It's funny here in Germany it's still quite common that elementary school kid's have to use fountain pens in class for learning cursive. And many of those kid's get lamis for their first day of School
Firstly, nerds. Secondly I really enjoy my fountain pens. I don't write in cursive and I do not plan to. I honestly don't think it's a necessary skill. I really like the way a fountain pen feels though. I find them much more pleasant than a ballpoint.
@@GoingtoHecq firstly, don't know if it's a compliment or an insult 😅 Secondly, no ist's not really useful, but you could say that about lots of things you learn in school. 😂 I kind of like the legacy of it tho 🙂. Btw i didn't want to talk down about the Lamy pens. I love mine and I use it everyday
Amazing how their design has never changed. We had to buy a Lamy in the second grade of elementary school back in the 90s in Germany to learn proper cursive handwriting. They suggested to buy the red / wooden one, but I had the black one. Nothing has changed which speaks for its quality.
@@carrot595 I doubt there would be a difference. Even among German kids alone, the handwriting differed wildly. It was a terrible idea back in elementary school to judge and grade somebody's handwriting. They did that on and off on the report cards. Handwriting is such a personal thing and it affected everyone's average. Eventually, in high school, most wrote with a ball pen and returned to block letters lol
Not quite true - the models from the 80s came with a brass screw that was powder-coated and secured the metal clip in place. It was removable so you could adjust the clip's "clutch power". Today's models have a rougher surface texture and the machined brass part has been replaced with a black plastic plug that still has the "screw head" look but the functionality is gone...
@@ELENAOttawa Its not an outdated substandard tool. It's still basically the same as it was decades ago because its an amazing design that works Besides, writing in cursive is much easier and quicker with a fountain pen, i learnt cursive using a pencil, i hated it, i stopped writing in cursive as soon as the school stopped caring about cursive. but having gotten a fountain pen around a year ago i went back to cursive and found it way more enjoyable and easy.
This video covers absolutely everything I wanted to know about fountain pens in great detail. Also really appreciate how you illustrate everything, showing how to fill the inks, what bleeding is on paper etc - amazing to actually see it all, really helps to demonstrate what you’re talking about. 10/10 video - thank you!!!
I used Schaeffer fountain pens in the 70s and 80s in school to learn cursive, then all but forgot about them when I switched to ballpoints. I still have several from back then in storage but about 6 years ago I rediscovered fountain pens on RU-vid and immediately bought a matte black Lamy Safari, a a Kaweco Liliput, and several "disposables" from other brands, along with various inks. I just gave my young daughter one so she can learn to appreciate them also, especially in this age when cursive isn't taught any more in school and the majority of work is done on laptops/Chromebooks. Good penmanship is an art and one I want her to take pride in.
I've been considering getting a Lamy Safari and I've wondered about what size nib to get. I really appreciate that you gave us a quick description of each of the nibs.
Depends on how fast you write, how small you right. For me even Lamy F nib is too thick. I suspect EF will still be too thick for my liking. I will try the Japanese pens (Pilot Metropolitan) which have traditionally finer nibs that western nibs.
I wish all RU-vid informative/how-to videos were like this. Clear, concise and complete. Nicely filmed and good audio. Best of all no 10-minute ramble about how the author came to a point in their life where they thought their video was worth making!
RU-vid is not run by the same company, so you can not have the same quality across the platform 🙄…. it’s a hub of millions and billions of individual creators. Some great, like this guy. Some are terrible. Many are under 15 years old or over 60, so how could you expect them to produce the same quality of videos??! Serious question!
Thank you for doing this. I just got my first Safari. It came from Amazon in just a cellophane package inserted into a bubble wrap mailing envelope. I was afraid it might have been damaged in transit but it came through just fine. As soon as I opened the package I did a search for information as it came with absolutely none. That is how I found your video and am very grateful for the time you put in on this. The information you provided is invaluable to me.
This is the best "explainer" video I've seen on youTube, regardless of subject. Brilliant in covering all the subject points in an interwoven narrative. Crisp descriptions such as "nib wings" vice "the sides of the nib" results in a clear yet information dense conciseness presented with pro preparation. A joy to listen to!
So extremely happy I have found your channel. Your videos are EXACTLY what I have always wanted in TN/fountain pen video: informative, straight to the point, and no over the top distractive flare.
Lamy is the most reliable pen I’ve used ever among my other fountain pens, never fail on me even with difficult inks, never leaked even on planes etc. and easy to clean and change nib. It was my first fountain pen and I’ve used in high school and it was used so much that grind the nib flat, but I just changed the nib and it’s good to go, it is also my italic and old English etc. calligraphy pen, I just need to change the nib. Something I don’t like are the grip guide and the stiffness of the nib, and being European brand it doesn’t go finer than its EF nib. But those are completely personal preference and it’s still my favourite pen.
