Lamy Vista/Safari

[TULIP]

I received a Lamy Vista in the mail last night, and I got the cartridge loaded up and let the pen sit to let the ink settle in. After an hour or so, I started writing with the pen, and it skips a lot. I didn't buy a converter because I'd planned to refill the cart, but is Lamy ink decent ink? I'm trying to rule out the ink before I start thinking it's the pen.

 

I'd also like to adjust the nib/feed relationship to the section a la the Parker 75. I tried it last night without success because I didn't want to force it. Will the thing move with more force, or will I just end up breaking the pen?

 

Thanks!

[usonian]

I can't speak to making nib adjustments, but the first ink I used in my Lamy Vista (XF nib) was a cartridge of standard Lamy black ink. I had no skipping problems with it.

 

-A

[RayMan]

I received a Lamy Vista in the mail last night, and I got the cartridge loaded up and let the pen sit to let the ink settle in. After an hour or so, I started writing with the pen, and it skips a lot. I didn't buy a converter because I'd planned to refill the cart, but is Lamy ink decent ink? I'm trying to rule out the ink before I start thinking it's the pen.

 

I'd also like to adjust the nib/feed relationship to the section a la the Parker 75. I tried it last night without success because I didn't want to force it. Will the thing move with more force, or will I just end up breaking the pen?

 

Thanks!

 

With regard to your Lamy, I'll make two points. First of all, I've read posts by other members who say that their pen is more prone to skipping when they insert a fresh cartridge. This has also been my experience. This makes some sense on a gut level, because when you fill a pen from a bottle you are wetting the entire ink channel. To compensate for this, you might try to give the cartridge a squeeze in order to prime the ink channel. I rarely use ink cartridges any more, partly because of this problem, but mostly because it is cheaper to buy the ink in a bottle.

 

Secondly, most (if not all) of the new pens I've purchased (including my Lamy Safari and Vista pens) have skipped when I first started using them. I've read that this is due to some kind of protective coating applied in the factory. Regardless of the reason, the skipping has resolved in every case after repeated sessions of flushing (I always use plain water, because I'm too cowardly to use anything else) and use. You should also let the pen dry thoroughly (I wait 24 hours) after flushing, otherwise the ink will look washed out.

 

Lamy Blue is the only Lamy ink I've used. Not only is it decent, it is excellent. I've never had any problems with that ink. Lamy Blue is one of my favorite blue inks.

 

I've never owned or used a Parker 75, so I'll have to defer to others for an answer to that question.

[jmkeuning]

Lamy Blue is my default ink. I have used it in many pens with no problem.

 

Since you have the Vista - is the collector filled with ink? That is why I like the converter. When you draw the ink through the nib it can seep into all the little fins in the collector. With the Vista, you can see this.

[JakobS]

After using my safari's with a converter exclusively these past months I decided to finally try a cartridge of Lamy Blue ink that came with the pen, and it worked beautifully very smooth and better it seemed then the two black inks I was using with the converter, Pelikan, and Waterman. One thing though, is that I didn't clean out the nib before removing the converter and putting on the cartridge so the easy flow of the ink could of been because of the residue of the previous ink already being in the nib. It was blue-black for the first couple minutes!! The suggestions above sound practical, Lamy blue ink appeared to be a really smooth ink, which is great for my college lecture note taking!! And it's a pretty nice blue to boot!

[elena]

My Safari and Vista are very reliable pens. If need be, to prime the ink flow (for any pen), I just put the tip to paper towel, which draws the ink out. I don't like to squeeze cartridges, because I think it weakens it. I've had cartridges crack on me. Good luck. I'm sure once things get going, you will love writing with it.

[Fenris Wulf]

I have the Vista with a M nib and it skipped like crazy UNTIL I let it sit overnight in a solution of water (just enough to cover it) and a drop of dishwashing liquid.

 

This might take a few times, but after that, it writes like a dream!

 

Do this and be glad.

[TULIP]

Thanks for the feedback!

 

Sometimes we need to be reminded of the basics. I typically use bottle-filled vintage pens, and the modern pens I do use are either piston fillers or I use a converter. I've never gone the refill-the-cartridge route and wanted to give it a whirl (in addition to wanting to buy a Safari because I've read so many good things about it...it's a great pen for the price). The only other pen I used with a cartridge from the get-go was a Pilot VP with a broad nib. It didn't have this problem, and I wonder if it wasn't because the Pilot cartridges have a much wider mouth...could have been the pen, too, or a combination of the two.

 

All I had to do with the Lamy was invert the pen in a cup on my desk, and the feed has become better saturated with ink. As the day has worn on, the pen has gotten a lot better.

 

And as an aside, I tried putting a Parker converter in the Vista last night, and it fits like a glove. I haven't tried actually using the Parker converter, so take that for whatever it's worth. As always, YMMV.

[Shelley]

I bought a vista in the weekend, stuck a cart in and it worked beautifully, no skipping, no problems, smooth M nib...it did have factory blue ink from test in it which I had to remove first though...maybe the cart is not seated properly?

[nimrod]

I had no problems with my Vista, but the first thing I did with it was fill it with the converter. So the collector fins were quite saturated.

[smarcus3]

I received a Lamy Vista in the mail last night, and I got the cartridge loaded up and let the pen sit to let the ink settle in. After an hour or so, I started writing with the pen, and it skips a lot. I didn't buy a converter because I'd planned to refill the cart, but is Lamy ink decent ink? I'm trying to rule out the ink before I start thinking it's the pen.

 

I'd also like to adjust the nib/feed relationship to the section a la the Parker 75. I tried it last night without success because I didn't want to force it. Will the thing move with more force, or will I just end up breaking the pen?

 

Thanks!

 

I'm not sure about lamy ink for when i first got my lamy vista i instantly replaced the ink with noodlers ink. With noodlers ink i have never had any troubles with the pen.

[hayeda]

I also experienced a similar problem. I bought a Lamy Safari with medium nib today -my first. It came with a Lamy blue ink cartridge and I had also bought a piston converter. First I tried it with the blue cartridge. Although the writing was wet and smooth, it had a serious skipping problem. Annoyed with this, I searched this message board and learned about the flushing method. Then I washed the upper section of the pen with water-dishwashing fluid mixture. I let the mixture fill in the nib and blew in it with my mouth to let the liquid flush out. Lots of bubbles came out of the nib and I actually had quite a bit of fun doing it. After I flushed the nib with clean water, I dried the nib with a towel. Then I put the blue ink cartridge again. The skipping was definitely decreased, but not completely gone. Finally I filled the piston converter with some Pelikan black ink and put it into my pen. After a few lines of writing, my pen does not skip at all right now. I am so happy with my pen.

[EventHorizon]

For the few pens I use carts on, they would skip for a little bit then be fine there on. I feel the benefit of converters and bottled ink is that you "prime" the nib while sucking up ink (kind of like what nimrod stated). As for LAMY ink, I have always used LAMY Blue/Black ink from bottle and always will. It is not the only ink I have but it definitely is tried and true.