I bought a TWSBI Eco piston filler at a retail store while visiting in downtown Portland, Oregon, for US$32.00 (on sale, orange). Funky, fun, and functional. It is the only fountain pen I've had inked up continuously. Never fails to write immediately, smoothly and nicely wet, no matter how many days I have it capped. From a practical writing point of view, the Eco puts Italian pens costing 5x as much to shame, including the one I bought, which is now buried in an unmarked grave.
I bought TWSBI ECO (Stub1.1) and Diamond ALR (Prussian Blue - B) just a day before this review!. Would have opted for the medium if I knew broad was a gusher. This covid-19 has been a pain for everyone but I've rediscovered writing and found some solace in it and watching your videos! ofourse!
You will find that unlike the PenBBS309 the piston does not stick after every fill and there is almost no evaporative loss of ink. I have a Eco filled with Diamine Orange that has been filled for several months and it writes every time - the gasket on the section is very effective.
Ahhhh Coffee and a pen review from Doug. Excellent and just what the doc ordered.👑🔥 I have a Twsbi Eco and a Diamond 580 which were gifted to me. I also have a couple of Go models. Honestly, I only ever use the Go. A+ for that quote.
Excellent review plus you’re an extremely talented guitar player. My brother was raised w/an acoustic guitar and toured with the school music group playing classical music. As an adult, after work he plays a five string bass, and his largest audience (an event for men called “Promis Keepers”) was at the Coliseum in Oakland, California with a crowd of 10,000. He’s my big brother, so I have to give him a shout out! 😊 The two of you would get along well together and really have a great time. Thanks again for the great review, wonderful insights and the best Joan Rivers’ quote! Looking forward to your next review. New fan. 🙌🏼
Great review, as usual, Doug! It's funny how 'feel' is such an individual thing ... the 580 is my go-to for many tasks, and I really enjoy the cool, smooth feel of the barrel, which I find unique. To me, it feels like a high-quality material. On the other hand, the Platinum 3776 - another pen I cherish (for its SF nib) feels cheap to me. And I agree - Penbbs is a standout for true value (build quality, writing experience / nib, verve in design, and acrylic aesthetic).
@Edison Trent Indeed! Thanks, Edison. Here is the update notice from TW _SBI's website " _We all know everyone is used to taking apart our pens and giving them a thorough cleaning. However, with the 580 Aluminum version, we put a special grease around the aluminum parts for smooth operations. Please do NOT wipe this grease off when cleaning. Contrary to popular belief, changing colors for the pen does NOT require disassembly and cleaning of the back end."_
Great video! I especially liked the disassembly section of the video. I'm fairly new to fountain pens and am curious about how to correctly utilize the silicone grease. Is it for lubricant or for sealing various parts of the pen?
The Eco is actually one of my favorite Fountain pens for art. However, seeing the sticker price you payed for the 580, I can’t imagine what the import duties + taxes would raise the price of. In the US, I can get one for about 30 USD, any more expensive than that, and I would definitely think twice. Watching reviews of Twsbi pens, and listening for the phrase “ink sloshing around” is an excellent (and dangerous) drinking game. But seriously, it is fun to watch the ink sloshing around. Also, I just reviewed the 3008 on my channel about 3 weeks ago, and I did that clicky thing a bunch of times. Feels like more of a homage than a copy, especially with the improvement to the blind cap. Good video, I enjoyed hearing your thoughts. This Twsbi fanboy felt your criticisms were fair.
TWSBI is a love hate relationship for me. I have several but almost every single one has cracked at some point or another. That said however TWSBI customer service is second to none. They have always promptly answered my emails and replaced the broken component for the cost of shipping (usually $4.00)
Just a wild, random thought. A mistake, which is sometimes done by subcontractors, is to re-use sprue in the injection molding process. While this is routine, and seems economical and eco friendly, it shouldn't be done with construction plastics, when molding mechanical parts.
I agree every single opinion about this TWSBI. This was my first TWSBI because this is the best looking one and I hated their logo on the finial, which looked like the "international biohazard sign"🤣🤣🤣🤣 I am so delighted to have another person who has the same opinion. However, the irony is that I became a TWSBI fan girl, after I got this pen though no matter how their logo looks like and now I got so many TWSBI pens.
