AFAIK, Blue Dew Pen company is a Singapore pen company that debutted in Dec 2020. I ordered the pen, and while waiting for it to arrive in Canada I saw a Chrisrap52 video on the Lorelei 691. I reached out to the owner of the company on FB to enquire and he said that this Lorelei pen with the steel flex nib was a rejected earlier prototype. Since he didn't own the manufacturing facility, he had no way to stop the company from releasing that Lorelei. To me, the Blue Dew pen comes closest to replicating the performance of dip nibs but with a feed and reservoir and the nib is not a disposable nib which is nice. Good review!
Thanks to your pen friend for the loan of the Blue Dew pen. I noted that you found the nib on the Lorelei smoother than the Blue Dew nib. Look forward to seeing your Ranga, in black. I am waiting on one via their ebay shop, but, as luck would have it, among their vast array of finishes, they didn't have the one I wanted 😢. I am hoping my efforts to reply with alternatives have gotten through, I must say! Cheers!
you are a great musician, an excellent singer, a collector, a fascinating country man ... you can't even have a beautiful handwriting ... perfection does not exist😉
DOUG!!! OMG!!! I got them working perfectly!!! Okay...here's what I did!! I mated the nib to an FNF Penbbs feed and housing and slapped it into my 487. So the feed was GUSHING ink through cause this nib is SUPER ink conductive right? So I took a toothpick tip...like 2mm and stuck it in the butt end of the feed, put it all back together and put it all back in the pen... OMG HEAVENLY FLEXING!!! No GUSHING OR SOAKING THE PAGE ANYMORE!!! So then I decided to smooth out the nib cause it comes stock setup like some kinda needlepoint italic right? Smoothed it out on some micromesh on all the little scratchy corner edges.... OMG THIS NIB IS HEAVEN!!!! I have NEVER had anything that wrote like the tip is coated in friggin TEFLON and does HAIR-THIN LINES but flexes to 2MM when pushed and has shading and EVERYTHING!!! I cannot WAIT to put the second Blue-Dew Nib in the Opus-88 when it gets here, I've got an ebonite feed and housing already waiting for it!!! The Penbbs-487 has no shutoff valve so it's been sloshing about in my pocket for the past 2 days. That is the ONLY drawback!!!! I have NOT STOPPED writing with it since I got it set up right!!! It is HEAVENLY!!!! THIS is the flex-writing Ive heard so much about and dreamed about finding AND I FINALLY HAVE IT!!! OMG I FINALLY HAVE IT!!! I'm writing on everything...business cards, crappy paper, corkboards, milk boxes...this nib writes on ANYTHING!!! it's so amazing!!!
I just got 14k Lamy Oblique Medium nib yesterday. I love my writing experience with it and I ordered another nib of oblique B as well. I cant wait to see it coming😍
This has got to be the most exciting review of the whole year, I must say! I can never get enough Ed Grimley. I like the looks of this pen, but the flex nibs are a hard nope for me. It would be nice if the Lorelei came with a regular nib. Thanks for another great review, Doug. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the Ranga.
-25 C are you kidding me! Wow and just amazing. You've got a great hangout spot out of those temps for sure. What interesting stories around both pens. I just love the royal/cobalt blue of this pen. Very pretty. Thanks, Doug! Stay safe and well.
Attempts to use a dip style nib in a fountain pen have generally not resulted in a good writing experience. Dip steel nibs preceded fountain pens by many years. All in my experiences are scratchy & take a slow practiced hand but can flex till the cows come home. My 691 is a beautiful flaming pearlescent red, beautiful but not a daily writer. I have many "Indian" steel flex nibs. The Kanwrites are as good as it gets, can flex to a BB with a little pressure, write great with norman pressure, can be an EDC.
I generally enjoy my Kanwrite, but the flexing still needs enough force you wouldn't want to do it for long. Even without flexing it you get some nice bounce with my writing normal pressure. Certainly the Kanwrites are good bang for the buck. Wouldn't surprise me if I got another one in due time.
Nice Ranga! I got mine a few weeks ago, model 8b also in black ebonite, and it really has a vintage vibe. Looks like a pen from a hundred years ago! Love it!
I'm finding the Ranga 4C fascinating for a number of reasons I will get into this weekend. This one was a gift, but I'm really considering getting another myself.
Buenas noches. Con la calidad de flujo de tinta que muestra en esta revisión el BlueDew al menos a mi no me provocaría invertir en adquirir uno de ellos. Definitivamente los Pilot son estilografos destacados en su función de lograr variación de linea con las versiones FA de sus nibs. Cordial saludo.
If the only issue of the BlueDew is the scratchiness, that can be smoothened out. (I have an 1950 Esterbrook that I took care of the scratchiness by just using a brown paper bag.) You cannot, however, make the Lorelei any more flexible than what it already is. Based on this video, the flex of the BlueDew is far superior over the Lorlei. I'd get the BlueDew over the Lorlei.
