Twsbi 580 Thoughts

[Tzolak]

I'm looking for a good demonstrator for every day use, and there are a couple that I'm eyeballing.. .The first is the TWSBI 580...heard a lot of good about TWSBI but also read a lot of people saying that these pens, especially this model are prone to easily cracking/breaking.
Anyone want to share thoughts or experiences on this particular pen?
Thanks!
-Ethan

[DrDebG]

I have owned many TWSBI pens and find them to be very reliable. I especially like the 1.1 stub nib. Personally, I prefer the TWSBI 580 AL models. I have never had one of them crack. In fact, I had never had a TWSBI crack until this week. I had purchased an ECO about 2 weeks ago. I didn't notice at first but it had a very tiny crack in the section. It leaked tiny amounts of ink. I returned the pen. I have heard TWSBI has outstanding customer service.

 

Truthfully, I have had more issues with other pens in the same price range.

[Tzolak]

Thanks for your remarks DrPenfection!
I actually started looking at the Vac700R at the recommendation of someone. Grant it I was reading a thread on here from 2015, but it's still got a lot of good info.
I was looking at the ECO but they seem a little short for my hand? I'm used to a Lamy Vista, so I'm not sure if I'd like using shorter pens, but I'll take a look!
Thanks again for your thoughts!

-Ethan

Edited October 21, 2018 by Tzolak

[prashant.tikekar]

Thanks for your remarks DrPenfection!

I actually started looking at the Vac700R at the recommendation of someone. Grant it I was reading a thread on here from 2015, but it's still got a lot of good info.

I was looking at the ECO but they seem a little short for my hand? I'm used to a Lamy Vista, so I'm not sure if I'd like using shorter pens, but I'll take a look!

Thanks again for your thoughts!

 

-Ethan

 

 

Diamond 580 is better than eco in terms of build quality and feel in hand. It has nice balance and is perfect for me.

[Tzolak]

Diamond 580 is better than eco in terms of build quality and feel in hand. It has nice balance and is perfect for me.

I was really liking the Diamond 580. Right now I'm torn between that and the Vac500R

[sdbruder]

I have several TWSBI (one ECO, 2 ECO-T, one MINI Gold, one 580AL Rose), never had any issue with them.

 

In fact in that price range they IMHO one of the best Piston fountain pens that I have.

 

[inkstainedruth]

I have a 580-AL, with a broad nib; I don't know how the non-AL model compares weight-wise to the 580-AL. I like it for the most part, but it is a fairly heavy pen (if that's not what you're used to). Plus -- and I think this is a design flaw on TWSBI's part: the piston head does not meet the back of the feed when fully lowered, and if you're not careful you can get an air bubble between the feed and the end of the piston head. And suddenly your pen stops writing....

I've had the pen about a year and a half. No cracking issues (I believe I remember reading a couple of years ago that TWSBI addressed the cracking issues earlier models had by switching the type of plastics). Right now it's back in rotation, with Noodler's Suffragist's Carmine (which is pretty unsaturated for a Noodler's ink: I've had a bit of trouble with the pen dripping, and the ink stains somewhat -- but I'm pretty sure the issues are the ink, not the pen.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Honeybadgers]

Honestly, I have a 580 and don't love it as much as I thought. the two TWSBI demonstrators that I use much more are the VAC700R and VAC mini.

 

the 580 just doesn't sit perfectly right in my hand. it's hard to pin down. I find myself much more drawn to the wing sung 698 and my pelikan m205 demo.

[Misfit]

I have a Diamond 580 (not AL) and use it unposted. The barrel is pretty with the facets. If you don’t tighten the cap or piston end too tightly, the pen should be fine.

 

I recently got an ECO. While it isn’t as attractive, it is also a good writer.

 

I got the 580 with a broad nib, and liked it. But I like italic and stub nibs better, so I got a 1.1mm nib unit for it. Now I love the way it writes. I ordered the ECO with the 1.1mm stub nib.

 

I posted a writing comparison on the topic of the new transparent blue ECO.

 

Off the TWSBI topic, The Nemosine Singularity is a very nice demonstrator fountain pen. I have two, with the 0.8 and 1.1 stub nibs. I think I like the 0.8 better.

[inkstainedruth]

I haven't tried the wider stubs on the Singularity (at the time I got to dip test some, Birmingham Pens only had up to the .6 mm in stock). What do you like about the .8 over the 1.1?

I keep looking at the Singularity (nice size and a great price), but up until recently didn't really like any of the colors (and I'm not a huge fan of "demonstrator" pens, particularly non-clear ones -- and yes, that also goes for a lot of the Noodler's barrels and a lot of the Pelikan M200 size LE pens). But I think that some of the newer colors are not too bad, and you can't beat the price. (The other Nemosine models were somewhat too heavy for my hand).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Driften]

I prefer my 580 and 580AL over my 700r and like them much better then the Eco. Never had cracking issues with any of them and TWSBI will replace cracked parts if it does happen.

[minddance]

I have uneven ink flow with a few of my twsbi 580 and eco.

 

With dark and saturated inks, the effect is not obvious. But with light and shadey inks, it is very obvious. Some parts of the sentence can be very light and other parts so saturated that it sheens.

 

This is not due to nib rotation or me rolling to the pen.

 

The ink system is flawed.

[Tasmith]

Honestly, I have a 580 and don't love it as much as I thought. the two TWSBI demonstrators that I use much more are the VAC700R and VAC mini.

 

the 580 just doesn't sit perfectly right in my hand. it's hard to pin down. I find myself much more drawn to the wing sung 698 and my pelikan m205 demo.

 

Same here, except I have the Eco and not the Vacs. Just doesn't feel right I my hand for some reason. Also prefer my Wing Sung 698s and Pelikan M200s.

[1nkulus]

My 580AL 1.1 has not seen action for a while but I will get an ECO w/ 1.1 soon.

[Misfit]

@Ruth

I think the 0.8 writes more smoothly than the 1.1. But nibs vary, and my experience might not be another petson’s experience. It isn’t anything that would stop me from recommending the 1.1mm. I certainly would recommend either nib.

[Erik Dalton]

I have several TWSBI’S. Never an issue with any of them. The ones I seem to reach for and enjoy writing with the most are the Vac 700 and the Eco. Third but still a good choice would be the 580.

[Steveg58]

I have a Diamond 580 and a Vac700R. The 580 was a bit of a disappointment and I almost swore off TWSBI pens. But I like the Vac700R and I'm glad I bought it. For me it works well.

[Tobsterius]

I enjoy my TWSBI pens very much. I own a white Eco with a 1.1mm stub; a blue Eco-T with a broad nib; a 580AL with a fine; the new 580ALR with a broad nib, and one Vac Mini with a medium nib. All are excellent writers, never drying out or experiencing false starts.

 

Though, of the lot, the Vac Mini has given me the most grief. Aside from the nib unit and the grip, everything else has been replaced at least twice. To TWSBI's credit, they have sent replacement parts without even questioning me, all I had to do was pay for shipping.

 

You'd think I would have given up on the Mini by now, but despite the issues, I still love writing with it.

Edited November 2, 2018 by Tobsterius

[langere]

I have a 540 (!) and a Vac 700. The 700 is better as a demonstrator.

 

But I actually think that the TSWBI Micarta is the best from that company. But of course it's not a demonstrator, but it's a really cool pen.

 

Erick

[jchch1950]

Twsbi should bring back the micarta pens. I have one and is my favourite Twsbi pen.