Thanks for another great video Dr Doug. A very handsome looking pen! I got my original 580 (or was it called 560/540?) from a friend who spent part of his degree in Taiwan. At the time, we didn’t have the delights of PenBBS here in the West, and no other non-cartridge converter pens - which made it was quite a revelation! It did crack but the company replaced my pen with no charges, at all. I was very impressed. (The nibs are German, are they not? That’ll be why it’s expensive. The pen is quite revolutionary for the time).
I remember agreeing with you on the Pilot Metropolitan section a while back. (We are in the minority.) So when when you mention anything about the comfort of a section or step I take note. I find the section of the Eco very comfortable because there is hardly a step and I don’t notice the threads. But I will do more research before purchasing the 580. Thanks for the thorough review.
I’ve dabbled with having TWSBIs before, beautiful looking pens but I can’t justify the high price for the cheap feel and lack of posting. PenBBS has them beat in just about every respect, except maybe nib selection and accessories
I paired my TWSBI Diamond 580 Rose Gold II (dang that’s a long name!) with Diamine Ancient Copper. It flows beautifully and looks great in that barrel. I tried a high sheening ink in my Prussian Blue ALR, and had flow issues similar to yours. I also got a set of TWSBI inks, and they are lovely colors, but not sheening or shimmer. I think that’s probably a hint; standard inks for TWSBI pens, please!
Always fun to watch your Penventures. I have to agree, TWSBI's are a hit and miss. I have 5, standard Diamond 580, mini, an ECO-T, a Vac Mini and the 700R. Only 2 of them had decent nibs right from the start. [The 700R in M and the Vac mini in B] The others I either had to tweak, or get replacement nibs. And they can be still frustrating. I did not have to deal with so much tweaking with my 10 PenBBS's. You are the PenBBS Evangelist, and rightfully so. Happy Times in Pen Valley High 🐱👤
Wow ! This pen looks gorgeous.. I was planning to buy Eco Rose Gold as my first Twsbi which looked great in pics., but it looked not so good and a little too ‘plasticky’ in UA-cam reviews.. May be I’ll get this one someday !
My previous comment was not meant a criticism of Mr Rathburn. I enjoy his reviews. I was on the verge of purchasing this pen as my first TWISBI. However, after the issues with the thread and posting I shall save myself the disappointment. Thanks for the heads up.
I have a Wing Sung 3008 I threw in a box over a year ago. Recently ran the nib upside down on micro mesh.....Now, I write with it daily. My Leonardo sits in a box, the Opus 88 Koloro ....box.....Lamy 2000...box, you get my drift.
Yeah I get it, Stacy! :) I have four 3008s. Three of them have rusty caps and the one that doesn't, has a cracked barrel. And only three of them were inked and then cleaned and stored. The cracked barrel one was never inked. LOL Go figure.
I replaced the screws in all my 3008s with a plastic screw from Amazon. I prefer those with the lamy style nib - all the pilot style have been scratchy, including those on the 3013 vac filler.
At last! I've been waiting for the chance of an uninterrupted half hour to enjoy this video, and I've finally got it (more or less)! I've been tempted by Twsbis, but I can't justify the price against PenBBS...
I find it a little nuts that TWSBI pretty much popularized the use of Rose Gold trim and now almost every pen company is jumping on the band wagon but back to the pen. I personally think the 580 is a good pen but I've never really had much success with Twsbi nibs and my 580 AL was no exception, my broad wrote very dry, layed down thin lines, had a lot of drag, and was slightly over polished in certain areas which made it feel both slighty smooth and overly feedbacky depending on the angle I wrote in. Other minor things bothered me like the rough threads which made me compensate by over tightening the cap, the use of a smoky cap liner in a clear cap always confused the hell out of me, the oddly slipper section, and the use of a wide #5 nib which looks a little odd (IMO), If I were to redo my purchase I'd stick with my Moonman T1.
Good to hear I'm not the only one with the TWSBI Nib Blues! They're really quite a drag, 😆 a hit or miss affair. And for all the praise JoWo nibs usually get, them TWSBIs are not their best.
@@InkquiringMinds I got the green one used in a FB group with a custom grind by Taiwanese nib meister Tommy Zheng. It's a nice writer and a good fit for my lefty grip. TWSBI as a brand took a while to grow on me, but you still wouldn't catch me dead with a Go.
Shows how pricing is subjective. The price of 580's and especially Eco's has made me view all steel nib Pelikan pens as excessively priced, especially now that a on sale m205 is over $90 and based on reviews is smaller than a pilot metropolitan.
