Just Received My Twsbi Vac 700

[Oranges and Apples]

I have never had a single fountain pen work perfectly out of the box. All of them required some adjustment to the nib to flow properly. This is normal as far as I can tell, unless I happen to be the unluckiest pen customer on the planet.

 

If fountain pens did not work perfectly out of a box I would have stopped buying fountain pens.

 

I know many of the members (and non-members) buy fountain pens online but (if the option is available) you should really take a trip to physical store or warehouse to try out the fountain pen. I know that many (all in my experience) will not let you fill the fountain pen but they will allow you to dip test them. With the dip test just write until you can no longer write a solid line. That should give you a general idea on how it writes. If you do like the way the nib writes try another one and then repeat as necessary. When trying out a pen you should also bring your own paper and ink if the allow it.

 

So with this being said, I have never had a single fountain pen which required a nib to have their flow adjusted. I have eleven nibs (eight Pilot Vanishing Points in extra fine, fine, medium, and broad nibs, a Pilot Custom 74 in a fine nib, a Pilot M90, and a Sailor Sapporo with a zoom nib) and none of these needed their flows adjusted.

[leod]

All these problems being reported....but shouldn't all pens work perfectly out of the box? I keep hearing in other threads that TWSBI always works perfectly out of the box. The irony is pungent.

 

Since I have been the one speaking up most about the posting issue, I compared my Vac700 posted with my Pilot 823 posted. While better than the 530/540, the Vac700 still has a back heavy imbalance making it irritating for longer uses if posted.

 

However, the bigger VAC700 issue which I REALLY do not like is the amount of the abrupt circumference step-down from the barrel to the section, and then again from the section threads (that the cap screws onto) to the smooth part of the section. The drop-off edges of these two locations are very sharp and scrape against your finger in a way I have not experienced with any other fountain pen. The 530/540 does not have this sharp edges issue. I cannot recommend this pen as a result.

 

I

 

Well of course most pens won't work perfectly out of the box. Most people are spoiled by Binder's or Mottishaw's services of tuning when selling, I think.

Oh well.

 

As for the posting - not an issue for me as I normally don't post. So don't care.

 

The section and step though - AWFUL. The section is skinny and straight - seems like an afterthought. One of the most uncomfortable pens I've ever held. Section should be thicker and with some curves.

 

I'll never own one unless it's a gift. And then I'll sell it for inks for my students.

 

Thanks to both for pointing out that thin and flat section, they should have followed a similar 540 section. This makes it a no buy for me.

[ticoun]

Just got mine today and I love it so far, despite the fact that it's too big and unbalanced when posted. I usually post all my pens, but this one is big enough that it doesn't bother me at all unposted. The nib was extremely dry out of the box and barely wrote anything, but after some tweaking it's now just a tad drier than I'm used to, but it'll be better for the bad papers I use all day long at school. Very smooth, fine line, and it fits very well in my hand. I was scared that the step on the barrel might be problematic as I hold my pens very high, but the section is very long and I barely feel the threads and the step. Ink capacity is extremely impressive when using the double fill method, and the ink level of my bottle of Waterman's Florida Blue dropped significantly.

[Zanshin]

All these problems being reported....but shouldn't all pens work perfectly out of the box? I keep hearing in other threads that TWSBI always works perfectly out of the box. The irony is pungent.

 

Since I have been the one speaking up most about the posting issue, I compared my Vac700 posted with my Pilot 823 posted. While better than the 530/540, the Vac700 still has a back heavy imbalance making it irritating for longer uses if posted.

 

However, the bigger VAC700 issue which I REALLY do not like is the amount of the abrupt circumference step-down from the barrel to the section, and then again from the section threads (that the cap screws onto) to the smooth part of the section. The drop-off edges of these two locations are very sharp and scrape against your finger in a way I have not experienced with any other fountain pen. The 530/540 does not have this sharp edges issue. I cannot recommend this pen as a result.

 

I

 

Well of course most pens won't work perfectly out of the box. Most people are spoiled by Binder's or Mottishaw's services of tuning when selling, I think.

Oh well.

 

As for the posting - not an issue for me as I normally don't post. So don't care.

 

The section and step though - AWFUL. The section is skinny and straight - seems like an afterthought. One of the most uncomfortable pens I've ever held. Section should be thicker and with some curves.

 

I'll never own one unless it's a gift. And then I'll sell it for inks for my students.

 

Thanks to both for pointing out that thin and flat section, they should have followed a similar 540 section. This makes it a no buy for me.

 

That step between the section and barrel, accentuated by the flare in the barrel, was something that I wondered about before getting the pen. I wasn't sure how comfortable it would be but in fact I didn't have a problem with it at all and found the pen was comfortable to use. Or at least to hold, I didn't really get as far as using it as I could never get it to write.

 

It's one of those designs that you'll only know if it suits you when you actually get hold of it.

[UngerWoo]

My first post here and I'm new to fountain pens. I decided to make this TWSBI my first because it looked like it would be satisfying -- I didn't want to buy something cheap and immediately feel the need to get something better. I couldn't be happier with my choice. It's a great pen right out of the box -- so good, in fact, that I decided to buy a second.

[amberleadavis]

If you get a good suggestion post here. I'm having the same issue.

 

I am reaching out to Philip as both of my Vac 700s stop writing after what's in the nib is gone.

 

DITTO

[amberleadavis]

Also, to those having problems with the pen mot writing after the feed has run dry, you need to open the back knob a bit to allow ink flow to the feed. If you look at the diagram, there's a nice picture of it that's very easy to understand once you know what you're looking for.