Yippee! I’ve been researching & pondering what to do or to franken for a good flex nib option for ink drawings. Saw another review on an art channel & now yours with more specs so now I know for certain! BleuDew for major flex and my already decided Falcon (sf) for crossover nib! Whew! Thank you! And stay warm. I’m headed out to finish trimming yard before the really cold nights hit for next week-ish--dang I didn’t know that ol’ Alberta clipper comes way down here! But at least we have more light every day of winter which is way more than Edmonton but way fewer months of winter than Edmonton! But I do miss Alberta!
I didn't think you would test out something so flexy. I also didn't think there were such long, pointy Chinese nibs being made. I watched another review on this a while ago and thought it was a dip nib. Osprey recently put out a cobalt blue flex pen that costs a little more than the Lorelei. They have some higher grade acrylics and I think ebonite too, but most of them look like nondescript "school" pens, with screw in feeds for FP or dip nibs. It's new pen day for me as well! I got my first vintage and gold nib pen. Platinum pocket, 18k soft fine! I pushed water through it for an hour or so, then primed the feed w/a converter before snapping in the cart because I got impatient to try it. Modest line variation and bouncy. It'll be fun taking it for a spin. Thanks for the overview as usual!
@@InkquiringMinds Yes it is, the boring black variety. It's from the early 60s I think, because it has the old Platinum globe logo instead of a P. Now I just have to use it like crazy to make sure it's good.
The Zebra G nibs are greats but they rust always so better the Lorelei it’s able to swap nibs or else the fountain pen it’s going to last what the nib will. What it’s interesting it’s the feeder that it’s different to the usual plastic ones. Thanks for the video!
I got the BlewDew to try out modern flex (Conklin and Zebra-G pens leave much to be desired). It works as you describe but I have yet another suggestion that is actually cheaper than both. The Osprey Madison. When selecting it you are given nib options and admittedly I went with the fine instead of XF because I was afraid of the scratchiness. The Osprey Madison is a much better writing experience and flexes really well. The other nib sizes could be purchased separately if testing them out is the aim but I'm happy with the fine. It lists for $24 and #3.xx for shipping in the US so it is a really reasonable option.
I've seen ads for the Osprey. It looks like another generic Chinese OEM pen (Jinhao, Lingmo, HongDian whatever) with another company's laser branding. I'm not much on flexing but the Osprey looks interesting.
This helps me to narrow down my modern flex nib options as I was debating between Osprey and Bluedew. I will get the Osprey EEF flex then : cut the cost. Will save the $88 for getting a good vintage flex pen.
Ok, no more painful “flexing” please. It was like Robert Shaw with his nails on the chalkboard in Jaws. Thanks for taking the hit here and showing me pens I might have bought on a lark, if there was any redeeming quality. I’ve looked at the zebra g but after watching this, I know I don’t have the skill or, patience to write with one. I have bought a Harpoon nib and feed from StyloSuite and a Secretary De Flex from Penrealm and both write extremely well without scratchyness. They are not inexpensive but work very well. The Penrealm one especially. Enough digressing. Looking forward to the Ranga review.
Hi, I used to have the same problem with an old italian vintage pen : flexy but scratchy. The nib, as yours, has no tipping point. After allignin the nib tines, you can sharpen the nib as for a blade, on a sharpening stone or on a surface as the back coffee mug
Interesting. Lorelei used to use Sailor compatible converters. Also this pen cannot be found on Taobao. On a side note I find Wing Sung (600 series Platinum style) converters very good substitutes for Pilot and Sailor ones.
Wonderful video, as always, Douglas. I’m always taken by the impressive use of clips in your videos. I too bought the BlueDew after speaking with the maker on Instagram. The $88 seemed a bit steep but he seemed like a nice man and put up with my questions on Instagram. (Maybe a sense of solidarity with a fellow physicist to?) The acrylic was obviously a Chinese one - I’m sure I’d seen the Lorelei in a video by another “RUclipsr”. I’ve never seen that pen on my searches of eBay and Etsy - many Chinese brands don’t seem to ship to Europe (sadly the UK has left that particular trading bloc) so they don’t even appear in searches. As you say, the Chinese factories will always make pens to a price so maybe the extra price is justified with the upgraded nib and converter? I’m not unhappy with it though considering what else is on the market. FPR flex nibs are appalling, Omniflex are little better, Noodlers are as bad as FPR. I have the soft nibs of Japan which are superb. John Mottishaw (at nibs.com) will sell you a modified FA nib for Spencerian writing. Too rich for me, sadly!
