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Twsbi Diamond 580 Al Blue


Tomasbjornsson

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This is not a review of the TWSBI Diamond 580 AL blue, but more my thoughts after I have used it for about a month or so.

 

I only bought this pen because I really like its design. I already have a diamond 580 which I use daily, so I don't really have the need of it - except I like to use different inks and I can't be bothered to clean the pen constantly, so there's my excuse.

 

As with my other TWSBI pen, this has an extra fine nip, which suits my style of drawing - I only use my pens for drawing, I don't write much. The nip has a single slit, a breath hole, the TWSBI logo and a curly pattern engraved. It runs smoothly over the paper, no skipping, even if you move fast and it distribute the ink evenly. The nip has a slight spring to it and after a while (I suspect, that's what has happened with my other diamond 580) the nip will soften a bit and give it a bit of flex, not a flex pen, but enough to make a slightly varied line if needed.

 

The pen is well balanced, feels like good quality, I don't know much about the material, but I have used my "old" TWSBI Diamond 580 on a daily basis for a very long time and it's still in perfect condition (mind you, I take very good care of it). I like that the barrel is made of clear "glass", so I can see the ink. I only use waterproof ink, so the fact that the pen is so easy to disassemble and clean, is quite important.

 

The only concern I had was the aluminum grip. It is smooth, in fact very smooth, and I could imagine that it could cause problems for people with very dry hands. And I have heard that this blue section rotates on some pens, as with the clear section on the diamond 580. But I haven't experienced that on any of my TWSBIs, and I suspect that it's because it has not been assembled properly.

 

This sketch is done in a Sennelier sketchbook, 150 gsm cold pressed paper with a slight texture - perfect for pen drawings, but that's another story. I use De Atramentis archive black ink in this pen.

 

Any way, this is solely my own opinion, I have no connection with TWSBI (though I don't mind free gifts 😉).

 

I just really like this pen. It's like it was made for my hands, and sketchbooks.

post-126187-0-54197200-1449001422_thumb.jpg

post-126187-0-05040100-1449001448_thumb.jpg

Tomas Björnsson Live to paint, paint to live

http://www.tomasbjornsson.dk

http://copenhagenink.blogspot.dk

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  • 2 weeks later...

Very nice sketch!

 

I have been considering adding a TWSBI 580 to my small collection. You may just have me convinced.

I got quite a few fountain pens, and the TWSBI seems to be the right one for me. I love it, I would be surprised if you wouldn't like it too

Tomas Björnsson Live to paint, paint to live

http://www.tomasbjornsson.dk

http://copenhagenink.blogspot.dk

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  • 2 weeks later...

Looks great!

Fountain pens are my preferred COLOR DELIVERY SYSTEM (in part because crayons melt in Las Vegas).

Create a Ghostly Avatar and I'll send you a letter. Check out some Ink comparisons: The Great PPS Comparison 

Don't know where to start?  Look at the Inky Topics O'day.  Then, see inks sorted by color: Blue Purple Brown Red Green Dark Green Orange Black Pinks Yellows Blue-Blacks Grey/Gray UVInks Turquoise/Teal MURKY

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Amazing sketch! Very nice!

 

I loved my 580 so much after I got it (I also got the blue), I quickly bought a mini as well. I doubt I'll get a vac mini though, I think I'd rather have another regular mini, or 580 if I were to buy another TWSBI.

John L

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The 580 is every bit as good as any other piston-based demonstrator pen available, all other factors being equal. (That is to say, if you don't mind the steel nib - and TWSBI puts out a very well-tuned steel nib, at least most of the time.) I believe the 580AL represents the best EDC for the buck out there. (The Eco and Classic are excellent in their own right as well, but the 580AL has a bit more... majesty.)

 

The cap and clip aren't terribly attractive, but those can be forgiven in exchange for the looks, feel, and behavior of the body, section, feed, and especially that excellent piston.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have had the TWSBI Diamond 580 AL blue for a couple of months now and used it on a daily basis for sketching and drawing. The nib has become a bit softer as I anticipated, which has made it a smoother, but it still has its consistent and hard line that I prefer. The very smooth grip area is no problem for me, the pen fits my hand perfectly.

Here is a sketch from last night done with the pen and De Atramentis ink in my pocket sketchbook from Stillman and Birn

post-126187-0-26354800-1453460701_thumb.jpg

Tomas Björnsson Live to paint, paint to live

http://www.tomasbjornsson.dk

http://copenhagenink.blogspot.dk

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I own this pen in the demonstrator version with stub nib and absolutely love it. Purchased it late last year, so no issues with cracking caps!

Mike L.

