Conklin Duraflex - First Impressions

[TSherbs]

+1 OMIFLEX instead OMNIFLEX...

For "O My Flex" perhaps.

Edited February 26, 2018 by TSherbs

[JonSzanto]

Or an indicator of the quality control of this 10-year-old company.

[Driften]

 

I think it also matters what kind of flexible nib the reviewer has used.

 

I tried this pen today and with my normal level of writing pressure, it didn’t even make a mark. With more pressure, I was able to write a uniform line, but to get any variation I needed to press quite a bit harder, and even then the variation was subtle. I cannot imagine repeatedly applying the level of pressure that would be required to get significant line variation.

 

This being said, I am comparing the pen with more flexible writing instruments—vintage pens, dip pen nibs, and brushes--and have no idea how this pen compares with a Noodler’s Ahab, for example.

 

 

Strange mine wrote with 0 weight on the pen. I also do not have an Noodler's pen so no idea how it compares there. Mine does flex with less effort then a Pilot Falcon, but don't know how it compares to a Pilot FA nib I don't have one of those.

[max dog]

 

 

Strange mine wrote with 0 weight on the pen. I also do not have an Noodler's pen so no idea how it compares there. Mine does flex with less effort then a Pilot Falcon, but don't know how it compares to a Pilot FA nib I don't have one of those.

In comparison reviews I heard the Noodlers Ahab requires more pressure than the Falcon to flex. If the Duraflex requires less pressure than the Falcon, then that is great news.

 

Here is my Falcon. How would the line variation compare to the Falcon?

[Driften]

In comparison reviews I heard the Noodlers Ahab requires more pressure than the Falcon to flex. If the Duraflex requires less pressure than the Falcon, then that is great news.

 

Here is my Falcon. How would the line variation compare to the Falcon?

 

 

 

It's not as fine and goes slightly wider.

The Duraflex is on the left in blue and my Falcon is in Green. My Falcon is a M not a fine though. I do think they don't have the bugs out on the nib yet. It was writing finer yesterday then now and it's developed some flow problems. So it might be good they are sold out for another month or so. Maybe the feedback they get will make the final batch better. I have an email into Goulet on mine and expect I will be sending it to Conklin/Yafa for adjustment.

 

http://driften.dragonsightsoftware.com/images/Conklin-3.png

[max dog]

 

 

It's not as fine and goes slightly wider.

The Duraflex is on the left in blue and my Falcon is in Green. My Falcon is a M not a fine though. I do think they don't have the bugs out on the nib yet. It was writing finer yesterday then now and it's developed some flow problems. So it might be good they are sold out for another month or so. Maybe the feedback they get will make the final batch better. I have an email into Goulet on mine and expect I will be sending it to Conklin/Yafa for adjustment.

 

http://driften.dragonsightsoftware.com/images/Conklin-3.png

Thanks for the picture. If it's anything like the Pilot FA which has similar cutouts, ink makes a huge difference in flow and flex. Surface tension properties in the ink an affect how it flexes. Pilot Iroshizuku works well in the FA I heard. I have settled on MB Permanent Blue which works really well in both the Falcon and FA for me.

[requiescat]

I got mine Saturday and have held off on a review because my scanner done broke. I would call it semiflex at best, perhaps not even, but my point of comparison is a wet noodle Waterman 52V purchased from Mauricio Aguilar and a #7 adjustable Wahl-Eversharp Doric that is a wet noodle on its flexiest setting. There isn't a ton of line variation even with pressure. It writes perfectly well and may make a decent sketching pen for slight expression, though.

 

I've never used a FA nib or a Falcon/Elabo so I can't compare to those.

[MG66]

 

I think it also matters what kind of flexible nib the reviewer has used.

 

I tried this pen today and with my normal level of writing pressure, it didnt even make a mark. With more pressure, I was able to write a uniform line, but to get any variation I needed to press quite a bit harder, and even then the variation was subtle. I cannot imagine repeatedly applying the level of pressure that would be required to get significant line variation.

 

This being said, I am comparing the pen with more flexible writing instrumentsvintage pens, dip pen nibs, and brushes--and have no idea how this pen compares with a Noodlers Ahab, for example.

 

Honestly, if your normal writing didn't even make a mark, that "flex" pen has bigger problems than just inflexibility. It sounds like a lemon.

[Cocobird]

Got mine today. My Duragraph is a favorite, so I had to try this one,

 

The converter is very smooth and it has good line variation. I have number 227. Plan to use it for a couple of days and see how I like it. So far, I'm very glad that I bought it.

[SoulSamurai]

Thanks for the impressions and writing samples. I would love to know how this compares to Noodler's and FPR nibs, which are what I'm used to when it comes to flex.

[JonSzanto]

Thanks for the impressions and writing samples. I would love to know how this compares to Noodler's and FPR nibs, which are what I'm used to when it comes to flex.

 

I'm sure it is unintentional, but that is one of the saddest things I've ever read.

[SoulSamurai]

 

I'm sure it is unintentional, but that is one of the saddest things I've ever read.

Heh. I'm still a little new to fountain pens and I'm quite heavy-handed, so a pen that takes some pressure to flex isn't so bad for me right now. I have tried a couple of dip nibs but didn't spend long enough to the hang of it. I'm interested in trying something a little bit softer than a Noodlers, but not a real wet noodle or anything because I would probably destroy it. I'd hate to destroy a vintage nib, so a modern flex nib that's a step up from a Noodlers is appealing.

