Lamy Safari "ink Window" Question

[gobeavs]

Hello everyone! I'm a new member who has recently received his first pen, (a Lamy Safari), that I purchased after browsing reviews and such. I really like it so far. I got it along with a converter and some Noodler's Bulletproof Black ink. It really writes wonderfully for me.

 

My question is in regard to the little 'window' in the pen that is supposedly there so you can see how much ink is left in the pen. Whenever I look at mine, all I see is black; no matter how much ink is in there, just blackness. Does the window only work with the ink cartridges? Or am I doing something wrong? It seems like it would be a handy feature.

 

Thanks in advance for any replies. This forum is really a wonderful resource!

[eds]

Hi and And congrats on the purchase, a Safari and Noodler's is a great combination

 

About your situation though, no, the window is supposed to show the amount of ink left in the cartridge or converter. The problem lies with the ink, i.e. your Bulletproof Black.

 

Noodler's Black has quite a high surface tension, and thus tend to stick to the walls of the converter, which when you look through the ink windown, you just see black.

 

Give it a shake. It'll usually disperse.

Edited March 25, 2011 by eds

[Drone]

The window works with the Lamy converter (in my Safari anyway). I can always see the ink through the window. When the ink is around half full, the window shows empty unless you tilt the pen nib-up.

 

I've heard Noodler's Bullet-Proof Black is a pretty "strong" ink, I guess that's what makes it "bullet-proof". Maybe the ink is staining the converter? Or maybe the ink is just coating the inside of the converter instead of settling with the nib down in writing position.

 

What do you see if you hold the window up to a bright light?

 

Pull the converter out and flush the ink out with room temperature water. The converter should be translucent white.

 

Suck some ink up with the converter out of the pen, can you see through the converter?

 

On new Safari's I've seen a paper ring around the section that's put there at the factory for some reason. My local distributor seems to remove these before sale, I've never seen them. Maybe you didn't remove this ring and it's obstructing something? (I doubt it).

 

If the ink is coating the converter, try a different ink. A generic blue ink should be well behaved. Try a cheap bottle of Parker Blue Quink (not Black Quink). If it turns out the Noodler's ink has stained the converter, DO let us know!

 

Regards, David

[yus2001fr]

I use a converter Z24 and Iroshizuku in my Lamy Al Star, and I see through.

 

So it comes from the ink. I never use this Noodler's Bulletproof Black ( and none of this brand )

but I suppose, this ink is heavy teinted and it sticks on the converter, you see only a fine skin of ink.

 

Try with high light when the converter is nearly empty.

 

Regards

[gobeavs]

Thanks for the quick reply eds! I hadn't considered the ink sticking to the window.

 

I shook it around a bit but I'm still seeing all black! I'm pretty sure the ink level is pretty low, (I only put a little in so I could reload it sooner).

 

I'll keep shaking!

[eds]

Thanks for the quick reply eds! I hadn't considered the ink sticking to the window.

 

I shook it around a bit but I'm still seeing all black! I'm pretty sure the ink level is pretty low, (I only put a little in so I could reload it sooner).

 

I'll keep shaking!

 

Don't worry, there's nothing to be concerned about.

 

On the other hand.... when you said you only put in a little, did you retract the piston all the way up? Because if not, then obviously you're seeing the shaft of the piston! :blink:

[gobeavs]

Thanks for the response David.

 

The converter is not stained, but upon further investigation I may have found something relevant.

 

My converter is a Z24, I believe, that I got from Amazon.com. There is a piston type rod in the middle that, I presume, is used to slurp up and push out the ink. The rod is black and lines up perfectly with the window in the pen, so even if I put the empty converter in the pen it's still a struggle to see any light coming from the window, even when I hold the pen up to the light.

 

Weird.

[gobeavs]

Thanks for the quick reply eds! I hadn't considered the ink sticking to the window.

 

I shook it around a bit but I'm still seeing all black! I'm pretty sure the ink level is pretty low, (I only put a little in so I could reload it sooner).

 

I'll keep shaking!

 

Don't worry, there's nothing to be concerned about.

 

On the other hand.... when you said you only put in a little, did you retract the piston all the way up? Because if not, then obviously you're seeing the shaft of the piston! :blink:

 

Ha! I think may be exactly what's going on. I will fill it all the way up and see what I get. (Although if this is the case then the window seems to lose most of its usefulness, does it not?)

Edited March 25, 2011 by gobeavs

[Drone]

Ha! I think may be exactly what's going on. I will fill it all the way up and see what I get. (Although if this is the case then the window seems to lose most of its usefulness, does it not?)

 

With the converter all the way full, the window in your Safari (I presume it is not the clear "Vista" version) will show empty when in-fact you have about half the ink left in the converter.

 

When the window looks empty, hold the safari with the nib up and flick the pen with your finger to make the ink drip down and fill up all or part of the window. When you check the ink level this way and the window is indeed near empty, your converter is near empty; time to refill. Remember nib-down, window lies. (Yeah, I'm no Poet).

[gobeavs]

Ha! I think may be exactly what's going on. I will fill it all the way up and see what I get. (Although if this is the case then the window seems to lose most of its usefulness, does it not?)

 

With the converter all the way full, the window in your Safari (I presume it is not the clear "Vista" version) will show empty when in-fact you have about half the ink left in the converter.

 

When the window looks empty, hold the safari with the nib up and flick the pen with your finger to make the ink drip down and fill up all or part of the window. When you check the ink level this way and the window is indeed near empty, your converter is near empty; time to refill. Remember nib-down, window lies. (Yeah, I'm no Poet).

 

Thank you, I'll give it a try!

[MikenLamy]

Another thing that might be causing this is how you store your pen when not using it. Sit it upright, the ink will settle showing the user the actual level. I also have a Lamy that I use along with Noodlers Bulletproof. Works for me! Just me 2 cents

[coldman]

Try pulling the piston up all the way without putting more ink in the pen. Does the ink window work as expected then?

 

You don't need to push the ink back out of the pen. It should flow by itself as you write, and you'll get an air bubble in the converter.

[fountaineer]

A transparent Safari Vista has the ink window too.

 

http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/hunnyhunt/cabinet/lamy/lamy-safari-vista1.jpg