What inks are safe for my Lamy 2000?

[Virgo Thing]

Hi, the Lamy 2000 is my first fountain pen, and I love it! I purchased Lamy ink along with the L2k to be on the safe side, as I have heard about detrimental effects certain inks have on the L2K. Can someone point me in the direction of safe inks for my pen, please?

 

Better yet, I'm leaning towards Noodler's ink...are these safe?

 

Thanks for your help!

Edited October 25, 2009 by Virgo Thing

[MCosta77777]

Never had any type of problem with Diamine or Private Reserve.

Its also commom information that Waterman inks are good quality, great flow and quite safe.

Edited October 25, 2009 by MCosta77777

[Mrsal]

i think any inks are safe for a lmay 2000, the things indestructable!

[djh]

I have a couple of Lamy 2000s and a bunch of Noodlers Inks. So far I have not had any problems at all, although I have found one combination which didn't perform optimally. I know that there were worries with Lamy pens (mainly Safaris, I believe) and Noodlers "Baystate" range of inks, but otherwise I think that you should just experiment and see what appeals to you.

[welch]

Yes, try any ink. My only warning about Baystate Blue is that it is said to satin everythng it touches. I suppose you can get it out of a porcelain sink, but why bother?

 

I happen to like Diamine Sapphire and Daimine Imperial Blue, plus a mix of Waterman blue and purple (about 2 blue to 1 purple).

 

Noodlers is good...just not my current favorite. Noodlers never gave me a problem in any pen.

 

(Ha! My Lamy 2000 just went back to Filofax for the third time because it wobbles between writing wet and dry, all in one sentence. I have more doubts about Lamy 2000s than Noodlers!!!)

[Northwoods]

The thing about "safe" is to avoid broad generalizations. Look over the ink reviews and judge each specific ink by its own merits. The issue mentioned above about Baystate Blue has lead some to worry over anything Noodler's. It's not uncommon for someone to have, or even just hear about, one bad experience and apply guilt by association to anything from that label, but formula will vary from ink to ink even within a label. Some vary more than others.

 

Pen manufactures may suggest only their inks, but in addition to having presumably tested their ink in their pens, they also have a vested interest in selling their own ink over other brands.

 

I've used Waterman, Schaeffer, Noodler's Private Reserve and Levenger inks and haven't had any trouble in any of my pens. The think is to think of the fountain pen as more of a dog than a yard cat. The cat you can pretty much neglect and it'll even find food on its own if need be. The dog needs to be fed and cleaned up regularly or you have a real mess on your hands.

[RCC]

I'm sure you already know this, but one way to avoid problems is to make sure you do not allow ink to dry up in the pen. If you leave a pen full of ink sitting around unused for weeks, you may (or may not, YMMV) have trouble.

[Goodwhiskers]

I haven't heard of staining problems in the Lamy 2000. It is a "wet" writer, so it can even take carbon particle and iron gall inks, as long as they are writing (not art) inks that are formulated for fountain pens:

 

Carbon particle:

Sailor Kiwaguro (better on bad paper)

Platinum Carbon

I'd avoid Pelikan Font India until you're more experienced.

 

Iron gall for writing with fountain pens:

Lamy Blue-Black in bottles (but the Lamy 2000 can't take cartridges anyway)

Montblanc Blue-Black in bottles

Rohrer & Klingner Salix (blue-black) and Scabiosa (purple-black)

Diamine Registrar's (blue-black, darker than Lamy & Montblanc)

 

Just don't let those inks dry up in the pen's feed (permanent clogging!), and flush the pen once a month.

 

Of course, the Lamy 2000 can take any lower-maintenance fountain pen ink too.

[lapis]

I can't add much here, and I'm not trying to be mean... but what I have heard here is that "some" Noodler's, at least BSB for sure, were found to be un-good in Lamy pens. I think only in Lamy pens.

Lots o' luck.

 

Chuck

[tfwall]

All inks made by pen manufacturers are safe to use. The only caveat being, that certain iron gall inks need to be flushed more often.

 

Independent ink companies which produce safe inks that are readily available are limited to J. Herbin and Diamine.

 

Have a look around the two ink forums and research any ink before you buy it.

[Northwoods]

Independent ink companies which produce safe inks that are readily available are limited to J. Herbin and Diamine

 

That's a pretty broad generalization. Which qualities make the other inks generally unsafe?

[Nikhil]

According to Richard Binders site, Waterman are normally the best for your pens, and require less cleaning. Noodlers is near the bottom, with more cleaning and taking care of

[Northwoods]

According to Richard Binders site, Waterman are normally the best for your pens, and require less cleaning. Noodlers is near the bottom, with more cleaning and taking care of

 

I just checked that out. Very informative! It goes beyond simply classifying inks and actually explains the details of what makes inks behave as they do. I also like the designation of low/high maintenance over safe/unsafe. Noodler's is more high maintenance, but it's still a fountain pen ink and therefore safe by definition, with proper maintenance.

 

Unsafe should be reserved for things like india ink.

[downwiththepc27]

I can't add much here, and I'm not trying to be mean... but what I have heard here is that "some" Noodler's, at least BSB for sure, were found to be un-good in Lamy pens. I think only in Lamy pens.

Lots o' luck.

 

Chuck

I think it's really unfair to make such a broad generalization. BSB only caused problems in a few Lamy pens, and they were all Safaris. That's far from all Lamy pens. BSB is a great ink and it's worked perfectly so far in my 2000.

[Possum Hill]

All inks made by pen manufacturers are safe to use. The only caveat being, that certain iron gall inks need to be flushed more often.

 

Independent ink companies which produce safe inks that are readily available are limited to J. Herbin and Diamine.

 

Have a look around the two ink forums and research any ink before you buy it.

In assessing the value of advice proffered, it may be instructive to consider previous posts such as this.

 

Those who think it likely that any fountain pen inks are paint based may want to give greater weight to the brand recommendations in the post quoted above than those who don't.

[OtterNZ]

Yes, try any ink. My only warning about Baystate Blue is that it is said to satin everythng it touches.

 

Back you demon pen, BACK!