on saleNoodler's Konrad Flex Fountain Pen - Clear

Product Code N14005

In Stock

out of stock

on saleNoodler's Konrad Flex Fountain Pen - Clear

Product Code N14005

In Stock

out of stock

$23.75
Color:
Clear
ENHANCEMENT OPTIONS
Noodler's Ahab/Konrad #6 Steel Nib - Flex
Add a Spare Nib + $7.50 Noodler's Ahab/Konrad #6 Steel Nib - Flex
Nib Type:
$7.50
$7.50

Noodler's Ahab/Konrad #6 Steel Nib - Flex

Product Code N18094

In Stock

out of stock

$7.50
Add this item

The Noodler's Konrad flex pen is smaller than the Ahab, but larger than the Nib Creaper. This clear fountain pen features a steel flexible nib and a twist piston mechanism with a blind cap. The Konrad is made of a celluloid derivative and is technically biodegradable and formed from a "renewable resource". The vegetal resin body of this pen may show particles or striations within the material. This is most noticeable in demonstrators and bright colors.

The Noodler's flex pens were designed for the hands-on tinkerer - they are made to be taken apart and adjusted. The nib and feed pull right out and can be adjusted and heat set for optimal performance. Don't be afraid to get a little ink on your fingers while you learn how to use this pen.

As a simple rule of thumb for writing with a flex pen, just apply slight pressure on your downstrokes, which will spread the tines and increase the line width, achieving that optimal line variation. Make sure to go slowly so that the ink can keep up with your writing. As with any flex pen, it just takes practice!

Due to the residual machining oils used when cutting the feeds for these pens, we highly encourage you to give the pen a good flush before use. We recommend any of the following options: distilled water, water with a touch of dish soap, a pre-packaged pen flush, or a solution of 10% clear ammonia to water. This should resolve most ink flow issues!

While these nibs are #6 size, these Konrad pens do not accept other brands of nibs due to the shape of the interior grip.

Click here to download the printable PDF instruction sheet for the Noodler's Konrad Flex.

Condition
New
Brand
Noodler's
Type
Fountain Pens
Color
Clear
Demonstrator

Whether or not the barrel of the pen is translucent, allowing you to see the ink and filling mechanism inside.

Yes
Body Material
Resin
Cap Rotations

For pens with a screw-cap closure, how many rotations it takes to uncap/recap the pen.

1.75
Cap Type

How the cap is opened/closed from the barrel of the pen. Some common options include Snap-Cap, Screw-Cap, Magnetic Cap, or Capless (no cap).

Screw-cap
Compatible inks & refills

Which ink this pen will accept. Choices include bottled ink and various styles of pre-filled ink cartridges.

Bottled ink
Filling Mechanism

How the pen fills with ink. Click here to watch our video tutorial on common filling mechanisms.

Piston
Grip Material
Resin
Nib Size
Flex
Nib Color
Silver
Nib Material
Steel
Postable

Whether or not the cap fits securely onto the back of the barrel when open.

Yes
Retractable

Whether or not the nib/tip can retract into the body of the pen (usually for click or twist-open style pens).

No
Diameter - Body
12mm (0.5in)
Diameter - Cap (without clip)
14mm (0.6in)
Diameter - Cap (with clip)
17mm (0.7in)
Diameter - Grip (mm)

Measured from the place most people choose to rest their fingers, which varies with each pen.

10.3mm
Length - Body

The measurement from the back end of the barrel to the tip of the nib.

126mm (5in)
Length - Cap
58mm (2.3in)
Length - Nib

The measured length of the visible portion of the nib when it is installed in the pen, from grip to tip.

22mm (0.9in)
Length - Overall (Closed)
129mm (5.1in)
Length - Overall (Posted)

When the cap of the pen is posted onto the back of the pen body, this is the measurement of the entire pen including the nib.

145.5mm (5.7in)
Weight - Body

If a converter is included with the pen, this weight is reflected in the total.

