Conklin's Omniflex Nibs

[sciumbasci]

Saw this pic on Conklin's website

 

http://www.conklinpens.com/images/CK-Nibs.jpg

 

What is this Omniflex they speak of?

[Bookman]

Here is Goulet Pens's input on this subject. (I didn't find the nibs sold separately at either Goulet or Anderson):

 

Edited January 20, 2018 by Bookman

[inkstainedruth]

Looks as if they've modified standard nibs. There's a thread on here someplace where someone took a Dremel and carved out the sides of standard nibs (possibly Noodler's ) to add (more) flexibility to the tines, for doing hands like Copperplate.

Interesting.... Wonder how much an Omniflex nib adds to the price. I like the idea of this in theory, because my experience with dip-pen nibs and flex has been sub-optimal (the Zebra G nib on my prototype Desiderata pen tore into nearly every paper I tried except for Clairefontaine) because dip pen nibs don't have tipping on them: I think that they're designed to be disposable/replaceable.

Thanks for posting the link about the Conklin nibs.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[sciumbasci]

Here is Goulet Pens's input on this subject. (I didn't find the nibs sold separately at either Goulet or Anderson):

 

 

60$ for a Duragraph with a "flex" nib isn't a bad price. Though, I'm saddened for the limited number of pens: I prefer to hold back and wait for long term reviews rather than just jump onto the next new thing.

 

Looks as if they've modified standard nibs. There's a thread on here someplace where someone took a Dremel and carved out the sides of standard nibs (possibly Noodler's ) to add (more) flexibility to the tines, for doing hands like Copperplate.

Interesting.... Wonder how much an Omniflex nib adds to the price. I like the idea of this in theory, because my experience with dip-pen nibs and flex has been sub-optimal (the Zebra G nib on my prototype Desiderata pen tore into nearly every paper I tried except for Clairefontaine) because dip pen nibs don't have tipping on them: I think that they're designed to be disposable/replaceable.

Thanks for posting the link about the Conklin nibs.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Should be just 60$ (If I understood it correctly) and you get the Duragraph with the Omniflex and a converter. I certainly hope YAFA is "probing" possibilities here, maybe issuing a small batch of pens first, and then introducing it as option for their current lineup?

[Namo]

This looks really like the Marlene Aleph nib.

Edited January 20, 2018 by Namo

[ISW_Kaputnik]

Interesting, certainly. I'll be looking for reviews and handwriting samples once people actually have had the pens in hand for a while. There are early adopters, and then there are people like me who wait for the early adopters to test the waters.

[Gloucesterman]

Just pulled the trigger on two of these "flex" nibbed pens. Hope it's as good as it can be.

 

Of course I also bought some ink - Monteverde California Teal - and paper - Clairefontaine French rule notebooks!

 

I included a note with a couple of simple requests. Let's see if they read them and if they are able to "grant" them.

 

Goulet has done well by me for my few purchases so I expect positive results.

 

Will report in as soon as I get a chance to test this thing out.

[requiescat]

I pulled the trigger on one as well. I don't expect it to compare to vintage flex but I'll report back too once I've had a chance to play with it a bit.

[Intensity]

Almost two thousand pen units is not a terribly small run for a niche product. I am interested in seeing some reviews/first impressions!

[vojtahlad]

I am interested in seeing some reviews/first impressions!

 

Actually, Goulets published a comparison of the Duraflex against Ahab and Falcon yesterday:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFPx0YNzfro

[requiescat]

Wow, the first shipment is already showing as sold out on Goulet Pens, although they say there will be a second one in late March?

[tonybelding]

Just saw the video comparing it with Ahab and Falcon… but no comparison with the Bock Titan nib that they sell with their Karas Kustoms Ink pens? No mention of it, even? I love my Titan, and I've been telling everyone that it's the modern flex nib that we've been waiting for all these years. You'd think Goulet would want to tout it a bit, so what gives?

 

Also… Yeah, I get this email from Goulet, I watch the video, and then I go to their site, and the pen is already sold out.

[Mr.Rene]

This looks really like the Marlene Aleph nib.

+1 I have a Marlen..and I ordered a Conklin..so I will compare both nibs a.s.a.p.

Edited February 22, 2018 by Mr.Rene

[Driften]

I also bought one of the Duraflex pens this morning from Goulet. One thing to note is that unlike other Conklin nibs they are not in screw in nib units but friction fit into a version of the section just for this nib. Also the nib is about the same size as a Jowo #6 but does not fit pens that can use that nib.

 

​The video referenced above shows the difference.

 

​I am looking forward to trying it out.

[Driften]

 

Interesting.... Wonder how much an Omniflex nib adds to the price. ...

 

It's only a few dollars more then the Duragraph model it's based on.

Edited February 22, 2018 by Driften

[crosshatch]

my experience with dip-pen nibs and flex has been sub-optimal (the Zebra G nib on my prototype Desiderata pen tore into nearly every paper I tried except for Clairefontaine) because dip pen nibs don't have tipping on them: I think that they're designed to be disposable/replaceable.

 

Pointed pen nibs aren't designed to be disposable. They're designed 1) to be capable of a wide expressive range from hairlines to thick shades (also why they're not tipped), and 2) to be able to be used with a wide range of inks, paints, and other media. The consequence of that is that they're not durable and they wear down, rust, and need replacing periodically.

 

I appreciate what these people trying to provide fountain pen setups for these nibs are trying to do, but I would be curious to see how many people actually keep using these pens after the novelty period has elapsed.

 

IMO, pointed pen nibs and fountain pens are apples and oranges. They're for different things and very different styles of writing. That's why it takes so much custom work to modify even a very flexible fountain pen nib to achieve close to the same expressiveness as a pointed pen nib and why pointed pens are usually incompatible with how most people daily use their fountain pens in the real world.

 

While there's some overlap, handwriting and calligraphy/art lettering are mostly very different activities that need different tools.

[truthpil]

So I took advantage of PenChalet's July Fourth sale and grabbed one of these #6 Omniflex nib units....only to realize that I don't have any pens that take #6 nib units.

 

If you bought one of these nib units without the pen, what pens are you using it in?

 

Yay for an excuse to buy another pen!!

[amberleadavis]

It looks like a squid. (Which isn't a bad thing).

[truthpil]

It looks like a squid. (Which isn't a bad thing).

 

Totally! When I took the nib unit out of the packaging it looked like a bionic squid from some steam punk art!

[Bo Bo Olson]

In one bought the dip pen nibs back in the old days in a small 1/4 gross package, they were disposable. 1902 Sears catalog had them for 16-20-22 cents a package, depending on the brand, flex and if it was stubbed or not.