I've heard lots of good things about John and the modified FA nib. I'll never be a Spencerian so I wouldn't indulge. I think the $88 is reasonable for what you get with the BlueDew and young Jeffrey has done some interesting modifications to the nib. He stands behind his products too which is nice to see. He is based in the Philippines.
I doubt the FPR Flex nib would do. The ones I've tried are rather stiff, not as much as the Noodler's flex nib but close. Thank you very much for the comparison. This is very informative and useful.
@@InkquiringMinds Not surprising given your FPR feud. They keep bringing out new pens, but I doubt I will bite. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...well not gonna given them that chance.
You found the BASF of pens in Bluedew! I understand that the Jinhao nibs aren't the best out there when compared to their German counterparts, perhaps due to quality control inherent in mass production. What post processing of these nibs would need to be done to take them to the next level (or two), and can that be on the cheap? Would you be able to comment on this, and also reach out to your contacts to see what they think? Thanks, and keep up the good work.
Those are German Brause calligraphy nibs, adapted like your Zebra/Jinhao. They corrode over time. But the BlueDew retailer has the flexier nib and done an excellent job of fitting nib to feed. My pen works well. The nib-feed unit unscrews as a piece, and Jeffrey sells replacements. I've tried adapting Zebra and Brause #6 nibs to various feeds and pens, never got the good BlueDew reliable performance. My Pilot Falcon SF came with baby's bottom and took two years of fussing to get good performance. You didn't mention the stinky resin of the BlueDew and I'm guessing Lorelei.
WHAT!?!? OMG!!! I'm sooo glad I didn't buy the Bluedew pen!! I just bought the nib-pair he had for sale for $42 USD. Wow....the same pen...for a fraction of the price...unbelievable. Either way, I expected more from the nibs when I tested them. They are NOT smooth at all and function like some kind of XXF italic. Super SUPER fine lines going all around that flex like magic...but sooooo SCRATCHY!!!
Excellent video production values, as usual. I love the idea of flex nibs, but I, like you, are no Spencerian calligrapher, therefore my favorite flex pen is also the Pilot Falcon. My writing is confined to memoirs and the occasional letter. (Side note: I am currently writing about 3 generations of youthful bedtime rituals, but have completely omitted my current one of watching your RUclips reviews). Ah, Blue pens - you should really jump on the sale (Goulet) of the Pelikan M8805 Blue Dunes. I’ll not even comment on the steel reinforced nipple. As an aside, I too am waiting fir something from the Royal Mint to wend its way from London to Philadelphia.
Great in depth review Doug i have only had experience of the Zebra g nib on a Jinhao pen terribly scratchy & unusable( Not impressed).I have the Falcon & use it quite a bit a super pen.
Thanks for sharing! I don't use the Pilot a great deal since it is so very fine, but I appreciate owning the pen and it is gorgeous and that 14k nib is so soft!
I have a red swirl Blue Dew. The pen, including shipping, was an even $100. I enjoy writing with it, even though it is a bit scratchy. I don't use it as a flex pen, because flexing the nib slows down my writing. My experience with the pen agrees with Doug's.
Love the resin. Makes sense as they seem to be made in the same factory as noted by some other comments. I have different model Lorelei, which also has nice resin material, and is OK pen for the price.
Interesting pen but I'm not much of a flex(er) nor a huge fan of gold trim so I'll pass but the acrylic does kind of remind me of the Edison Menlo. I was going to ask this on your last video but I'll do it here instead. When you mentioned a review on the "new" Penbbs 348, does that mean you'll know when they'll drop or do you already own one? Because I assumed this model had been scrapped as the only time I heard about it was on a FPN post back in 2018.
Hmmm...I wonder if there is a way to smooth these nibs out. I've got two, I'll try rounding the edges of one...and send the other off to a nibmeister. Results should be interesting.
What was the third pen brand when you have the five pens laid out that look like a blue purple combination.. third from the top of the screen? thanks..
I think this Steel flex nib is more flexible than 14K gold nib on my Platinum PT 5000 which costs about the same.. I see that Bluedew is a Singapore based company while Lorelei is Chinese ? I wonder why there are no law suits filed against copies ! ( No.. I’m not referring to Lorelei Gilmore of Gilmore girls filing a suit against the pen maker for copying her name 😉)
Yes. BlueDew is from the Philippines and Lorelei is Chinese. There are no lawsuits because these are not copies. They are the same pen just different nibs. BlueDew modifies the nib and Lorelei doesn't. Lorelei makes the pens and supplies them to Jeffrey in the Philippines who modifies the nib and laser engraves "BlueDew" on the barrel and sells them.
Another interesting review ,minus 25 no wonder you don't show external views my late father was sent to Saskatchewan in Ww2 Medicine that & Battle creek he said how cold.
