How To Increase The Ink Flow In Lamy Safari, And Make It A Bit Wetter?

[deepuais]

Hi all,

 

I am new to FPN. I bought a Lamy Safari and filled it with Sheaffer Skrip black ink, after thorough washing of the pen.

 

The pen writes with wetness when I start, but as I continue, it becomes scratchy because the ink flow somehow reduces a bit. It does not dry up completely, but there is definitely some reduction in the flow.

 

I read a few articles online, and I came to know that there must be a slight gap in the nib (from the breather till the end point which touches paper). Is it so? My pen has absolutely no gap. No light passes through the nib :-(

 

I am afraid as I do not want to tinker with this new pen, yet want to increase the ink flow so as to make it smooth.

 

How can I do it?

 

Please advise.

[Houston]

Hello:

 

My experience with Safaris is the same as yours. All of mine have required adjustment in order to get a wet enough line for my tastes.

 

Three things in increasing order of invasiveness:

 

1. Try a few different inks. Some inks flow wetter than others.

 

2. Floss the tines of the nib to create more of a slit. Search FPN on the term "floss tines" and you'll find plenty of info on how to do this.

 

3. Hack the feed. Again, search FPN for threads on how to hack the Safari feed. (There's also a great blog post on this, the link to which you'll find on a number of the threads about modifying Safari feeds.) This sounds scarier than it is.

 

I do all three of these things to make the Safari write like I want it to. The key on numbers 2 and 3 is to do just a little at a time.

 

Safaris are built well and simply. They're great pens to hack.

 

--h

[ac12]

Give the pen a good cleaning, then try switching to Waterman black ink.

I think the Sheaffer Skrip ink is a bit dryer than the Waterman. That is if the Skrip is the new formulation.

[Mesu]

The pen writes with wetness when I start, but as I continue, it becomes scratchy because the ink flow somehow reduces a bit. It does not dry up completely, but there is definitely some reduction in the flow.

 

From your description, it looks like there is something blocking the flow of the ink. Flush the pen thoroughly in lukewarm water and see if it makes any difference.

 

I saw in your other post that you are not satisfied with your Quink blue. Use it to flush your pen. It has Cleen-X (or something similar) which makes it very suitable for cleaning the pens, if not for writing

[soum]

Absolutely agree with Houston above. I've had to do some of those steps for all my Safari/All Star/Vista. For a few pens, I've had to perform all those tricks/hacks. Only my charcoal Safari from 2005 hadn't needed any adjustment and writes like a dream.

 

Are you using a convertor or a cartridge?

[doggonecarl]

Sounds like ink isn't getting to your feed. I've had ink hang up in the converter. Sometimes all it takes is a tap on the side of the converter with your fingernail to get the ink to drop down to the feed. You can also try twisting the converter to close the gap between the ink and the feed.

[Tresconik]

Flush the pen. Then check the nib for any bends.
Keep your Skrip aside and buy yourself a bottle of Camlin Royal Blue.
Experience the difference.

Don't mess with the pen's nib or feed.

 

I thought Sheaffer black, would be a great ink compared to the 15 rupee bottle of camlin. Boy was I wrong. Camlin beat sheaffer everytime.


It's funny how we dismiss a brand that's actually better because it's Indian haha.

Anyway, have fun with your new pen.

Edited September 12, 2013 by Tresconik

[lurcho]

I agree with soum, above, viz. that I've had to adjust every Safari or Vista to augment their natively meagre flow. One supposes that Lamy makes them like that on purpose. (God knows why.)

 

On a recent thread, I suggested to someone else that they perform both tine-spreading and feed-hacking, and you can find the instructions in various places. However, though I have only dared to do these things relatively recently myself, it's only with reluctance that I suggest complete novices to fountain pens take such drastic steps, because there are definite risks, albeit limited ones.

 

The main point is that the Safari is too dry for anyone who likes even a slightly juicy fountain pen, but that they can always be made lovely and wet if you go for it.

 

And once you've done it, you then have the confidence to adjust any pen. (Though you have to be terribly cautious and attentive with expensive ones.)

[deepuais]

Absolutely agree with Houston above. I've had to do some of those steps for all my Safari/All Star/Vista. For a few pens, I've had to perform all those tricks/hacks. Only my charcoal Safari from 2005 hadn't needed any adjustment and writes like a dream.

 

Are you using a convertor or a cartridge?

 

I am using a convertor as of now. Why?

[deepuais]

Sounds like ink isn't getting to your feed. I've had ink hang up in the converter. Sometimes all it takes is a tap on the side of the converter with your fingernail to get the ink to drop down to the feed. You can also try twisting the converter to close the gap between the ink and the feed.

 

I did this. But the wetness disappears after some writing! I think I will give it another thorough cleaning.

