The Lamy 2000 Experiment

[matthewst1]

Gday,

 

I recently purchased a Lamy 2000 after much careful consideration from PenGallery (no aff.) and it has quickly become one of my favourite pens. I wrote all of my exam notes and all of my exams with it last semester, and it never disappointed with it's large ink reservoir and surprisingly smooth EF nib. Afer hearing many people on this forum having troubles with theirs (especially with the EF nib) I was somewhat apprehensive in buying one; but as I said, I was blown away. After using it for a few months and dropping it a few times without any problems; I decided to do a bit of an experiment to see just how tough the Lamy 2000 is. Note that I have not taken the pen apart at all, nor have I removed or replaced any components at any time. This pen is as I bought it, as an average user would use it; intact and containing ink at all times. Also note that this experiment isn't serious in any way - If I really wanted to be unbiased then I'd also grab a second 2000 for comparison. I'm pretty sure I just managed to bag a good one

 

Onto the tests:

 

Test 1 - Shock and durability

 

For this test I dropped the pen (capped) from several heights, 1 meter, 2 meters, and finally, off of a two story house.

 

1 meter - The pen bounced as it hit the concrete surface, landing on the top of the cap. No damage to outer surface, piston, nib, or otherwise. No nib leakage.

 

2 meters - The pen bounced as it hit the concrete surface, landing on the top of the cap again. No damage to outer surface, piston, nib, or otherwise. One or two spots of ink on the nib/in the cap.

 

Two floors up - Landed rather violently on its side and top. Small abrasion to the smooth part on the top of the cap, no damage elsewhere. Again, only a few drops of ink in the cap; and after all drops, the pen still wrote flawlessly. For this test, Waterman black was used for ink.

 

Test 2 - Extreme Heat

 

Living in Australia, it gets damn hot in summer, up to 45 degrees C (113F). As such, I needed a pen that could withstand the heat during everyday use. For this test, I continued to use the pen inside, outside and at work; carrying it in a bag on an awkward angle for a few days, and then left in a bag in my car for the remainder of the week (4 days) to see what happened. I put a thermometer in my car and the highest reading I received one afternoon was 72 degrees C (162F). At the end of the week, I removed the pen from the bag and took the cap off. There was quite a bit of ink leakage, but after wiping it off with a tissue, the pen still wrote flawlessly. For this test, Waterman black was used for ink.

 

Test 3 - Freezing Cold

 

My family and I went to Austria for Christmas, and some nights the temperature got down to around -12 degrees C (10F). I took my pen with me fo writing when I was there; and decided to conduct another test. I left the pen outside for 3 days; where it was exposed to temperatures ranging from 1 degree to -12 degrees. This test is also a testament to Noodler's Polar Blue ink, because after bringing the pen in on the final morning and struggling to get the cap off (it was frosted shut) - the pen still wrote without a problem. It would have been about -3 degrees at the time. The pen was also tested within the 3 day period at 1 degree, -4 degrees and -8 degrees. All tests were successful, with the pen working without a hitch.

 

 

To conclude, I know that this little experiment isn't especially sophisticated or anything, it was really just a bit of fun over the holidays and I also wanted to verify the 2000's 'tank-like' status. I suppose I've been pretty lucky with regard to my 2000, because a lot of people do seem to have problems with it. Either way, this pen has been through a lot and I hope to see many more years of good use from it

 

 

 

Edited January 23, 2009 by matthewst1

[PAKMAN]

[njh1974]

As a fellow sandgroper with a Lamy 2000, I'm glad it was yours that went through all this! Mine writes beautifully and I've had no problems whatsoever.

 

The Lamy 2000 is brilliant!

[lucentstreak]

:blink:

 

And you did it without a crisis of conscience?

 

*hugs her 2000 tightly*

 

Then again, thank you for the tests - I would'nt dare to simply leave my 2000 like what you did but it's always good to know that there's been some test done.

[matthewst1]

Yeah it was pretty harsh, but hey; it was fun, and conclusive! It was all for a good cause. I'm not sure which exactly but thats something to think about, I suppose.

[WillSW]

If I see you comin' at me with a ladder, I'm not stickin' around to find out why.

[HDoug]

Pen science owes you ... either an award or imprisonment -- perhaps both. But thanks for posting the results or your daring experiments.

 

Doug

[Mrs Palmer]

OBVIOUSLY you live in Perth.

Not much to do for amusement here is there!!

 

LOL!

 

My husband says "Why didn't you drop it from the top of the Ferris Wheel at the esplanade?"

 

:hmm1: :hmm1:

[Silvermink]

"Never failed to disappoint"?

[Ink Stained Wretch]

Jeez! I don't think I have any fountain pens that I'd want to treat that way!

[matthewst1]

"Never failed to disappoint"?

 

How the!? My bad.

 

As for the ferris wheel, now that is disappointing! I probably could have dropped it off of there - its barely any more than two floors anyway hehe.

 

Yeah as I said, pretty harsh treatment - but theres plenty of Lamys in the sea - this one just happened to be amazingly durable.

[Breck]

 

You, sir, are awesome. The heat, maybe I could manage. The cold, yeah, maybe I could do that, too. But there is NO WAY I could bring myself to drop my 2000 off a two-story building.

[Philip1209]

Wow, the 2000 really is durable. Thanks for doing these tests- they confirm my suspicions that the pen won't break short of throwing some thermite on it.

[gambosen]

OK. Now do a variation.

 

 

 

 

 

Drop your Lamy 2000 from 2 storeys again but now with the cap taken off.

[matthewst1]

OK. Now do a variation.

 

 

 

 

 

Drop your Lamy 2000 from 2 storeys again but now with the cap taken off.

 

 

Oh dear. I don't know about that one! I'd imagine it'd probably land nib first - then there would be some serious problems! From a sitting height onto carpet; nib first is no worries - but I'd imagine onto wood or concrete it'd be a different story.

[OldGriz]

I am going to reserve judgment on you treatment of that pen....

mostly because I don't want to be banned from posting

[winsonli]

I've read reports on how durable the Lamy 2000 is, but nothing as extreme as yours.

Anyway, just don't repeat the experiment with the cap off. Please don't damage the pen

[tadster]

Could you please show us a picture of what your Lamy 2000 looks like now? Do you still use it--or is it so scarred from that 2-story fall that you do not use it in public?

 

I appreciate your durability assessment, but I'm afraid your mad experiment may have voided the lifetime warranty of your pen... even if you sent it in for a nib replacement several years from now, Lamy will no doubt see the damage and declare that your pen is the product of abuse. Nevertheless, I'm sure you realized this before your tests, and, in full consideration of the detrimental future consequences of your heinous actions, you have sacrificed your pen for the good of the pen community. The quest for knowledge continues.

[jbbreau]

Could you please show us a picture of what your Lamy 2000 looks like now? Do you still use it--or is it so scarred from that 2-story fall that you do not use it in public?

 

I appreciate your durability assessment, but I'm afraid your mad experiment may have voided the lifetime warranty of your pen... even if you sent it in for a nib replacement several years from now, Lamy will no doubt see the damage and declare that your pen is the product of abuse. Nevertheless, I'm sure you realized this before your tests, and, in full consideration of the detrimental future consequences of your heinous actions, you have sacrificed your pen for the good of the pen community. The quest for knowledge continues.

 

I second that, I too want to see a picture.

[FrankB]

Well - I am going to join the others to say I appreciate the data from your experiment. I wouldn't do it again, though.

 

Then again, in the 1920's the Parker folks did drop a "Big Red" from an airplane to see if it would take the abuse. It did, and wrote well. I wonder if the 2000 ... Nah.