Just Received My Twsbi Vac 700

[Crosshair]

Hello everyone. I am new here, and pretty new to modern fountain pens. I received my vac 700 today. So far I like how smooth it writes. TWSBI really ships fast too. With the fill,flip,fill trick I coulf only achieve 3/4 full, no more. I think This pen will be my pen of choice for awhile :-)

[Jimmy James]

To what degree can the 700 be serviced? For instance, does the nib unit unscrew?

The section unscrews from the pen. I couldn't get my nib unit to unscrew from the section but didn't try very hard.

 

It looks to me like the wrench can be used to disassemble the pen in a pinch and there is some note about an extra O-ring on an insert.

 

I love the pen. The nib is gigantic. It looks so good in smoke. I love the smooth barrel but diamonds on the cap. I have a feeling I'll own all the variants...

[etoyoc]

pen looks great, it is fun to fill....

and yet....

 

Other than the small skip at the start of an occasional word, it looks like it is writing ok. but it drags along... The ink doesn't look dry and I am getting the normal shading. The tines looks aligned, the slit narrows as it goes to the tip. I have flushed the pen with soapy water. After wards, the line was thicker, the drag decreased, the skipping slowed down. For about 1/2 page and then things went back as they were. Applying my vast lack of experience to nib repair, this nib will be shot before it writes any better.

Edited May 1, 2012 by etoyoc

[Jimmy James]

Are you keeping the top open while writing?

[Bill Wood]

So, how does it posts?

 

 

Yes, it posts just fine. Capped, the 700 is about 1/4" longer than the 540. Posted, it's actually shorter than the 540. With no cap attached the 700 is like 1-2mm longer.

Then I'll be ordering one as soon as they're on Gouletpens!

 

How's the balance when posted ? Thanks

[SamCapote]

Good idea from Jimmy.

 

On advice of our admin, Wim who ran the Stipula FPN pen group buy, as a way of carefully separating the slit to give better flow, I got a set of metal feeler gauges (less than $4) that start at .0015-inch (.038mm) and goes up to .025-inch (.635mm). They work great stepping your way up to gradually give wider separation. Also check placement of nib relative to feed.

[etoyoc]

Are you keeping the top open while writing?

 

Yes, and just to see if it made a difference, I tried it with the top closed. I have a Pilot Prera that has the same drag and skip issue. It never has worked out either. I just inked the Prera, and yes. it has the same feel to it which is why it has sat unused for so long.

 

Good idea from Jimmy.

 

On advice of our admin, Wim who ran the Stipula FPN pen group buy, as a way of carefully separating the slit to give better flow, I got a set of metal feeler gauges (less than $4) that start at .0015-inch (.038mm) and goes up to .025-inch (.635mm). They work great stepping your way up to gradually give wider separation. Also check placement of nib relative to feed.

 

I recently saw this post. I plan on picking up a new feeler gauge to see if it will help. The nib and feed look to be aligned properly.

 

Edit... sometimes it amazes me what you can get through Amazon, and with prime and free shipping, I will have that set you linked delivered sooner than I would have time to go buy it myself.

Edited May 1, 2012 by etoyoc

[Ted A]

Please explain what the attraction of this pen is. Really.

 

I've been reading today and it seems to me that other than a bigger nib and the better ability to post, this pen requires lots of messing around without benefit and in fact may be a step backward from the 540.

 

I see problems that if you put the nib into the ink before pushing on the plunger you may spatter ink. So you have to push it partway, but not all the way, then insert it into the ink and push the rest of the way.

 

Then it will only be partially filled so you have to go through a number of rather awkward steps of turning it up then holding it while turning it back over and then wrap it in tissue.

 

It seems to be more work than it's worth. I am not trying to denigrate the pen, I just don't get it.

[Bill Wood]

Ernst ... This looks like it could be a good postable pen. It looks far more balanced than the 540 in my opinion. Might be a good one for us. Also the barrel is slightly thicker, adding to a better balance.

[Ernst Bitterman]

I'll admit that I have some misgivings about that step at the joint.

 

Please explain what the attraction of this pen is.... It seems to be more work than it's worth. I am not trying to denigrate the pen, I just don't get it.

 

I'll try to explain in the same spirit, although I think I share some of your mystification from the other end. I count "full" as the draw of a cycle of the filler, however much ink that is (unless it's something designed for repetitive cycling like Vacumatics or Ink Vues). Much of the fiddling with this pen seems to be founded on a popular notion that "full" = "absolutely nothing but fluid in the reservoir," which strikes me as a path to upset.

 

With that as my baseline, the charm of the vacuum filler is that it is a rather more rapid action that a piston; pull, push, wipe, done. The bubbles thing is something that can be lived with, if one is ready for it, but unlike (for an example) the Parker 51 they can be avoided; fillers with breather tubes and press bars also blow bubbles. The force of the action should also make for easier flushing, which is always a good.

 

Much like the 540, a lot of the excitement comes from the pen having many of the same attributes as pens costing many times as much, and I wager there will be a similar round of crabbing to and fro here about people drawing comparisons between the 700 and various Pilots and Viscontis as there was when someone suggested points of agreement between the 530 and a higher-end Pelikan. For my part, I'm just excited about the return to the popular market of a filler the proletariat hasn't really had access to since Sheaffer switched to the Touchdown system.

