Two questions: Lamy Safari or Al-Star, F or EF?

[Silvermink]

then will the b write like butter on the cheapest paper?

 

No, then you'll start getting feathering.

[Coronado]

then will the b write like butter on the cheapest paper?

 

No, then you'll start getting feathering.

 

My main concern, really.

[Moonraker5]

Hi,

 

i have a established a small collection of Lamy FP over the years! Vista, Studio, Safari and tried them all with XF,F,M nibs in both Steel and Black!!!!

 

My pen to go is a Lamy NEXX as it has a nice rubberised grip and steel body and paired with a 1:1 nib, which i got by accident as i wanted a F but the assistant recommended the 1:1. I dont think the Nexx is as well balanced as the safari, the body could do with a little more weight but otherwisw great value for money.

 

I tend to write on cheap paper at work but i find the Lamy are very fussy about what they write on. In the course of a day i can can anything from a bold to an EF line dependant on the paper.

 

Having gone through the nibs i agree that the EF are too scratchy and tend to pick up paper fibres easily and require regular rinsing. The medium are buttery smooth but too bold for my writing and thus F for me gives a nice amount of tooth without being scratchy. The 1:1 gives a nice italic variant to the stroke but tends to be a bit broader than the F.

 

In the UK Lamy have releaced new FP for kids (although a lot of adults are buying them too!), i see the nibs were labled different, "A" i think of the top of my head, but i understand they are somewhere between an F and an M. It might be worth looking into this.

 

The great advantage with Lamy is that you can purchace extra nibs at very little cost so its always worth experimenting.

 

Have fun!

[AlaskanWriter]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2419/2095221129_eb991b8674.jpg

Found on google.

 

 

Thanks!

Looks like one of BiffyBeans(IIRC Stephanie is her real name) pics, although I don't remember it in her reviews, I'll have to re-read them and check...

 

G.

[montblancdude]

Then get a Vista with F nib! Problem solved!

[Coronado]

Then get a Vista with F nib! Problem solved!

 

Well, Safari in Charcoal with an F nib is on the way!

 

I did not get a converter to start because on Amazon the shipping was the same price as the converter (and not eligible for Prime)! I think the ink cartridge it comes with will last me at least a few weeks, so then I can get a converter next time I am in Richmond.

 

Thanks all!

[Coronado]

Silly question...I ordered from Amazon, and it does not list that it comes with an ink cartridge, but it should, right?

 

Lamy Safari Charcoal Fine Nib

 

That's the one I ordered that did not mention any ink.

[Aissa2]

The Lamy Lime Green has been sent to Pendemonium for a nib regrounding. I prefer really narrow lines for my EF nibs.

I think the best deal will be Altman Luggage if you are not interested in a limited edition which seems to be my passion presently. I have the Lamy Lime Green, the Pink Limited Edition, I am awaiting the 2005 light blue with the red clip. I am also waiting on the Clear though and I also own the Raspberry. All with EF nibs. I have only recently had problems with the Lime's nib being a little scratchy and the line being (the nib width when you write with it) far too wide for my taste. I selected between sending it to Lamy for a nib exchange or paying Pendemonium for a regrounding. I want to try a regrounding. Otherwise, I have had no problems with the Raspberry or the Pink, both smooth, both a different feeling since one has the matte black and the other steel. Is does seem to be a luck of the draw though.

I'll take pictures of the Lamy Lime green or the entire collection once all my babies are reground, in town and all together. Hoping any of this helps :hmm1:

[ZeissIkon]

I think the ink cartridge it comes with will last me at least a few weeks, so then I can get a converter next time I am in Richmond.

 

Maybe; depends how much you write. The first cartridge I put in my first pen on returning to fountain pens (a medium point Yafa Cartridge Fountain Pen, short international cartridge) lasted just over a dozen pages, which took me only a few days to write. A fine will usually write a bit more, because it leaves less ink on the page.

[Aissa2]

Silly question...I ordered from Amazon, and it does not list that it comes with an ink cartridge, but it should, right?

 

Lamy Safari Charcoal Fine Nib

 

That's the one I ordered that did not mention any ink.

