Lamy Safari Nib Decision ?

[fastfed]

I have a Pelikan M200 that I bought for my first F. Pen, while I love it, I had issues with the fine nib I ordered with it, long story short with the great recommendation from this forum I had the nib sent out to someone here and they polished it or tweaked it and it does indeed write well now.

 

Somehow the back of the pen where you twist and untwist broke, allowing the plunger screw to come out a good 1/4 inch and the back cap is loose, it still works with some rigging but nevertheless, I've been reading on many inexpensive F.Pens. The Lmmy Safari gets a lot of great reviews for the price.

 

Reading more into F.Pens in general many love a broad nib and I was thinking of trying that with the Lammy, in your experience what would you recommend?? My M200 nib is kinda scratchy on the paper but it does write nice and the lines look like in my opinion what a normal roller pen would look like.

 

I'm always afraid that a broad nib will write like a crayon or magic marker, lol.

 

I just keep hearing that broad nibs are ultra smooth and have great ink flow, which I would like to experience.

 

I'm going to order the Pen itself and a Z24 converter so I can add my own ink.

 

I just got my "Heart of Darkness, black" by noodlers and love the rich color! It came with a free cheap pen that leaks, lol.

 

here is the link for the pen I want, is this a new model? it looks different then some reviewers pens.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Lamy-Safari-Fountain-Charcoal-Broad/dp/B0002T401E/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1375243895&sr=1-2&keywords=lamy+safari+broad

 

 

Thanks

 

 

[sopa]

The Safari in charcoal isn't a new model, I've had mine for years. It's the only Safari that comes with a textured body that's great for scratch resistance. Mine has an ultra-smooth medium nib. I've other Safari pens with broad nib and they glide on paper with any reasonable ink. You'd love the experience, but using a broad, wet nib limits the papers that you can use.

[orinix]

Goulet pens has a nifty tool that lets you compare different nib sizes. You can use that to make sure it doesn't look like a "crayon" as you put it. Just select the Lamy pen you have

 

http://www.gouletpens.com/Nib_Nook_s/1114.htm

[fastfed]

thanks for the fast replies.. maybe ill get a M nib, is the charcoal lamy any different then say this one

 

http://www.amazon.com/Lamy-Safari-Fountain-Yellow-Broad/dp/B000R3655Y/ref=sr_1_4?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1375243895&sr=1-4&keywords=lamy+safari+broad

[sopa]

thanks for the fast replies.. maybe ill get a M nib, is the charcoal lamy any different then say this one

 

http://www.amazon.com/Lamy-Safari-Fountain-Yellow-Broad/dp/B000R3655Y/ref=sr_1_4?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1375243895&sr=1-4&keywords=lamy+safari+broad

 

The yellow Safari has a glossy plastic body, whereas the charcoal one has a textured, matte plastic body. They feel different. As for the nibs, they are colored differently too - the charcoal has a black nib, while the yellow has a chrome nib. I find no difference in the writing experience between the two nibs at all.

[fastfed]

thanks! Just looks like the barrel of the pen, has that gap on some and others don't

 

Also, on Amazon the charcoal pen says "

• Steel nib, polished. Broad Point"

yet the picture shows the nib to be a nice charcoal color.. I wonder what I'll get, lol

[Centopar]

Had you thought of experimenting with one of the italic nibs? They're only about £4 here in the UK, so if you hate it it's not going to break the bank, and they're very good fun.

[Felix1]

Goulet pens has a nifty tool that lets you compare different nib sizes. You can use that to make sure it doesn't look like a "crayon" as you put it. Just select the Lamy pen you have

 

http://www.gouletpens.com/Nib_Nook_s/1114.htm

 

 

Seems reasonably accurate for Lamy nibs except for the Lamy Calligraphy nibs, especially the 1.5 and 1.9mm. Mine write much wider on good H-P 32# Premium Choice Laser Paper than what this interactive tool shows.

[94Terp]

My charcoal Safari is the workhorse...pratical, inexpensive, and quite nice.

 

It originally had an M nib, but I needed to change to the F, as most of my writing is hastily written notes on cheap copy paper, and the M nib proved too "chunky', imo. I can't imagine what a broad nib would look like with my writing.

 

I noticed no difference in flow between the two.

[sargetalon]

The nice thing about Lamy is that the nibs are easily exchanged, even while the pen is inked. It allowed me to try many different types of nibs because the stainless steel nibs are also cheap. I got a new 1.1 and 1.5mm for $11 each on the bay. I stick with F and EF mostly in the Lamy but I like thinner lines. I find the M to be too broad.