 

Nope. Already tried that. Already tried a different ink. Already tried adding a "tiny dab" of detergent and already tried adding glycerin.

 

[SamCapote]

Also, to those having problems with the pen mot writing after the feed has run dry, you need to open the back knob a bit to allow ink flow to the feed. If you look at the diagram, there's a nice picture of it that's very easy to understand once you know what you're looking for.

 

Nope. Already tried that. Already tried a different ink. Already tried adding a "tiny dab" of detergent and already tried adding glycerin.

 

 

Did you try getting the humidifier?

[AlejoPlay]

I'm seriously considering getting an amber one. Does anyone know how wide the mediums are? Thinking of getting this for brownish inks like Diamine Ancient Copper and would love some shading.

 

Also is there a plan to offer italic/stub nibs for these in the future?

[ticoun]

I'm seriously considering getting an amber one. Does anyone know how wide the mediums are? Thinking of getting this for brownish inks like Diamine Ancient Copper and would love some shading.

 

Also is there a plan to offer italic/stub nibs for these in the future?

I can't tell for the medium, but my fne writes a true fine line. I get some nice shading with my fine nib and Waterman's florida blue, so a medium should be ok as long as it's not too wet.

 

I've been using my Vac 700 for three days now, and the more I use it, the more I like it.

[Ernst Bitterman]

My medium produces a line about 0.4mm wide on somewhat marginal paper.

[amberleadavis]

Also, to those having problems with the pen mot writing after the feed has run dry, you need to open the back knob a bit to allow ink flow to the feed. If you look at the diagram, there's a nice picture of it that's very easy to understand once you know what you're looking for.

 

Nope. Already tried that. Already tried a different ink. Already tried adding a "tiny dab" of detergent and already tried adding glycerin.

 

 

Did you try getting the humidifier?

 

No, that is my next step. I bought one, I just haven't brought it in to the office.

[amberleadavis]

I'm seriously considering getting an amber one. Does anyone know how wide the mediums are? Thinking of getting this for brownish inks like Diamine Ancient Copper and would love some shading.

 

Also is there a plan to offer italic/stub nibs for these in the future?

 

When I asked - I was told yes. Just not today.

[ExcaliburZ]

I'm seriously considering getting an amber one. Does anyone know how wide the mediums are? Thinking of getting this for brownish inks like Diamine Ancient Copper and would love some shading.

 

Also is there a plan to offer italic/stub nibs for these in the future?

 

Goulet Pens Nib Nook

[AlejoPlay]

I'm seriously considering getting an amber one. Does anyone know how wide the mediums are? Thinking of getting this for brownish inks like Diamine Ancient Copper and would love some shading.

 

Also is there a plan to offer italic/stub nibs for these in the future?

 

Goulet Pens Nib Nook

 

Thanks, I love the Goulets but I find that the Nib Nook isn't so helpful for me because everything looks a lot thinner on their site than it does for mine. My LAMY 2000 Medium writes a lot more broadly, for example. I think a .4mm line sounds great for a Medium. Not to mention I read these pens aren't wet writers, so I think once the Goulets get these back in stock, I'll order.

[ticoun]

I'm seriously considering getting an amber one. Does anyone know how wide the mediums are? Thinking of getting this for brownish inks like Diamine Ancient Copper and would love some shading.

 

Also is there a plan to offer italic/stub nibs for these in the future?

 

Goulet Pens Nib Nook

 

Thanks, I love the Goulets but I find that the Nib Nook isn't so helpful for me because everything looks a lot thinner on their site than it does for mine. My LAMY 2000 Medium writes a lot more broadly, for example. I think a .4mm line sounds great for a Medium. Not to mention I read these pens aren't wet writers, so I think once the Goulets get these back in stock, I'll order.

It does depend of your screen resolution and the image size. But it's enough for you to compare and see the TWSBI M is thinner than the Lamy M.

[Brien Crotty]

I have never had a single fountain pen work perfectly out of the box. All of them required some adjustment to the nib to flow properly. This is normal as far as I can tell, unless I happen to be the unluckiest pen customer on the planet.

 

I was in the same boat until I bought a Visconti Homo Sapiens. Wrote perfectly out of the box, and still does. It has consequently become my daily writer.

 

I'm definitely going to have to pick up some feeler gauges to adjust my other pens!

 

B

[fourseamer]

I think a .4mm line sounds great for a Medium.

Different strokes for different folks, but 0.4mm is the equivalent of a Western XF or a Japanese F. I'd be less than happy if I bought a pen with a M nib that wrote a line that narrow.

[AlejoPlay]

I think a .4mm line sounds great for a Medium.

Different strokes for different folks, but 0.4mm is the equivalent of a Western XF or a Japanese F. I'd be less than happy if I bought a pen with a M nib that wrote a line that narrow.

 

It works for me. I use pens mostly for journaling and creative writing and I prefer a tighter, more controlled line (and I want to use more of the page, especially when using nicer paper that I can't necessarily afford to buy tons of).

[alc3261]

This thread needs a little eye candy.

 

Here you go: (Ink is Iroshizuku Kon Peki! )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exactly what will you do to improve flow, I'm having problems with my Vac 700 too?

 

 

 

Just got mine yesterday, and I'm loving it so far. It's a nicer pen than the 540 in my opinion. And TWSBI has been improving those cap threads! They're smooooth on this pen.

 

My nib was a tad dry out of the box, but some finger-tuning got it up to about 6/10. Very, very smooth, but I will take it out to the shop for some more flow adjustment later.

 

Overall, I think the Vac700 is a great buy. I'll save my full impressions for after the first half month, but for now, I'm loving it!