What To Do About Lamy 2000?

[bluepelican]

I've been using a Lamy Vista EF every day for the past two years. I finally decided to upgrade and pulled the trigger on the Lamy 2000 EF. It had a very scratchy nib and I ended up returning it for a replacement. The replacement is only marginally better than the first copy. I thought that I just needed to get used to it, but after writing around 40-50 pages over the past few days, it's no better. It's a hard starter, skips quite a bit, and is not nearly as smooth as my Vista. I flushed it with soapy water, but it didn't improve things.

I like the look and feel of the pen, and the large piston filler is a huge plus, but the nib is obviously a deal breaker. Should I send it into Lamy or just give up on it and go with something else?

[athenian]

I definitely would send it to Lamy. I too had issues with a recently purchased pen with a medium nib but was too lazy to send it back. I spread the tines a little bit and it improved performance but this could easily be disastrous so I recommend to send it to someone who knows what he's doing.

Regards.

[Wolverine1]

Send it back to Lamy, and ask for the nib to be replaced with a fine nib. I think the extra-fine nib will be a problem, whereas the fine nib tends to be significantly smoother.

[plumista]

I fully agree. First option will probably be the best: send the pen back to Lamy. In my experience, I have sent a number of Lamy pens for repair (here in Europe to the headquarters in Germany), always free of charge, always exchanged without questions, even when the same pen was sent several times until it was fitted with exactly the right nib I wanted.

Lamy repair service is a legend.

plumista

[Sirenology]

The Lamy 2k EF has a microscopic sweet spot. You can definitely tell when you're on it, from that point try doing the "whole arm" writing technique (vs. the "finger moving" technique)---I don't know if those are the correct technical terms for writing mechanics but using your whole arm will help you isolate the pen from angle or rotation changes and stay on the sweet spot.

 

Of course it's possible that your tines are misaligned or some other problem and there is no sweet spot. If Lamy can't/won't fix it you might consider sending to a nibmeister. $40 with a nibmeister should be money very well spent on your 2k. Sure, we could debate all day about whether it's the manufacturers responsibility to fix this or that, or you could just be pragmatic about it and send it off.

[bluepelican]

It really seems like the nib doesn't have a sweet spot. I've tried every angle possible and even when it's at its smoothest, it's not nearly as smooth as my Vista. I would prefer not to go any wider than the EF, although I know there really isn't a whole lot of difference between the EF and the F. Also, I've read plenty of reports of very smooth EF nibs.

[Sirenology]

It really seems like the nib doesn't have a sweet spot. I've tried every angle possible and even when it's at its smoothest, it's not nearly as smooth as my Vista. I would prefer not to go any wider than the EF, although I know there really isn't a whole lot of difference between the EF and the F. Also, I've read plenty of reports of very smooth EF nibs.

 

Hmm, yeah it should be noticeably smoother than your Vista. My 2k EF is very smooth, really it's too smooth (I prefer a hint of feedback). Lamy service should fix it for you, they were great for me when the feed on my 2k was clogged (out of the box!). I'd still consider the nibmeister option though, that way you know you'll have it fixed once and for all. Let us know how it comes out.

[Steven]

I have had the same problem with various pens over the years and did one or both of the following things to fix this. The first thing I did was closely examining the nib to verify the tines were aligned. You can do this by feel or using a magnifying loop. Some pens needed one side to be slightly bent into better alignment.

 

The other fix was to write on 6000 grit emery cloth doing figure eights and ovals. When the nib felt smooth on paper I then did the same thing using 12000 grit emery cloth. This sanded out the rough spouts and polished the nib. This can take a while so be patient. On some pens I did both fixes.

[Bo Bo Olson]

If the nib is not aligned, you will ruin it. Because of the very small tipping, I'd not spend much time with the 8000 but go quickly to the 1200.

You do have experience....at smoothing????

What is gone....is gone.

 

Send it back to Lamy again....because it's free. Tell them it's the second time.

If it's too rough again, then send it to a nibmeister.

 

[RudyR]

Go with something else. Sometimes the pen style or model just will not fit the persons hand and you need to find one that does work for you. I know, I know, the "Lamy 2000 IS God" Church will howl on hearing this and they will send missionaries to dissuade you from changing, but sometimes it must be done.

[Bo Bo Olson]

No, the Lamy 2000 is not god....the Lamy Persona is. (1990-2000)

 

Lamy's director of design said to me while I was visiting the factory , Lamy will be coming out with a new Persona this year.

[Nick13]

I definitely would send it to Lamy. I too had issues with a recently purchased pen with a medium nib but was too lazy to send it back. I spread the tines a little bit and it improved performance but this could easily be disastrous so I recommend to send it to someone who knows what he's doing.

Regards.

I agree with Athenian, the Lamy 2000 is a great pen, I think you may have had some bad luck, sending it to Lamy should make it write a lot better. Let us know what your decision is.

 

 

Nick

[MX5l]

No, the Lamy 2000 is not god....the Lamy Persona is. (1990-2000)

 

Lamy's director of design said to me while I was visiting the factory , Lamy will be coming out with a new Persona this year.

[Sham69]

I have an ef, a fine and a med lamy 2000 from various years, my ef also had problems out of the box but the australian lamy distributer sent me an entirely new pen no questions asked with a nice note saying "head office takes care of it's most loyal customers; any future problems do not hesitate to send it back". This was weird because they don't know if this is my only lamy or what but this just shows how keen they are to make sure the pen you have is working well.

[dannyroll]

No, the Lamy 2000 is not god....the Lamy Persona is. (1990-2000)

 

Lamy's director of design said to me while I was visiting the factory , Lamy will be coming out with a new Persona this year.

I hope that's true! I've been eyeing the black and gold one.

[vans4444]

I have an old Lamy 2000 EF and it have a smooth nib. It still gets lots of use.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Sigh, I will have to buy another nail....sigh.

I've an early no bump on the clip black titanium oxide one. That is Art Deco pure.

[bluepelican]

I've decided to send the pen to Lamy to be repaired. Can anyone tell me the best way to package it? Should I send it in its retail box?

[DRWWE]

No, the Lamy 2000 is not god....the Lamy Persona is. (1990-2000)

 

Lamy's director of design said to me while I was visiting the factory , Lamy will be coming out with a new Persona this year.

I agree. I was both sad and happy when the Persona was discontinued. It made my FP more rare and at the same time I could no longer get another. I wish they would make them again.

 

Regarding the Lamy 2000, it is a wonderful pen. Mine with a medium nib writes beautifully.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w161/drwwe/Pens/DSC_0029.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w161/drwwe/Pens/LamyNibs.jpg