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New DHL Worldwide Express Rates

Due to a large number of packages going missing, we will no longer offer USPS First Class International service. Fortunately, DHL has provided a very competitive rate for 2-4 day service worldwide at a slight upcharge from the USPS First Class International rate. We will continue to offer USPS Priority Mail International, 6-12 days worldwide.

If you should select USPS Priority Mail International, we will check to see if DHL Express would be cheaper. If it is, we will refund the difference, unless you specifically tell us in a note on the order not to use that service. We will not change the method of shipping if USPS Priority Mail International is cheaper, as it is in rare cases.

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Zebra G Design Review

We are undergoing a design review of the Zebra G products and expect to complete it this week. In the interim, all Zebra G orders are suspended except for ZT7E.

Update: We have found a defect in recent manufactured Z6E housings. If you have a problem with leaks or Zebra G nibs that don’t conform well to the feed, then contact us for a replacement Z6E housing.

We found no defects in Z6EX and ZB6E products, so these are now back in stock for purchase.

We will remake the following housings: ZMM6EX, ZT5E, ZP6EX, ZBEX6E, and ZC6E.

Update 2: We have remanufactured Z6E housings and the part is back in stock.

Update 3: We have remanufactured ZMM6EX and ZT5E housings and are back in stock.

Update 4: We have remanufactured ZBEX6E and ZC6E housings.

Update 5: All Zebra G products are back in stock except ZP6EX; we will remake the housings this week.

Update 6: All Zebra G products are back in stock. ZT7E is discontinued.

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Email difficulties

Due to irrational blocking of flexiblenib.com emails by some larger email providers such as Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail, etc., I have added a temporary email address flexiblenibfactory AT gmail DOT com until I can resolve this problem with my ISP (it is probably not their fault).

These larger email providers are attempting to monopolize email services in the guise of spam prevention. You can be sure the utterly useless and corrupt US government will do nothing to stop them.

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Production Resumed After Move

We have resumed production after moving into a larger facility. After the move, we found a hydraulic leak in the lathe due to a hydraulic fluid pump used to return hydraulic fluid back to the hydraulic tank from the sub spindle. Though the problem is not fully resolved, a workaround has been found enabling production to begin again. Production was down for about a month, which is why many items are out of stock.

We hope to have the website fully restocked by the end of April. We will apprise all volume customers of the shipping schedules for their orders in about a week’s time. Custom work will resume when the website is fully stocked.

We have ordered a Citizen L12X Swiss lathe which will allow higher volume production and lower lead times. The highest volume parts will be placed on this new machine and lower volume, custom work, and new product development will be done on the Mazak. The new machine will be in place by the end of the year, but we are hopeful that delivery can be pulled in.

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Factory Move Update

The factory move is complete. While restoring the machine I use to make feeds, housings, and collars, I discovered a hydraulic leak, so we are down until the leak can be repaired. I would estimate a week before I will be back into production.

I will not be able to make more of the out of stock products until the machine is repaired, so please be patient.

I hope to resume custom work in mid-April and have most or all of the outstanding custom work done by the end of that month.

I am about to order a second machine for making feeds, housings, and collars, but this machine won’t be online until June at the earliest. At that time, lead times will drop significantly and I will be able to create new products, including a line of housings with non-standard converters to allow use of converters with Pilot, Sailor, Platinum, and other nibs instead of being limited to non-converter pens as with current products for these nibs.

Please note our new address, which can be found on the Contact Us page.

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Shipping Update

Due to large increases by the USPS, we have had to move to an actual cost + $0.25 for all shipments worldwide. The flat rates we used to provide are no longer offered except for the flat rate FedEx 2nd Day service in the USA.

We hope that the increased shipping costs will not deter you from ordering.

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Factory Update

The factory remains shutdown due to illness since December 30. We don’t know at present as to when we will be able to restart operations and begin to restock out of stock parts such as the J6E, Z6E, S6E-XF, SB6E-XF, 912EN, and 912E.

Thank you for your patience.

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New JoWo #6 Nibs in the Wild

We have recently learned that JoWo has a new style of their popular #6 nib. Fortunately, the old and new #6 nibs can be distinguished by the placement of the size marking (EF, F, M, B, etc.). The original JoWo #6 nib has the size mark centered below the area reserved for engraving or etching the pen makers logo in line with the slit and breather hole. The new style nib has the size marking on the right side of the nib. Here is a comparison photo of the new nibs versus the old ones. The top row has three of the new style nibs, the bottom has three of the old style nibs.

JoWo #6 Nibs (New, top row; Old, bottom row)

For our JoWo #6 products, the red ebonite products should not be used with the new style nibs, as the shoulder of the nib is wider and may cause the red ebonite housing to crack. The black ebonite products can be used with the new style nibs, but be aware that a heat set may be required, as the curvature of the tip of the new style nibs is slightly less than the old style and there may be a gap between the tip of the nib and the tip of the feed.

Since the acrylic feeds can’t be heat set, we don’t recommend using the new style nibs with those products.

We will be creating new housings and feeds for the new style nibs, though no schedule is yet known. We hope that the new products will be usable with both nib types, but we are uncertain if this is possible.

If you have any questions, please contact us and we will help you determine if you have the new or old style nibs.