Lamy 2000 Sweet Spot

[jclewis33]

I like everything about the Lamy 2000 except the sweet spot. Is it possible for a nibmeister to make the sweet spot larger?

[KBeezie]

Can you describe a little more about where the 'sweet spot' is ? In some cases if the nibs already aligned and you don't mind doing some smoothing yourself, a couple figure 8 strokes on 12,000 grit micro-mesh will usually smooth the writing surface to your writing angle if it's not drastic.

 

So, explain the sweet spot a little more, and what your normal writing angle is (high, low, more like 30-40 degrees or 60-90), and do you tend to turn to the left or right when writing?

 

A nibmeister can do a lot with a nib, provided you can be clear as to what you want. Though you probably will want a larger nib size to get a 'larger' surface to work with that feels smoother, but of course that increases the line thickness.

[jclewis33]

The sweet spot on the 2000 is smaller than most other pens I own. Checking the forums this seems to be common.

 

I don't believe I hold the pen high or low, but I am not sure on the exact angle. I do tend to turn the pen to the right a little bit when writing and when I do I lose the sweet spot on the 2000. Sometimes it doesn't write at all but most the time I just get a line that is less inky and I can feel the nib dragging a little on the paper. On the other pens I own - Metropolitan Fine, Metropolitan Extra Fine (Penmanship nib), Esterbrook J Extra Fine, Custom 74 Fine.

[PAKMAN]

What is the nib size on the 2000? The thinner it is, the less likely the sweet spot can be made bigger without a thicker line. The 2000 and my Parker 51's are sometimes harder to keep turned at the right angle due to the hooded nib making it harder to eyeball what angle they're turned to.

[jclewis33]

The nib is an EF. I agree the hood seems to mess me up as well.

[ac12]

Some thoughts

• The hooded design of the L2000 hides most of the nib from your eye. So the reference point of a visible nib to align the rotation of the pen is reduced. But not as bad as it is for a Parker 51, where you barely see the nib. This makes it very easy to position or rotate the pen off the sweet spot on the nib. All your other pens have open nibs where you can easily see the nib and it's rotational alignment.
  • I have this very problem with my Parker 51s, where I will position or rotate the pen off the sweet spot of the nib, because I do not have a good visual reference of the alignment of the nib on the paper.
• The smaller a nib is, the smaller the sweet spot. This is simply a factor of the smaller real estate on the small nibs.
• How wet is the pen/ink combo? A wetter pen seems to have a larger sweet spot, because there is more ink flow.

[jclewis33]

Those are good observations and I believe are part of my problem - I can't see the whole nib like in the other pens so I lose my normal reference point.

 

Right now I have it inked with Lamy Blue. Doesn't seem to be all that wet in my opinion. I did have a pilot green in there I believe sho ryu. May have that wrong but I think it is close without looking it up.

 

I thought the green was wetter but still seemed to have the small sweet spot.

[parnesh]

The nib is an EF. I agree the hood seems to mess me up as well.

 

I believe that the L2K EF nibs maybe more troublesome than the other nib sizes. I bought and EF first up and loved the pen but it was extremely scratchy and got put away. As my tastes changed and I started preferring wider nibs, I bought an M nib one and love it. If you can get the nib swapped, get an F and if that is too wide then get a nib mistier to grind it to your taste.

[nicholasyeo]

The Lamy 2K does indeed need some smoothing... I'm not an expert at doing so, but I feel the sweet spot is really small and the pen must not be rotated. That being said, the small, hooded nib makes it hard to align correctly.

[RMN]

Might be the reason I am underwhelmed by the 2000.

 

My first nib could have easily passed for one of the more abstract works of Zadkine.

And the new nib it got after a rather lengthy and probably most interesting journey to Germany does not give a stellar writing experience.

 

 

D.ick

[KBeezie]

Also if you're turning the nib towards the right a lot (left handed?) you may request that a nibmeister make it into a right oblique for you. That is to say they can alter the tip so that the writing surface is something like 15 degrees to the right.

 

And yes, an EF is going to have the smallest spot of all of them and the EF also seems to be the one with the most quality control issue with the Lamy 2000. Mine came extremely dry was not very smooth even though aligned, etc. I did fix it up to be nice though, but I don't require an oblique for my writing.

 

PS: I don't find the hooding on mine to be that bad as I can still see the slit in between the nib tipping. The hooded pen that annoyed me the most was the Parker 51 Vacumatic, and that's fully hooded with maybe only barely seeing the tip peeking out from the hood, could never get used to that one. I see the Lamy 2K as partially hooded, but not completely, because you can see a good few millimeters of the nib sticking out.

