While each LAMY pen should have been tested at the factory for smooth writing prior to delivery to you, there are several common reasons for scratchy fountain pens. And here's what you can do about it:
sub optimal pen angle / position - one reason why fountain pens are said to improve handwriting is because you need to hold fountain pens at the correct angle and direction so they will write smoothly on paper. Some pen nibs are a bit more forgiving, but if you are holding the pen at too steep or too shallow an angle, the ink will not flow and the nib can even catch on the paper and "tear" it instead of writing. Try holding the pen close to a 45 degree angle, and test varying angles of pen on paper. If you are able to draw an asterisk clearly without the pen scratching and with ink clearly showing, or you can draw continuous loops with the same result, then you are holding the pen correctly!
the nib is dirty / caught on paper - if you have been holding the pen incorrectly, or if the the paper is unusually rough, bits of paper can sometimes get "caught" between the tines of the nib. If you have sharp eyes or use a magnifying glass you can sometimes see this. You will have to "pull" the stuck up paper to clear the tines of the nib and sometimes that is all that is needed!
your nib / feed is 'dirty' or has mixed / dried ink in the nib / feed - if you have not cleaned your pen nib or feed in a while, or if you have been using different colors or even types of ink, or have stopped using the pen for a while, ink can dry or coagulate or get stuck up in the feed. We do not recommend pulling the feeds out to clean them. Instead, we recommend flushing your fountain pen with plain water (using the converter with just plain water) and / or giving your pen a "warm bath" by immersing your pen nib / or front section in warm water to remove the ink. In some cases your pen and the writing experience will feel as good as new!
it could be the paper? - some types of paper are too glossy and does not work well with the capillary action of water-based inks. try testing with another type of paper to see if this is the case.
your pen was dropped or you put too much pressure and the nib has been misaligned - this is the worst case scenario. If you have indeed dropped your pen or used too much pressure, this could have misaligned or damaged the nib resulting in scratchy or not-writing fountain pens. If you suspect this might be the case, please try to bring your pen to your LAMY dealer so we can see how this situation can be resolved. Do not attempt to manually adjust your nib as doing so could void your warranty and could damage the pen further
none of the above (pen is new) - if this is the case, please contact us, or bring your pen with proof of purchase to your seller so we can address this immediately.