Dialog 3: Generation & Dry Out

[1nkulus]

Does the Dialog 3 have two or three generations?

 

Gen 1, No window to observe ink in converter.

 

Gen 2, Added window to observe ink in converter.

 

Gen 3 ???

 

AFAIK, there has been an improvement with the dry out issue.

What sort of time frame when leaving the pen unused/uncapped?

[dapprman]

As far as I'm aware just the two. In addition if you have a Gen 1 and send it back to Lamy they'll normally swap it for a Gen 2 regardless of age. Dry out issues were meant to have been fixed with Gen 2 - I've had no problems with mine when writing a few weeks apart.

[1nkulus]

I am skeptical of the dry out time on my Gen 2. Will monitor it again.

[ingolf]

I own two Dialog 3 (1x Palladium, 1x Black). The "Black" is Gen2, the "Palladium" is Gen1. Regarding dry out I notice that I have to shake the Gen2 model 3-5 times and then it writes again fine. But this is only needed if the pen has not been used for 7-10 days. To my opinion that is still OK.

If there should be a further problem with the Dialog 3 then I recommend to contact the excellent Lamy service. I once got an issue with my Gen1 model and the Lamy service fixed it very good.

Regards, Ingolf.

[1nkulus]

Lamy CS is excellent. I think the seal on the dialog 3 just isn't great, even Gen 2.

 

IMO, The pen design is great but the shortfall is felt in the dry out time.

 

Cross and Pelikan are leagues ahead.

[ErrantSmudge]

I have the same experience as Ingolf with my Dialog 3 (has the ink visor window, so it's a later generation). It will go at least a week or more without dryout issues, which is also fine by me.

 

 

Lamy CS is excellent. I think the seal on the dialog 3 just isn't great, even Gen 2.

 

IMO, The pen design is great but the shortfall is felt in the dry out time.

 

Cross and Pelikan are leagues ahead.

 

An appropriate comparison would be against the Pilot/Namiki Vanishing Point. To my knowledge Cross and Pelikan do not offer retractable nib pens.

Edited August 31, 2018 by ErrantSmudge

[1nkulus]

An appropriate comparison would be against the Pilot/Namiki Vanishing Point. To my knowledge Cross and Pelikan do not offer retractable nib pens.

 

True, I was simply comparing brands.

In case of retractable nib, Pilot would be the only competition.

[nahhush]

@ 1nkulus - As some members have already answered (ErrantSmudge & Ingolf) there is a significant difference between Generation 1 & Generation 2 Dialog Instruments.

 

Gen 1 definitely has dryout issues. So much so that if you are writing and stop to gather your thoughts and go back it'd be scratchy. Once you stop for 5 minutes you'd have to unscrew the bottom half, remove the converter and then dip the tip and start again (This was my state and have done it more often than I can remember).

 

Gen 2 the recent replacement - Butter smooth even if you simply pull out and write. (Just tried writing after 6 days of no use).

[1nkulus]

The Gen 2 seems to have definitely improved.

 

I wonder if they will have a Gen 3?

 

Gen 1 definitely has dryout issues. So much so that if you are writing and stop to gather your thoughts and go back it'd be scratchy. Once you stop for 5 minutes you'd have to unscrew the bottom half, remove the converter and then dip the tip and start again (This was my state and have done it more often than I can remember).

 

Gen 2 the recent replacement - Butter smooth even if you simply pull out and write. (Just tried writing after 6 days of no use).

 

Check if William Penn will exchange your Gen 1 palladium for a Gen 2.

Tell them Lamy has been happy to accommodate the request, from your friends abroad.

[nahhush]

The Gen 2 seems to have definitely improved.

 

I wonder if they will have a Gen 3?

 

 

Check if William Penn will exchange your Gen 1 palladium for a Gen 2.

Tell them Lamy has been happy to accommodate the request, from your friends abroad.

 

I doubt they'd do it again.

As it is I am a pain for them...

[Calabria]

I rarely go for a day without using my dialog 3 so haven't noticed drying out.

 

It sometimes starts to write drier - and giving it a shake resolves the issue. I think that has something to do with the converter - converters are noticeably stingier with ink than piston fillers.

Edited September 5, 2018 by Calabria

[1nkulus]

I am glad I managed to miss the Gen1. I would have preferred the Gen 2 to do better considering the benchmark set by Pelikans.

 

Nonetheless, the feeling of writing with a cigar is very enjoyable.

[Precise]

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/339314-re-starting-a-poor-writing-pen/

 

I've been an avid fountain pen user for years. But I just learned this simple trick to get a dry pen writing well again. It works for total dryout and just stingy flow. It takes a minute and you can do it anywhere, without any other materials or equipment. Just you and the pen.

 

It's so obvious that I'm surprised that I (and apparently all of you) haven't done it for years.

 

Alan

[MYU]

As far as I'm aware just the two. In addition if you have a Gen 1 and send it back to Lamy they'll normally swap it for a Gen 2 regardless of age. Dry out issues were meant to have been fixed with Gen 2 - I've had no problems with mine when writing a few weeks apart.

Is that confirmed? LAMY will take any Gen 1 and replace it with the Gen 2 of the same color, regardless of condition (presuming it hasn't been abused)?

[dapprman]

Is that confirmed? LAMY will take any Gen 1 and replace it with the Gen 2 of the same color, regardless of condition (presuming it hasn't been abused)?

We're talking Europe here and I'm not sure if they still do - US warranties are handled locally by a third party.

[nahhush]

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/339314-re-starting-a-poor-writing-pen/

 

I've been an avid fountain pen user for years. But I just learned this simple trick to get a dry pen writing well again. It works for total dryout and just stingy flow. It takes a minute and you can do it anywhere, without any other materials or equipment. Just you and the pen.

 

It's so obvious that I'm surprised that I (and apparently all of you) haven't done it for years.

 

Alan

Have tried this technique for the Old Dialog 3 - Gen 1.

 

Then it would write... however, I found that a flawless way to get it working was to drain out the entire Ink from the Converter and refill. Could be for whatever reasons.

 

Besides I am not sure whether the rest of you guys have ever faced this. The converters have a tendency to keep the ink together and doesn't flow as freely as it would in the cartridges. In the Dialog 3 now I only use the Cartridges and a Needle with a syringe to top up the Ink.

[1nkulus]

Besides I am not sure whether the rest of you guys have ever faced this. The converters have a tendency to keep the ink together and doesn't flow as freely as it would in the cartridges. In the Dialog 3 now I only use the Cartridges and a Needle with a syringe to top up the Ink.

 

Strange, will try it on mine at some point.

[ErrantSmudge]

I have had issues from time to time with ink sticking to the sides of the converter and halting flow, but on Safaris. The new deisgn converters seem to be better in this regard.

[nahhush]

I have had issues from time to time with ink sticking to the sides of the converter and halting flow, but on Safaris. The new deisgn converters seem to be better in this regard.

 

Perhaps I am unlucky in this aspect. The converter on the new Dialog 3 (Gen 2) is of the same type as that of the Gen 1.

 

A long Lamy Cartridges are strong, Built to Last like Tank if I may... So I have simply stopped using the converters and instead prefer using the Cartridges. This does the job. Besides the use of a small needle & syringe is good... Saves the hassle of using a tissue to wipe of excess ink and you can control the amount of Ink you want the cartridge to carry easily.

 

I may be wrong here, the Cartridges seem to carry more ink as opposed to the converter.

[ErrantSmudge]

 

I may be wrong here, the Cartridges seem to carry more ink as opposed to the converter.

 

They do. But when you fill with the converter, you also fill the entire feed with ink, which makes the difference less than it may appear.