Lamy Safari Ink Flow Issues

[UNDERDOG]

Hey all,

 

Been lurking here @ FPN for the last few months. Haven't formally introduced myself, but I'm not an overly formal sort of guy anyway.

 

I'm a FP newbie and bought my first real FP this weekend. I found a Lamy Safari (recommended most to FP newbies per this board). I wonder if I'm doing something (several things?) wrong? I'm disappointed with the flow of the Lamy.

 

Brief background: Being a newbie, I first took the lazy route and simply inserted the Lamy cartridge. I did remove a little cylindrical piece that was designed to prevent the housing over the cartridge (the piece you screw in) to avoid penetrating the cartridge. (I wish the answer were this simple). The ink seemed very light and even faded to not flow at all at several points. Concluding that it could be the Lamy cartridge, I removed it and flushed the nib piece with warm water. I installed the converter after filling it with Private Reserve American Blue. It's quite possible I didn't do this procedure correctly. I thought I had it flowing well, but it's spotty at best (flowing poorly, then coming back a bit). The Safari is a fine point (in case that's important in your diagnosis). It acted well when we dipped it directly into the PR ink at the shop, but comparitively speaking, the flow remains scratchy and ink will not take at all to several quality papers (including Clairefontaine, Moleskine, and Rhodia papers).

 

I'm feeling frustrated and disappointed and would hate for my new hobby to die in it's infancy. Any offers for help would be MOST appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

 

-UNDERDOG

[calvin82]

Hey all,

 

Been lurking here @ FPN for the last few months. Haven't formally introduced myself, but I'm not an overly formal sort of guy anyway.

 

I'm a FP newbie and bought my first real FP this weekend. I found a Lamy Safari (recommended most to FP newbies per this board). I wonder if I'm doing something (several things?) wrong? I'm disappointed with the flow of the Lamy.

 

Brief background: Being a newbie, I first took the lazy route and simply inserted the Lamy cartridge. I did remove a little cylindrical piece that was designed to prevent the housing over the cartridge (the piece you screw in) to avoid penetrating the cartridge. (I wish the answer were this simple). The ink seemed very light and even faded to not flow at all at several points. Concluding that it could be the Lamy cartridge, I removed it and flushed the nib piece with warm water. I installed the converter after filling it with Private Reserve American Blue. It's quite possible I didn't do this procedure correctly. I thought I had it flowing well, but it's spotty at best (flowing poorly, then coming back a bit). The Safari is a fine point (in case that's important in your diagnosis). It acted well when we dipped it directly into the PR ink at the shop, but comparitively speaking, the flow remains scratchy and ink will not take at all to several quality papers (including Clairefontaine, Moleskine, and Rhodia papers).

 

I'm feeling frustrated and disappointed and would hate for my new hobby to die in it's infancy. Any offers for help would be MOST appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

 

-UNDERDOG

 

Hi, welcome to FPN. Try to soak your whole nib and feeder in the water added with a little bit (few drop) of dish washer. Maybe some dried ink remain in the feeder.

[Imzadi]

Welcome Underdog. The soap and water technique should help. If you bought your pen new, some oil from the manufacturing process may still be on the nib etc. We all remember oil and water don't mix. I did the same thing when I bought my first pen. If the soap and water don't help, check back in. We're full of ideas.

 

I

[UNDERDOG]

Calvin82/Imzadi,

 

I'm totally embarrassed. It's Fountain Pen 101. A thorough soaking solved the problem. I naively thought, if the pen was new, that wouldn't be a necessary step. It did take 2 tries though, but ink finally flowing right. Thanks!

[jdboucher]

Calvin82/Imzadi,

 

I'm totally embarrassed. It's Fountain Pen 101. A thorough soaking solved the problem. I naively thought, if the pen was new, that wouldn't be a necessary step. It did take 2 tries though, but ink finally flowing right. Thanks!

 

Yay! Enjoy it! The Safari is a great starter pen.

[RLTodd]

........I did remove a little cylindrical piece that was designed to prevent the housing over the cartridge (the piece you screw in) to avoid penetrating the cartridge. .......................the Lamy cartridge, I removed it and flushed the nib piece with warm water.

 

I installed the converter after filling it with Private Reserve American Blue. .............

 

(1) the cardboard spacer that protects the cartridge from being punctured during shipping? If so yes that is correct.

 

(2) I did not put the cartridge in first nor do I recommend that for first use.

 

(3) I recommend putting the converter in the pen first and filling and expelling three to five loads of "drop of dish detergent in a cup of water."