11g (0.4oz)
Weight - Cap
4g (0.1oz)
Weight - Overall (g)
15.0g
Max Ink Capacity - Piston Vac

The maximum volume of ink that can fit in the pen when using the built-in piston or vacuum filling mechanism.

1.47ml

Customer Reviews

Based on 119 reviews
52%
(62)
24%
(29)
5%
(6)
10%
(12)
8%
(10)
k
kyler

Writes better than people say it does, but oh my god it stinks.Couldn’t even use it for a week without airing out a room, but after leaving it in some coffee grounds it’s bearable

M
Mark
Workhorse

I'll start by saying that, if you want a pen that works out of the box and requires little to no attention, move on. If you're not mechanically inclined and aren't the tinkering type. Move on. If you're still reading this and you're the tinkering type or really like to get down and dirty with your pens. This is the pen for you. I'll take you through the steps to set it up.1: completely disassemble the pen.2: scrub the nib and feed clean with dish soap and an old toothbrush. Rinse out everything else with warm soapy water.3: put it all back together.4: heat set the feed (watch a Goulet video to learn how)5: ink up the pen6: test out how it writes.7: if it writes too wet. Move the feed in. 8: if it writes too dry. Move the feed out.10: enjoy your pen. The trick on the nib and feed placement is to strike a balance on the amount of ink you're looking to put down. If you run the pen a little drier, the pen might not keep up when you're flex writing. If you run it too wet for regular writing it will dump ink when flex writing. You'll need to find a happy medium with the pen for your style of writing or drawing. To sum up, this is a pen that gets a lot of disrespect because people have ridiculous expectations for this pen. It's a utilitarian tool that costs less than $25 dollars. It's not a magic wand that will make all your dreams come true. What it is, is a good flex nib pen at a very good price that will really reward you for your tinkering once you've learned its quirks. You will learn its quirks and after setting the pen up, you'll likely fall in love with it. I have with mine.

C
Christopher W.
Whose problem?

My kick is artist-writer, which is relevant merely to underscore this pen gets heavy use. I must replenish its ink supply every other day. Beat that. (Though I have several favorites among Goulet's offerings, Noodler's Ink Polar Black in this Noodler pen is top of the heap.) Actually, this review is incident to my buying a replacement Noodler Konrad. (The Konrad suits my hand-experience better than the Ahab, which I also own. I reserve the Ahab for tight work.) My first Konrad has been breaking down steadily. When the nib started leaking, I bought a couple of 'O' rings at my local hardware ($0.79 a piece�it needs two): these meliorated an ostensible problem; that's to say, not entirely. The larger problem was the body casing of the pen has developed cracks. I repaired many with various glues and slaps of tape. But the handwriting is on the wall for its ultimate demise. So, why bother? The flex nib, I tell you, just gets better and better with use, with wear. It's exquisite after a breaking-in. No other pen I've owned�take it back: Rotring Art Pens beat anything else I've ever used, though the bold line is like swinging a bat at an intimate wine-and-cheese gathering; but they're no longer made, and I cozen the three I own like my own children�is so satisfying at every contact with a page. Is there a cremation ritual for nibs? I'm going to work this last one until even I am forced to admit it's done. I bought this replacement pen in anticipation of that tragic eventuality. Maybe a Viking boat-pyre is called for. If you're seeking a tidily precise pen with boringly scientific precision�same personality of line every time--this is not your style. If you cringe at ink-stained fingers while writing, flee! And the initial stink of the pens? Well, I have nothing to say for you. It goes away, especially with good, hard use. Politely: Get over yourself. I expect rare and wonderful things to occasionally bother me. I'm married, and I smoke a pipe. Need I say else? Magically, if one is very, very fortunate in life's chances, what was a bother becomes an incommensurable charm. A thing�amulet, a talisman, a touchstone (choice of a metaphor more plentiful than pens!)---you would not do without, you answer yourself: could not contemplate being without. My Noodler Konrad's kind of like that. (My old-and-irascible bird-dog is a different case, but only lately. We work it out, always.) And who among us isn't a relative mess when feeling and working at a state we feel our utmost best? I recommend this model pen unequivocally, but only if you decide it suits the you-YOU you believe you are.

