Lamy Vista plastic

[Benner]

Following a thread I started asking about rugged bodied pens, I was recommended the Lamy Safari which I have been checking out and like the look of.

 

When looking through them I noticed that they did a Vista version which, being clear, looked quite fun. My experience with clear plastic versions of whatever in the past have been that they are more brittle than their coloured versions. So my question is this, for those that have both the clear Vista and the coloured Safari, are the plastics of the same type and both be as equally rugged?

 

Many thanks

 

Ben

[Chthulhu]

Interesting question! The Lamy site says that the Safari is made from ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), and that the Vista is made from "a clear, but tough, non-face plastic" whatever that means. I would like to think it was made from clear acrylic, but have no way to confirm that.

[ofpwriter]

Interesting question! The Lamy site says that the Safari is made from ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), and that the Vista is made from "a clear, but tough, non-face plastic" whatever that means. I would like to think it was made from clear acrylic, but have no way to confirm that.

My thoughts exactly, interesting question. Like Ben said in his question, I too would guess that clear version would be more brittle. Guestimating from experience with other than pen-plastics. I hope some user-comparer will provide the answer.

 

-O

[HenryLouis]

My vista has held up to lots of abuse...

 

One of my favorite pens.

 

I need to get an extra fine for mine soon, the fine is a bit too thick. Maybe I'll just order another vista!

[GSauce]

The 'flaps' just above the thread on the section seem slightly more flexible on my AL-Star (same transparent section piece as the Vista) than on my Safari, but it's such a small difference I couldn't say whether it's a different plastic, just a natural variance or my imagination The main point though is this is probably the most delicate part of the pen and it is (more?) flexible, not stiff/brittle so I'd imagine it will take knocks and drops just fine

Edited October 28, 2009 by GSauce

[Chthulhu]

Polycarbonate, perhaps; that *would* be a tough pen, though it would be more easily scratched.

[jmpennifeather]

I have a Lamy Safari and a Vista and to be honest I dont think there much difference. I have used them all day everyday for a few years now and they both seem to be equally indestructable.

[grox]

OK, so I ran over my lamy vista in my car a couple of weekends ago. The barrel is cracked but I taped it back together and it still works. Threads, converter, cap all work - just the barrel and cap are cracked.

 

At very least it's a cheap pen anyway...

Edited October 28, 2009 by grox

[HelzBelz]

Owning both, I think they're about the same in terms of strength. The Vista, to my eye, looks more fragile, but I think that's just its colour (or lack of). The Safari reminds me of a wax crayon: indestructible, whereas the Vista looks tough, but not quite indestructible. I'll reiterate, though, that in reality they seem to be about equal.

[richardandtracy]

The Vista plastic isn't acrylic. I think it's ABS. I suspect the Safari is glass filled to make it more robust, and you can't keep the clarity of a plastic when glass filled. So, ABS, but not quite as good as the Safari.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[twdpens]

The Vista plastic isn't acrylic. I think it's ABS.

 

I doubt it's ABS since ABS is a semi-crystalline (I think) polymer hence opaque. My guess is crystal polystyrene but of a superior grade to make a robust moulding (ie not brittle like BIC Biros). Polycarbonate is another possibility but since this is a much more expensive polymer than PS I doubt it.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

 

PS: IANASE (I am not a Stuff Engineer).

Edited October 28, 2009 by twdpens

[ofpwriter]

OK, so I ran over my lamy vista in my car a couple of weekends ago. The barrel is cracked but I taped it back together and it still works. Threads, converter, cap all work - just the barrel and cap are cracked.

 

At very least it's a cheap pen anyway...

Now could you do that with a Safari? Then we would have a comparison.

[richardandtracy]

I doubt it's ABS since ABS is a semi-crystalline (I think) polymer hence opaque. My guess is crystal polystyrene but of a superior grade to make a robust moulding (ie not brittle like BIC Biros). Polycarbonate is another possibility but since this is a much more expensive polymer than PS I doubt it.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

 

PS: IANASE (I am not a Stuff Engineer).

PS can be alloyed with a few other plastics, and I think ABS is one, but there are quite a few examples of clear ABS on the web. Maybe it's now possible to get amorphus ABS. If you dope the material correctly it won't be able to form crystals, or freeze it very fast (like glass).

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

Edited October 29, 2009 by richardandtracy

[dcwaites]

I have a Vista, and am impressed with its toughness. I used to have an original Khaki Safari, and was impressed with its toughness.

 

I think we are talking about very bloody robust, and extremely bloody robust. Compared to a 'normal' pen, like a Parker 51, I think both versions are much tougher.

 

It's quite possible that if you ran over a Safari with a Humvee, the Humvee might break...

 

Now, if somebody would lend me a Humvee, I would be quite happy to buy a Safari just to do the test.

[pen2paper]

still plotting to get that Humvee hmmm?