Bought A Lamy Safari And Got Pretty Excited About It

[terrmaci]

Hello, this is my first post in the FPN (except the greeting post at the Introductions page)!

 

I have recently bought a Matte Charcoal Lamy Safari with an EF nib and I am quite pleasant about the writing experience. I am still using the blue cartridge provided from the original box so I am considering to buy a few bottles of inks. My choices are J. Herbin Perle Noire, Noodler's Baystate Blue, Noodler's X-Feather and Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Budo. How are my choices? Are they good?

 

I deeply understand that the BSB is notorious for staining the converter, corroding the feed, esp. Lamy Safari, but frankly I can't resist the vibrant blue of BSB. It's STUNNING! Therefore, I am thinking if I should buy an another cheap FP to use the BSB specifically. However, is that really necessary? I hope that some people who have his/her Lamy Safari loaded with BSB can share their experience and opinion.

 

Moreover, I think that the EF nib of Lamy Safari is actually quite broad because I prefer the "width" (Is that the word?) of my frequently used gel ink pen, uni-ball Signo DX 0.38mm, more. Will the "width" of a Pilot Metropolitan with an F/EF nib be near to 0.38mm? I also know that I can change the nib of my FP, but I am quite unsure what nib I should use.

 

Thank you for any opinion and experiences shared,

Terrence

[PAKMAN]

BSB can give problems but if you clean out your pen after the ink is used up you should be ok. I would use a nib wider than fine or xfine for BSB to get the most out of the color. A medium at least.

[terrmaci]

BSB can give problems but if you clean out your pen after the ink is used up you should be ok. I would use a nib wider than fine or xfine for BSB to get the most out of the color. A medium at least.

Oh, thanks for your opinions!

 

Then, are there any alternatives for blue inks? Aurora Blue, maybe? or Iroshizuku Asa-Gao, Diamine Majestic Blue? I guess I only will have the answer after I try all of them.

 

Still many to learn in the field of FP!

[PAKMAN]

I love Iro Kon-Peki myself.

[pen2paper]

Welcome, and with regard to your nib inquiry. you may wish to consider the Lamy italic nibs. 1.1 is my preference for everyday, (available in two wider widths too). 1.1 shows off inks that have shading, or edge two color sheen as notable feature. Lamy nibs are quick/easy to change.

 

Plan to be scrupulous in cleaning your pen between any ink changes, or extending storage, especially with saturated inks. I've not had a single failure in many years of use. Red, black clip/nib is my first Safari, still going strong. But I do flush nib/feed unit until water flows clear, (syringe & ear bulb), nib dries clear - point down in fiber-free absorbent towel.

[Sasha Royale]

I have no experience with Bay State Blue, except that I like the vibrant blue color.

There is a reputation for staining plastic, but I have not heard of corrosion problems.

Though the LAMY Z24 and Z26 converters at not expensive, you might consider

using a syringe to fill a cartridge with BSB, to keep the converts pristine.

 

I was wondering >>> when BSB stains a converter, does the BSB stain leach into

the subsequent inks ? If not, then I wouldn't mind the staining in a converter.

 

If you like BSB, a little inconvenience may be worth the trouble.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I would say never use BSB in a pen that ever had another kind of ink in it, and vice versa. I have a Pelikano Junior kept just for this. Buy another, similar pen and enjoy this uniquely eye-searing blue ink.

[carlos.q]

For BSB I would recommend you first buy a sample. No use buying a bottle to find out it's not your cup of tea. Besides staining, I find this ink feathers a lot.

 

More practical bright blues would be Noodlers Liberty's Elysium, Diamine Sapphire and Iroshizuku Asa-Gao. I would also recommend you buy samples before buying a bottle.

[terrmaci]

I love Iro Kon-Peki myself.

Iroshizuku Kon Peki is also nice! But I like Asa-Gao more

 

 

Welcome, and with regard to your nib inquiry. you may wish to consider the Lamy italic nibs. 1.1 is my preference for everyday, (available in two wider widths too). 1.1 shows off inks that have shading, or edge two color sheen as notable feature. Lamy nibs are quick/easy to change.

 

Plan to be scrupulous in cleaning your pen between any ink changes, or extending storage, especially with saturated inks. I've not had a single failure in many years of use. Red, black clip/nib is my first Safari, still going strong. But I do flush nib/feed unit until water flows clear, (syringe & ear bulb), nib dries clear - point down in fiber-free absorbent towel.

Thanks for your suggestions and I deeply appreciate it!

 

I am also reminded in some YouTube videos that it is recommended not to save the highly saturated inks, eg. J. Herbin Bleu Ocean and Rouge Hematite, in the converter for a pretty long time. Combining your suggestion, I hope that I can still use my Safari after years!

 

 

I have no experience with Bay State Blue, except that I like the vibrant blue color.

There is a reputation for staining plastic, but I have not heard of corrosion problems.

Though the LAMY Z24 and Z26 converters at not expensive, you might consider

using a syringe to fill a cartridge with BSB, to keep the converts pristine.

