Is the Esterbrook Estie Flex Fountain Pen Nib Any Good?

We are back in the realm of Flex Nibs! This time, the Estie Flex on a gorgeous Esterbrook Estie Oversize in Nouveau Bleu. Recorded in Newport, RI!

[@jinntaliswrites]

What a beautiful video! I wanted to grab one of my most interesting pens and journal and run outside to write but alas, it’s only 6AM. This moves Esterbrook up on my pen want list. Thanks, HJ!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you very much! This one was so fun to film. Thanks for watching. I am so glad it was inspiring. .

[@cjbowyer1]

Another great video. I love the water scenes..Blue and water. My favorite combination. My favorite color..My favorite place to be. I have pretty much stopped watching other pen channels now.. Thanks for all the hard work you put into the process.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much! I appreciate your watching. So few people watch my videos. I wish more people were able to see them, but we are a good group here in this tiny corner of KZbin. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you being here with me. Thanks!

[@Reeeepicheep]

Recently got one of these. Might be the most beautiful pen in my collection. The fine flex nib isn’t really a *flex* nib but it’s still really enjoyable to write with.

[@shamus730ify]

After your video with Bryan from Esterbrook I had to get one! I got the Estie Maui with the journal nib, it's a pure joy to write with. It is my first but definitely not my last!

[@HemingwayJones]

Hi Jim! Wonderful! Great choice. I love Esterbrook, as you know.

[@brownphoto]

Just FYI - They have GOLD finish flex nibs available now. I just got one and it's fantastic! Now, if I can just learn it's intricacies!

[@HemingwayJones]

Yes! Bryan Hulser mentioned that on our interview from a few weeks back, but I have already recorded this one. I am always about a month ahead on my posting schedule except for next week’s which I am working on now. A rare exception. Thanks for watching!

[@jonclark18]

Lovely video Hemingway, perhaps your best yet. I appreciate how you circled back round to the posters with the wisps of hair/handwriting comparison, very nicely done. The honeycomb Estie with the journaler nib was next on my shopping list, but a trip to New England might just have pushed it down a notch! What a stunning part of the world.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you very much! This means a lot to me. Thank you! Almost no one watches my videos so I appreciate each of you that do. Thank you.

[@Jaffar540]

I like the phrase - the smell of coffee and hardcover books. I am beginning to appreciate the Esterbrook Estie fountain pens.

[@HemingwayJones]

Nice! Thanks so much! Esterbrook are great.

[@Saturdays.Script]

Always great videos! I definitely wanted to journal outside in some wooded nook after watching 😊

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks for the kind words. I am happy to hear that. It is so much Fun! All the best.

[@Wolverine3660]

What a lovely and informative video!!!!!:):):) You have convinced me that I have to try out this pen and maybe buy one!!!:):):) Thanks again, Hemingway.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much, My Friend!

[@LVA22-y1m]

Thanks for this video--I do enjoy the new Estie pens, especially because of the interchangeable nib options!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it. I agree. They are in tune with the heart of what has always made Esterbrook great.

[@LVA22-y1m]

​@@HemingwayJones Yes. In fact, I have my Great-grandfather's Esterbrook on my desk right now! One of the pens he used every day, still in excellent working condition. Tough act to follow!

[@TheHeliosAI]

Appreciate the comparison to the nh35 as a watch collector entering this new realm

[@HemingwayJones]

You will see a lot of Watch to Pen comparisons on this Channel. Welcome!

[@LaddGardner4]

Love her SO MUCH. Cutest face I've ever seen. :)

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks!

[@technoraptor7778]

It looks very nice..the copper tones with the blue are very pretty.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks very much!

[@gailsbookishthings5191]

Nice video! I enjoyed seeing the close-ups of this beautiful pen. I don’t have an Esterbrook yet but I’m definitely intrigued!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you very much. I am glad you enjoyed it.

[@judyanderson1329]

The video is beautiful! I appreciate the view of the pen in bright sunlight. It shows off the colours very well. I also like the extended focus on the pen as it gives me lots of time to examine it. Websites can’t always show how beautiful the pen really is. Now that I have seen the pen here I am more apt to buy it. I really enjoyed the video and your commentary.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks very much! I appreciate it. Almost no one watches these so I am very thankful for you. I would be lost without you. Thanks for the support.