[deepuais]

 

From your description, it looks like there is something blocking the flow of the ink. Flush the pen thoroughly in lukewarm water and see if it makes any difference.

 

I saw in your other post that you are not satisfied with your Quink blue. Use it to flush your pen. It has Cleen-X (or something similar) which makes it very suitable for cleaning the pens, if not for writing

 

Yes, I shall try this out.

[soum]

I think the problem may just be with the convertor and not the feed or the ink.

 

I've had a similar trouble with my Lamy Al Star and Waterman ink. The pen was clean, and Waterman is a trouble-free ink. The problem was with the convertor. I noticed that the ink sort of clung to the convertor walls and refused to get to the feed and every few lines, the flow would dry up. I filled an empty T10 cartridge with the same ink without washing the pen and it writes perfectly. Probably I'll dismantle the convertor sometime and clean it well, but for now I'm going to stick to syringe-refilled cartridges.

Edited September 14, 2013 by soum

[deepuais]

I think the problem may just be with the convertor and not the feed or the ink.

 

I've had a similar trouble with my Lamy Al Star and Waterman ink. The pen was clean, and Waterman is a trouble-free ink. The problem was with the convertor. I noticed that the ink sort of clung to the convertor walls and refused to get to the feed and every few lines, the flow would dry up. I filled an empty T10 cartridge with the same ink without washing the pen and it writes perfectly. Probably I'll dismantle the convertor sometime and clean it well, but for now I'm going to stick to syringe-refilled cartridges.

 

Hmm, I just washed it with warm water, and discarded the converter. Now using the syringe-filled cartridges! Because I think the piston pressure of the converter on the ink does not allow the ink to freely flow. Ideally, the air should replace ink as and when we write. But that does not seem to be happening!

[Mathemagician]

I had to use a pretty wet ink in my Safari to get a good flow, ended up with using Borealis Black which is a fantastic match in my opinion. I am sure adjusting your safari will help further still.

[fpconvert]

First thing I look at is the ink. I use Yard O led blue black in my Lamy Vista and it writes very smooth.

[wastelanded]

Try this:

 

Stick a piece of masking tape to the top of the nib and pull it off. Rinse and dry the end of the feed, wrap tape around and pull it out. The first couple of times it's hard to get out, but gets easier.

 

Once you get the feed out, give it and the nib a scrub with a soapy toothbrush. There's a small tab that lifts out of the top of the feed. Lift that out with your fingernail and scrub in there: be careful not to lose it down the drain if you are over the sink (trust me). Then rinse and dry, and put everything back.

 

The trick is putting the feed in right: there is a slot inside the section so the feed only goes in one way. Try to force it in the wrong way and you can bugger it up. When putting the feed back, hold the section in your hand like you're going to write. In the other hand, hold the feed top up. Now you've got them aligned. Gently insert the feed into the section, make sure it's in the groove so to speak. When it is, push until the feed clicks into place. Then slide the nib back on.

 

The clean feed will help with flow. My ALstar has iron gall ink in it, and writes nice and wet.

[lovemy51]

i've had to floss and/or spread the tines on all my safari nibs. you'll find useful info here:http://www.richardspens.com/?pendoc=4

[deepuais]

Try this:

 

Stick a piece of masking tape to the top of the nib and pull it off. Rinse and dry the end of the feed, wrap tape around and pull it out. The first couple of times it's hard to get out, but gets easier.

 

Once you get the feed out, give it and the nib a scrub with a soapy toothbrush. There's a small tab that lifts out of the top of the feed. Lift that out with your fingernail and scrub in there: be careful not to lose it down the drain if you are over the sink (trust me). Then rinse and dry, and put everything back.

 

The trick is putting the feed in right: there is a slot inside the section so the feed only goes in one way. Try to force it in the wrong way and you can bugger it up. When putting the feed back, hold the section in your hand like you're going to write. In the other hand, hold the feed top up. Now you've got them aligned. Gently insert the feed into the section, make sure it's in the groove so to speak. When it is, push until the feed clicks into place. Then slide the nib back on.

 

The clean feed will help with flow. My ALstar has iron gall ink in it, and writes nice and wet.

 

Such a detailed reply. Helped me like anything!

[deepuais]

i've had to floss and/or spread the tines on all my safari nibs. you'll find useful info here:http://www.richardspens.com/?pendoc=4

 

Yes. I have flossed it now. writes much better. Why doesn't Lamy floss the pens before packing! Most people have this problem.

[dolljoints]

Hey, I just made an account just now to post on this thread, I know it's a bit necro but I couldn't find anything against that in the terms – please feel free to point it out to me if I'm breaking a rule here. I did use the "google site search" thing but didn't really find any more recent posts touching on what I experienced either, so please forgive me if I'm missing one from last week or anything. (Also I apologise for this post being a bit long! I usually end up going on for longer than I initially intend to...)

