I've just ordered a Lamy Vista with a medium nib (my nice little cheapie journal-purse pen) but I've just noticed that I can buy a 1.1mm stub and do a switcheroo. My query is this: how difficult is this going to be? Do I need a special thingymajig or watchamacholic? I don't mean to make light of repair or exchanges in any way, you pros that can do this stuff blindfolded have my utter admiration but pretend you're writing the "Lamy Nib Exchange for Dummies" book and I've just picked up a copy... :doh:

I have not yet ordered the 1.1mm nib as the answers (hopefully) will make that decision for me - thanks in advance, as usual

Hi Kelly,

You can either use a small pair of pliers with some material to protect the nib between the jaws, or you can make a small tool, a Lamy nib puller.

The small tool consists of a little piece of plastic tubing, about an inch in diameter, about an inch and a half high or long if you like , with a slit cut into one side of if, from the top to about half way through, as the water flows through the pipe, as it were. This slit needs to be about 3/4 of a mm wide at the top, runs down a little like that, and then narrows to extinction. I think you can use a metal saw blade for the top part, and a hot thin knife for the rest, or may a jigsaw you would use to saw thin little pieces of triplex.

Just make sure you smooth all of the rough edges with some fine sandpaper.

To use the tool, put the nib sideways into the slit (pen still attached), with the tipping sticking out on the inside of the tool. Slide the pen and nib down, until the nib doesn't go further down, and then pull the tool away from the pen in a movement that is an extension of the pen barrel. That's it.

Putting another nib in is hand work, so that may be a little harder. Just use some toweling to help, or a small piece of rubber, like a part of an inner tube of a bicycle, 2 inches or so. Just put the nib partly between the folds of the piece of inner tube, and shove the nib on.

That's it. Easy.

HTH, warm regards, Wim

Thanks Wim! I've printed it off and will study it tonight for evening reading I really appreciate you taking the time and breaking it down for me so I can actually understand it - danke

Hi Kelly,

I'm not sure if you meant that you really want to exchange the nib or if you want to have the 1.1 so you can swap back and forth...But anyway, this is what I do:

If the nib is a little difficult to slide off with my fingernail, I run it under water for a minute and then do it. (I only had to do that the 1st time I changed nibs.) Then just slide the other nib into place.

HTH, Ann

It can't be that easy?! Are you serious?! I think I have to see what's what when I actually get the pen - should be here by the weekend. I would like the ability to switch back and forth. Wow. That would be very cool if I just needed my fingernail and some water! Thanks, Ann

Another method is to use a piece of sticky tape. Cut a piece of 12mm (half-inch) tape about 50mm (2") long. Stick this tape to the top of the nib such that roughly equal lengths hang down either side. Put your index finger between the two ends and, gripping with your thumb and third finger, pull down and out at the same time. The tape should grip the nib and slide it off the feed. If it doesn't come away then a quick soak in water can help (don't forget to dry the top of the nib fully first). If this method doesn't work, because you have a nib that is a particularly tight fit, then use one of the methods above.

Martin

I've been usin the method described by Martin also to change to a 1.1, and it is so easy (just the steel nib itself comes off, the feed stays), that you will just laugh