[heymatthew]

As others have already said, the Lamy Safari is a great pen and often times is a go-to for people that need a relatively inexpensive fountain pen for everyday use (in an office or school setting, etc.). I've had people come over to my desk and grab my Edison pens and try to yank the cap off to jot a quick note while they're talking on the phone or something and it just drives me nuts. A lot of times I leave a Safari (or Al Star) on my desk just to thwart the destructive efforts of idiotic co-workers caught in the hasty whims of everyday office life.

 

That being said, I've never had a single issue with any Lamy I've owned (Safaris, Al-Stars, 2000, Studio, etc.). In my experience, the Lamy B nibs write like an Extra-Fine Sharpie... Maybe a tad broader, but significantly smoother as the nib is metal and not the porous material of the Sharpie. My wife likes the M and B nibs, but she has big girly handwriting. I like EF (or MAYBE an F if I'm feeling adventurous) for everyday writing with a Safari. I've tried the 1.1 and 1.5 stubs and they're like writing with a paintbrush for my small handwriting.

 

The Safari is a neat pen and the Charcoal gray is one of my favorites. I have owned two and given both of them away (one to someone on this forum and another to my father-in-law). I'll probably purchase another one here in the near future. I just like that color.

 

For me, the EF is the way to go for everyday writing. The M or B would be good for quick notes on good paper where you don't need to say a lot but you want the characteristics of the ink to really show. Safaris are cheap enough that you can easily own two of them. Get one in EF and one in M or B and have the set.

[fastfed]

Thanks.. I'm going to order it with M. and maybe down the line go for a F or EF nib.

 

 

But I would like to have the charcoal nib and it seems most dont have it

[papabear16]

You may have already ordered, but if not, this might help some:

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2815/9407426505_4f92b4956e_b.jpg

2013-07-31 Lamy nibs by papabear163, on Flickr

 

For what it's worth, I use the XF with the Nooder's ink for writing in Moleskines, the Fs for normal work writing, the M with Red Dragon for editing, and the B with Majestic Blue for signatures. At least with these inks, I don't find a huge difference between the M and B nibs. Mine all came quite smooth, and where there was a little roughness, I just did a few loops and 8s on the back of a legal pad, and everything smoothed out quite well. I've been pleased with all my Lamy Safaris and Al-stars.

[smiorgan]

Charcoal - great choice. I have one on my desk right now. Probably my cheapest pen but one of my favourites.

[Runnin_Ute]

I have an aluminum finish Al Star - but in my view you can't go wrong with it. I currently have a 1.1 mm nib on it, but have a F for it as well. Works great with both.

[heymatthew]

Thanks.. I'm going to order it with M. and maybe down the line go for a F or EF nib.

 

 

But I would like to have the charcoal nib and it seems most dont have it

 

If you want, you can purchase your pen from GouletPens.com (no affiliation, just a happy customer) and specify the nib color and thickness on your order (EF, F, M, B all come in black and silver with the 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 coming only in silver). You'll pay slightly more than Amazon, but you'll get your choice of nib and color.

[OakIris]

 

If you want, you can purchase your pen from GouletPens.com (no affiliation, just a happy customer) and specify the nib color and thickness on your order (EF, F, M, B all come in black and silver with the 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9 coming only in silver). You'll pay slightly more than Amazon, but you'll get your choice of nib and color.

+1 There are probably other places as well, but isellpens.com also gives you a choice of nib size and color. Both sites are well-respected, have great service and products so you can't go wrong with either, IMHO.

 

Last week I ordered a Lamy Al-Star in Ocean Blue with a steel 1.1 mm nib from Goulet Pens and yesterday I ordered a pink Lamy Safari with a broad nib from isellpens. (If you are interested in the yellow Safari, it is on sale on isellpens right now and comes with a free converter; the charcoal Safari is not on sale but it also comes with a free converter - nice to get a free converter!) I like the 1.1 mm nib and look forward to experiencing the broad nib. And, as has been mentioned, if the nib doesn't please, replacement nibs of a different size - and/or color - are readily available, usually inexpensive, and changing out the nibs is a breeze. (Goulet Pens has the steel nibs on sale right now for $9.00.....)

 

Holly

[Gump]

I just received a broad nib for one of my Safari's and love it, they are on sale at Goulet (no affiliation) for under $10 currently. The swap out process is ridiculously quick and easy.

[fastfed]

thanks!! I thinking of going with Isellpens because of the converter being free.. Is it a Z24 converter or generic ? I guess it doesn't matter, just curious!

 

I'm changing my mind all over the place, but the fact I can get any nib (black or steel) I thinking of going with the white pen and black nib! SEXY!!!

 

http://www.isellpens.com/Lamy_Safari_p/l19w.htm

Edited July 31, 2013 by fastfed

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

Lamy converters are proprietary, so it's most likely to be a Z24. Good luck in your pen search!

 

Dillon