Edited January 2, 2015 by KBeezie

[Thornton]

I've had two Lamy 2000's and both have given me fits. I sold off the first one, then got another (both with EF nibs) and have spent a lot of time trying to get the new nib to write smoothly without squeaking, which seems to be a major problem with my new one (purchased in 2011 so not se new). I've thought about going up to a fine, but the EF already writes a pretty wide line. I just ordered a new one (also with an EF nib because I'm insane) and if that one doesn't work then it's off to a nibmeister. I never would have given these pens so much of a chance if I didn't love the design, and couldn't affordably put together a set that included a match BP and MP, which have both been champs.

 

Lamy has some of my favorite designs, but it seems I'm always fussing with the nibs whether they be gold or steel, EF, F, M, or italic. I tell myself this is to balance out the fantastic luck I've had with Montblanc and Pelikan, which often garner complaints on the board.

[jclewis33]

I can't believe you have purchased three Lamy's especially since they all gave you trouble. I hope this last one works out.

 

To update: I received the loupe today and the tines are aligned. I just think the sweet spot is going to remain small unless I send to a nibmeister and have them make some changes. However, it doesn't seem that is the best option for an EF nib.

 

Do any of you know if Lamy would switch out nibs to a fine?

 

I see me selling this pen in the near future. I don't want to because it is so iconic but I like to use my pens and this one seems to be the least favorite in my rotation so far.

[jclewis33]

Oh, I am not a leftie. But for some reason I rotate my hand right a little. Again this is the only pen that it is a problem with. I don't do it too often not too extreme but it seems any rotation at all causes me to move off the sweet spot.

[ac12]

 

Oh, I am not a leftie. But for some reason I rotate my hand right a little. Again this is the only pen that it is a problem with. I don't do it too often not too extreme but it seems any rotation at all causes me to move off the sweet spot.

 

Yup, that is your problem.

You need to NOT rotate the pen, or you will go off the sweet spot and the ink flow will slow and then stop.

As I mentioned, a XF nib has a small sweet spot, simply due to the smaller tip.

 

Lamy "might" do a nib swap, but you need to contact them. The other companies that do a nib swap, have a window of time for the swap/exchange, afterwhich they will CHARGE you $$ for the new nib.

[jclewis33]

I agree. The rotation is my problem.

 

I checked on the website and I am out of the return/exchange window. I would have to pay for another nib. I'm thinking I am just going to put the pen up for sale.

[ac12]

Based on this experience, I would stay away from hooded or semi-hooded nibs.

The lack of visual reference of the nib makes it too easy to rotate the pen off the sweet spot.

 

Gud luk on the next pen.

[KBeezie]

Based on this experience, I would stay away from hooded or semi-hooded nibs.

The lack of visual reference of the nib makes it too easy to rotate the pen off the sweet spot.

 

Gud luk on the next pen.

^ This, though you could also condition yourself to write straighter, even if it means slowing down a little. But I do agree that an open style nib, particular one that's larger with maybe a larger tipping such as a western fine or medium will probably cater to your writing style better. If you are consistently writing to the right or prefer to, you can look into a right oblique, though they are generally meant for left handers, and I wouldn't advise spending money on such a nib til you know it would help you.

[Thornton]

I can't believe you have purchased three Lamy's especially since they all gave you trouble. I hope this last one works out.

 

To update: I received the loupe today and the tines are aligned. I just think the sweet spot is going to remain small unless I send to a nibmeister and have them make some changes. However, it doesn't seem that is the best option for an EF nib.

 

Do any of you know if Lamy would switch out nibs to a fine?

 

I see me selling this pen in the near future. I don't want to because it is so iconic but I like to use my pens and this one seems to be the least favorite in my rotation so far.

Trust me, I have trouble believing it myself. I did send the second pen to Lamy and they gave it a new feed, but said everything was as it should be with the nib. I didn't see much of a difference. I think there would really have to be something wrong with the nib for them to replace it with a different size, but it never hurts to ask. Lamy definitely wins the love/hate relationship award for me, but a lot of people love them, so I think it's worth your time to seek solutions. I certainly haven't given up, but I might not be the most stable source to quote.

[dneal]

I like everything about the Lamy 2000 except the sweet spot. Is it possible for a nibmeister to make the sweet spot larger?

 

Yes. I'm not a nibmeister, my 2000 is a F, and it has a very generous sweet spot now after making it a stub.