Just Received My Twsbi Vac 700

[SamCapote]

I received mine over the weekend and didn't even test it. Entirely too large and uncomfortable in my hand. It would have been fine if the grip was smaller, but just wasn't going to work for me unfortunately. Back it went.

 

Sorry to hear that, but now I'm actually excited to get it in my man hands. I like MB 149, Duofold, Pelikan M1000, Nakaya Cigar Long, etc.

Edited May 9, 2012 by SamCapote

[PeterBeoworld]

Received mine from the Writing Desk - as usual superb service, good packaging and much quicker than I had expected. Filled with Kon-Peki, it is not bad at all - no ink clumping as seen above though I do find it a little dry - it doesn't keep up with my upstrokes! I'll be looking out for my feeler gauges!

Very comfortable to use - I had been concerned about the section step - and just the right size for me - I use it non posted. The nib is very firm but I am used to more vintage nibs. Is in my jacket pocket next to my Onoto Nickelby - ironically an Onoto without a plunger fill!

[Surnia]

So, uh, I've used mine for about two days now.

 

First, my faithful sidekick, Cinnamin, had trouble with hers (the sapphire) refusing to write. (Yeah, she's in the same office so I assume it's an Amber problem). We reinked it. What she HATES is that the ink looks like it's separating. (The ink isn't actually separating, but it is spotting along the plastic like hard water spots). I'm assuming that this is the nature of the vacuum fill. What say you all?

 

 

 

 

Too much silicone grease =p

 

It happens when the gaskets/seals are over-greased and the excess gets left along the inside of the barrel. Just actuate the mechanism a few times, and it should clear up.

[Amandaa]

Interesting. I've yet to find a pen that I find uncomfortable at all let alone to the point I wouldn't use it.

 

Me either, this is a first for me. But I do use my pens not just stare at them and I didn't want it sitting around. Plus I do have smaller hands

 

 

I received mine over the weekend and didn't even test it. Entirely too large and uncomfortable in my hand. It would have been fine if the grip was smaller, but just wasn't going to work for me unfortunately. Back it went.

 

Sorry to hear that, but now I'm actually excited to get it in my man hands. I like MB 149, Duofold, Pelikan M1000, Nakaya Cigar Long, etc.

 

Hehe! It's a good sized pen thats for sure! It wasn't so much the length for me, just too much grip section for my small fingers to handle. Hope it suits your man hands!

[amberleadavis]

So, uh, I've used mine for about two days now.

 

First, my faithful sidekick, Cinnamin, had trouble with hers (the sapphire) refusing to write. (Yeah, she's in the same office so I assume it's an Amber problem). We reinked it. What she HATES is that the ink looks like it's separating. (The ink isn't actually separating, but it is spotting along the plastic like hard water spots). I'm assuming that this is the nature of the vacuum fill. What say you all?

 

 

 

 

Too much silicone grease =p

 

It happens when the gaskets/seals are over-greased and the excess gets left along the inside of the barrel. Just actuate the mechanism a few times, and it should clear up.

 

Thank you!!

 

Now, how do I "actuate the mechanism" ???

[ticoun]

So, uh, I've used mine for about two days now.

 

First, my faithful sidekick, Cinnamin, had trouble with hers (the sapphire) refusing to write. (Yeah, she's in the same office so I assume it's an Amber problem). We reinked it. What she HATES is that the ink looks like it's separating. (The ink isn't actually separating, but it is spotting along the plastic like hard water spots). I'm assuming that this is the nature of the vacuum fill. What say you all?

 

 

 

 

Too much silicone grease =p

 

It happens when the gaskets/seals are over-greased and the excess gets left along the inside of the barrel. Just actuate the mechanism a few times, and it should clear up.

 

Thank you!!

 

Now, how do I "actuate the mechanism" ???

Empty the pen, then pull and push the plunger a few times. It should clean those spots in no time.

[novarider]

So are these having skipping issues? Should I wait to order one?

[MiloWilo]

Just had confirmation from purepens.co.uk that my Vac 700 Sapphire is on its way! Apparently they have just had their shipment. I am worrying that I ordered the wrong colour now tho! The smoked looks so nice, may have to get another one, or just the whole set!