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I've had the 580AL for a couple years and love it. Recently got one in blue as well and was very pleased with the color and performance (went with a fine nib this time). As for the aluminum section spinning, it will spin if the section isn't tightened and remains loose. Just be careful about overtightening. I've definitely had one start leaving profusely on me in court because the nib/feed collar cracked at the threads.

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Wow! Tomas you're a seriously talented guy! Do you sell your art?

Thanks a lot PabloAU. I work as a freelance Illustrator, so yes I sell my work (if it agrees with the copyrights) and I sell my sketches as well.

 

Take care

Tomas

Tomas Björnsson Live to paint, paint to live

http://www.tomasbjornsson.dk

http://copenhagenink.blogspot.dk

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Thanks a lot PabloAU. I work as a freelance Illustrator, so yes I sell my work (if it agrees with the copyrights) and I sell my sketches as well.

 

Take care

Tomas

 

Tomas, do you sell direct, or through a gallery? I really like what I've seen and if you have any prints for sale I'd love to see what you have for sale.

So space and time are linked together. As we are looking across space, we are looking back in time. The further and further away those stars are the further back in time you are looking. Now you are seeing a star that is say six thousand years ago. Imagine somebody at that star looking at us They would be seeing us as we were six thousand years ago. Which of those two is now? - Alan Parsons Project The Time Machine - Temporalia (Paraphrased)

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Tomas, do you sell direct, or through a gallery? I really like what I've seen and if you have any prints for sale I'd love to see what you have for sale.

Hi Katherine,

 

Right at this moment I don't have any prints, but I'm working on a bunch of prints there will be for sale. These months I'm almost drowning in work, but when I surface sometime in April/may I will have the time to look at it and I will be more than happy to let you know. It will most likely be drawings like the one you see in the beginning of this blog post.

 

Thanks a lot for your interest in my work.

 

Take care

Tomas

Tomas Björnsson Live to paint, paint to live

http://www.tomasbjornsson.dk

http://copenhagenink.blogspot.dk

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Great! No pressure, I'm happy to wait and I love the drawings you have posted here.

So space and time are linked together. As we are looking across space, we are looking back in time. The further and further away those stars are the further back in time you are looking. Now you are seeing a star that is say six thousand years ago. Imagine somebody at that star looking at us They would be seeing us as we were six thousand years ago. Which of those two is now? - Alan Parsons Project The Time Machine - Temporalia (Paraphrased)

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I have had the TWSBI Diamond 580 AL blue for a couple of months now and used it on a daily basis for sketching and drawing. The nib has become a bit softer as I anticipated, which has made it a smoother, but it still has its consistent and hard line that I prefer. The very smooth grip area is no problem for me, the pen fits my hand perfectly.

Here is a sketch from last night done with the pen and De Atramentis ink in my pocket sketchbook from Stillman and Birn

Amazing. Wow

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This is going to be my final thoughts on the TWSBI 580 Diamond al blue.

I have had it for a couple of months now, and it fits my needs perfectly, mind you I only draw with it.

The nib is an extra fine, it's Japanese so it's a thin line. It's a fairly hard nib and it creates a consistent and even line. The ink flows smoothly and I haven't experienced any skipping yet, again I only use it for drawing. You tend to move the pen faster over the paper when you write than when you're drawing.

It has only been loaded with De Atramentis archive black ink. And I draw in high quality sketchbooks from Stillman and Birn and Sennelier. Cold pressed watercolour paper or with a vellum surface. Not that that will prevent a pen from skipping, but....

The weight and size of the pen might be a bit too big for some, but it fits my hand. I find a lot of pens either to thin or too short. Like the Lamy's, which I really like (I got 3 of them, and I use them frequently) but I find the triangular grip section almost a bit too thin.

I admit it, I am a TWSBI fan, at least fan of the 580 model, with or without the aluminum sections. They feel like quality build pens, I take good care of them, so I will expect this one to last for years, even after daily use.

post-126187-0-26814200-1454625726_thumb.jpg

Edited by Tomasbjornsson

Tomas Björnsson Live to paint, paint to live

http://www.tomasbjornsson.dk

http://copenhagenink.blogspot.dk

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Hi Katherine,

Right at this moment I don't have any prints, but I'm working on a bunch of prints there will be for sale. These months I'm almost drowning in work, but when I surface sometime in April/may I will have the time to look at it and I will be more than happy to let you know. It will most likely be drawings like the one you see in the beginning of this blog post.

Thanks a lot for your interest in my work.

Take care

Tomas

I absolutely adore that pic of the close-packed houses. If you ever make that available as a print, could you please pm me and let me know?

 

Sometime, you should tell us all the story of the man with the tennis rackets and shotgun. He looks like quite the character!

"In the end, only kindness matters."

 

 

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