 

(4) Never fill the converter outside of the pen. Always draw the ink through the nib and feed into the converter. I personally believe this works better overall and lessens the chance of ink solids building up in the feed.

 

A few flushes should solve your problem.

 

Best of luck.............

[Imzadi]

Don't feel bad, Underdog. Sometimes the basics are the first thing to go! Glad your pen is up to snuff. I love my Safari and 1 is always in my rotation.

[UNDERDOG]

........I did remove a little cylindrical piece that was designed to prevent the housing over the cartridge (the piece you screw in) to avoid penetrating the cartridge. .......................the Lamy cartridge, I removed it and flushed the nib piece with warm water.

 

I installed the converter after filling it with Private Reserve American Blue. .............

 

(1) the cardboard spacer that protects the cartridge from being punctured during shipping? If so yes that is correct.

 

(2) I did not put the cartridge in first nor do I recommend that for first use.

 

(3) I recommend putting the converter in the pen first and filling and expelling three to five loads of "drop of dish detergent in a cup of water."

 

(4) Never fill the converter outside of the pen. Always draw the ink through the nib and feed into the converter. I personally believe this works better overall and lessens the chance of ink solids building up in the feed.

 

A few flushes should solve your problem.

 

Best of luck.............

 

#1. Correct.

#2. I agree.

#3. Have not employed this technique. I will do so in the future. I wish there would have been instructions on this.

 

Good stuff! Thanks a million!

 

[UNDERDOG]

OK. So now that I've been using the Lamy Safari successfully, I'm obviously using ink as I write. I notice the same effect keeps coming back.

 

More specifically, the pen (over time/usage) increasingly requires more and more pressure, I find myself pressing harder and harder to get the ink to flow. I'm careful not to actually spring the tines, I'm speaking in relative terms.

 

I've developed a technique where if I turn the converter counter clockwise, just until it is noticeable in the feed (correct terminology?), it seems to resolve the problem.

 

I would've thought I'd not have to turn the converter at all during its use; that it would only skip just as it was running out completely. Again, for some of you, I realize that this may be fountain pen 101, but for me it's all new.

 

Again, your help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[UNDERDOG]

I'm gonna have to change my username to "Boy Who Cried Wolf" or something or maybe "Talks To Himself," given the fact hat I've posted to my own question more than anyone (it's a sign of genius "they" say *wink*). I've messed around a bit more, as any newbie should, and must've found the magic formula through trial and error, following advice, and/or just been lucky. I've been journaling successfully for the last few days and haven't had the flow issues I was experiencing earlier. If there's another newbie reading this, don't dispair, it'll work out, just stick with it and you'll get lucky too, just luck me. Good luck!

[Jhallim]

Hi all,

Newbie here. Came across this forum from google search I made trying to resolve a Lamy ink flow issue. I thank you all. I tried I think all the advices. Ink flows well now.

[LamyUSA_Alterman]

Hey Underdog, Happy to hear you got it right and Welcome to Fountain Pen world!

I'm sure you are gonna enjoy it and if you locate in the US, we opened our first Mono-Brand Store in San Francisco so will be happy to see you and let you try more Fountain pens

Safari is a great start!

[Jhallim]

Oh boy,

I just saw some pics of the store in San Fran. on another thread in the forum. wow!

would love to check it out.

[hachikomustang]

OK. So now that I've been using the Lamy Safari successfully, I'm obviously using ink as I write. I notice the same effect keeps coming back.

 

More specifically, the pen (over time/usage) increasingly requires more and more pressure, I find myself pressing harder and harder to get the ink to flow. I'm careful not to actually spring the tines, I'm speaking in relative terms.

 

I've developed a technique where if I turn the converter counter clockwise, just until it is noticeable in the feed (correct terminology?), it seems to resolve the problem.

 

I would've thought I'd not have to turn the converter at all during its use; that it would only skip just as it was running out completely. Again, for some of you, I realize that this may be fountain pen 101, but for me it's all new.

 

Again, your help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks!

Hello Test J.Herbin black. Greetings

[Astronymus]

Safaris and J.Herbin do well together.

[minddance]

+1 for Herbin, except Cafe des Iles. Herbin flows well in all my dry pens like Lamy safari and Lamy 2000 and Pilots and Platinums.

[inkstainedruth]

I suspect the cartridge was probably Lamy Blue. It's kind of a blah ink to begin with. At least they got Dark Lilac LE (from two years ago), and last year's Pacific Blue LE totally right (I don't care if people claim that Pacific Blue is just relabeled Lamy Turquoise or not -- I like it).

Lamy Blue, OTOH, kinda boring.... At least it's not as insipid as modern Quink Washable Blue....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth