Newbie Questions on Safari Nibs and Lamy Converter Cartridge

[Dancingfountain]

Hi All! I am new FP Geek and my first new pen (and I love) is Lamy Safari--coral. I am now working on saving up for other nibs as I explore what size I really like. Right now I have a medium that came with it. Any hints on fine/extra fine and how to change them would be great.

I also am about to order my first converter cartridge. And while I understand how to fill and clean, but I am wondering if I should order more than one to change out colors more often. Can I store a cartridge with ink in it and change it?

Thanks for anyone who has the patience to answer my newbie questions!

[top pen]

I suggest you watch the Goulet fountain pen 101 series. It answers most of your questions.

http://blog.gouletpens.com/p/fountain-pen-101.html

There is also a video on swapping nibs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPyKDtpREt4

Also there is the nib nook where you can compare all the nibs directly

http://www.gouletpens.com/nib-nook

[Laura N]

I think you can store a cartridge with ink inside if you seal it. I seem to remember someone who does this with a hot glue gun. Weigh the risk of spilling or leaking, or even evaporation, when you consider whether that's worth it.

Most people use bottled ink, and so use a converter, which for a Lamy Safari costs about $5. Rather than buying a second converter, most people just empty out the converter, throwing out whatever ink is left inside, before cleaining the converter and the pen. Then refill with a new ink. There's not so much ink per converter fill that you really need to worry about wasting it, but many of us only partially fill a converter anyway.

Nibs tend to have some size variation, so while the "nib nook" is an excellent guide, do keep in mind that every nib won't mirror those. The extra-fine is a nice change of pace from the medium, and tends to work best with poor quality paper. The fine would be closer to the medium. The 1.1 stub is another nice option if you are going broader, because it's a stub, so you can try that.

I find Lamy nibs usually slip off just using my fingers, but a piece of masking tape can help if you get a very tight one.

[Uncle Bud]

Hi. I don't think you need multiple converters, just get yourself an ink syringe from Goulet Pens or Anderson Pens and you will be able to clean the converter in seconds. The links in top pens post are great and a good way to start.

As far as cleaning goes, the best think I bought has been a bulb syringe, the type for clearing children's noses of snot. They clear a section in minutes. Lamy Safari feed and nibs are friction fit, so simply pull out, be careful to line it up though when reassembling.

Take a look at Brian Goulet's FP101 videos, they are great. Hope you enjoy tinkering. Have fun

[Dancingfountain]

Thanks all! Went to first pen show in LI and got converter and new tip. (I'm firmly on path to full addiction :-) The video and the tape advice helped for changing nibs. Next will try the stub nib 1.1. Saw the new All-Star color...eh. What is new Safari color?

[sgtstretch]

Lime Green, again. If you look at the last 4 years of LE Safari pens, I think 3 of 4 are some sort of bright green.

[Ryliko]

2013 was Neon Yellow and I think 2012 was Apple Green. If you mix the two together you probably will end up with this year's Lime Green ^^

Sgtstretch is right. Lamy need to use some innovation with their Safari colours, they're currently just regurgitating (reissuing) previous years' colourways. (The lime green came out in 2008?)

[Ste_S]

To be fair to Lamy, there's only so many colours they can do without doing a variation on a previous colour.

They could carry on down this route :-

http://static.campaign.naver.com/linestore_new/product/L_912/detail/ea9f61b12c3e1eb8568e940b59e5f445.jpg

http://linefriendsstore.com/shop/detail.nhn?prod_id=L_912&sort_condition=&sort_value=&ostk_yn=&page=1&brand=BRD08&theme=&category=BRD08

[Laura N]

^^ Okay, I'm sorry, but that color doesn't appeal to me. :)