@@InkquiringMinds Not required. Maybe the Indian Manufacturers have changed compounds. No stinky problems with my Triple Tail, Ahabs or other Indian pens. Nib on the Triple Tail excellent value- just get a demo with flash ink and set it up as an eye dropper. I’ve also got a Monteverde Engage demonstrator.
Funny story... I am convinced that BlueDew and Lorelei 691 are made in the same factory... I ordered online a Lorelei 691 in white on eBay from China for $37.46 CAD (including shipping). Today I just received the pen in a white Lorelei box with the pen inside. The pen has engraved on the barrel and converter "Bluedew" and the nib has the side slits as well (and that fancy breeder hole). The guys at BlueDew... total ripoff!!
Hello Dough.. Hmm.. With the Brexit that you explain here.. It happens to me too with an order that I made in ETSY.. WTF.... I hope that I receive it now.
I bought from Cult Pens in the UK. They told me (after they charged my card) that the pen would be delayed for a month while they sort out the Brexit fiasco.
@@InkquiringMinds Hmm.... In my case, they send it to a wrong address, but before that, the Postal service from Spain send it back because wrong address... Now the seller send it to me again when I confirmed my address.. I don't understand nothing.... 🤔🤔🤔
![Megan Thee Stallion - Mamushi (Remix) [feat. TWICE] [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5c0_u9PsrsQ/mqdefault.jpg)
AFAIK, Blue Dew Pen company is a Singapore pen company that debutted in Dec 2020. I ordered the pen, and while waiting for it to arrive in Canada I saw a Chrisrap52 video on the Lorelei 691. I reached out to the owner of the company on FB to enquire and he said that this Lorelei pen with the steel flex nib was a rejected earlier prototype. Since he didn't own the manufacturing facility, he had no way to stop the company from releasing that Lorelei. To me, the Blue Dew pen comes closest to replicating the performance of dip nibs but with a feed and reservoir and the nib is not a disposable nib which is nice.
Good review!
Thanks! This just confirms my thinking. Lorelei builds them for BlueDew and Jeffrey alters the nibs.
"Delicate Spenserian sensibilities". You are the master of assonance and alliteration.
But I avoid obfuscation and circumlocution wherever practicable.
Finally a clear and honest review of the BlueDew. THANK YOU!
Thanks to your pen friend for the loan of the Blue Dew pen. I noted that you found the nib on the Lorelei
smoother than the Blue Dew nib. Look forward to seeing your Ranga, in black. I am waiting on one
via their ebay shop, but, as luck would have it, among their vast array of finishes, they didn't have the one
I wanted 😢. I am hoping my efforts to reply with alternatives have gotten through, I must say! Cheers!
I'm finding the Ranga (which was a gift) a truly fascinating pen. I might be inclined to purchase another myself!
you are a great musician, an excellent singer, a collector, a fascinating country man ... you can't even have a beautiful handwriting ... perfection does not exist😉
Wow, thank you! Flattery will get you ... MORE VIDEOS! :)
@@InkquiringMinds lol 😆
DOUG!!!
OMG!!!
I got them working perfectly!!!
Okay...here's what I did!!
I mated the nib to an FNF Penbbs feed and housing and slapped it into my 487. So the feed was GUSHING ink through cause this nib is SUPER ink conductive right?
So I took a toothpick tip...like 2mm and stuck it in the butt end of the feed, put it all back together and put it all back in the pen...
OMG HEAVENLY FLEXING!!!
No GUSHING OR SOAKING THE PAGE ANYMORE!!!
So then I decided to smooth out the nib cause it comes stock setup like some kinda needlepoint italic right?
Smoothed it out on some micromesh on all the little scratchy corner edges....
OMG THIS NIB IS HEAVEN!!!!
I have NEVER had anything that wrote like the tip is coated in friggin TEFLON and does HAIR-THIN LINES but flexes to 2MM when pushed and has shading and EVERYTHING!!!
I cannot WAIT to put the second Blue-Dew Nib in the Opus-88 when it gets here, I've got an ebonite feed and housing already waiting for it!!! The Penbbs-487 has no shutoff valve so it's been sloshing about in my pocket for the past 2 days. That is the ONLY drawback!!!!
I have NOT STOPPED writing with it since I got it set up right!!! It is HEAVENLY!!!! THIS is the flex-writing Ive heard so much about and dreamed about finding AND I FINALLY HAVE IT!!! OMG I FINALLY HAVE IT!!! I'm writing on everything...business cards, crappy paper, corkboards, milk boxes...this nib writes on ANYTHING!!! it's so amazing!!!
Congrats! Now YOU are the one that is GUSHING! LOL Excellent!
I just got 14k Lamy Oblique Medium nib yesterday. I love my writing experience with it and I ordered another nib of oblique B as well. I cant wait to see it coming😍
Very nice! You got yours the same moment I got mine - yesterday morning! I've inked mine up and it is incredible.
This has got to be the most exciting review of the whole year, I must say! I can never get enough Ed Grimley. I like the looks of this pen, but the flex nibs are a hard nope for me. It would be nice if the Lorelei came with a regular nib. Thanks for another great review, Doug. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the Ranga.
Thanks, Ken! The Lorelei DOES have a regular nib... now! :)
-25 C are you kidding me! Wow and just amazing. You've got a great hangout spot out of those temps for sure. What interesting stories around both pens. I just love the royal/cobalt blue of this pen. Very pretty. Thanks, Doug! Stay safe and well.
Thanks for watching, Annie. Wait until you see my trek through -26C to the mailbox!
Attempts to use a dip style nib in a fountain pen have generally not resulted in a good writing experience. Dip steel nibs preceded fountain pens by many years. All in my experiences are scratchy & take a slow practiced hand but can flex till the cows come home. My 691 is a beautiful flaming pearlescent red, beautiful but not a daily writer. I have many "Indian" steel flex nibs. The Kanwrites are as good as it gets, can flex to a BB with a little pressure, write great with norman pressure, can be an EDC.
Thanks, Chris! I'd rather get line variation without effort - stubs and AI are the ticket!
I generally enjoy my Kanwrite, but the flexing still needs enough force you wouldn't want to do it for long. Even without flexing it you get some nice bounce with my writing normal pressure. Certainly the Kanwrites are good bang for the buck. Wouldn't surprise me if I got another one in due time.
EEEEEEYYYY, shoutout from the Philippines? Now this, I want one
Congratulations for the new Lamy 2000 Sir Doug
Thanks! 😃 It is a Lamy Studio Palladium. I can't bring myself to get a 2000.
Congrats for the Lamy, nice choice and nice treat too!
Yes! Thank you! I just inked it up and it is incredible!
Nice Ranga! I got mine a few weeks ago, model 8b also in black ebonite, and it really has a vintage vibe. Looks like a pen from a hundred years ago! Love it!
I'm finding the Ranga 4C fascinating for a number of reasons I will get into this weekend. This one was a gift, but I'm really considering getting another myself.
@@InkquiringMinds 👌 no spoilers. Looking forward to it
Buenas noches. Con la calidad de flujo de tinta que muestra en esta revisión el BlueDew al menos a mi no me provocaría invertir en adquirir uno de ellos. Definitivamente los Pilot son estilografos destacados en su función de lograr variación de linea con las versiones FA de sus nibs.
Cordial saludo.
If the only issue of the BlueDew is the scratchiness, that can be smoothened out. (I have an 1950 Esterbrook that I took care of the scratchiness by just using a brown paper bag.) You cannot, however, make the Lorelei any more flexible than what it already is. Based on this video, the flex of the BlueDew is far superior over the Lorlei. I'd get the BlueDew over the Lorlei.
I agree!
instaBlaster.
Brilliant review...and lots of fun!
You can have your pen back anytime, but I might just hang on to that little case! ;) Just kidding! Thank you for the loan!
Hello professor. Thank you for this :) I have just recently got the BlueDew, and am experimenting, and comparing to FPR steel flex. :)
Glad to help!
My current flex pen is a Noodler's Ahab with a FPR Ultraflex nib (currently inked with Aurora Black). So far it has worked well.
Lots of people praise both that pen and that nib.
Yippee! I’ve been researching & pondering what to do or to franken for a good flex nib option for ink drawings. Saw another review on an art channel & now yours with more specs so now I know for certain! BleuDew for major flex and my already decided Falcon (sf) for crossover nib! Whew! Thank you! And stay warm. I’m headed out to finish trimming yard before the really cold nights hit for next week-ish--dang I didn’t know that ol’ Alberta clipper comes way down here! But at least we have more light every day of winter which is way more than Edmonton but way fewer months of winter than Edmonton! But I do miss Alberta!
Alberta misses you and your mower too!
I didn't think you would test out something so flexy. I also didn't think there were such long, pointy Chinese nibs being made. I watched another review on this a while ago and thought it was a dip nib.
Osprey recently put out a cobalt blue flex pen that costs a little more than the Lorelei. They have some higher grade acrylics and I think ebonite too, but most of them look like nondescript "school" pens, with screw in feeds for FP or dip nibs.
It's new pen day for me as well! I got my first vintage and gold nib pen. Platinum pocket, 18k soft fine! I pushed water through it for an hour or so, then primed the feed w/a converter before snapping in the cart because I got impatient to try it. Modest line variation and bouncy. It'll be fun taking it for a spin.
Thanks for the overview as usual!
Congrats on the Platinum! Is that a pocket pen like the Pilot e95s and Elite?
@@InkquiringMinds Yes it is, the boring black variety. It's from the early 60s I think, because it has the old Platinum globe logo instead of a P. Now I just have to use it like crazy to make sure it's good.
