Lamy 2000 V Lamy Safari Nib Durability

[CLaReNCe]

Hey Comrades!

I have a number of Lamy Safaris, all of which get written with.

I write a lot- (I go through a refil of ink in a safari about every 1.5 days on an extra fine Safari).

 

The first safari that I bought- I wrote exclusively with for about 1.5 years, and by this time it was worn very flat- so that it now has a very obvious flat spot on the nib (it was a fine), and although it is very smooth, it kinda has an edge, and is more like the width of a Medium or broad Lamy.

 

I have almost "worn out" an EF since then, even though I have been using a few other pens (in about 1 yr).

 

I recently tried a Lamy 2000- loved it!, and was thinking about purchasing one in EF.

 

Has anyone here worn out a 2000 nib, or have any experience with how rapidly the gold more flexible nib wears compared to the stiffer Stainless steel nib?

 

Do they wear faster or slower?

 

Thank you for your anticipated assistance.

 

Peace.

[MadAmos]

I have pens that I have used for decades, and others decades before me and they are still great. In my experience it would take unusually abrasive paper or writing pressure to wear out a nib. I would expect a 2000 to last for a lifetime.

[NedC]

There probably wouldn't be much difference in the wear between the Safari's nib and the 2000's the principle factors in how they wear being the amount of tipping material, there is much less on an EF nib than an M or a B nib and, as Mad Amos pointed out, how much pressure the writer applies to the point whilst writing and the abrasiveness of the paper used. It is sometimes feasible to have a gold nib retipped if the tipping material wears down, that isn't really doable on a steel nib like the Safari's but a new nib, or even a whole new pen in the case of the Safari is likely to cost substantially less than a retipping of a gold nib.

[hari317]

 

Has anyone here worn out a 2000 nib, or have any experience with how rapidly the gold more flexible nib wears compared to the stiffer Stainless steel nib?

 

Do they wear faster or slower?

 

Tipping material comes in various grades, I would expect the Lamy2000 gold nib to use the higher life, longer wearing tipping. This is only my guess, I have no proof or information about what tipping grades are really being used on these nibs.

 

Some nibs don't last a lifetime. I wore a nice flat on the nib of my Parker 45 in 5 years of University, sole pen. I have a light hand. I did not have the money to buy a pen with a better nib in those days.

[parnesh]

You learn something new everyday here on FPN. I didn't know that but it would make sense.

 

 

Has anyone here worn out a 2000 nib, or have any experience with how rapidly the gold more flexible nib wears compared to the stiffer Stainless steel nib?

 

Do they wear faster or slower?

 

Tipping material comes in various grades, I would expect the Lamy2000 gold nib to use the higher life, longer wearing tipping. This is only my guess, I have no proof or information about what tipping grades are really being used on these nibs.

 

Some nibs don't last a lifetime. I wore a nice flat on the nib of my Parker 45 in 5 years of University, sole pen. I have a light hand. I did not have the money to buy a pen with a better nib in those days.

[hari317]

You learn something new everyday here on FPN. I didn't know that but it would make sense.

 

There is more information at this link:

 

http://heraeus-writingutensils.com/en/products/produkte_fuer_schreibgeraete.aspx

[Namo]

Not sure if this helps, but a friend and collegue of mine uses his L2K for 30 years, and he is a daily writer. I had the opportunity to use his pen (as I did fix a piston problem) and the nib was still perfect. It's true it is the older 18k nib, but I don't see Lamy downgrade the quality of their flagshiip.

[CLaReNCe]

Thanks for the replies.... I have basically worn out the first Lamy Safari I got, but it was my sole pen for about 2yrs, and my job involves writing sometimes up to 30 or so pages per day. Hence my keen-ness to inquire about the Lamy 2000 durability. I would be kind of dissappointed if I purchased it, and the nib needed replacement in 2 yrs also.

 

I have a Studio (14K version), and it seems to have worn in relatively quickly, but certainly is not worn out, but it doesnt get nearly as much use as the Safari's as it is a bit on the heavy side... Hence the consideration of the move to the 2000.

[Ernst Bitterman]

Actually... 30 pages a day is a walloping great lot, and it wouldn't be unreasonable to see some wear on the tipping as the years pile up. Lamy is REALLY good about warranty (or, at least, they have been for the past few decades), and people have had less normal-use-damaged items replaced without question, like chewed-open barrels and sections with plier marks on them, so a point that had slowly seen its tipping go through actual writing they're apt to greet with cheers. You concern is founded, but I shouldn't let it deter you since it would exist with ANY make/model given your requirements.