[@judyanderson1329]

You are very welcome! I enjoy your channel! The live interviews are great as well.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks very much for that!

[@fossilimprint2954]

Watching this made me feel like a took a relaxing vacation, you have talent filming, and setting the mood. The pen also got praise from you, so even though I have never before known about Esterbrook, I will now add it to my research list.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you, Fossil! I appreciate the kind words. I am always happy to see a comment from you.

[@richardzak2140]

Hello HJ. Another fine video on an interesting fountain pen. I have a flex nib on my wish list and the deep, rich colors of this pen are

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much!

[@tce4159]

I love Esterbrook Pens. Although I have several, I think I need another one with a flex nib… Thanks for sharing 😊

[@HemingwayJones]

My pleasure. Wish you all the best!

[@richardzak2140]

mesmerizing. Sorry, I hit the wrong key. My preference is silver trim so again, it all works out to my favor. Love the storytelling videos that you create.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you!

[@focusonthefuture582]

First of all, let me say how much I enjoy your videos. They are thoughtful, and as a septuagenarian, I lean toward a more classical style myself. Even in language. Having watched your presentations on flex nibs, and estertbrook nibs overall, have you tried the techo nib? I just got it and love it! I'm probably drawn to use the journaler more than others because it is so very fluid, but I love what the techo allows me to do with just one nib. Again, thank you for your sharing of yourself.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you so much for the kind words! I appreciate it so much. I have not tried the techno nib, but would love to. Next pen show! Thank you so much for being here.

[@bretjohnston9519]

I loved the presentation! I am planning to purchase an Estie oversized in the Honeycomb from Appelboom. My question is: when you have purchased your Esties, did you have your nibs smoothed and/or tuned? Appelboom offers this and I'm not sure if its something I need or not? Appreciate your thoughts.

[@HemingwayJones]

Hello and thanks for the kind words. Anytime nib smoothing or customization is available, I take advantage of it. Anabelle is very good.

[@Ct300563]

Hi Hemmingway; thanks for another great video. What was that lovely blue ink you were using in the Esterbrook?

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you for watching! That was Diamine Sargasso Sea. It is a very nice Sapphire Blue. One of my favorites. Thanks!

[@ginopagnani7286]

I have an oversized Estie in black with the “Journaler” nib and it’s fantastic, but I can foresee this model appearing under my Christmas tree next month. Does the Flex nib come in a medium version also? Great video HJ !!!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks Gino for watching! I am glad that you liked this one. It was super fun to make. Plus, we had a ball in Newport. Right now, it only comes in EF & F flex. I believe it will be gold colored soon, so there is that. All the best!

[@davidparrishproductions5082]

God I love marinas. I would live on a sailboat filled with books and fountain pens and journals… if I could.

[@HemingwayJones]

Newport, RI is a lovely spot too. Thanks for watching this one.

[@ChrisGVE]

Very nice video, I've been using Leonardo pens with the Jowo EF Elastic nib that fit the Esterbrook as well and I like them, they are not super flexy compared to other nibs but I like their bounciness compared to a standard steel Jowo nib which tends to be more rigid. Very good writers overall when their limitations is understood, in my view.

[@HemingwayJones]

I agree completely! Often we cast unrealistic expectations. It is best to enjoy it as it is and as we find it. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.

[@penthevision4706]

Thanks for sharing. I have my eye on the Estie Seaglass (I have never used a flex nib).

[@HemingwayJones]

My Pleasure. An absolutely beautiful pen.

[@nedalhubhub1851]

Beautiful Pen, Love that Blue < and the video is Exelent my Friend, Keep it up!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you very much! I appreciate it.

[@debbypodgorski4144]

That was interesting. Beautiful pen to try some day.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you for watching.

[@darrelmorris808]

I love Esterbrook pens. This looks interesting, but I'm not yet sold on a flex nib.

[@HemingwayJones]

Flex nibs are tough and they vary in what they. Much depends on what you want and expect from it. All the best!

[@DavidStJames11]

I’m enjoying your videos Mr Jones.

[@DavidStJames11]

I’m very impressed. Your lovely description and delivery has peaked my interest in these extraordinary writing implements. The video is pleasing to the senses and the unique language used is a fresh breeze. I’ve learned a little about a few subjects that I had never considered before. Honestly, I thank you for your contribution and I salute you in your accomplishments.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks, My Friend! I appreciate that. Nice to see you over here.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks very much! Means a lot.

[@bobburrier6560]

I have the regular sized pen with the flex nib (extra fine). I have been struggling with hard starts despite the pen being reasonably wet. I’m working through some ink and paper combos to see if I can find something that works. II’ve also found that the nib can get caught on the spring when capping the pen. I like the materials and the pen is certainly comfortable to write with.

[@HemingwayJones]

Hello My Friend. Those are definitely issues. Did you clean it before filling the first time? That can solve a lot of problems. If nothing works contact whomever sold it to you. All the best.

[@ThatFilmGuy]

How do you like the EF flex? I’m thinking about purchasing myself.

[@bobburrier6560]

@@ThatFilmGuy Since my original post, II returned the pen to my local vendor and they replaced the nib. Now this is my favorite pen. It is working great. I would recommend it. I did not try the fine flex nib and remain curious about the at nob too.

[@jess53nz]

The second song makes me want to watch Master and Commander again!

[@HemingwayJones]

I love that film! So underrated. So much going on in that film. Thanks for that!

[@jess53nz]

@@HemingwayJones isn't it great! One of my favs

[@HemingwayJones]

@@jess53nz Truly. I am always raving how it is an under-appreciated masterpiece and people glare at me like I am mad.

[@jess53nz]

@@HemingwayJones no way! Its sooooo good. I've read 1uite a few of the books too.

[@HemingwayJones]

I haven’t read the books. I’m embarrassed about that.

[@PenFriends]

I’d never really consider this to be a flex nib. It’s a bit softer than the regular jowo nib, but to be honest it doesn’t really beat a zebra g nib. Of course they are different beasts, but really flex is a bit of a stretch. Still the pen is very handsome and it looks like it writes decently. I’d just consider other options for flex.

[@HemingwayJones]

Hello My Friend. I hope I made it clear in the video that it is not a wet noodle. It doesn’t flex and it does give a lot of line variation. I have to give it credit for that. If you write calligraphy, you can use this to great effect. If you are looking for flexes in your regular writing, like using a Waterman 52, you will be exhausted. (I should have said it just like that!). I think this is great for emphasis, but not for casual flex. Thanks so much for the great comment. Stop by again soon.

[@ravesab]

Seems a georgeus pen...

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you!

[@barryday680]

I have the first patch of flex nibs which were silver and a bigger nib than the new gold flex nib. I have the gold flex now. The long silver nib like used in this video is excellent. The gold nib is just like any other nib and doesn’t flex hardly at all. The new gold nib is no better than Yafa’s Omniflex. The new gold nib writes well but no flex. Esterbrook needs to go back on Jowo and have them to make the longer flex nib like they did on the silver nib for their gold nib. I’m very disappointed with their gold flex nib and it is expensive at 60 bucks

[@HemingwayJones]

Thanks so much for this information and I am sorry to hear about your experience. I appreciate your sharing it. I hope you can back to where you bought it from and perhaps they can do something. With you all the best and thanks again.

[@frankmarek9921]

Ad beatiful pen next year I'm going to have my grandfather's watermen ripple no 7 pink repair.14kt flex.whats the price of the pen you used?

[@HemingwayJones]

That pen sounds wonderful. Good luck with that! This one is $250 retail. All the best!

[@frankmarek9921]

@@HemingwayJones thanks

[@brianlooksaround6125]

I enjoy your joie de vivre.

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you! That is very kind!

[@forgotMyUsername100]

I love the style of your videos, but that looks like a semi-flex at best. Jowo did the same nib-shape in 14k a few years ago & called it flex, and I was upset with them when I got it. If they'd called it a soft nib, it would have been an accurate name.

[@HemingwayJones]

Hello and thanks for the kind words. I agree completely. This is no wet noodle. It’s nice for emphasis and for the occasional embellishment. It’s fun to use but not super soft or brush like. I agree completely. Thanks!

[@daveriedel1503]

What is the choir sing near the end of the video?

[@HemingwayJones]

Ladies of Speain. Quint sings a drunken version in Jaws.

[@johnnyragadoo2414]

Fountain pens and sea chanties! It doesn't get much better than that, so ink up, let go your shank painter, cut loose your cat stopper, haul up your clew garnets and let tack and sheets fly!

[@HemingwayJones]

Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed this! I appreciate it very much!