[amberleadavis]

So, uh, I've used mine for about two days now.

 

First, my faithful sidekick, Cinnamin, had trouble with hers (the sapphire) refusing to write. (Yeah, she's in the same office so I assume it's an Amber problem). We reinked it. What she HATES is that the ink looks like it's separating. (The ink isn't actually separating, but it is spotting along the plastic like hard water spots). I'm assuming that this is the nature of the vacuum fill. What say you all?

 

 

 

 

Too much silicone grease =p

 

It happens when the gaskets/seals are over-greased and the excess gets left along the inside of the barrel. Just actuate the mechanism a few times, and it should clear up.

 

Thank you!!

 

Now, how do I "actuate the mechanism" ???

Empty the pen, then pull and push the plunger a few times. It should clean those spots in no time.

 

 

THANK YOU!

 

Do you think the extra grease may be what's causing it to stick? The sapphire stops writing even though it has ink. It's like it's a vacuum.

 

 

[Surnia]

THANK YOU!

 

Do you think the extra grease may be what's causing it to stick? The sapphire stops writing even though it has ink. It's like it's a vacuum.

 

Just making sure, you're opening up the vaccuum seal before you write, right? xD

 

otherwise, you can always do a detergent flush (ear bulb syringe, get a small bowl and mix 3-4 drops into water. use the syringe to flush through the feed a few times, then repeat with water to flush all detergent out) through the feed and see if it helps.

 

If THAT doesn't work, try a different ink, it could be surface tension from that particular ink that's stopping it from writing (the TWSBIs are a bit more susceptible, the 530/540 at least).

[Ernst Bitterman]

So, uh, I've used mine for about two days now.

 

First, my faithful sidekick, Cinnamin, had trouble with hers (the sapphire) refusing to write. (Yeah, she's in the same office so I assume it's an Amber problem). We reinked it. What she HATES is that the ink looks like it's separating. (The ink isn't actually separating, but it is spotting along the plastic like hard water spots). I'm assuming that this is the nature of the vacuum fill. What say you all?

 

 

{That picture}

 

Too much silicone grease =p

 

It happens when the gaskets/seals are over-greased and the excess gets left along the inside of the barrel. Just actuate the mechanism a few times, and it should clear up.

 

Thank you!!

 

Now, how do I "actuate the mechanism" ???

Empty the pen, then pull and push the plunger a few times. It should clean those spots in no time.

 

 

THANK YOU!

 

Do you think the extra grease may be what's causing it to stick? The sapphire stops writing even though it has ink. It's like it's a vacuum.

 

I'll insult slightly by asking if you've eased off the shut-off valve. Then I'll possibly commiserate, as mine was acting the the same way when filled with Diamine Prussian Blue. Apparently mine hates that ink; I've tried Pelikan Royal Blue and black in it, with much better results (although I'm still considering opening the slit a mite).

 

edit, in response to what I find is now the immediately preceding message- you know, given the frequency this sort of thing happens, I'm just going to compose these messages and let the other person who's typing the same thing at a slightly faster rate do the actual posting.

Edited May 10, 2012 by Ernst Bitterman

[Zanshin]

So are these having skipping issues? Should I wait to order one?

 

Experience seems to be variable. Mine was awful out of the box, very dry, inconsistent ink flow, extremely poor starter and yes, when it decided to write, it skipped plenty. It took me a while but I've got it working nicely now, smooth but still not 100% skip free although it doesn't happen often. I have a medium nib and it's not as wet as the 540 medium but I think just a littler smoother, at last.

 

Maybe TWSBI will improve their quality control so we can all get a more consistent experience and make it worth waiting. It depends how much you want one I guess.

[novarider]

Is the VAC 700 reliable enough to be a Daily Writer? I use a Waterman Phileas in F now (its not fancy but it works first time, EVERY time)It's a tad wet for my use and just a little bit scratchey.

 

Will the VAC 700 in XF be smoother than what I currently use or maybe the F? I want smoother and just a tad (not much tho) drier than my Phileas.

