haha that's so true. Also, Aidan's writing has much improved since this video was made.

Some people care more about the act of simply writing with a fountain pen, and the feeling of happiness or enjoyment it gives them, than they do about having handwriting that is pleasing to other people’s eyes. I spend hours every week working on my Copperplate, Spencerian, Italic print and Chancery cursive, but I understand that many people couldn’t care less about such superficial, aesthetic things. I would never expect it either. I understand that some people care about the _experience_ of writing with a fountain pen more than they care about how supercilious viewers will judge their handwriting. Why would I care if they spend as much time practicing as I do? I’m interested in their review of a pen, nib, ink, etc. The visual beauty of one’s handwriting makes no difference to the value of said person’s opinion on a nib’s smoothness or its flexibility, just as it has nothing to do with their ability to judge the value and quality of a pen or ink. If I wanted to see beautiful handwriting that badly, I’d watch a video about calligraphy. Another person’s dedication, or lack thereof, for practicing their penmanship is so wholly unimportant to me. I don’t expect everyone to have the same interests and skills as me, even if we both enjoy fountain pens, and I definitely don’t shame them for those differences. Snarky judgements about another person’s penmanship, however, is something that I _definitely_ find wretched.

I agree. I think it also is the pure labor cost, of course many people go on about types of alloys and things, but back in the day nibs were made by hand and not stamped which requires so much work, and the geometry of the nibs is obviously quite important for flex, something stamped nibs cant get. It's likely a bit of everything, hopefully someone out there can find a modern day mass-produceable solution!

Esterbrook made nibs by machine, including such coveted nibs as the 128 EF.

Look at vietnamese calligraphy pens for students, they are amazing

Isn't a heavy hand limiting?

that's great to hear!! I hope you enjoy the pen :)

But that's pretty much true for every fountain pen and bottle of ink you buy... I am a software engineer, I didn't need to use a pen for almost 30 years since college, I don't need even one, yet I have almost 200 of them. You are preaching to an absent choir :)

@@Seefood73 Nevermind.

a very good point, some people don't like to use flex or don't want to learn how to master it, and that's totally fine. Just how some people are perfectly content with using a pilot g2 as opposed to a fountain pen. Which is why I always recommend starting out with an FPR flex or ahab before spending the big bucks haha!

@@aidanbernal btw another starter flex to look at is the Osprey Madison. Their Phosbronze nib option looks very promissing.

@@Seefood73 So far I can't make the Phosbronze work well. I pick it up every once in a while an try different inks, papers. The company offers interesting options and flexible configurations. Glad you mentioned them! I want to get back to that rig.

Wow, what a privilege!

Thank you so much, Kirk! I agree :)

thank you so much!! :)

you're welcome!! thanks for watching!

that's a fantastic video idea! I have a few inks I like, I'll do some testing and see if I can make a good list.

@@aidanbernal i'd also appr eciate a video on best inks for flex!

Sadly didnt have the pilot flex pens at the time of this recording but I have since purchased a 912 FA and it is pretty great! A very soft nib. I might do an update soon when I have the time!

it's not marked, but it is around a fine nib.

nice, I'll check him out!

yes, mine is an exclusive from the commonwealth 2021 pen show - I bought it from vanness, who sold the extras online. the tipping is stublike, but the inks used in this video (Noodler's Carmel by the Sea) is so wet that it makes it look like a regular round tipped nib. It does feather even on good paper but it sure does keep up in flex nibs!

@@aidanbernal Wetness is helpful with flex nibs. Maybe more important: Ability to keep the ink gap filled across the flexing tines - a different physical characteristic in inks harder to "find" (short of buying/trying a HUGE number of inks). And it would not be surprising if one ink's ability to do that would change with hard-to-control factors such as room temperature or pressure of ink amount in the cartridge/penbody above the nib. To confirm: the Triple Tail was loaded (for the video) with "Carmel by the Sea". I see it's an exclusive for a Carmel pen store... fun.

@@JonathanXLVII could Iroshizuku inks work better with flex?

it's very nice! I tried the #10 and #15 FA at the SF pen show - the #10 is flexier than the #15, both are very nice but have less springback than the aurora. Still, I'd probably put them about the same level imo!

@@aidanbernal I gather that in general smaller nibs make better superflexers, but nib modders like Kirk prefer the size 6 either because it is easier to handle in the shop (bigger margin of error) or because the buyers prefer size as it fits more pens sold on today's market. In fact I have way too many cheap Chinese pens, but a #6 Jowo or Bock will fit at least a dozen, I have no clue how many of my pens have threading for a #5 Jowo. I hope the fpnibs' #5 will fit in a different nib collar, but I hope to find it screws into one of my existing pens (hopefully an eyedropper) without taking the nib unit apart. At least on the Pen Realm SodF it voids the warranty. To me that says those nibs may be too easy to bend or break.

I will definitely check them out! I forgot to mention those - I am planning on doing a video where I modify a flex nib with the side cutouts just like they do. :)

@@aidanbernal I can't wait to see that I have an for gold nib I want to have the sides cut out on but I am a feard it won't springback

@@MissMarilynDarling nice! Yeah, I have learned a few things that may help that I will try out, although I dont know if the same things would apply to gold nibs.

I found no particular distinction between my Nib Creaper and my FPR UltraFlex. Both are mediocre IMHO. But both are also cheap, so potentially useful in overcoming Flex Fever. Or, if it works out, taking your first step into the Wonderful World of Flex.

@@ichirofakename are you kidding their worlds apart the nib creeper is great for mono line but when you want to give it the flex it shows up nicely but the fpr ultraflex nibs are way softer than a normal #5 or #6 nib unless you go gold I have a #6 jowo 14k full flex nib and that thing is a wet noodle :)

they've been discontinued for a while. need to find someone willing to sell you theirs.

@@littletweeter1327 tq for informing. Found magna carta mag 600.

I would definitely love to get one of those! also Pen Realm's gold flex nib as well. Someday!!

@@aidanbernal I ordered Kirk's SodF and days later saw the fpnibs' flex for half the price, and possibly softer flex. I'll have to get them both and compare....

@@Seefood73 the full flex is super soft like all most like using a hunt 99 its the softest nib I have and if your not into mono line dip nib calligraphy you wont like this cause its almost too soft.. I've been doing Calligraphy for a few years now and I'm use to writing with a light hand so I love it

@@MissMarilynDarling well, I have one Waterman "wet noodle" and I love it not for the amount of variation, but for the way it varies without even trying, and then the handwriting reflects the mood at the time you write. It just adds another dimension. From the demos I watch online, the fpnibs' #5 full flex seems like it gets the closest, and at a saner price than a $300 vintage pen.

@@Seefood73 the #5 is firmer than the #6 but its still really great deal for $40 for a fpr himalaya v2 with an ultra flex nib is just as good if not better than the vintage waterman I have today plus I dont have to worry about springing the tines or wearing out the irridium I can just buy a new nib for $20 :) its a great deal , but if you want a premium experiance $380 Jowo #6 full flex nib with xxf regrind let me tell ya this is premium flex a bit expensive but I love it in my noodlers Konrad its perfect I hesitate to use any of my other pens anymore :)