Edited May 1, 2012 by Ernst Bitterman

[fabrimedeiros]

Please explain what the attraction of this pen is. Really.

 

 

 

The main attraction in this pen is the filling system. Vacuum Fillers are really fun. They're my top filling system choice. Piston Fillers are my 2nd.

 

1) Vac filler uses all the body as ink reservoir (~ 2.5 mL) and doesn't allow burping or firehose syndrome like eyedroppers, because the shut-off valve which reduces the pressure of the ink column.

 

2) This is the only system that you can fill with only one hand. The other hand can hold the bottle, so there is no chance to hit the nib against bottom of the bottle. And probably this is the fastest filling system.

 

3) Air travel / Mountain travels by car: the shut-off valve prevents leakages.

 

Edited: Vac 700 is the only modern Vac Fill pen at $80 range. Any other modern vac fill pen will start at $250 range or 3x more.

Edited May 1, 2012 by fabrimedeiros

[ticoun]

2) This is the only system that you can fill with only one hand. The other hand can hold the bottle, so there is no chance to hit the nib against bottom of the bottle. And probably this is the fastest filling system.

Snorkel fillers, Touchdown fillers, button fillers and Vacumatic fillers can operate with a single hand too.

 

I don't have one yet, but vacuum fillers do look like a lot of fun.

Edited May 1, 2012 by ticoun

[Jimmy James]

If you're good at it, you can fill a lever with one hand just as easily as you can fill a vacuum filler with one hand. In fact, I'd advise against filling a vacuum filler with just one hand. You have two for a reason (unless you don't and then I'm guessing you come up with innovative ways to do a lot of things).

[Laura N]

Being lucky enough to have one, I have to admit that I don't really find it easy to fill with one hand. First, it's on the big side. Second, the plunger on mine is nice and tight, so it takes some positive action to depress it, which you do while the pen is inside the ink bottle. Third, did I mention how big it is? You really need to put it deeply in the ink bottle, which is tough if you have a full or nearly full bottle. Trying to fill it from a fairly full DIamine 30ml bottle was an exercise in overflow, for me.

 

Now, I'm just using regular ink bottles, and perhaps a TWSBI bottle would make one-handed filling a snap.

 

For me, the attraction is some combination of the following: it's new, it's different, it's fun, it's from TWSBI.

[777]

This thread needs a little eye candy.

 

Here you go: (Ink is Iroshizuku Kon Peki! )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just got mine yesterday, and I'm loving it so far. It's a nicer pen than the 540 in my opinion. And TWSBI has been improving those cap threads! They're smooooth on this pen.

 

My nib was a tad dry out of the box, but some finger-tuning got it up to about 6/10. Very, very smooth, but I will take it out to the shop for some more flow adjustment later.

 

Overall, I think the Vac700 is a great buy. I'll save my full impressions for after the first half month, but for now, I'm loving it!

Edited May 1, 2012 by 777

[Scylax]

Yay, eye-candy, THANK YOU!

 

Those photos are gorgeous, and so is that pen! Can't wait to get mine!

 

I notice from TWD that most of their Ambers have been preordered out of stock. I ordered smoke and sapphire, but does anyone have ambers for some pics? I'm curious!

[ticoun]

This thread needs a little eye candy.

 

Here you go:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just got mine yesterday, and I'm loving it so far. It's a nicer pen than the 540 in my opinion. And TWSBI has been improving those cap threads! They're smooooth on this pen.

 

My nib was a tad dry out of the box, but some finger-tuning got it up to about 6/10. Very, very smooth, but I will take it out to the shop for some more flow adjustment later.

 

Overall, I think the Vac700 is a great buy. I'll save my full impressions for after the first half month, but for now, I'm loving it!

This is some serious pen porn Tyler!

[SamCapote]

This thread needs a little eye candy.

 

 

Tyler, great photos. That is the color I have coming from Goulet. However, you violated a cardinal rule and didn't say what is that lovely ink you used?

 

It's a great color match!

 

 

 

 

.

Edited May 1, 2012 by SamCapote

[777]

Yay, eye-candy, THANK YOU!

 

Those photos are gorgeous, and so is that pen! Can't wait to get mine!

 

I notice from TWD that most of their Ambers have been preordered out of stock. I ordered smoke and sapphire, but does anyone have ambers for some pics? I'm curious!

 

You're most welcome. My pleasure to feed those who cannot currently have their pens in hand. Hopefully yours will how up soon!

 

 

I have yet to see any amber TWSBI in person. But I'm very tempted to buy another Vac700, in amber. If I do, pictures are certain to come.

[777]

This thread needs a little eye candy.

 

 

Tyler, great photos. That is the color I have coming from Goulet. However, you violated a cardinal rule and didn't say what is that lovely ink you used?

 

It's a great color match!

 

 

Thank you! You know you're going to love your sapphire now!

 

Sorry... you're right. I'll edit the post, and add it here: Iroshizuku Kon Peki! Best ink for the Sapphire Vac700, in my opinion of course.

 

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