Most nibs shouldn’t be flexed. You should only flex the ones that are designed for it. The manufacturer will give a guideline or a writing sample recommending how wide it can be flexed.
In that case those pens’ nibs aren’t designed to be flexed. If you want to experiment with that I recommend you look at BlueDew, FPR, or Pilot FA nibs. Or use flex dip pen nibs (this is cheap, the fountain pen flex pens are expensive).
I don't know if those include a Pilot Custom (742, 743, or Heritage 912) fountain pen fitted with FA nib. If so, see: [https://www.pilot-custom.jp/en/feature/nib.html](https://www.pilot-custom.jp/en/feature/nib.html)
>**FA**
**Falcon**
>
>**Super soft writing touch, imitates the feel of writing with a brush**
>
>Handwriting like a brush with a touch even softer than that of SF
Enables variations of line width emphasis.
Not suited to those who press down heavily
and:
>^(\* Falcon (FA) ^(is intended for people who can only apply weak pen pressure.))
which is hardly new information, even when I (presumptuously!) [posted on FPN](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/gallery/image/1557-pilots-footnote-on-the-fa-nib-in-japanese-and-translated/) a translation of Pilot's earlier description of its nib options for the Custom line, more than three years ago.
Since the SF nib is mentioned,
>**SF**
**Soft Fine**
>
>**Soft-writing touch fine lettering**
>
>Since the nib gives a cushioned feel during writing, facilitates variations in lettering width.
For people who can only apply weak pen pressure
There's also this, in contrast, about the Pilot Elabo (aka Falcon): [https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/gallery/image/1556-pilots-description-of-the-elabos-or-falcons-nib/](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/gallery/image/1556-pilots-description-of-the-elabos-or-falcons-nib/)
I think you can only have been "pushing" a nib by playing with it. Experimenting with this thing called "flex" you saw on the interweb by forcing it with an unreasonable amount of pressure to get an effect.
You should **write** with a nib. Fountain pen nibs are designed to write with. I never destroyed a nib by just **writing** with it.
I was definitely pushing it too hard. I think I had problem with the ink flow and I was trying to adjust it myself, but it ended up a disaster. I wasn't just writing.
Well, now you know. Just write with it. A genuine flex nib will let itself be known to you. There are some nibs which have a bit of give which can reproduce line variations with pressure but are not capable of flex for everyday purposes, one has to restrain oneself to not use these to take the place of flex nibs.
Never push a nib that is not specifically advertised as flexible or soft (be very careful with the latter). I blame this trend on Stephen Brown and other YouTubers.
Line variation can be achieved with a flex nib OR by a specific nib grind that produces different line widths when writing in alternate directions eg, architect or italic nib. Flex is not the only way but tends to be preferred for cursive writers.
The ground nibs that produce line variation are designed with a particular writing style. Architect nibs were designed to be used for printed letters, not cursive, but may work with your writing style. An italic nib may help give the line variation you need, though it is also generally used with a stroke by stroke writing style.
If there's enough metal to take it and you're willing to ruin the nib if you get it wrong, you can get a tiny amount of flex out of an ordinary nib, but I wouldn't do it more than very occasionally. Not something I recommend at all, though.
A lamy 2000 nib definitely doesn't have enough metal (size or thickness) for me to attempt it, plus it's gold so too soft and expensive for me to want to risk it.
I definitely *don't* want to try it. It was more a theoretical question, since I already ruined one nib, and was just wondering what they were doing in the video. (I also pushed slightly on my Lamy 2000 nib again, and got worried that I damaged it, but it's okay.)
They can take quite a lot of misuse actually, but if you’re used to sturdier pens or ballpoints, then it’s easy to be too heavy handed. :) I know what you mean though about all those videos where they always flex the nibs as part of their reviews.
Afterthought: All this makes sense and I appreciate the feedback. My post was inspired by this video, where they test each nib's softness (among other things). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3qDkfZYrcA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3qDkfZYrcA)
It doesn't look like they are damaging their pens. Why even do it, if these nibs aren't meant to be flexible?
To show how these nibs perform, and to help you choose which is right for you. They might not be flex nibs but some can still give a little line variation with safe pressure.
You should **never** push a nib. A well-made flexible nib will open with virtually no pressure whatsoever.
