Eco Vs Diamond Mini

[AlanO]

I'm planning to get a TWSBI pen with a 1.1 nib, and I've been looking at the Diamond Mini - the 580 and Vac are a bit too big for my small hands, as I always like to write with the caps posted.

 

But then I saw the Eco, which is a bit shorter posted than the others and a lot cheaper, and I'm now torn between the Mini and the Eco - the Mini is around £40 in the UK, with the Eco about £25. I know the Eco is made with low cost in mind, but I'm just wondering what corners have been cut and what I'd get for the extra money for the Mini (other than the best looking pen of the lot )

 

Alan

[Notgatherox]

If you're asking about the corners cut, on the Eco, the metal bits are removed, and you're only left with a metal cap band. The rest is plastic.

 

The body is one circular piece of plastic, unlike the faceted barrel of the Mini.

 

The nib is smaller, nib unit is friction fit, instead of a different unit that can be screwed out on the Mini.

 

The wrench is now plastic, not metal (it still works great though!)

 

 

What do you get in the Mini? The opposite of what is listed up there. Oh, plus the Mini has threads at the back so you can screw the cap on for posting.

 

Is it worth it? That depends on you.

 

As for me, I would get the Eco. It has a bigger ink capacity, is a full sized pen so I don't have to post (I don't like posting) and since the nib unit is one piece, less risk of breakage. Plus it's cheaper.

 

 

~Epic

Edited October 13, 2015 by Lord Epic

[AlanO]

Thanks, that's exactly the kind of info I was after.

 

Alan

[Doug C]

I have both and like both. Epic did a great job of going over the differences. You will end of up getting the other one too so it doesn't make any difference which one you get first. BTW, the 1.1 stub is one of the nicest I have and I am including $1000 pens.

Edited October 13, 2015 by Doug C

[AlanO]

You will end of up getting the other one too so it doesn't make any difference which one you get first.

 

Haha, you're probably right

 

BTW, the 1.1 stub is one of the nicest I have and I am including $1000 pens.

 

Wow, that really is saying something - I'll be getting at least one of them, for sure!

 

Alan

[Starguard]

I concur with everything said so far, I got the Eco first and the Mini arrived today, they both have 1.1 stubs and they are both splendid pens.

[Jamerelbe]

I bought a Diamond 580 and a Mini over 2 years ago, and still use them regularly. I really like both - but the Mini has one downside, namely, it's a bit short to write with comfortably unless you post it. Which means you *have* to uncap then screw-to-post, so quick note-taking is a bit of a hassle. Also, they have a bit of a reputation for cracking - this is the *only* TWSBI pen (of the 6 I own) that I *personally* have had this problem with (the cap developed a hairline crack - and was promptly replaced for me).

 

I've been using an Eco for the past couple of months, and I love it - don't ask me to express a preference, I'd find that difficult to do! The Eco does have its downsides, though: it's a little harder to clean (in order to change inks) without completely disassembling; you can't buy replacement nibs / nib units (at least, not yet); the nib and feed are friction fit into the grip section, and are maybe a little bit *too* easy to pull out (I'm hoping that doesn't become an issue over time); and some buyers have complained that their cap falls off too easily. The upside with Eco (apart from the killer price) is that you can write with it comfortably, posted or unposted.

 

I don't think you can go too far wrong either way - and wish you the best with your purchasing decision!

[EBUCKTHORN]

I have both. If you prefer to write with your pens posted and if you like the diameter-to-length ratio of the Mini you might notice a significant difference between the two. The Eco offers great value and I was very impressed when it arrived but, when I try to write with it posted it isn't as comfortable as the Mini. This is undoubtedly a reflection of my preference for posting and for shorter pens and I mention it only because you said you have small hands. I don't but the Mini is often my EDC.

[Fabienne]

I am a huge TWSBI fan and I have both. My favorite? The ECO hands down. Why? I got the 1.1 stub and it's smooth, juicy, great road feel,and it's my EDC (Every Day Carry). The mini I have is great looking and cute, has a HUGE ink capacity BUT that nib is stiff for me though it's smooth there is no give.

 

My vote goes to the ECO, it's a fabulous pen, the price is very low, and if it's plastic so what? What do you think "precious resin" is?

 

ECO.

[AlanO]

Thanks for all the great help, folks. It sounds like both pens have advantages, and that I really am going to have to go for the obvious solution

 

I think it might be a Mini first, as it sounds like that will better fit my small hands and my liking for posting, but I'm sure an Eco will follow. Roll on payday - ooh, that's tomorrow!

 

And yes, there's nothing wrong with plastic at all - it was one of our most world-changing inventions.

 

Alan

[twdpens]

 

The nib is smaller, nib unit is friction fit, instead of a different unit that can be screwed out on the Mini.

The Eco and Mini use the same nib and feed (as does the Classic). As you wrote, it doesn't have a screw-in assembly hence can't be changed as easily (and TWSBI doesn't offer spare nibs for sale).