 

I recently got a Lamy Safari (Petrol edition :3) and had similar problems to OP. At first I thought I was just needing to find the right sweet spot to hold it in.... but after a few weeks I became convinced that wasn't it. I also thought "well, this is a fine nib, and people say that the nib width is a tradeoff between smoothness and thinness", but also remembered that lots of people praise Lamy nibs as being pretty smooth through all sizes, which mine was most definitely not being.

 

So I decided to do a flush, and a floss. Of course, flossing also removed the nib from the feed and put it back, which also might have helped a little bit – I noticed some other threads point out that you can get some "flex" when you do this due to slightly increasing the tolerances between the feed's clips and the "hooks" on the nib. (And I did notice I got a little more "flex" than before I did any of this, too.)

 

Foolishly though, I didn't order a brass shim, and I didn't even use an aluminium shim for picking locks with. I thought "ah, aluminium foil would probably do, how resistant can it be, there's a gap all the way through. Plus this is extra strong foil." And then once I reached the part of the slit where it tapered thinner (which I now know is normal, but hadn't noticed being a thing at all before), a tiny bit of foil tore off and got stuck in there. Whoops.

 

So, after realising I didn't have any metal objects small enough to get in there (and a couple of scratches on the black finish later, oh well, it adds character) I had it hit me like lightning – maybe actual floss would do in a pinch. I have this unwaxed, one big strand (not many strands woven together that might tear out) dental floss on little... floss forks, and I used that to finally save the day. Obviously not really proper, and not something I should like to do again, but it didn't leave anything in the tines that I could see, at least. I flushed it a few times after that too.

 

Er, all this lead-in is to say, after doing this flushing and flossing (and learning why real shims are so important), I too have vastly improved flow on my Safari. I was getting pretty nice shading with the (matching the pen, of course) Lamy Petrol ink beforehand, but it's just on a whole 'nother level now. Almost every single word I write with it spans the gamut from almost black to fairly light (but not bright) green, with much smoother transition between the colour states now than before.

 

At first I was a bit freaked out, especially due to observing slightly more flex (going about double line width if I pressed about twice as hard too) and worrying I had permanently damaged the nib! But after obsessively comparing some previous lorem ipsums I had done (I use them as a sort of... benchmarking "suite" for the paper, pen and ink, much like synthetic mathematical workloads are done to compare computer setups) with a new one I did post-maintenance, I think the actual line width with regular pressure is the same, or possibly a hair wider, like less than a millimetre.

 

Finding this post helped me understand that what I did was a] okay [if not entirely recommended due to my flossing material mishap] and b] hasn't permanently damaged the pen - though I should avoid pressing hard even if I can get some "thin ribbons" effects doing so. Finding this post has also helped me learn that it's fairly common to find some Safaris scratchy and inconsistent to write with out of the box, so thank you very much.

 

I had tanked through almost every single Goulet Pens video before I purchased my Safari (and it was a toss-up between it and the MR/Metropolitan, though the interchangeable nibs and piston-style converter pushed it in Lamy's favour, plus the Safari being much cheaper here in Scotland than it is on Mr Goulet's videos helped too), and therefore I knew that all Safaris come with some blue ink already in the feed because every pen gets tested from the factory. However, that video said that if you were going to just be using Lamy Blue anyway (which I was, since it came with the pen, and I was still awaiting my Petrol ink) that cleaning it out was optional. However, after the inconsistency troubles didn't clear out with changing to the Petrol ink when the blue ran out (which took me about 5 or 6 days... I've gone through 116 pages out of 192 in the Rhodia A5 dotpad notebook I bought at the same time, too... I'm a fiend, it turns out), which wasn't too surprising given that they were the same manufacturer but I thought having a darker ink might help a little...

 

I decided that, yk, I had no idea how long the pen was sitting on the shelf, with a small amount of blue ink stuck in the feed, slowly drying out in some warehouse. I had no idea if there would be anything that would take more than a regular run-through of ink to help clear up stuck in there, that may disperse over time but would annoy me for months in the mean time... and I just decided to completely reset the whole nib&feed to clean and new. (And then of course worried that I had ruined everything after. >_>)

 

Ah I think I'm kind of repeating myself now, but I just wanted to thank everyone in this thread really. You've helped me learn that what I went through is normal, and that I haven't ruined my nib forever and I probably don't need to go spend another £10 on a whole new one. So, thanks very much. I look forward to/hope I can be more active on this site from now on, since I'm just starting to get into the hobby, and have a few bottles of a few colours I know I like to start off with. Once again, sorry for such a long necro ! Ah!

Edited September 21, 2017 by dolljoints