[Scylax]

I can't compare with the pen you mention, but the EF nib on my Vac is very smooth compared to any non-TWSBI EF nibs I have. It's not that wet either. Obviously I have no idea whether it will last for years as a daily writer but I can't see why not. I'm certainly hoping mine will be!

[Bill Wood]

The 540 is a dry writer with both medium nibs. I suggest that the 700 is the same way. Feeler gauges and a light flossing with acetate makes a world of difference. Try it on the 700 and you'll be very happy I'm sure. Sounds like a big pen. Perhaps I won't have to post

[photobadger]

I'm struggling with this pen. On one hand I love the look, the weight, the overall feel and the smoothness of the nib. On the other hand I'm having major startup and skipping issues. I have done the back off by two turns to no avail and at one point just pulled the vac back to squirt some ink out of the nib. It wrote then, but soon stopped again. It's going to depress me to have to return it.

[SteveE]

A couple of points:

1. I find that with my 700 I have to not only unscrew the filler knob, but also pull it back slightly, until I feel it "unlatch." Then ink flows normally. If I just unscrew the cap, mine doesn't lift the plunger far enough to enable enough ink to flow to keep up with the nib.

2. I have a medium nib. At first it wrote well but was too dry for my liking. Somewhere I found a video in which Speedy shows how to squeeze the shoulders of the nib together, toward the feed, to slightly open the nib slit. He uses pliers, I used my fingers. It opened my nib up just enough to become a gloriously smooth, wet medium writer with nary a skip on any stroke.

 

The pen writes very well, doesn't look bad, but I find the need to open the ink valve just a bit more "fiddly" than I'm used to with any other pen I have. (And I have lever fillers, button fillers, a bulb filler, a pump filler, lots of c/c pens, many piston fillers and even a couple of ED's.)

 

Of course, this is just mu $.02. YMMV

 

SteveE

[amberleadavis]

Thanks All!

 

I haven't had the problem yet (which other posters will tell you is a first) this time it's the faithful sidekick's pen (we have coordinating ink accoutrements).

 

So, to answer the questions....

 

Cin's is the Sapphire filled with Diamine Apple Green (she's had Diamine Apple Green in both times this issue has happened).

 

Describe "laying off" - I've tried pulling the little plunger but it ends up being easier to just empty and refill. Which is making her crazy.

 

She's insisting that it must be returned and then I will be back with the clear 540 because you know that the amber 540 is yellow and not "amber" so I can't be caught dead accessorizing with a "non-amber Amber pen. And I don't think our insurance policy covers chromotherapy.

Edited May 11, 2012 by amberleadavis

[liapuyat]

I've had mine a couple of days, a Sapphire Vac 700 in M. I filled it with Binder Burgundy (1:1 Waterman Purple to Sheaffer Skrip Red). It wrote off the bat without skipping, but made a slightly drier/thinner line than the M nib in my Smoke 540. If later on I find I want it slightly wetter, I'll tweak it. So far it writes well enough for me.

 

I find that the nib and section fit in the 5ml ink sample vial like the Goulets sell ink samples in. If I fill it about 2.5ml full, and put the nib and section in, the ink level is deep enough for a single plunge fill (half the reservoir) without spilling ink. I suppose if I wanted to totally fill the reservoir I'd have to invert, release air, plunge and fill again (and a third time, if necessary). The only thing is I'd have to make sure the ink level is at the 2.5ml mark each time I do that. Fortunately I like changing inks, so I don't really require a full reservoir.

[Surnia]

So, to answer the questions....

 

Cin's is the Sapphire filled with Diamine Apple Green (she's had Diamine Apple Green in both times this issue has happened).

 

Describe "laying off" - I've tried pulling the little plunger but it ends up being easier to just empty and refill. Which is making her crazy.

 

She's insisting that it must be returned and then I will be back with the clear 540 because you know that the amber 540 is yellow and not "amber" so I can't be caught dead accessorizing with a "non-amber Amber pen. And I don't think our insurance policy covers chromotherapy.

 

Would she be willing to switch inks? sounds like its a surface tension problem...

 

You can try adding a VERY small amount of detergent (fraction of a drop if you can) to a single fill, and see if it helps. However, it will make the ink feather more, and be slightly wetter.