How Long Has Your Twsbi Been In Use?

[Margana]

A TWSBI Diamond 580 1.1 mm stub landed here a year ago and is still going strong after several fills of Diamine Violet. The duo is so pleasing to use that there has been no reason to switch inks. For maintenance, a rinse between every few refills is all it needs. That makes it an easy-keeper as well as good to use and highly unlikely to fall out of my rotation.

 

How long have you had a TWSBI in use? Have you found it easy to maintain?

[Out0Mind]

My current workhorse, while fairly young (just over a year old), lives in my jeans pocket. It's taken everything I've thrown at it and looks as good as it did the day it arrived. It's taken standard ink, IG ink, permanent ink, and just kept on going.

 

I did, once, break a part of the pen's collar during cleaning, but it was my own fault; I overturned the nib and it cracked. TWSBI sent me a replacement part days later.

 

I just ordered a new 580al and a Bock titanium nib to swap in, so I'm excited to see how that one holds up in the time to come.

[PaganArcher]

My oldest TWSBI has been going strong for over 3 years now. Not one hiccup and it's been with on several camping trips and hunting adventures. Not to mention a few bottles of ink all to itself.

Edited September 4, 2016 by PaganArcher

[Freddy]

 

 

How long have you had a TWSBI in use? Have you found it easy to maintain?

 

On and off the last five or is that goin' on six years {?}

 

usin' TWSBI 530 and filling with the blues. ' Tis easy..

I rinse once in a blue moon. Have not had any issues

that I can recall at the present time.

 

Fred

 

The perfect anagram

{happysmileyfacetimethingie}

[Runnin_Ute]

Since November 2014. Continuously inked except for a two week period when I had the nib modified. (B to B stub) It is a 580 (NOT AL) About 10 - 14 days ago the cap cracked near where the clip attaches and a few days later the top and clip broke all the way off. Replacement cap will arrive Tuesday. Took me until 8/31 to get an email sent off as I had some family issues that took precedence I had to deal with. (in fact it is still inked and being used on a daily or near daily basis, just as it was before the crack occurred.

 

My Eco (1.1 stub) has been continuously inked since it arrived in about February or March of this year. No issues. Both have had multiple inks. Both have Noodler's inks currently. The Eco Apache Sunset and the 580 Blue Eel.

[migo984]

This household has quite a number of different models, & variants of models, of TWSBIs, including one of Speedy's beta testing pens from way back when. All going strong with nary a problem. The nibs often get swapped in & out with other brands & in all those multiple tweaks & adjustments the only breakage was to a feed on an Eco, caused by being a little heavy-handed. If you treat these pens with care, don't dismantle too often, or over-tighten when reassembling, then they are pretty robust.

[Rhincodon]

I've had my Diamond 540 inked up pretty much constantly since I got it. It's one of my pens that I'm willing to use high-maintenance inks with, since it's easy to disassemble and clean and if something goes wrong I'm not going to be too fussed. The stub nib writes really well with J Herbin's Emerald de Chivor, and I've liked the stub nib so well I haven't gone back to the fine since I first swapped. (I also use ink up faster with the stub, lol.)

 

I find it easy to maintain, except the one time I completely disassembled it (piston and everything) I messed up and the piston knob wasn't flush with the barrel for months. Finally I found tutorials that showed me how to do it right, but I haven't dared again yet.

[TSherbs]

Diamond Mini, 2.5 years

 

very easy maintenance

 

no issues

[Jamerelbe]

Diamond 580, about 4 years, still going strong - likewise the 580 ROC I purchased about 18 months ago.

Diamond Mini, about 4 years, a couple of cracks appeared (in cap then later in feed), and both were replaced free of charge.

DIamond 540, nearly 2 years, I baby this pen a bit but so far so good.

Vac Mini, about 3-4 months, so far so good - so also my 3 TWSBI Ecos, which are pretty robust.

[ac12]

My Eco, since Sept 2015.

EF nib.

Constantly inked with Noodler's Gruene Cactus.

Not a bit of problem during that time.

 

I had to adjust and smoothen the nib when I got it. But for a $30 pen, I expect to have to adjust the nib.

[Margana]

My Eco, since Sept 2015.

EF nib.

Constantly inked with Noodler's Gruene Cactus.

Not a bit of problem during that time.

 

I had to adjust and smoothen the nib when I got it. But for a $30 pen, I expect to have to adjust the nib.

One of these days, I'll get my hands on that ink. It should be amazing in the Eco.

[Basset Hound]

Have had my smoke 540 for over 4 years. Initially had a cracking issue within the first couple of months but TWSBI sent me a replacement part and it's been inked ever since. Just yesterday though I had the cap break. Gutted. I assume TWSBI wouldn't have any replacements at this point since it has been discontinued for so long. Anyone know where I could get a replacement cap?

[FOUR X FOUR]

I just won't won't buy there pens any more.

[twdpens]

Have had my smoke 540 for over 4 years. Initially had a cracking issue within the first couple of months but TWSBI sent me a replacement part and it's been inked ever since. Just yesterday though I had the cap break. Gutted. I assume TWSBI wouldn't have any replacements at this point since it has been discontinued for so long. Anyone know where I could get a replacement cap?

Probably not, but a 580 cap will fit.

 

My own TWSBI Diamond 530 has been in frequent use for about 6 years now.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[Jamerelbe]

Have had my smoke 540 for over 4 years. Initially had a cracking issue within the first couple of months but TWSBI sent me a replacement part and it's been inked ever since. Just yesterday though I had the cap break. Gutted. I assume TWSBI wouldn't have any replacements at this point since it has been discontinued for so long. Anyone know where I could get a replacement cap?

 

As @twdpens said, probably no smoke-coloured caps, but a clear (or USA-red?) 580 cap may work. I'd reach out to TWSBI, let them know what's happened, and see if they have any spares - and see what they have to say. Email Philip Wang, twsbiinc@gmail.com, or use the contact form on their website.

[twdpens]

Basset Hound: Actually, I've just checked our parts stock and we have a smoke 540 cap. If TWSBI can't supply one then I'm sure we can work something out.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[Witsius]

I've had my 580 for about 2 years now. It's had two replacement feeder sleeves so far. The pen's running fine now, but it's disappointing too have to replace such a critical part so soon, let alone twice. TWSBI makes some decent pens, but boy, are they delicate.

[Basset Hound]

Thank you Martin. I reached out to TWSBI and they are sending me a new cap. While they might have some quality control issues, the couple times I have had to deal with their customer service it has always been top notch.

 

 

Basset Hound: Actually, I've just checked our parts stock and we have a smoke 540 cap. If TWSBI can't supply one then I'm sure we can work something out.

HTH,

Martin

[J85909266]

Vac 700. Well over a year. One of my best pens.

[stephanos]

Vac700, fine nib. Worked perfectly out of the box. Had it inked with Herbin's éclat de saphir until yesterday, when I took it out of rotation. It was in constant use for about a year, except for a few days between fills where I had to do some maintenance. A year doesn't sound like a lot, but that's longer than any other pen I have had inked, by quite some margin.