[JonSzanto]

Heh. I'm still a little new to fountain pens and I'm quite heavy-handed, so a pen that takes some pressure to flex isn't so bad for me right now. I have tried a couple of dip nibs but didn't spend long enough to the hang of it. I'm interested in trying something a little bit softer than a Noodlers, but not a real wet noodle or anything because I would probably destroy it. I'd hate to destroy a vintage nib, so a modern flex nib that's a step up from a Noodlers is appealing.

 

The thing is, learning a light touch becomes second nature almost immediately. People think a nib is so delicate that they will grind it into the desktop, but one adapts in no time at all. I hope you can eventually find a nice pen to write with that doesn't require an overt amount of effort. The fact of the matter is that nice script doesn't often come from bearing down hard on a nib, but with more effortless strokes. Good luck on your journey!

[TSherbs]

Heh. I'm still a little new to fountain pens and I'm quite heavy-handed, so a pen that takes some pressure to flex isn't so bad for me right now. I have tried a couple of dip nibs but didn't spend long enough to the hang of it. I'm interested in trying something a little bit softer than a Noodlers, but not a real wet noodle or anything because I would probably destroy it. I'd hate to destroy a vintage nib, so a modern flex nib that's a step up from a Noodlers is appealing.

 

The Goulet video on the release of this pen shows them using this pen along side an Ahab and a Pilot Falcon for comparison.

 

This new nib, they say, is more flexible than both and they show it in use. I am not going to buy it, but I am not a user of flexy nibs. Soft, sure; flexy?--no.

[JonSzanto]

 

The Goulet video on the release of this pen shows them using this pen along side an Ahab and a Pilot Falcon for comparison.

 

This new nib, they say, is more flexible than both and they show it in use. I am not going to buy it, but I am not a user of flexy nibs. Soft, sure; flexy?--no.

 

Yeah, I know, but here's the thing: either there is a wide variation in how the nib behaves or a wide variation in how people are handling it. Within a couple posts of eacth other on reddit there is one by a n00b who can't figure out why he can't get any decent variation even when he presses a lot, and then there is a nib porn video with a close up of the nib doing figure eights, splaying the tines like a downhill skier and showing a flow of ink like Niagra Falls. It's almost like, as often is the case, people make it into what they want it to be. Only way to know for sure is to have one in your own hands.

[JonSzanto]

For anyone still interested in visual comparisons, this post compares writing samples from a Duraflex, two vintage flex 14k nib pens and a dip nib. Of course, all that is is visual, with no way to judge feedback, pressure required, etc, but the comments give a little amplification to the visuals. I might have missed it here on FPN but I haven't seen as many people posting about their new Conklins here as much as over there.

[bobje]

Your comparison link to the Reddit post is telling, Jon, and thank you for placing it here. Most of the writing samples I’ve seen indicate rather thick hairlines from the Duraflex. The Zebra G and vintage Eversharp Skyline nibs have really nice hairlines. But I’m encouraged that pen companies recognize the demand and are experimenting with new offerings.

[Kevan]

I'm glad I staid my hand when I thought about buying this. I was almost taken in. I even had it in my cart. But I just thought "This is the initial launch, Goulet is doing their usual stoking of the FOMO fervor, and who knows what kinks this pen has that the first run will expose?" I'd also seen in the 2018 Conklin catalog that the Omniflex nib was both black and steel, which meant that they will probably put it on other pen bodies.

 

Good thing, since I don't really like the ergonomics of the Duragraph body. I already have a Pendleton Brown BLS Conklin nib with added flex, but I wanted a nice semiflex nib that wasn't an Italic. I'm no flex snob, either. Good semiflex is enough to satisfy me. My one requirement is that the line needs to be EF to start with. Otherwise, what's the point? And the reviews at Goulet show that, indeed, this pen has issues with consistency and QC.

 

If Conklin works out the kinks and flow issues, makes the Omniflex nib with an EF tip, and puts it on an All-American body, for example, I might bite.

[Feanaaro]

I'm glad I staid my hand when I thought about buying this. I was almost taken in. I even had it in my cart. But I just thought "This is the initial launch, Goulet is doing their usual stoking of the FOMO fervor, and who knows what kinks this pen has that the first run will expose?" I'd also seen in the 2018 Conklin catalog that the Omniflex nib was both black and steel, which meant that they will probably put it on other pen bodies.

 

Good thing, since I don't really like the ergonomics of the Duragraph body. I already have a Pendleton Brown BLS Conklin nib with added flex, but I wanted a nice semiflex nib that wasn't an Italic. I'm no flex snob, either. Good semiflex is enough to satisfy me. My one requirement is that the line needs to be EF to start with. Otherwise, what's the point? And the reviews at Goulet show that, indeed, this pen has issues with consistency and QC.

 

If Conklin works out the kinks and flow issues, makes the Omniflex nib with an EF tip, and puts it on an All-American body, for example, I might bite.

 

They don't have an EF, with or without flex, to begin with, so I doubt your desire will be satisfied. I also don't get the point of flex nibs which are already wide when un-flexed, but apparently people still like them or something

[Kevan]

 

They don't have an EF, with or without flex, to begin with, so I doubt your desire will be satisfied. I also don't get the point of flex nibs which are already wide when un-flexed, but apparently people still like them or something

 

They do have an EF nib, new for 2018. They are expanding their nibs all from EF to B this year, including the stubs. So it shows that they can make them if they want.