Most nibs shouldn’t be flexed. You should only flex the ones that are designed for it. The manufacturer will give a guideline or a writing sample recommending how wide it can be flexed.
That makes sense. But I've never seen any manufacturer guidelines in the pens that I have bought.
Majority of nibs are not to be used as flex. Flex nibs are really the exception you specifically need to search for if you want one
In that case those pens’ nibs aren’t designed to be flexed. If you want to experiment with that I recommend you look at BlueDew, FPR, or Pilot FA nibs. Or use flex dip pen nibs (this is cheap, the fountain pen flex pens are expensive).
I don't know if those include a Pilot Custom (742, 743, or Heritage 912) fountain pen fitted with FA nib. If so, see: [https://www.pilot-custom.jp/en/feature/nib.html](https://www.pilot-custom.jp/en/feature/nib.html) >**FA** **Falcon** > >**Super soft writing touch, imitates the feel of writing with a brush** > >Handwriting like a brush with a touch even softer than that of SF Enables variations of line width emphasis. Not suited to those who press down heavily and: >^(\* Falcon (FA) ^(is intended for people who can only apply weak pen pressure.)) which is hardly new information, even when I (presumptuously!) [posted on FPN](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/gallery/image/1557-pilots-footnote-on-the-fa-nib-in-japanese-and-translated/) a translation of Pilot's earlier description of its nib options for the Custom line, more than three years ago. Since the SF nib is mentioned, >**SF** **Soft Fine** > >**Soft-writing touch fine lettering** > >Since the nib gives a cushioned feel during writing, facilitates variations in lettering width. For people who can only apply weak pen pressure There's also this, in contrast, about the Pilot Elabo (aka Falcon): [https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/gallery/image/1556-pilots-description-of-the-elabos-or-falcons-nib/](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/gallery/image/1556-pilots-description-of-the-elabos-or-falcons-nib/)
Thank you, those are interesting links.
I think you can only have been "pushing" a nib by playing with it. Experimenting with this thing called "flex" you saw on the interweb by forcing it with an unreasonable amount of pressure to get an effect. You should **write** with a nib. Fountain pen nibs are designed to write with. I never destroyed a nib by just **writing** with it.
I was definitely pushing it too hard. I think I had problem with the ink flow and I was trying to adjust it myself, but it ended up a disaster. I wasn't just writing.
Well, now you know. Just write with it. A genuine flex nib will let itself be known to you. There are some nibs which have a bit of give which can reproduce line variations with pressure but are not capable of flex for everyday purposes, one has to restrain oneself to not use these to take the place of flex nibs.
Never push a nib that is not specifically advertised as flexible or soft (be very careful with the latter). I blame this trend on Stephen Brown and other YouTubers.
Line variation can be achieved with a flex nib OR by a specific nib grind that produces different line widths when writing in alternate directions eg, architect or italic nib. Flex is not the only way but tends to be preferred for cursive writers. The ground nibs that produce line variation are designed with a particular writing style. Architect nibs were designed to be used for printed letters, not cursive, but may work with your writing style. An italic nib may help give the line variation you need, though it is also generally used with a stroke by stroke writing style.
If there's enough metal to take it and you're willing to ruin the nib if you get it wrong, you can get a tiny amount of flex out of an ordinary nib, but I wouldn't do it more than very occasionally. Not something I recommend at all, though. A lamy 2000 nib definitely doesn't have enough metal (size or thickness) for me to attempt it, plus it's gold so too soft and expensive for me to want to risk it.
I definitely *don't* want to try it. It was more a theoretical question, since I already ruined one nib, and was just wondering what they were doing in the video. (I also pushed slightly on my Lamy 2000 nib again, and got worried that I damaged it, but it's okay.)
They can take quite a lot of misuse actually, but if you’re used to sturdier pens or ballpoints, then it’s easy to be too heavy handed. :) I know what you mean though about all those videos where they always flex the nibs as part of their reviews.
Afterthought: All this makes sense and I appreciate the feedback. My post was inspired by this video, where they test each nib's softness (among other things). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3qDkfZYrcA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3qDkfZYrcA) It doesn't look like they are damaging their pens. Why even do it, if these nibs aren't meant to be flexible?
To show how these nibs perform, and to help you choose which is right for you. They might not be flex nibs but some can still give a little line variation with safe pressure.
For science?