Lamy Dialogue 3

[Dan308]

Hi Everyone.

My first post, but felt strongly enough about my experience with this pen that I signed up just to put this out there.

 

I have somewhere close to a hundred fountain pens, and the Lamy Studio in EF is still my favourite for everyday use. It disappeared from my office a few months ago (just ordered another a few days ago) and I purchased the Dialogue 3 EF as a replacement thinking that it would be a great pen to write notes with during business meetings as it is much easier to close between 20 minute periods of non-use. Here is what I found with the pen:

 

The Nib

Overall I was rather disappointed actually. Although the nib had a nice amount of flexibility and flowed nicely once working, it had a very sharp edge at a particular angle that would require grinding. Thankfully, this sharp spot was around 10^o off normal writing position. Also the nib was very heavily oblique (extra fine nib) and has nearly twice the stroke width horizontal as it does vertical. Also, I found that I often had to work to get the pen flowing when I picked it up.

 

Engineering

The mechanism when clean is simply a work of marvel. It really is. Very solid completion of open / close. However, I have had the pen for approximately five weeks and have had to clean the pen twice to return it to normal function. In my experience, any fountain is going to leak at slightly into the cap over a period of time if you are carrying in any fashion; briefcase, shirt pocket etc. With this pen, that slight amount of leakage is enough to gum up the mechanism, making it impossible to open or close until it has been cleaned. Also, the large body of the pen does make it somewhat uncomfortable and tiresome during extended periods of writing despite the fact that I have rather large hands. It really is like writing with a cigar—which incidentally a few people have mistaken the pen for when it is in my shirt pocket.

 

Given it's price, if it weren't such an interesting design I would very much consider selling it—which is something I have never before done with any of my pens. I am very much looking forward to receiving my Studio replacement.

Edited June 26, 2011 by Dan308

[mer6]

The mechanism when clean is simply a work of marvel. It really is. Very solid completion of open / close. However, I have had the pen for approximately five weeks and have had to clean the pen twice to return it to normal function. In my experience, any fountain is going to leak at slightly into the cap over a period of time if you are carrying in any fashion; briefcase, shirt pocket etc. With this pen, that slight amount of leakage is enough to gum up the mechanism, making it impossible to open or close until it has been cleaned. Also, the large body of the pen does make it somewhat uncomfortable and tiresome during extended periods of writing despite the fact that I have rather large hands. It really is like writing with a cigar—which incidentally a few people have mistaken the pen for when it is in my shirt pocket.

 

Given it's price, if it weren't such an interesting design I would very much consider selling it—which is something I have never before done with any of my pens. I am very much looking forward to receiving my Studio replacement.

 

I found this to be a major problem as well, in addition to the skipping nature that mine ran into towards it's EOL. I just ebayed it for ~$165. I decided it wasn't worth my trouble even though I love the design and weight so much.

[FlatCactus]

I found the same with my ef nib, but found that the clip helps line it up perfectly with the sweet spot. I also gave it about half a dozen swipes just to take the excess sharpness off, now its even better. Best nib I own, period, even for my left handedness.

 

I've only cleaned it once in the entire 2.5 months I've had it and it comes to school and gets jostled in my pocket everyday. I've also found the weight, length and thickness a non issue for my medium-small hands and the balance is perfect, counteracting the weight and making it almost carry itself.

 

The only issue I have with it is when I leave it sitting for about a day straight it puts down a VERY highly saturated line for a couple of letters. (when filled with highly saturated Visconti blue. No apparent problems with noodlers black or J'Herbin Vert Empire)

 

When I first got it I found I had to visually check to see if the lines were 'lined' up to make sure it was fully closed.

 

I'm sorry to hear that this wasn't the pen for you. I hope you enjoy your new studio as much as the old one!

 

-John

[Dan308]

Hi John.

 

It's odd to hear about you having to "inspect" the pen to be sure it's closed. Mine has a very positive feel when it hits the full open and close positions. No problem there at all. I'm curious if that would change with a good cleaning as that open / close "feel" is the first thing that goes when the mechanism gets gummed up on mine. I suppose you would have noticed that though out of the box.

[FlatCactus]

Hi John.

 

It's odd to hear about you having to "inspect" the pen to be sure it's closed. Mine has a very positive feel when it hits the full open and close positions. No problem there at all. I'm curious if that would change with a good cleaning as that open / close "feel" is the first thing that goes when the mechanism gets gummed up on mine. I suppose you would have noticed that though out of the box.

 

Sorry, I obviously didn't make myself clear enough.

 

When I first got it I had to check when it was closed as I had a habit of over turning it and unscrewing the barrel. It does have a very solid feel when it locked in place.

 

-John