Switching Lamy Clone Nib for a Gold Lamy Nib

[Penguincollector]

Hi everyone, so I have an unusual idea: I have a Chren (Chuan Ren) Lamy clone that I bought because it’s penguin themed. I don’t like Lamy pens in general, and Safaris in particular- they just don’t appeal. However, I really like this little penguin clone and want to upgrade the nib to a gold and black Z57 Lamy nib if possible. Has anyone here tried this? Interested in hearing any other ideas as well. I have looked at a few past posts, but I  haven’t come across a lot of information.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Doesn't the original nib write?

[Penguincollector]

Yes, the original nib writes perfectly well, but I saw the black and gold nib and it would match the penguin motif better than the steel nib. 

[Sailor Kenshin]

Now I'm curious!  Is there an image of this pen?

[Penguincollector]

The nib it has is actually really cool and rainbow sparkly, but I think the black and gold would also look nice if compatible. 

[Sailor Kenshin]

Extremely cute.  I think I actually have a Yiren (or Chiren), but it's like a yellow/green ombre and writes very wet.

[Lithium466]

Would it work? Likely yes.

Did I already try it? Also yes, on various Lamy clones, with a Lamy Z55 nib.

 

Will it improve anything other than aesthetics? I suppose if you like how the Lamy gold nib write, that would be a yes! I personally like my EF Z55 a lot

[Penguincollector]

Just now, Lithium466 said:

Would it work? Likely yes.

Did I already try it? Also yes, on various Lamy clones, with a Lamy Z55 nib.

 

Will it improve anything other than aesthetics? I suppose if you like how the Lamy gold nib write, that would be a yes! I personally like my EF Z55 a lot

Nice! It’s definitely on the future project board now! How did the swap go, was it easy to do? 

[Lithium466]

Yes extremely easy, the Lamy nib is usually a looser fit on the "non-Lamy" pens, but not to the point of falling by itself. But I suppose that's bound to the tolerances of said nib and pens.

[Penguincollector]

That’s good to hear, I do think I will try with a steel nib and then if that works, try the gold.

[Lithium466]

You can find gold coloured nibs that will fit too, if you want to try that, very cheap on Aliexress and likely elsewhere too.

[Penguincollector]

I will keep that in mind if the black and gold Lamy nib doesn’t work. 

[Lithium466]

Here is a small selection of "Lamy-style" ("aeroplane") nibs.

 

They are interchangeable within all my Lamy/Jinhao/Wing Sung that take that kind of nib.

(Note the Platinum nib on the right, this one is the exception as will not work unless (slightly) modified.)
 

The Lamy Z57 is just like the silver/gold Lamy Z55 nib in the picture, minus the aesthetics differences of course.

[Penguincollector]

56 minutes ago, Lithium466 said:

Here is a small selection of "Lamy-style" ("aeroplane") nibs.

 

They are interchangeable within all my Lamy/Jinhao/Wing Sung that take that kind of nib.

(Note the Platinum nib on the right, this one is the exception as will not work unless (slightly) modified.)
 

The Lamy Z57 is just like the silver/gold Lamy Z55 nib in the picture, minus the aesthetics differences of course.

Excellent visual, thank you!

[Penguincollector]

So Endless Pens has the Lamy Z57 on sale for $71 right now. I bought one and will report on my experiment once it arrives and I can switch them out.

[Bo Bo Olson]

A nail is a nail....period. 1 X, no tine spread or bend.

A steel nail nib is ever so much better than a gold nail nib........you can buy a couple hand full's of steel nail nibs, real Lamy in this case (in different widths)  for the price of one gold nail fake Lamy and have money left over.

I am assuming that the fake Lamy gold nib is a nail................in nails are more than likely easier to make than semi-nails.

 

I have a 18k Lamy Persona nail (steel nail Safari Joy also).......and it is as nail as any other, steel or gold nail nib. And a gold nail is a nail...there are no 'soft' gold nails. There are gold semi-nails, like a P-75 or a Pelikan 400/600 that can be well mashed out to to 2 X and a tiny bit of tine bend.....but that is a semi-nail....not a nail.

That is where I think that soft gold myth comes from......comparing apples and soft peaches. 

 

Gold colored steel would give you that gold bling............and buy you lots of good inks and papers.

That fake Lamy gold nib will not be any better than the original steel nib. It will only be gold....with out Lamy's name on it........

 

Now if you were to put a Lamy Imporium nib on it....that is the softest & gold Lamy nib ...2 X real great, but not quite semi-flex in it don't go out to 3 X....If it did I'd have it....but I'm spoiled by old German 3 X tine spread semi-flex.

 

 

 

[Lithium466]

The Lamy Imporium nib is the Z57 (maybe some have the Z56) if I'm not mistaken, that's what Penguincollector said he bought

 

I have a Z55 (similar but with breather hole, and silver/gold) and I agree about its writing qualities. Not flex at all, but nicely softer than the usual Lamy steel nibs, or the Chinese variants.

 

Now if you know of a Lamy style Chinese (real) gold nib, not just gold coloured, I'd happily try it!

 

(If you were referring to the gold colour nib in my picture, it was never depicted as gold on the site I bought it (likely Aliexpress, don't remember), and it's less "naily" than a standard Lamy steel nib. Smooth point, not soft but as the material is thinner it has a bit of "give" the Lamy steel don't have. Oh, and a real EF, compared to Lamy's EF!)

[Penguincollector]

Yep, that’s what she bought!😊 I bought it mostly for looks, but happy to hear that it does have a bit of character. I’m a bit of a generalist in my fountain pen adventures, so while I do have some flex writers, they aren’t a focus. 
However, the Chren nib won’t come off the feed without prying, so I decided to leave it alone and ordered some extra feeds (have to wait months for them from China). If that doesn’t work, I will probably order  a black Lamy that appeals to me at some point next year. 

[Bo Bo Olson]

From my reading, as far as I know all (not just Lamy) those black nibs flake.....the reason I never though of buying one.

[Lithium466]

You mean the Imporium nib flakes?

 

2 hours ago, Penguincollector said:

However, the Chren nib won’t come off the feed without prying, so I decided to leave it alone and ordered some extra feeds (have to wait months for them from China).

Sorry to hear that, I only had that problem on Platinum preppy.

The usual tape method didn't work?