The Zebra G nibs are greats but they rust always so better the Lorelei it’s able to swap nibs or else the fountain pen it’s going to last what the nib will. What it’s interesting it’s the feeder that it’s different to the usual plastic ones. Thanks for the video!
The feed is important as it has to keep up with the ink flow with a flex nib.
Ed Grimley, Herb Alpert, Three Stooges.....and Inspector Rathbun solves a Chinese pen mystery. Good day to you, Sir! 🔍🖋🕵
Modern Chinese not so secret! LOL
Thanks, Doug. If I ever think really, really old hands can learn to write fancy flex, then I will follow your suggestions! :)
I’ve given up on it. So many more interesting things to do!
I got the BlewDew to try out modern flex (Conklin and Zebra-G pens leave much to be desired). It works as you describe but I have yet another suggestion that is actually cheaper than both. The Osprey Madison. When selecting it you are given nib options and admittedly I went with the fine instead of XF because I was afraid of the scratchiness. The Osprey Madison is a much better writing experience and flexes really well. The other nib sizes could be purchased separately if testing them out is the aim but I'm happy with the fine. It lists for $24 and #3.xx for shipping in the US so it is a really reasonable option.
I've seen ads for the Osprey. It looks like another generic Chinese OEM pen (Jinhao, Lingmo, HongDian whatever) with another company's laser branding. I'm not much on flexing but the Osprey looks interesting.
@@InkquiringMinds I think it may be Indian actually. The feed appears to be ebonite which may be why it keeps up pretty well.
@@johntoledo4438 Interesting.
This helps me to narrow down my modern flex nib options as I was debating between Osprey and Bluedew. I will get the Osprey EEF flex then : cut the cost. Will save the $88 for getting a good vintage flex pen.
Thanks for the great review and comparison.
My pleasure!
Ok, no more painful “flexing” please. It was like Robert Shaw with his nails on the chalkboard in Jaws. Thanks for taking the hit here and showing me pens I might have bought on a lark, if there was any redeeming quality. I’ve looked at the zebra g but after watching this, I know I don’t have the skill or, patience to write with one. I have bought a Harpoon nib and feed from StyloSuite and a Secretary De Flex from Penrealm and both write extremely well without scratchyness. They are not inexpensive but work very well. The Penrealm one especially. Enough digressing. Looking forward to the Ranga review.
Thanks, Toby! See you Saturday!
Hi, I used to have the same problem with an old italian vintage pen : flexy but scratchy. The nib, as yours, has no tipping point. After allignin the nib tines, you can sharpen the nib as for a blade, on a sharpening stone or on a surface as the back coffee mug
I have a range of micromesh that do the trick. :)
Interesting. Lorelei used to use Sailor compatible converters. Also this pen cannot be found on Taobao. On a side note I find Wing Sung (600 series Platinum style) converters very good substitutes for Pilot and Sailor ones.
Yes indeed! I have a Wing Sung converter in my Pilot Falcon. Way better than a Con40.
Thanks so much for your overview. I was debating the BlueDew.
Glad I could help!
I think that Bluefin also has a Writer’s Series pen, which, presumably, would be more suitable for ordinary writing.
Wonderful video, as always, Douglas. I’m always taken by the impressive use of clips in your videos.
I too bought the BlueDew after speaking with the maker on Instagram. The $88 seemed a bit steep but he seemed like a nice man and put up with my questions on Instagram. (Maybe a sense of solidarity with a fellow physicist to?)
The acrylic was obviously a Chinese one - I’m sure I’d seen the Lorelei in a video by another “RUclipsr”. I’ve never seen that pen on my searches of eBay and Etsy - many Chinese brands don’t seem to ship to Europe (sadly the UK has left that particular trading bloc) so they don’t even appear in searches.
As you say, the Chinese factories will always make pens to a price so maybe the extra price is justified with the upgraded nib and converter? I’m not unhappy with it though considering what else is on the market. FPR flex nibs are appalling, Omniflex are little better, Noodlers are as bad as FPR.
I have the soft nibs of Japan which are superb. John Mottishaw (at nibs.com) will sell you a modified FA nib for Spencerian writing. Too rich for me, sadly!
I've heard lots of good things about John and the modified FA nib. I'll never be a Spencerian so I wouldn't indulge. I think the $88 is reasonable for what you get with the BlueDew and young Jeffrey has done some interesting modifications to the nib. He stands behind his products too which is nice to see. He is based in the Philippines.
@@InkquiringMinds Jeffrey of Bluedew is based in Singapore
Yes. I am aware if that and posted Jeffrey’s message on the screen in the video.
I doubt the FPR Flex nib would do. The ones I've tried are rather stiff, not as much as the Noodler's flex nib but close.