 

No, not all the deals on Lamys offer the one ink cartridge. It will come w/o one.

[Coronado]

Silly question...I ordered from Amazon, and it does not list that it comes with an ink cartridge, but it should, right?

 

Lamy Safari Charcoal Fine Nib

 

That's the one I ordered that did not mention any ink.

 

No, not all the deals on Lamys offer the one ink cartridge. It will come w/o one.

 

Well darn it! I saw that some came with the converter (like the red on Amazon) but I assumed they'd all at least have one cartridge to try it out.

 

No clue what to do now...

Edited July 30, 2009 by Coronado

[Coronado]

Well, maybe I still have some hope.

 

One review says the ink it came with was not waterproof, meaning it had to have something sent with it, right?

 

Also, this in the product description:

Uses cartridge (Lamy T 10) or can be used converter (Lamy Z 24) as replacement. You have to buy the optional Lamy converter

 

So only necessary to buy the converter.

 

So, we shall see when I get it Saturday I suppose. I just hope I have something to use with it, or I may be dipping for a while.

 

EDIT: But it is mentioned a few times that the shipped ink in the pen is Blue, not Black, but I am fine with that for a little while.

Edited July 30, 2009 by Coronado

[Coronado]

Emailed the seller on Amazon, so hopefully I'll know soon if there is ink.

[Donald594]

I personally like the Extra fines

 

[Coronado]

Well, amazon had no clue, said to contact manufacturer. But as the pen says it comes in a gift box, I imagine it has a single ink cartridge inside it. I hope!

[Zaphod]

Neither, Vista! And the F nibs tend to be smoother than EF nibs..

 

I agree but I have to admit that I have a charcoal safari thats over a year old with a black EF nib and its pretty smooth for an EF. I wonder if all these problems are only affecting those of recent manufacture. I seem to be one of the lucky ones where I've never had a bad Lamy nib.

 

Since about a month I've been the happy owner of a Safari Orange SE with an EF nib. Although an EF nib probably never is as smooth as a wider nib, the pen has never felt scratchy. Maybe I have been lucky -- it's my first (and certainly not my last) Lamy.

 

Of course a stiff, narrow nib gives a certain feedback from the paper, but never in a negative way. I'd even say it's pleasant to use. At least par for the course, maybe even a birdie. My Safari has so far tasted only Waterman red, which should be lubricating things a bit.

 

Well, amazon had no clue, said to contact manufacturer. But as the pen says it comes in a gift box, I imagine it has a single ink cartridge inside it. I hope!

 

My Safari had an ink cartridge inside the pen. There was a cardboard spacer between the body and section to prevent the person or robot assembling the parts from accidentially puncturing the cartridge, and generally keep everything neat and in place. According to Lamy's web page, the sales package contains "Fountain pen with cartridge filling system with ink cartridge LAMY T 10 blue" (und auf Deutsch "Füllhalter mit Patronenfüllsystem mit Großraum-Tintenpatrone LAMY T 10 blau").

 

I doubt someone bothers to strip the cartridges from Safaris before selling them, then of course I may be wrong.

[Garageboy]

Why is the Vista preferred? Isn't it just a color difference? Does the nib color really make that much difference?

[pen2paper]

vista is clear, you can see the ink inside, which is an interesting effect.

to the OP..I've only had the basic ABS Safari.. just wanted to ditto, that I've also read, (repeatedly) that the Alstar's aluminium may scratch with heavy use, so you may want stick with the ABS versions.

[rahulg]

IMHO the materials for the nib is the same, except for a powder coating on the Safari series. As far as the nibs are concerned, the Fine runs like a medium, while the medium was like a felt marker (I'm a fine person, you see). The tines in my Charcoal Safari was a little misaligned, a little adjustment followed by a few roiunds on polishing paper made this a regular candidate for my backpack pocket.

[southpaw]

I've had an Al-Star and currently have a Vista and a Safari, all with EF nibs. The Al-Star was a couple of years ago and I sent the nib back because it wasn't smooth - Lamy Customer Service USA was great (kudos to Bob again!). The two recent EF nibs were both perfect.