[hari317]

 

I have a Studio (14K version), and it seems to have worn in relatively quickly, but certainly is not worn out, but it doesnt get nearly as much use as the Safari's as it is a bit on the heavy side... Hence the consideration of the move to the 2000.

 

The 14k nib from the Studio is easily transplanted to a safari, so you can enjoy it more. If the Studio nib wore quite fast, I think there is a very good chance the Lamy2000 nib will wear similarly too. As Ernst says Lamy is good with their warranty, or every one year or so you can send your pen in to a nib tech for them to re-sharpen it up...

[New_Falcon]

Really good thread. I never considered wear of tipping material in normal operation, makes me pause for thought and think that ease of replacement and pocuring nibs, should be a factor in buying pens, especially the more expensive ones.

 

I've been using fine nibbed pens but thinking about trying bold nibs out. If the tipping on bold nibs is thicker than fine and extra fines, this might be another push to try them. Of course I could be being paranoid.

 

 

-[sNIPPED]-

..... As Ernst says Lamy is good with their warranty, or every one year or so you can send your pen in to a nib tech for them to re-sharpen it up...

 

Hari, could you explain the comment 'resharpen it up'? Do you mean that Lamy would re-grind the nib?

 

Thanks.

Edited October 11, 2012 by New_Falcon

[NKessler]

The tipping material (sometimes referred to as iridium) is what comes in contact with the paper, not the actual steel or gold of the nib, so you can expect to see similar wear on your 2000's nib as you have on your Safari's. The good news, though, is that Lamy has fantastic customer service and will happily replace or regrind your nib should you need it.

[de_pen_dent]

Thanks for the replies.... I have basically worn out the first Lamy Safari I got, but it was my sole pen for about 2yrs, and my job involves writing sometimes up to 30 or so pages per day. Hence my keen-ness to inquire about the Lamy 2000 durability. I would be kind of dissappointed if I purchased it, and the nib needed replacement in 2 yrs also.

 

Well, personally, if I wore out the nib of a pen from intense writing, I'd just feel I got my money's worth from the pen and get another one.

 

That being said, if you do want a pen with a longer lifespan, perhaps you should consider a pen with an easier-to-replace nib? Bexley, Edison, Gates, Pelikan all make alternatives where changing the nib is an easier, DIY job.

[hari317]

Hari, could you explain the comment 'resharpen it up'? Do you mean that Lamy would re-grind the nib?

 

Thanks.

 

A third party, non lamy nib tech could reshape the worn nib tip to the correct shape. I think lamy would simply replace the nib.

[jcable]

I would think the Safari nib is just stainless steel without tipping. Only gold nibs such as the 2000 actually require tipping since gold is so soft. The more expensive steel nibs would have usually have tipping with Iridium (an alloy of very hard metal).

[nikoskard]

I think the wear of the nib it has to do basically with writing strength and paper. Am I wrong ?

I had never thought before about nib wear, until today.

[Samthor]

It's quite easy to remove and swap the nib in a Lamy 2000. Once you unscrew the section, you can slide the nib and feed out of the "back" end. Just don't lose the metal O-ring that fits between the section and the barrel, and do make sure that O-ring stays aligned when screwing the section back onto the barrel.

I don't know anything useful about acquiring spare nibs. But, from the advice of several posters above it sounds like Lamy can be relied on for help if your first nib wears from writing.

 

Personally, I don't notice any more flex in the 2000 than in Lamy's larger steel nibs, but since you've tried a 2000 and like the feel, go for it.

Samthor

[New_Falcon]

I do wish that the lamy 2000 nibs were available separately.

[parnesh]

Did the Lamy 2000 pen you try have an EF nib?

Edited October 12, 2012 by parnesh

[dali3464]

I do wish that the lamy 2000 nibs were available separately.

 

Actually I believe you can purchase spare nibs separately (not the section however), but you would have to contact Lamy directly. A user in another thread copied and pasted a response from a Lamy CSR indicating that they do not normally (but otherwise would if requested) sell nib units individually because they're concerned that the inexperienced will permanently damage the pen if they try to do a nib change. Also, by attempting a nib change, they also void the 2000's lifetime warranty.

 

It might also be useful for the OP to know that it seems Lamy has a policy whereby if you purchase the pen from overseas, sometimes the local Lamy distributor will not honour the warranty as was experienced by a FPN member in Canada. You would have to post it back to the Lamy distributor in the country you originally purchased it from.