Illegal Flex :)

[antoniosz]

Stylo, you are right the thickness is large about 2.5-3.00 mm depending on holding angle. Not loosing the line quality is a indeed a function of speed as you see below. For comparison I also drew couple of lines with a wet 1.2mm stub/italic Sheaffer.

http://www.streamload.com/azavalia/illegal_flex_0.jpg

 

After I used it for a while, I get an idea of who far it will go for the speed I am writing with. Occasionally it may miss a descender - I just go back and fill it.

Actually I like to write fast with it - in fact I have the feeling that fast writing gives lower friction (but I can not prove it...)

 

As for whether it is "stubby" without pressure, the answer is no. If I apply zero pressure it produces a fine maybe generously fine line. Even the slightest pressure tends to open the nib. The performance is also a function of paper and ink. This nib is too smooth for Clairefontaine.

 

Herbin as an ink does not have great flow but I like weak inks in wet flex nibs because they give extra shading within the letters. See for example below how the pen outlines the letter - the center is covered by less ink that the outline, and it gives a nice effect.

 

http://www.streamload.com/azavalia/illegal_flex_1.jpg

Edited March 29, 2006 by antoniosz

[Stylo]

Actually I like to write fast with it - in fact I have the feeling that fast writing gives lower friction (but I can not prove it...)

Perhaps we lighten up the pressure when writing fast, thus reducing friction? I don't know.

 

In any case, your pics are amazing When I look at the very last one (you seem to have removed it just now) and I see that super thick line next to the tiny thin nib, I can only try to imagine just how much the tines separate to lay such a thick line. Can a mouse squeeze through them when they are farthest apart? So, of course, we want a picture of the nib in action, with the tines far apart

 

Btwy, how quickly do you have to refill the pen when you write with so much thickness variation?

[antoniosz]

  So, of course, we want a picture of the nib in action, with the tines far apart 

 

Btwy, how quickly do you have to refill the pen when you write with so much thickness variation?

 

When I get 3 hands (one for the pen, one for the camera and one for the loupe, then I will take the photo

 

Actually to be honest, this is not the best pen for writing a lot. The reason is that for the letter forms to come out OK, high flexing requires very large letters. One the other hand if I try to write small with it because it flexes a lot, I do not like it. For extended writing I prefer the semiflex nibs. I have though written couple of letter (3-4 pages at a time) without the need for refill.

[Stylo]

When I get 3 hands (one for the pen, one for the camera and one for the loupe, then I will take the photo

Did you use some big loupe for the last two pictures?

 

If you need an extra hand, that's what students are for! You can call it extra credit homework.

[Guest Denis Richard]

Actually I like to write fast with it - in fact I have the feeling that fast writing gives lower friction (but I can not prove it...)

That would require some experimental Tribology to see in what regime you are, but you could be simply experiencing the stick-and-slip hysteresis.

 

When two macroscopic surfaces are in contact, one need to apply a force F>F0 to make them slip. Once they are in relative motion, you can decrease the force applied (velocity V imposed) down to a critical value Fc < F0 (or a critical speed Vc) before they stick again (v=0).

 

If you keep your surfaces in motion at a speed consistently above Vc, you'll experience only the kinetic friction coefficient. If you go lower, you'll have to contend with the static friction coefficient (on and off) which, if I recall correctly, is around a factor 2 higher, for most lubricated surfaces.

Edited March 29, 2006 by Denis Richard

[antoniosz]

Did you use some big loupe for the last two pictures?

 

If you need an extra hand, that's what students are for! You can call it extra credit homework.

Stylo, I used a 30x loupe in front of my digital camera.

As for the students... We dont have students now. We have "customers"

 

PS> Denis, I do not think I agree for the slip-stick theory. It could not be pretty It would sputter ink all over

[Guest Denis Richard]

PS> Denis, I do not think I agree for the slip-stick theory. It could not be pretty It would sputter ink all over

I'm not sure I absolutely agree myself with it , but while the surfaces are macroscopic, the stick and subsequent slip are at the microsocpic level... nothing Earth shattering.

 

If the relation is indeed fs=2.fk for the static and kinematic friction coefficients, fk being the friction you experience when writing above the critical speed, the jump is really nothing extraordinary, but might well be enough to alter the writer's experience.

 

Well... that's a napkin kind of explanation.

[Guest Denis Richard]

Of course, the friction is also directly proportional to the load. If you can link pressure and speed... That's what Stylo suggested.

[Elaine]

As for the students... We dont have students now. We have "customers"

Ooooh, can Stephanie buy an A?

[EdelmaK]

Antonios:

 

Very nice work!! It looks like the flex of a dip pen.

 

Kirk

[chad234]

That is some insane flex, and very nice writing!