 

I was wondering >>> when BSB stains a converter, does the BSB stain leach into

the subsequent inks ? If not, then I wouldn't mind the staining in a converter.

 

If you like BSB, a little inconvenience may be worth the trouble.

That's a great idea actually. I can keep my Lamy blue cartridge and wash it thoroughly and try to see how it goes.

 

As I recall, from some of the posts in FPN, they said that the BSB will react aggressively with other inks except Baystate inks and it's not a good idea to mix Baystate inks with other inks.

 

Ya, as you say, a little inconvenience may be worth the trouble!

 

 

I would say never use BSB in a pen that ever had another kind of ink in it, and vice versa. I have a Pelikano Junior kept just for this. Buy another, similar pen and enjoy this uniquely eye-searing blue ink.

Definitely. Guess I should get a Jinhao X450/X750, change their nibs to maybe B nib or 1.1 or 1.5 stub, and load BSB with it.

 

For BSB I would recommend you first buy a sample. No use buying a bottle to find out it's not your cup of tea. Besides staining, I find this ink feathers a lot.

 

More practical bright blues would be Noodlers Liberty's Elysium, Diamine Sapphire and Iroshizuku Asa-Gao. I would also recommend you buy samples before buying a bottle.

Oh, thanks for your suggestions! Unfortunately, the online shopping website that I bought my pens and inks, Taobao (a Chinese equivalent of amazon.com or eBay), doesn't have the Noodler's Liberty Elysium! Iroshizuku Asa-Gao or Kon-Peki are also pleasant blue inks for me so I guess I should get some samples of them!

[jpnyc]

I've found that my Jinhao x450 (or is it a 750?) does not keep a good enough seal when capped to keep the nib from quickly drying out. I would think that would be a major problem with an already-troublesome ink like BSB.

 

My recommendation would be a Pilot Metropolitan: it's about the cheapest thing you're going to find that's an all-around well-made pen.

 

Also, the only place to get Liberty Elysium is http://www.gouletpens.com . Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the ink was specially created for them in consultation with Brian Goulet.

[terrmaci]

I've found that my Jinhao x450 (or is it a 750?) does not keep a good enough seal when capped to keep the nib from quickly drying out. I would think that would be a major problem with an already-troublesome ink like BSB.

 

My recommendation would be a Pilot Metropolitan: it's about the cheapest thing you're going to find that's an all-around well-made pen.

 

Also, the only place to get Liberty Elysium is http://www.gouletpens.com . Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the ink was specially created for them in consultation with Brian Goulet.

Oh, that's why! Thanks for your suggestions! The Pilot Metropolitan is also my next target of FP but of course not that fast. Maybe I will only buy a sample of BSB after I get a Pilot Metropolitan.

[openionated]

Oh, thanks for your opinions!

 

Then, are there any alternatives for blue inks? Aurora Blue, maybe? or Iroshizuku Asa-Gao, Diamine Majestic Blue? I guess I only will have the answer after I try all of them.

 

Still many to learn in the field of FP!

I'm using Iroshizuku Asa-Gao in a my Japanese fine nib right now, which should be close to a Lamy XF. Flow and color look good so far on all the paper I've tried.

[bardharlock]

From the Goulet Website regarding BSB: If staining should occur, a solution of 10% household bleach and 90% distilled water will clean it up. If you have any particularly rare or valuable pens, you may want to avoid using Baystate inks in them."

[benbot517]

I love Iro Kon-Peki myself.

 

This is quite a lovely ink, and without a doubt the one I use the most. Yama-Budo is also quite nice, and even though that color isn't something I would normally like the ink is so vivid and beautiful I really don't care. I just bought a bottle, and I can see it being used up.

[terrmaci]

I'm using Iroshizuku Asa-Gao in a my Japanese fine nib right now, which should be close to a Lamy XF. Flow and color look good so far on all the paper I've tried.

Thanks for sharing!

Yes, I have bought a sample of Asa-Gao recently and I am truly satisfied with the color and flow now

 

From the Goulet Website regarding BSB: If staining should occur, a solution of 10% household bleach and 90% distilled water will clean it up. If you have any particularly rare or valuable pens, you may want to avoid using Baystate inks in them."

Ah-ha! Thanks for your suggestion!

 

 

This is quite a lovely ink, and without a doubt the one I use the most. Yama-Budo is also quite nice, and even though that color isn't something I would normally like the ink is so vivid and beautiful I really don't care. I just bought a bottle, and I can see it being used up.

Then maybe I should try to buy a sample of Kon-Peki!

.

[ernestcow]

+1 for pen2paper's nib suggestion. I love the Lamy 1.1.
As for your ink choices, Yama-budo is beautiful!
You could try Private Reserve Electric DC Blue or Kon-peki?

[benbot517]

Then maybe I should try to buy a sample of Kon-Peki!.

 

Do iiiiitttttt. The ink is expensive, but to me, worth it. I've used over half the bottle the 5 or so months I've had it.