J H S
April 12th, 2015, 08:56 AM
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Here is the cool Pelikan 400 'extra flex' I recently bought from Vasco.
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http://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=17999&stc=1
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The pen arrived promptly, in stated condition. I had to do a bit of research and practice to get the hang of the flex nib, which is all good, and even helps my guitar playing with a lighter touch.
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http://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18000&stc=1
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Now, in week two, I'm totally hooked on the flex nib, and the only issue I have is one of flow. I understand writing with flex is more slow and deliberate, and the angle of attack is critical. No doubt, each hand is going to experience the nib in a personal way, and the response of the nib is going to reflect this.
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http://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18001&stc=1
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I've changed my grip and learned to curl my ring and little finger so that my basic tripod grip is floating above the paper, and the drive is incorporating the whole arm and shoulder to a greater extent than before. I've also raised my point of grip to the barrel, just above the barrel threads, which helps greatly in establishing a more agreeable angle of flex-nib to paper. Still, I'm experiencing some tracking, and I hate to double strike to fill missing ink! Now, as soon as I find a hint of railroading, I turn the piston until I see a peek of ink in the breather hole, and then continue on my merry way.
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http://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18002&stc=1
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I am unsure how to strengthen the flow, and the nib is too fine for me to be hacking on. I'm pretty decent with my hands, and used to make knives by hand so I guess I know enough to not be learning nib and feed work on a fine vintage flex nib assembly. My intuition is that it may not be a flow issue per se, but a breathing issue, where the developed difference of pressure is inhibiting the juice I want. All I really know is that when this nib is well fed, heaven ensues. I'd be interested in how one approaches this issue. I'll send it off if need be, but I still want to learn. In the writing sample below, one can see where I tweaked the piston to goose the flow a bit, as well as a few tracks.
Happy waffle day!
Jim
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http://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18003&stc=1
.
Here is the cool Pelikan 400 'extra flex' I recently bought from Vasco.
.
http://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=17999&stc=1
.
The pen arrived promptly, in stated condition. I had to do a bit of research and practice to get the hang of the flex nib, which is all good, and even helps my guitar playing with a lighter touch.
.
http://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18000&stc=1
.
Now, in week two, I'm totally hooked on the flex nib, and the only issue I have is one of flow. I understand writing with flex is more slow and deliberate, and the angle of attack is critical. No doubt, each hand is going to experience the nib in a personal way, and the response of the nib is going to reflect this.
.
http://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18001&stc=1
.
I've changed my grip and learned to curl my ring and little finger so that my basic tripod grip is floating above the paper, and the drive is incorporating the whole arm and shoulder to a greater extent than before. I've also raised my point of grip to the barrel, just above the barrel threads, which helps greatly in establishing a more agreeable angle of flex-nib to paper. Still, I'm experiencing some tracking, and I hate to double strike to fill missing ink! Now, as soon as I find a hint of railroading, I turn the piston until I see a peek of ink in the breather hole, and then continue on my merry way.
.
http://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18002&stc=1
.
I am unsure how to strengthen the flow, and the nib is too fine for me to be hacking on. I'm pretty decent with my hands, and used to make knives by hand so I guess I know enough to not be learning nib and feed work on a fine vintage flex nib assembly. My intuition is that it may not be a flow issue per se, but a breathing issue, where the developed difference of pressure is inhibiting the juice I want. All I really know is that when this nib is well fed, heaven ensues. I'd be interested in how one approaches this issue. I'll send it off if need be, but I still want to learn. In the writing sample below, one can see where I tweaked the piston to goose the flow a bit, as well as a few tracks.
Happy waffle day!
Jim
.
http://fpgeeks.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=18003&stc=1