Newbie Thoughts On Lamy Safari (Broad Nib)

[PenGal17]

First let me start off by saying I recommend flushing a Lamy Safari right when you get it. I had some starting issues at first. However after awhile the ink flowed pretty well. I am aware now that in the factory they are tested and ink will be left in the feed.

This pen is very broad in my opinion, after using a medium Japanese Nib it feels massive. However that is because it is a broad german sized nib, from what I understand.

Ink flow is dry at the moment for my liking but i still havent flushed it because i've not gotten my converter and have no bulb syringe.

I like the pen but the ink that comes with it is sub-par after using Noodlers Blue in my Pilot Kakuno. (Review soon to come)

All in all a good pen for someone who likes very a broad nib.

Happy writing!

[graystranger]

Lamys are very fine pens. I don't use commercial ink cartridges. I either use a converter or an ink syringe and fill empty cartridges. I've taken the ink out of a new cartridge just to re fill it with bottled ink.

 

My EF nib was quite dry in my Al Star, requiring a bit of pressure to flow well. I adjusted that by flexing the pen carefully, increasing the pressure until the dry flow became normal flow. But, don't do that until you check out the ink you want to use in the pen first - it may flow just fine. By the way, looks like you are getting some shading with the Lamy ink.

 

My 1.5 mm Lamy nib in the same Al Star is quite nicely wet writing, which I'm glad as the nib requires more ink flow.

 

Invest in a bulb syringe. You can get one at a drug store quickly (like today). Also get some pen flush or make your own. I like to flush out a new pen with pen flush (detergent and a bit of ammonia) when I get it then rinse it well before filling it. The nib and feed can have manufacturing chemicals or polishing agents on them that take a while to work their way out with just writing. A flush gets them out quickly. Just rinse well with water to remove any detergent or ammonia. The nib and feed do not have to be totally dry before you ink the pen. I shake them off, wipe them with a paper towel or cotton cloth to wick out most of the water. A tiny bit of water will not hurt anything as the ink is 99% water anyway.

 

I don't think I ever used an Lamy cartridge before. The cartridge that came with my Al Star is probably still in a drawer somewhere. I got the converter when I ordered the pen.

 

Enjoy it. Lamys are good pens and you can buy the nibs very inexpensively.

Edited April 5, 2015 by graystranger

[mcgeechan]

Bulb syringes, these should be given out with every-ones 1st fountain pen.

[Frank C]

Your photo is what I would expect from that pen and that ink. Lamy inks work quite well, but they are generally not as saturated as Noodler's. I like my Safari pens. They are well-made, good-writing, inexpensive pens. I often recommend them to people as a step up from a Platinum Preppy or similar pen.

[iam7head]

I have the opposite experience, my Lamy Safari M nib is just a hair wider than my other German F steel nib.

 

The ink flow is very wet, never skips or have any hard start issue with mine.

 

The stock ink is fine, it's a tad plain(aka school blue ink) but it's bright and very readable.

[perfaddict]

The anthracite Lamy Safari (M nib) i bought on a whim has been my permanent red ink annotation/correction pen since November, 2014. Very comfortable to hold and quite a smooth, wet writer. If not for the "irrationality" that goes with the love of fountain pens (and, i guess, pen collection/addiction) it could easily be my one and only pen. As if!

[BlueTofu]

I've had an aluminum Lamy Safari as one of my workhorse pens ever since I received it from a family member who didn't like the grip. The great thing about them is you can very cheaply swap out the nib if you don't like the size of the line, wetness, etc. I keep a F on mine most of the time, but will swap it out for an M with some of the dryer inks in my collection.

[PenGal17]

Lamys are very fine pens. I don't use commercial ink cartridges. I either use a converter or an ink syringe and fill empty cartridges. I've taken the ink out of a new cartridge just to re fill it with bottled ink.

 

My EF nib was quite dry in my Al Star, requiring a bit of pressure to flow well. I adjusted that by flexing the pen carefully, increasing the pressure until the dry flow became normal flow. But, don't do that until you check out the ink you want to use in the pen first - it may flow just fine. By the way, looks like you are getting some shading with the Lamy ink.

 

My 1.5 mm Lamy nib in the same Al Star is quite nicely wet writing, which I'm glad as the nib requires more ink flow.

 

Invest in a bulb syringe. You can get one at a drug store quickly (like today). Also get some pen flush or make your own. I like to flush out a new pen with pen flush (detergent and a bit of ammonia) when I get it then rinse it well before filling it. The nib and feed can have manufacturing chemicals or polishing agents on them that take a while to work their way out with just writing. A flush gets them out quickly. Just rinse well with water to remove any detergent or ammonia. The nib and feed do not have to be totally dry before you ink the pen. I shake them off, wipe them with a paper towel or cotton cloth to wick out most of the water. A tiny bit of water will not hurt anything as the ink is 99% water anyway.

 

I don't think I ever used an Lamy cartridge before. The cartridge that came with my Al Star is probably still in a drawer somewhere. I got the converter when I ordered the pen.

 

Enjoy it. Lamys are good pens and you can buy the nibs very inexpensively.

Thank you! I have made my own pen flush and am going to try to get a bulb syringe soon! I will probably clean out both my lamy safari's now because my converter came in. i'm going to use up the cartridges sipmly because they are already pierced.

[PenGal17]

Bulb syringes, these should be given out with every-ones 1st fountain pen.

Lol agreed

[PenGal17]

The anthracite Lamy Safari (M nib) i bought on a whim has been my permanent red ink annotation/correction pen since November, 2014. Very comfortable to hold and quite a smooth, wet writer. If not for the "irrationality" that goes with the love of fountain pens (and, i guess, pen collection/addiction) it could easily be my one and only pen. As if!

Lol i know right!? And i now have a Fine ninbbed safari. I think i will puchase a Medium nib just because the fine is a bit thin and the broad is pretty big. Dont think i need 3 Safari's anyway (even though that green one looks so cool! )

[PenGal17]

I've had an aluminum Lamy Safari as one of my workhorse pens ever since I received it from a family member who didn't like the grip. The great thing about them is you can very cheaply swap out the nib if you don't like the size of the line, wetness, etc. I keep a F on mine most of the time, but will swap it out for an M with some of the dryer inks in my collection.

This is very true. As I said in a previous response to someone else im probably going to do the same with a medium nib. The fine is nice but medium may just be my sweet spot