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[Notgatherox]

The Eco and Mini use the same nib and feed (as does the Classic). As you wrote, it doesn't have a screw-in assembly hence can't be changed as easily (and TWSBI doesn't offer spare nibs for sale).

 

HTH,

 

Martin

 

Oops, what I meant to say was that the Mini had a different nib unit that was screw in. I'm glad the Eco and Mini uses the same nib - I bought a 1.1 stub for the Eco and swopped that out for a F nib that came from the Mini.

 

 

 

~Epic

[sirgilbert357]

The Eco and Mini use the same nib and feed (as does the Classic). As you wrote, it doesn't have a screw-in assembly hence can't be changed as easily (and TWSBI doesn't offer spare nibs for sale).

 

HTH,

 

Martin

 

If the Mini and Eco use the same nib and feed, couldn't one just buy extra Mini nibs and pull the nib and feed from the collar and put them in the Eco?

 

The 1.1 and 1.5 I have for my Mini Classic are great, but did require adjustment and smoothing.

[twdpens]

 

If the Mini and Eco use the same nib and feed, couldn't one just buy extra Mini nibs and pull the nib and feed from the collar and put them in the Eco?

 

Yes, you can, but be aware that pulling the nib and feed from a Diamond mini nib collar is not that easy. They are a very tight fit and the grip required can result in the collector fins breaking.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

[Jamerelbe]

I managed to pull apart my Mini EF nib unit, and very nearly broke a couple of fins in the process - won't be repeating that exercise in a hurry! That's the main problem with purchasing mini nib units as a source for an Eco. A second 'problem' (or at least a disincentive) is the fact that a Mini nib unit is $20, vs $28.99 for an additional pen...

[sirgilbert357]

I managed to pull apart my Mini EF nib unit, and very nearly broke a couple of fins in the process - won't be repeating that exercise in a hurry! That's the main problem with purchasing mini nib units as a source for an Eco. A second 'problem' (or at least a disincentive) is the fact that a Mini nib unit is $20, vs $28.99 for an additional pen...

 

That price disparity is certainly a motivator to just get a whole new pen with the nib you want...but the 1.5 is now discontinued, so if you want that one, you may have no choice but to buy it as a nib unit only (I found mine on eBay sold direct from TWSBI).

[sirgilbert357]

 

Yes, you can, but be aware that pulling the nib and feed from a Diamond mini nib collar is not that easy. They are a very tight fit and the grip required can result in the collector fins breaking.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

 

Yeah, I bent two of the fins on my Mini when I first did it. But they bent back into place thankfully. It's easier to push the feed out of the collar from behind (push on the part that sticks out while holding the collar)--came out MUCH easier this way. Have to be careful you don't send your nib shooting across the room though...LOL.

Edited October 14, 2015 by sirgilbert357

[Sasha Royale]

I have both. If I had only £25, I would get the ECO. It is good value. However, I can afford the full

£40, so my choice would be the Mini or the full-size Diamond 580. If you are determined to take things apart, the ECO is cheaper to replace, when you break yours. Otherwise, the Mini.

[AlanO]

Well, I've decided which one to buy first, and have just ordered a Diamond Mini with the 1.1 nib plus a 1.5 nib. I don't expect it will be too long before I get an Eco too (next payday perhaps).

 

Thanks again everyone for your help.

 

Alan

 

[AlanO]

My Diamond Mini is already with me - very quick shipping from The Writing Desk, who deserve a nod.

 

When it's posted, the size is nice for my small hands, so all's well on that front - I think I'd have to use the bigger TWSBI pens unposted.

 

The Mini has a quality feel to it, with a bit of solidity and weight. The plastic material seems of reasonably high density, the threads are smooth and tight, and the metal fittings give it a good overall look and feel. Comparing it to my only other demonstrator, a Lamy Safari Vista, the TWSBI is an obviously more expensive pen even if you don't know the prices.

 

I haven't tried the 1.5 nib yet and I don't know whether it will suit me, but I thought I had to get one now while they're still available or else miss my chance to try one.

 

So far I've only had a brief trial with the 1.1 nib, which is the first stub nib I've ever used, so it was with some trepidation. And I'm very impressed so far - I love the changes to the look of my writing when I use the pen at different angles (and that makes me think I should also try an oblique nib some time).

 

I have it inked with Waterman Serenity Blue at the moment, as that's a well-behaved ink that flows nicely without flooding, and with the amount of ink that the 1.1 nib lays down it look glorious - darker than with any other nib I've tried so far, for sure. And even with quite a heavy amount of ink on the paper, I don't get any feather or bleed, so this pen and this ink make a great combination on my cheap notepad and my Black n' Red book.

 

My immediate question now is not when to get an Eco (which I'm still confident I will), but whether I should get another couple of Minis with 1.1 nibs to keep inked with different colours - I can't help thinking the Pelikan 4001 inks would work very nicely in it (I have blue-black, turquoise, and violet).

 

Nearly a month until next payday...

 

Alan