Twsbi Good?

[Kamm]

If this is in the wrong area I'm sorry! Still learning.

 

OK, I have a twsbi sitting in my cart at goulet pens and thought I should ask, for 50 bucks should I be buying this pen? I've heard some very mixed reviews on it. I think it's a pretty cool pen and the capacity seems dreamy. So what say you? Yes, no, other pen options?

[benincanada]

I like my TWSBI 580, m nib, and will be buying a vac or vac mini at some point. I have a 1.5mm stub for the TWSBI, and I'll be switching it for a 1.1mm at some point

[Algester]

depends on how you say is good... it writes yes but can be a hit or miss even then... so really it's a mixed bag

[arcadeflow]

I would like one, but we hear mixed opinions. Most people complaining are concerning cracks that sometimes appears in the demonstrator pens from TWSBI. They claim TWSBI sends them replacements parts, though. Let's say they are pretty cheap for what they offer, a lot of brands with great prices like Pilot would charge you a lot more for a demonstrator pen with that visual quality. If it is going to be your one and only pen for a while, I would advise you to pick something safer, if you already have good pens, you might be lucky and find a great pen for the price ordering one.

[slide13]

I have a TWSBI mini along with a Peilikan, an Edison, a Pilot Metro, and a Kaweco AL Sport. The TWSBI is worth the $50. Decent writing nib and piston filler for $50 is a pretty good deal. It's a solid little pen for the money and I really do like the way it writes.

[sffstorm]

I have a Vac 700 and it really is a great pen. I normally do not like demonstrators, but I kind of love it with the vacuum fill. Amazing capacity and very smooth for a steel nib, especially considering the sub $100 price tag. I have a medium nib and cannot speak for any other TWSBI model or nib size. It manages to stay in rotation along with $200+ gold nib pens. It is not soft or springy, don't expect any flex, but it is smooth and reliable. My advice, hit checkout. You'll probably love it.

[Fabienne]

I love the way my 540s and 580s write. They are my go-to pens. I have had the cracking problem and it was taken care of by the TWSBI folks. Great customer service. I love to mod the nibs so I can feel the paper and the vibration of writing better. They are very easy to clean out when changing ink, much quicker than most sac fillers. I highly recommend them.

[AHoppy]

I have a TWSBI mini with a fine nib as my daily writer. When I got it, it was the only FP I had (having just lost my Parker Jotter FP and my other Parker started having nib issues) and I love it. The collar around the nib unit did crack on mine, but I contacted TWSBI and they sent me a free replacement part and helped me figure out how to replace it. I have experienced their incredible customer service and can vouch for the pen. I really like the demonstrator ability, and the whole pen just feels really solid. If there is any advice that I have for you it would be not to over tighten things. I know people warn you of this all the time, however the pen comes with everything overtightened already! The nib unit does not need to be cranked on there. I also purchased a 1.1 stub to swap out whenever I feel like. It isn't perfect, but it's my only stub experience and I still really like it. So I would say go for it. If you do experience any of the issues with it, they will take care of you.

 

P.S. being an engineer, I also REALLY appreciate the fact that they encourage the disassembly and tinkering with the whole pen. When there is something that goes wrong or you used a stubborn ink, you can be the one to fix it.

[csacks]

I have had a very nice experience with all of them. I do have a vac 700 and a 580, both with 1,1 stub, a 580 AL with broad nib, another 580 (rose gold) customized by Pendleton Brown and a Micarta with a broad nib too. I love them, nice steel nibs, reliable pens, amazing ink capacity and up to this date, no cracks in any of them. If you considered that the most expensive of them is U$100, the final balance con not be anything different that very good.

Edited September 15, 2014 by csacks

[benincanada]

580 (rose gold) customized by Pendleton Brown

 

Do you have a writing sample ?

[Kamm]

Well there you go. Glad I asked! Is there a different pen I should get knowing I only have two Lamy FPs? Also what the heck is "demonstrater? Like it being clear? Cause I LOVE that.

[bostonfin]

It is well worth the 50 bucks. You may have to fool around with the nib and you may not. This goes with any pen. My 540 cracked they sent a new barrel. My 580 no issues yet. I've had one stub nib that I had to play with forever to get to work right and a fine nib with similar issues. I've also had those issues with pelikan and MontBlanc. I would go for it the pen is nice size and a good writer for 50 bucks. Even if it requires some user adjustments. The demonstrator is all clear yes. They offer a model now with an aluminum grip and piston as well.

Edited September 15, 2014 by bostonfin

[ScienceChick]

I have a Mini and haven't had any problems. Wrote well right out of the box and has played well with dry-ish and wet inks. It's a comfortable length posted.

[Randal6393]

Had a TWSBI 580 for about six months. Then the piston filler mechanism bit the dust and the case cracked. Just too frail for my taste. The pen body was a bit too big for my taste. Still, it was a pretty decent pen for the time it lasted.

 

Enjoy,

[Kimo]

Some folks here have had good luck with them and like them very much. They are not for me though. There are other inexpensive pens that I would prefer if I were in the market for a budget priced pen.

[Koyote]

"Twsbi Good?"

 

In a word, no.

[SujiCorp12345]

I have a Vac-700 and a Diamond 580. I enjoy both of them. They're both pretty easy to clean (especially the Vac-700), and although I hear people complain of cracks in the barrel and such, I have yet to find anything to complain about. (I've had my 580 for about 6 months now.)

Edited September 15, 2014 by SujiCorp12345

[FedericoMedina]

Have a twisbi micarta (now discontinued) absolutely love the pen. I got mine direct from Pendleton Brown with his lovely bad boy grind. It's not a demonstrator of course, and it is a c/c pen that is very reliable and gets daily use.

[Behike54]

I received my 580 AL and it has been a joy.

 

Filled and wrote from the first downstroke and hasn't stopped since. Puts down a nice line and suits my hand and needs quite well. Easy to break down, clean, and refill. It was my first FP and in a few words, it was a perfect first pen for ME.

 

I am considering another nib and/or another TWSBI.

[GTVi]

Some folks here have had good luck with them and like them very much. They are not for me though. There are other inexpensive pens that I would prefer if I were in the market for a budget priced pen.

 

I have been in the same pedicament as the OP on this subject matter. In the end I opted for a 580 M nib, and so far I'm very happy.

 

Thank you for your helpful post. So what other inexpensive pens would you consider at that price range and why?