Tombow Zoom 980

[journeyman42]

I am reviewing the Tombow Zoom 980 fountain pen. Please bear with me, this is my first review and my first fountain pen. So there is a bit of a story to go with it.

 

I bought this pen about 9 years ago. I was looking for something with smooth simple lines and a good metallic finish, and this one fit the bill. However, I had problems form the get-go, which I can now attribute to bad ink. I used some old cartridges I found in a desk I acquired, and received nothing but frustration. So I put it away for many years and forgot about it.

 

A few weeks ago I found it back and tried it again (using the same ink), and got the same results. This time I came to this forum and researched the issue rather than toss the pen. Following the advice of the excellent resources available here, I cleaned the pen out, got a converter (waterman brand) and bought some new ink. Right now I am using Noodler’s Squeteague and finally after 9 years getting positive results.

 

Now to the review proper:

 

Characteristics:

The pen is light weight and thin (about 3/8” in diameter). It is 5 inches in length, 6” when posted. It is made of stainless steel with a brushed finish and a black plastic grip and plastic accents.

 

The nib is medium sized and made of stainless steel.

 

The pen (finally) writes well, if a bit on the dry side, but has a good constant flow.

 

When I got the pen it cost around $40.00, but has since been discontinued. I would not have called it a good value a week ago, but now I am willing to say it is. Its durability make it a good everyday pen which will last for a long time to come without much maintenance.

 

However, there is one thing I would like to add. This is probably not a good pen for a beginner. I find that the narrow body and the smooth finish on the grip and body make it difficult to grasp properly when you don’t have it quite down. I find that it rotates in my hand when I am writing and the nib stops making proper contact with the paper. But as I continue to practice this is becoming less and less of an issue.

 

Here are some pictures (of so-so quality), thanks for taking the time to read.

http://www.cmgds.com/pen/capon.jpg

 

http://www.cmgds.com/pen/capoff.jpg

 

http://www.cmgds.com/pen/nib.jpg

[Readymade]

Glad to see that you managed to get the pen working again

[slimnib]

Glad to see that you managed to get the pen working again

 

 

Nice ending and good review.

 

Thanks

 

Harv

[goodguy]

Thank you on the review.

Its nice to learn and read on less common pens out there.

[rufius]

Good to see you didn't give up

 

I haven't heard much on TomBow's but would like to try them sometime when I have some extra cash. Currently though I'm lusting for a Pilot Custom 74 Demonstrator - EF

 

-Zac

[journeyman42]

Thank you for all the comments. I'm glad I could contribute to the forum. I too am glad I kept going with the pen. Since I got it working properly last night I have been using it in every spare moment available. It is s joy. I am even composing my emails on paper prior to typing them up and sending them out.

[ethernautrix]

I like Tombow. I have a Tombow Zoom -- don't know the model number, a fatter model, shiny, sortv pinstriped chrome. Really great, smooth, fine (extra-fine?) nib, but after using it for a couple, few years, it started to leak a little, from where the nib meets the nib-feed section. It was just enough to convince me to put the pen away. It was a very good writer.

 

Thanks for the review!

[greencobra]

I don't think we have but one or two Tombow reviews in the database, thanks fot putting up your thoughts on this interesting pen.