Need Advice Regarding A Lamy Safari!

[yogalarva]

(This is my first post on here - eep!)

 

I ordered a Safari (neon yellow, EF nib) a few days ago on Amazon, and long story short, I wound up trying to cancel the order but it was too late and now I will be getting the pen and converter some time in the next week. My question is this - should I keep the pen or send it back? (Assuming money isn't the issue...)

 

Some background that might be helpful:

• I already have a medium Platinum Preppy ED, an EF Nemosine Singularity (which doesn't seem to write very consistently, at least not with Noodler's Heart of Darkness), and a handmade pen I bought on Etsy that has a F nib but writes just like the M preppy
• I don't mind the thicker line when I'm journaling or just writing for my own pleasure, but I am a physics grad student and thus for my notes I really need something that lays down a pretty fine, smooth line
• Also, for a pen to be any use for me while taking notes, doing homework, or grading, I also need to be able to have it sit for a few minutes at a time without being capped and then start right away again - realize this is probably a combination of pen and ink

I have plenty of ballpoint pens that are ok for taking notes and grading, so I don't need a fp for those purposes, but if the Safari will do it I might be inclined to keep it. If not, though, I don't need another pen laying around that doesn't put down a very thin line because I have plenty of those (and I really love the one from Etsy, so I plan to use that one as my main non-schoolwork pen).

 

Thanks in advance! :-)

[Postscript]

If you are here you must understand that you always need another pen. Practical purpose for it? Certainly you or we can come up with one. I love my Safaris; I have 3 or more. Do I need that many? Certainly not but it is fun to take one every once and awhile to use.

 

Enjoy as they are not all that expensive thanks,

 

Post Script

[josephchow42]

I have three safari and they are all very robust pens. Never had an issue with them. Never spits ink, does not dry out if you left it out for half an hour. The converter is a little too small for me so I just refill the ink cartridge with a syringe. I once ordered 5 of them from amazon, thinking about sending them to my friends as gifts, but my fiancee talked me out of it (not everyone is a fountain pen person) and I was able to cancel 4 of them. I kept the one that came, even though I already had 2.

[Moshe ben David]

I have three safari and they are all very robust pens. Never had an issue with them. Never spits ink, does not dry out if you left it out for half an hour. The converter is a little too small for me so I just refill the ink cartridge with a syringe. I once ordered 5 of them from amazon, thinking about sending them to my friends as gifts, but my fiancee talked me out of it (not everyone is a fountain pen person) and I was able to cancel 4 of them. I kept the one that came, even though I already had 2.

 

+2

 

I have two; they are the pen equivalent of the original Volkswagen Beetle or the Duracell rabbit (just keep going and going and going....)

 

Maybe you can just dip the nib to see if it writes fine enough to suit your purpose? That would be easy enough to clean if you still choose to send it back I would think.

[yogalarva]

 

+2

 

I have two; they are the pen equivalent of the original Volkswagen Beetle or the Duracell rabbit (just keep going and going and going....)

 

Maybe you can just dip the nib to see if it writes fine enough to suit your purpose? That would be easy enough to clean if you still choose to send it back I would think.

 

Oh, that is a great idea! :-) I was trying to think of a way that I would be able to test it without actually inking it up - dipping it would have never occurred to me (still kind of a newb).

 

Thanks for the advice from @josephchow42 and @Postscript as well!

[ac12]

For comparison, the Lamy XF nib is like an old Parker F nib.

So it is NOT a real fine nib, if that is what you were looking for.

 

For a fountain pen, you really need to learn to cap the pen between uses. It is just the nature of the beast.

 

Try rigging a cup or stand where you put the pen cap open end up, so when you are not writing, you can just slip the pen into the cap. By this I mean just the weight of the pen into the cap, not CLICKING / locking the cap on the pen. Then to use the pen you just lift it out of the cap. This simulates a desk pen and holder.

 

Other times, hold the cap in your left hand and write with your right. When you stop, just slip the cap on the pen. Again, not clicking/locking the cap on. This will help prevent/slow down the nib from drying out. This will also eliminates the click sound when you click the cap on or off, which can be irritating to others in a small classroom or meeting.

[eehIII]

I'm a high school English teacher and use my lamy al-star fine for grading all the time (with either noodler's widow maker or tiannamen--I find dried blood reds most appropriate for research papers). Only time my Lamy has dried out was with liberty's Elysium; otherwise, no problems.

[cleosmama]

I have four Lamys and love them all. Two I use with cartridges; two I use with converters. Two of them are demonstrators. One is a Lamy Joy (calligraphy). One of the ones I use with ink samples from Goulet Pens. They have never given me any trouble, and they write like a dream.

[Sasha Royale]

Keep the Safari. It is excellent value. Its nibs can be changed as fast as one can address and seal an envelope.

 

Drying of ink is directly related to the specific ink, and the environment. The environment inside the pen cap is very stable.

For a two-minute pause, I slip the pen into the cap, without securing it. It protects from drying, dust, and ROLLING.

 

There are devices and innovations and suggestions for keeping the nib from drying out. The pen manufacturer provided the simplest and most convenient.

[bernardo]

Keep it! It's a great pen and a nice addition to your collection

[ddustinn]

I don't think you'll regret having the Safari. Once you get another bottle of ink, you'll know where to put it.

[bassmannate]

Yup. Can't see a downside to owning a Safari. I've owned one for about a month now and love it.

[Rabbit713]

The Safari is my workhorse pen. It's generally in my pocket, and is used for everything from hours of note taking at lectures, to quick notes and journalling. I don't think you could go wrong with having one around.

[sangman]

I think the safari are very good for the price and for what they cost I think you should keep it. They are reliable and will not let you down.

[yogalarva]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I decided to keep it (after giving it a dunk and test) and it is quickly becoming a favorite. I like how light and easy it is to use, and since it wasn't too expensive I don't hesitate to make it my EDC. :-) I might even buy another once I get some more spending money for pens...