This is by far the best video I’ve found on RU-vid to get to learn everything I need to know about Lamy Safari, especially the info about the converter. Nice work!
It’s my daily pen ! I love journaling during the day at any moment I need. I write in messy cursive so it make me cooler w/ a fountain pen ! Highly recommend.
Also good to know you can get a blunt syringe and refill empty cartridges with your choice of ink. I prefer this to converters because the capacity is higher and there are fewer moving parts to fiddle with. Just drop in and go
Let’s not pretend, any fountain pen could match the convenience and quality of modern gel pens. Gel pens are more affordable, can be used on the plane, writes on most papers and are 100% fuss free. ALL fountain pens will cost you a ton, and the main cost is coming from PAPER for it and also when you get suckеd into “collecting” (pens, inks, pouches, bags, notebooks etc).
@@ELENAOttawa sure, but this is is about improving the performance of a fountain pen. Maybe folks prefer fountain pens for the customizability or something other than absolute optimization. In that case, this is a neat trick to reduce plastic waste and increase ink capacity. I like fountain pens because they require almost no pressure and because I can mix my own ink colors.
Incredible video. As someone who is just starting out and trying to learn about fountain pens this was exactly the information I was looking for. This video has been such a great help to me. Thank you so much!
Me watching this video two years later because I bought a Lamy and wasn’t sure of how to set it up. Thank you for this amazing video for fountain pen beginners ❤God bless you. 🙏🏼
I had a Safari with a left hand nib ordered. Before arrival the Safari LX Marron caught my eye. I ordered it with a M nib. The ink I am using, J. Herbin Lie de The’ is very wet on my practice copy paper so switched the nib to a Lamy 14k gold F nib that works very well, even when I push the pen. Very happy with this!
as an owner of a lamy safari, it is very versatile and smooth (even on school notebook paper) so it is very nice to write with! i have the green one in the thumbnail with the textured barrel.
Got my first lamy today! White with black nib/clip in EF. I'd originally requested the F and noticed the mistake once I gotten home and inked it up.. ended up really liking the EF and will be keeping it. I usually buy kaweco and while I don't have one ATM, I swear the kaweco EF is a bit finer than the lamy.. I was actually originally going to get another plastic sport but the white/black safari really caught my eye. Definitely liking it and you're right about the feedback from the nib. I like it. My daily carry is a kaweco supra stainless in medium and the line difference isn't as significant as I'd expected.
Seriously enjoyed this video, so easy & simple but very educational. I'm new to fountain pen writing but already head over heels in love! Thanks and now I must jump over to IG to follow there and enter your giveaway!
Thank you for your well made video. I, too, am a fan of the Lamy Safari. One reason is that they also happen to make a LH, or left-hand nib which is a boon to left-handed fountain pen users.
Around 2015 I started to use my old school Lamy Safari again when signing of letters we sent to customers. Got in a small collecting fever and ended up with approx 12 Safaris in different colors. :D Still have the one I got in elementary school some 38-40 years ago.
Oh I love these pens ever since I was in school. EF, F definitely need to get used to if you have never used these nibs before. My personal favourite is M and B, always has been. Use Red ink for B and blue or black for M.
I got one for Father's Day a year ago. I know it is a "beginners pen" but I haven't moved up to anything more expensive like Montblanc, Pelikan etc as the Lamy does everything perfectly.
Thank you so much! I just got my Lamy in the mail while watching your perfect video … I would never have known about the factory blue ink test! Thank goodness I finished your video before loading my rose gold colored pen with my pink ink on top of the blue!! There would have been some tears and confused frustration! So, you’re a fountain pen superhero 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽love your videos, keep them coming😁🖌🌟
I like the uniball signo in .38 or .5 tip. I started hunting around fountain pens because i want true refillability with truly minimal waste - but even the extra fine fountain nibs are way too inky and broad for my desires when writing. I finally landed on pilot's v5 cartridge ballpoint and need a syringe to be able to refill the cartridge. Thank you for the cleaning tutorial!
Lamy Safari and Rotring (Art Pen with a writing nib) are probably the best value for money you can imagine. Would have liked to hear about the designers/design story and the changes that were made over time (like the current version has only a plastic "screw head" holding the clip but without the functionality of the original which was black brass and allowed for an adjustment of the clip's "clutch power")...
This is pretty much still the standard pen in German schools. I would remove the converter and fill it directly. Actually I would prefer empty cartridges with a rubber seal that I could fill using a syringe. The converter mechanism uses up too much space. Sadly the disposable cartridges cannot be reused as they only establish a good seal on the first insertion.
if you run out while writing you don’t need to let it sit, just swap out the cartridge and you’ll see immediate results (i‘ve written german exams with it, it’s always ready)
Thanks from the future. I'm just getting into fountain pens and I'm leaning towards the Lamy - this video popped up and was very informative and helpful. Much appreciated.