Thank you very much for the comparison. This is very informative and useful.
Fair enough! I'll never buy one so it is good to know.
@@InkquiringMinds Not surprising given your FPR feud. They keep bringing out new pens, but I doubt I will bite. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...well not gonna given them that chance.
You found the BASF of pens in Bluedew! I understand that the Jinhao nibs aren't the best out there when compared to their German counterparts, perhaps due to quality control inherent in mass production. What post processing of these nibs would need to be done to take them to the next level (or two), and can that be on the cheap? Would you be able to comment on this, and also reach out to your contacts to see what they think? Thanks, and keep up the good work.
So the German steel flex nib is made by a chemical company (BASF)?? I'm not an expert in flexible nibs by any stretch!
Those are German Brause calligraphy nibs, adapted like your Zebra/Jinhao. They corrode over time. But the BlueDew retailer has the flexier nib and done an excellent job of fitting nib to feed. My pen works well. The nib-feed unit unscrews as a piece, and Jeffrey sells replacements. I've tried adapting Zebra and Brause #6 nibs to various feeds and pens, never got the good BlueDew reliable performance. My Pilot Falcon SF came with baby's bottom and took two years of fussing to get good performance. You didn't mention the stinky resin of the BlueDew and I'm guessing Lorelei.
That's terrific information Patrick! Thank you! Neither the BlueDew or the Lorelei smell at all. You must be thinking of the FPR Himalaya.
@@InkquiringMindsI got the red Blue Dew, and it's a stinker. Could be different resin formulas since they're certainly the same pen body source.
In terms of dip nibs, the Lorelei nib is more like a Japanese school nib rather than than a G nib which the blue dew appears to be imitating.
Wonderful review! So helpful! Thank you so much! Pls let me know the brand of Fude nib you used for the switch out and for which pen
Thanks, Vivian. The brand on the mini-fude nib is Shui Yao
WHAT!?!?
OMG!!! I'm sooo glad I didn't buy the Bluedew pen!! I just bought the nib-pair he had for sale for $42 USD.
Wow....the same pen...for a fraction of the price...unbelievable.
Either way, I expected more from the nibs when I tested them. They are NOT smooth at all and function like some kind of XXF italic. Super SUPER fine lines going all around that flex like magic...but sooooo SCRATCHY!!!
It is certainly more flexi and less scratchy than a Zebra G.
@@InkquiringMinds are you speaking up the bluedew?
Excellent video production values, as usual. I love the idea of flex nibs, but I, like you, are no Spencerian calligrapher, therefore my favorite flex pen is also the Pilot Falcon. My writing is confined to memoirs and the occasional letter. (Side note: I am currently writing about 3 generations of youthful bedtime rituals, but have completely omitted my current one of watching your RUclips reviews). Ah, Blue pens - you should really jump on the sale (Goulet) of the Pelikan M8805 Blue Dunes. I’ll not even comment on the steel reinforced nipple. As an aside, I too am waiting fir something from the Royal Mint to wend its way from London to Philadelphia.
I will be a while before I can think about a Pelikan M805 - rarified air there!
@@InkquiringMinds $349 USD, plus I received a 10% veterans discount. Not so rarified.
Great in depth review Doug i have only had experience of the Zebra g nib on a Jinhao pen terribly scratchy & unusable( Not impressed).I have the Falcon & use it quite a bit a super pen.
Thanks for sharing! I don't use the Pilot a great deal since it is so very fine, but I appreciate owning the pen and it is gorgeous and that 14k nib is so soft!
I have a red swirl Blue Dew. The pen, including shipping, was an even $100. I enjoy writing with it, even though it is a bit scratchy. I don't use it as a flex pen, because flexing the nib slows down my writing. My experience with the pen agrees with Doug's.
Thanks, Witt!
Great review, lots to process! 😁
Thanks, Bill!
Love the resin. Makes sense as they seem to be made in the same factory as noted by some other comments. I have different model Lorelei, which also has nice resin material, and is OK pen for the price.
Thank you, Martin!
Very enjoyable and instructive video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Interesting pen but I'm not much of a flex(er) nor a huge fan of gold trim so I'll pass but the acrylic does kind of remind me of the Edison Menlo.
I was going to ask this on your last video but I'll do it here instead. When you mentioned a review on the "new" Penbbs 348, does that mean you'll know when they'll drop or do you already own one? Because I assumed this model had been scrapped as the only time I heard about it was on a FPN post back in 2018.
I HAD one ordered but it was cancelled as out of stock. They will appear on the Etsy official store soon - in the next couple weeks is my guess.
Hmmm...I wonder if there is a way to smooth these nibs out.
I've got two, I'll try rounding the edges of one...and send the other off to a nibmeister.
Results should be interesting.
Inkquiring minds want to know!
18:29 Yep...precisely what I experienced. Its so scratchy in any direction but down...it's unusable for anything but kanji.
True!
@@InkquiringMinds OMG I WAS WRONG...I WAS SOOOO WRONG!!!! =o
@@Detman101 What happened?
The Falcon costs double the BlewDew, right?
It depends. The prices fluctuate widely. I got mine for $130US on Amazon. So, it is only $42 more than the BlueDew and it has a 14k gold nib.
@@InkquiringMinds Better deal if you ask me...hehe
What was the third pen brand when you have the five pens laid out that look like a blue purple combination.. third from the top of the screen? thanks..
That is a Fuliwen 017.
Very educational. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I think this Steel flex nib is more flexible than 14K gold nib on my Platinum PT 5000 which costs about the same..
I see that Bluedew is a Singapore based company while Lorelei is Chinese ?
I wonder why there are no law suits filed against copies ! ( No.. I’m not referring to Lorelei Gilmore of Gilmore girls filing a suit against the pen maker for copying her name 😉)
Yes. BlueDew is from the Philippines and Lorelei is Chinese. There are no lawsuits because these are not copies. They are the same pen just different nibs. BlueDew modifies the nib and Lorelei doesn't. Lorelei makes the pens and supplies them to Jeffrey in the Philippines who modifies the nib and laser engraves "BlueDew" on the barrel and sells them.
The BlueDew voodoo that you do blew my mind until I went coo coo. But scratchy tools are for fools who drool.
That's so old school!
The Philadelphia Blue Dews?! You’re killing me. 🤣
LOL!
Another interesting review ,minus 25 no wonder you don't show external views my late father was sent to Saskatchewan in Ww2 Medicine that & Battle creek he said how cold.
It is even colder today. *-26C*
@@InkquiringMinds were toasting in Warwickshire 1.4 c
@@stevenparsons4076 You guys toast the days of the week in Warwickshire! Cheer's it's Wednesday! ;)
Which Kon-Peki blue were you using?
There's more than one Kon-Peki? I only have Iroshizuku Kon-Peki in the 50ml bottle.
BlueDew is not based in the Philippines; it’s based in Singapore. :)
BluDew Bob Cratchet would scratch it. Very nice looking pen and case but at the end of the day a Noodlers Triple Tale will blow it off a 90 GSM page.
Do you get a free clothespin with the Triple Tail for your nose?
@@InkquiringMinds Not required. Maybe the Indian Manufacturers have changed compounds. No stinky problems with my Triple Tail, Ahabs or other Indian pens. Nib on the Triple Tail excellent value- just get a demo with flash ink and set it up as an eye dropper.
I’ve also got a Monteverde Engage demonstrator.
Lorelei was a siren who lured sailors to their death. I don't know if this is relevant.
It is if you put your Sailor next to your Lorelei.
@@InkquiringMinds That's why the Sailor needs a Pilot.
Funny story... I am convinced that BlueDew and Lorelei 691 are made in the same factory...
I ordered online a Lorelei 691 in white on eBay from China for $37.46 CAD (including shipping).
Today I just received the pen in a white Lorelei box with the pen inside. The pen has engraved on the barrel and converter "Bluedew" and the nib has the side slits as well (and that fancy breeder hole). The guys at BlueDew... total ripoff!!
Wow! Thanks for this!
@@InkquiringMinds Your welcome - your video was the first thing that came to mind while I was chuckling at the whole thing :).
These pens look like they're way too much effort!
For me they are but some enthusiasts might like them. I like the Lorelei now it has a nice nib on it.
The Bluedew is just a Lorelei with a steel Principal dip nib. Not worth the price.
The Bluedew's nib does flex WAY better than the Lorelei.
Crap now I’m pissed I could have saved 60$
Shame they are made in china, I am not buying Chinese products as of 2019. Will look for a flexi nib for calligraphy made in india
There are some good ones.
The write on section it's orrible
'Orible?
@@InkquiringMinds ops horrible
@@francescomotolese4644 I thought you were a Cockney there for a moment! LOL
These are generic calligraphy nibs
The Lorelei is generic. The BlueDew has been customized.
Hello Dough.. Hmm.. With the Brexit that you explain here.. It happens to me too with an order that I made in ETSY..
WTF.... I hope that I receive it now.
I bought from Cult Pens in the UK. They told me (after they charged my card) that the pen would be delayed for a month while they sort out the Brexit fiasco.
@@InkquiringMinds Hmm.... In my case, they send it to a wrong address, but before that, the Postal service from Spain send it back because wrong address...
Now the seller send it to me again when I confirmed my address..
I don't understand nothing.... 🤔🤔🤔
@@Raul1971xxx We live in challenging times. The postal service, doubly so!
@@InkquiringMinds I see...