rather than increase it. So far Pelikan blue-black has seemed the most successful for me, although opinion seems divided as to whether it has any iron gall in it or not, not least at Pelikan themselves as far as I can tell. Must get hold of some acknowledged IG this year to try.

 

And I'm totally with Ptero on the matter of spare nibs and feeds being available for the Noodler's. From a commercial POV I can see why not, but I think it holds a lot of folks back who might otherwise have a flex pen they could be actually happy with. It's a terrible shame.

 

Anyway, good luck. You're in good hands here.

 

Cheers, Al

[Pterodactylus]

Just as a side note.

I purchased a couple of pens from FPR some time ago (was keen about their flex nib and also needed a body for a vintage flex nib (it´s now hosted in a Guider Marala) so I ordered a selection of different pens).

So one of those pens was a Serwex MB with their flex nib.
I modified the FPR flex nib to a flex EMF nib, which worked great.

But the plastic feed of the Serwex MB had massive troubles to keep up with the additional flex.
So I modified it and destroyed it accidentally.
I thought ... OK game over for this Serwex pen..... s-h-i-t happens.

But I also thought I could write FPR and ask if they could sell me a spare feed for the MB.
So I sent a mail, told them that I´ve destroyed my feed and like to buy a spare feed for it.
I had not much hope, but surprise surprise.

Very soon I got a mail from FPR, not even they have spare feeds for the MB, even better they wrote that they will send me a spare feed free of charge for the pen (even it was clearly my fault).

I was more than surprised about this gorgeous service !!!

[Fabienne]

For those not in the know, FPR=Fountain Pen Revolution. The place to investigate in India for all things fountain pen.