The Lamy Safari is a durable and affordable fountain pen with a unique design, ergonomic grip, and smooth stainless steel nib. It's compatible with both cartridges and converters, making it versatile for different writing preferences. Overall, it's a reliable choice for everyday writing.
I personally like the matte pens more, they get less hand oil on them. I just flush my pens under the tap, don't need to waste a converter for it. Also recommend Pelikan's Inks
One of the best and most articulate video on the subject (or any other, for that matter!) I’ve seen! Very informative , thank you 🙏 I’ll keep this video as a reference if and when I need it! You really thought 💭 of everything! Well done 👍🏽
I’ve been rocking the Pilot Metropolitan Medium Point Fountain pens for a while. I’ve replaced them several times because they break easily when dropped. This gave me something new to think about
I was looking for a set of new Pilot pens on Amazon yesterday when I ran into the Lamy pens. I've seen them years ago, but I never thought they were suitable for me, because fountain pens usually scared me :)) But I've looked through a lot of them and then today I found your video :) Thank you so much! I guess I made my decision and I'm going to order my very first Lamy pen :))
Great video. I rejoice to say that the 'smoothed' surface L-Safari pens are my FAV! They allow for easier spin-movements of the pen-in-hand which I use when it comes time to 'fill-in' large spaces such as sky/large bodies of water, etc. Moreover, it's a little easier during the clean up phase of re-inking from the bottle. Sir, keep these videos coming, PLEASE!!!!
I have two textured matte finish pens, in a charcoal like color & savannah green, but didn't know many of the details about them - especially how to change nibs. I thought the medium & broad tip would be a bigger difference in writing thickness, good side by side. I use the same brand of ink but in gray for every day & green too. I enjoyed your interesting video! Thanks!
I own 2 Lamy Safari....the Umbra with EF nib and Savannah with B nib....and a spare M black steel nib....they are and look awesome and they're very EDC pens!
Back in the late 70ies it was nearly a revolution when the Safari got on the scene. It became the ‚writing instrument‘ you have to own at school. And beliebe me or not, so it is today. When I gave my two sons their first Safari a few years ago , they used them at school and during the following weeks their friends changed from Geha, Pelikan to Lamy. Today they use Pens but Safari Rollerballs and Ballpens, too.
Wow, this is a great video. I found your channel looking at a bag review and noticed that you had a Lamy Safari video. I love my Lamy Safari pens as they seem to fit just the right spot between quality and price resulting in a great value. You briefly discuss the limited edition pens, but this is one of my favorite aspect of these pens. I quite enjoy having pens of different colors that can stand out just a bit. Thank you for the cool video and great description of such a cool pen.
Here's what you need to know about the Lamy safari IF you are looking for a heavy use pen. If this is for an actual "work pen" that will see heavy use (am ER doc), the cap will stop functioning after a while. I have 20 of these, in parts. After some period, short enough that I end up with 20 dead ones in 4-5 years, all caps fall off/let go/don't hold on. ALL of them. Lamy's "fix" for this known issue if you contact them, with a picture of a whole basket of dead Safaris: buy a new cap at almost the price of a pen. 1. They were all REAL Lamys. 2. I know how to use fountain pens, have a fair collection that I do not use for work. 3. I recapped appropriately, certainly never once capped at an angle to catch the nib, or capped so hard as to bend the tines of crack a cap. After this lesson in frustration, I bought 3 Faber-Castell Hexos. A year of the same heavy use on mostly 2 of the 3, so much more frequent than the Safaris, and all three still work with caps that fit and hold. The Lamy safari is a GREAT starter fountain pen. It is NOT a work pen, certainly not if it will be taken out 100+ times a day.
Fun video! I've been using Lamys with cartridges for years. They are very reliable and excellent value. I have been meaning to try out some different inks for a while so thanks for the inspiration!
This is an amazing beginners guide to fountain pens and the LAMY Safari. I love the involved process in setup and maintenance and adds a dimension of labor and love to own carry! Looking forward to experiencing my first fountain for sure 🎉
The ink matters. I don't know how to explain, but LAMY pens write best on LAMY ink, Pilot pens write best on Pilot inks and same for Sailor, Sailor black ink being the exception. By far the best black ink. I love the Safari, but I prefer the Nexx as the entry level pen. For the record, both write ridiculously well.
Video was well briefed and a suggestion that colour grading could've been either turned off or very minimum to appreciate the contrasting black of the pens. Also lighting could be improved.
Thanks for your review. One important feature that you (and most other fountain pen reviewers) missed was the length of the pen. I like to write without posting the cap and if the pen is less than five inches long the end will dig into the fleshy area between my forefinger and thumb. I guessed from your video that the Lamy Safari is quite long -- unless you (or the hand model) has very small hands. Thanks again.