P
Peter M.
Noodler's Konrad

I like this pen better than the ahab model. However, for a flex nib I don't think this pen is the best. But, it wasn't expensive so there's that.

K
Keith G.
What's not to Love?

The Konrad ticks a lot of boxes for me. 1-clear demonstrator. 2- piston filler. 3-#6 nib. 4-Who doesn't love Noodler's? At the shallow end of the pool where I play, an inexpensive piston filler is a win: a) it has more capacity than a cartridge converter, and b) it still lets you goose the feed when you hit a dry patch. (how do you goose the feed with an eyedropper or vac filler? (I'm jes' a newbie ..) Konrad measures a bit smaller than the Ahab, -which I love- and I worried about that -- I don't like small, slim pens for extended use. But Konrad doesn't feel small at all. And while I do like the Noodler's flex nibs, I don't really do much flexing, and like to swap in a Goulet EF. My handwriting is smallish, and broader nibs don't like small detail.

FAQs about Fountain Pens

How do I fill a fountain pen with ink? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

It depends on the pen's filling mechanism, which you can find in the Technical Specs section above. 

Here's a quick definition of the most common filling mechanisms:

  • Cartridge - A small, disposable, sealed plastic reservoir that holds fountain pen ink. These come pre-filled with ink, and typically you just push to insert them into place and you'll be ready to write! Check out our quick guide here.
  • Converter - A detachable and refillable ink reservoir that allows you to use bottled ink in a cartridge-accepting pen. Typically you will install the converter into the grip section, dip the nib/feed into the ink, and twist or pull the converter knob to draw ink into the converter. Here's a video for how to fill a cartridge/converter pen using a LAMY pen as an example.
  • Eyedropper - A pen that utilizes the entire barrel as a reservoir for ink. Ink is directly filled into the barrel, allowing for a high ink capacity. Here's a video on how to do it!
  • Piston - A type of filling system that uses a retracting plunger inside a sealed tube to draw ink into a pen. They are typically either twist or push-operated. These pens cannot accept cartridges or a converter, and only fill from bottled ink.
  • Vacuum - A push-style piston that uses pressure to fill the large pen body with ink. They seal the ink chamber when closed, making it ideal for flying without risk of leaking. Check out our video on how to use a vac filler here.

Check out more info on these filling mechanisms including a video on how to fill each one on our blog.

How do I clean a fountain pen? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

It depends on the filling mechanism, but it mostly comes down to flushing it out with water, and sometimes a little bit of Pen Flush if the ink is really stuck. 

It's a bit easier to show than to tell, so we've put together a few quick videos showing you the process:

How often do I need to clean my fountain pen? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

We recommend a good cleaning every 2 weeks, and any time you change ink colors. 

Water will usually do the trick, but we recommend you use our Goulet Pen Flush if the ink has been left in the pen for a while and could have dried up, or when you’re switching ink colors.

My pen won’t write! What do I do? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

First things first... make sure you have ink in the pen! Be sure that the ink cartridge or converter is seated properly in the pen, and that you aren't out of ink.

We always recommend you give your pen a good cleaning first, using our Goulet Pen Flush, or a drop of dish soap in some water. New pens often have some machining oil residue left in the feed, so a good cleaning often does the trick first.

If that still doesn't work, try priming the feed. This consists of either dipping your pen nib and feed in ink, or forcing ink from the converter down into the feed. 

If it’s still not working after that, please reach out to us so we can help! 

What's your return policy? 8EDA1617-F73A-4DAF-8245-6D2BF4ABEB7B

You can submit a return request within 30 days of your order date. You can read all our Return Policies here.

To initiate a return, please submit a request at the Return Portal. Our Customer Care team might reach out to you for more information.

Please note we are unable to accept a return of any Namiki or Sailor Bespoke fountain pen for any reason once it has been used with ink. Please thoroughly inspect and dry test the pen before use.