Help, What Size Are My Nibs (Lamy Safari)?

[whynotmaria]

Hi,

Firstly I'm very new to the world of fountain pens, even though I have had a couple safaris for 10-15 years (Whole new to converters, bottled ink, nibs, etc). I would love to try some new nibs for my pens but I can't figure out what size the ones I have is, since there no letters on the nibs. It might be because they are old? They are yellow with black nibs and clips and as far as I can tell that version has been discontinued. My guess is medium or broad?

(My dad had this made years back with his old company name printed on them, so they all from the same 'batch(?)' but didn't get them all at the same time)

(I have used two of my pens since I was about 11-12 (honestly can't remember) and had no idea how to treat a fountain pen, which I think explains the reason why the black is so faded now)

 

[Ste_S]

It can be difficult to tell. I believe there's some crossover due to manufacturing tolerances, so that a broader medium can give the same width as a finer broad for example.

 

If in doubt, I'd guess a medium nib as that's what the majority of the pens where shipped with. They certainly don't look like they're at the extreme ends of fine or broad anyway.

[whynotmaria]

Thank you very much, I'll take your word for it I was hoping there might have been a trick i just wasn't aware of other than comparing images on the web. I was looking into buying some different nibs, just to have some variation, and it would be a bit of a waste if I ended up buying the same ones.

[Oldparkerguy]

I have had some success measuring nib width with a good digital caliper for comparison. This of course requires that the seller is able/willing to measure the width of the outgoing nib. As mentioned there is a broad range of manufacturing tolerances. It pretty much comes down to the nib "contact patch" on the paper. The line. Inexact science. Fun to compare.

Nibmeisters will grind them to your liking too.

D.

[Manalto]

It's not the size of your nibs that matters (although some people are into that).

 

James

[gammada]

To me those look like medium. I've seen that fine nibs could also write like a medium if the pen has a lot of flow. The good news is that you can purchase different nib widths for them in black and chrome versions should you need a change.

 

And yes, those are the old yellow pens with black clips and nibs.

[whynotmaria]

Interesting to know that there are crossovers in between. I think I might go and try for a fine or extra fine. The paper I used in the pictures are pretty good quality (at least in my humble experience) and the line is generally broader on other papers I have used.

[Ste_S]

If you're looking for Z50 nibs, I'd always recommend the 1.1 italic. Smooth enough to write cursive whilst still giving line variation.

 

In my experience the fines are the weak link in the Lamy range. In my sample size (of 1) it's a bit scratchy. The 2x M, 1x B and 1x 1.1 I have are all smooth

Edited February 25, 2015 by Ste_S

[whynotmaria]

I have been eyeing the 1.1 italic and might get that one as well. Getting a fine or extra fine would purely be for note taking I'm in Uni so there are lots of writing happening in the margin. Does it take a lot of work to get a fine to write smooth? I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to find a nibmeister(is this slang or a german loan?) that easily in my country.

[ac12]

I used what is now old US Parker F nib pens in college, which is equivalent to a current Lamy XF nib for the exact reason you stated, LOTs of note taking.

My Lamy XF nib was not very smooth, but it did not take much work to smoothen it out. The trick is patience and a few tools.

Tools

• a 10x loupe. While not really necessary, it will be a great help if the tines are out of alignment (one side slightly higher than the other).
• buffing pad / micromesh. This is the abrasive used to smoothen the tip of the nib. This is a REALLY FINE abrasive, MUCH MUCH finer than sandpaper.

This is a decent start on nib work which includes smoothening.

http://www.richardspens.com/pdf/workshop_notes.pdf

 

gud luk

[Ste_S]

The fine I've got isn't awful by any means. Just noticeably less nice to use than the mediums and broads.

I probably wouldn't bother with sending a Z50 nib to a nibmeister. If the nib isn't smooth enough for you the nibs are cheap enough that you can tinker with it yourself.

If you don't fancy tinkering yourself, you can pick up a japanese pen that are more reknown for their fines - Pilot Metropolitan/MR are normally quite cheap.

 

I'm not a fine nib expert though - I prefer Broads/Stubs/Italics. Hopefully someone will be along in a bit who uses fines regularly...

[whynotmaria]

@ac12 thank you so much for the tips and links! I will definitely look into some of that micromesh or buffing pads. I would love to be able to use a fountain pen instead of the stabilo 88 fineliner im currently using.

 

@Ste_S I'll think I take my changes and start tinkering myself if I run into any problems I do love the my the nibs I already have on my pens, it only for note taking that I find them a bit impractical.

[SouvenirCat]

To me the writing in the top post looks like M.

Edited March 22, 2015 by SouvenirCat

[Black Spot]

I love the old yellow pens.