Genuine question : What is the point of pen reviewers reverse writing? Why would anyone want to write with a back to front nib? If I wanted a finer line, I would use a pen with a finer nib. All you do with reverse writing is use the pen in a way that is not intended for it to be used and then some reviewers comment that it does not write properly.
I don't personally use reverse writing but many people do. It is useful if you often use your fountain pen on cheap copier paper or forms where you need to keep the pen very dry and a lot thinner. It is also useful if you require different thicknesses of line without flexing - so like sketching or asian calligraphy.
I spoke with a nib grinder about reverse writing and he told me that it isn't advised. When you write with a fp the tines separate slightly. When reverse writing the tines naturally press together and inhibit ink flow. This can cause people to press harder potentially damaging their nib slightly for correct writing
@@mai-linhmainor5965 I doubt flipping the nib will damage it. And some nibs perform well at reverse writing. I'm reviewing a pen Saturday that has a Bock titanium nib that is designed to write in reverse. Sketch artists do it all the time.
Nice review, Dougmore. I agree with your general assessment of TWSBI; they’re good pens but overpriced when considering the competition. Now, is the RG for you or Winnie?
@@InkquiringMinds Curious to know which color ( I can wait till your review though !).. Some Decimo colors ( eg., Champagne ) cost about 900 USD here in India.. Not sure why ! A regular VP costs 200 USD ( I’ve a black with golden trim )..
@@InkquiringMinds I had not considered that but you have an extremely valid point there! The feeds do have to be larger to allow it to flow properly. I have a broad twisbi Eco and a Stub Nib Twsbi Classic... and both have a similar hard start on the shimmer effect. I had not considered that before! You just taught me something new there! Thank you!!
I like my TWSBI GO, but all their other models I think are too expensive. Not clear to me why they are so popular. Is this pen worth double my metal, German, LAMY CP1 I keep raving about? Not to me. Though I do admit this TWSBI is a looker.
Got myself a 580ALR with stub nib. I agree number 6 size nib would look great but it does write pretty well. I probably wouldn't have bought it if not for the discounted price I got it for.
I own several models of twsbi, but I haven't really used any of them ever since PENBBS came into the picture. My 580 have not cracked, but the screw that held the clip and finial somehow rusted after a month of normal use.
Doug, sorry you don't love the 580. I have a 580 alr Prussian Blue and really enjoy it. At first the section on the alr felt weird because it's not just anodized there are tactile ring groves on it which gives a good purchase on the section making it totally non slippery. As for the threads I really don't notice them when writing. I have to totally agree with you about the inability to post the pen. Why can't everyone make their pens postable? And yes the Pelikan M800 is wonderful when posted. The TWSBI mini was designed with threads on the knob end of the barrel the securely post that model why not something like that for the 580. Anyway as always I enjoyed your review, candor and humor. Keep up the excellent work.
Thanks, Richard. I was torn between getting this 580 RG and the white and rose gold mini. I was afraid the mini might be TOO mini. But the way it posts intrigued me.
The only TWSBI I have is the Precision (similar to the classic). I like the mechanical appearance. I got it in fine and it was a bit scratchy. I did a thing bit of work to it and I like it. I contemplated getting a 580ALR now I'm not sure. Perhaps way down the road. As always, fun review - thanks.
I have the same pen, but I got mine from Pen Realm with a custom nib. The pen writes like a dream. I also got a TWSBI Draco with a different custom nib, and oh my gosh I can’t tell you how much I love it. I will be sending a Conklin and another TWSBI i have to have their nibs customized by Pen Realm. The shipping is super fast, and their prices... let me just tell you... you’ll be surprised. Pleasantly surprised. Oh, and for ink... check out Cult Pens. I am addicted to Diamine and they have the best prices I’ve ever seen, even if you add the shipping prices they are still much much cheaper than anywhere else. Always enjoying your reviews.
I have three TWSBIs. One Classic (which broke spontaneously in my hand, confirming all the rumors of fragility I'd heard), one 580 and one 580AL. Treat them gently, would be my advice. 🙄
Yeah, I suspect they've had issues with their formulation for their plastics and the processes for injection molding. Perhaps their temperatures are off and cause micro-stress fractures in the material as it cools.
Dr Horrible amd Twsbi Eco are pretty much the same thing to me as well. I bought a cheap eco, in a broad nib, just to use as an ink testing pen.it is “okay” but the money for an eco can be spent on a PENBBS 308 or a Wing Sung 699 or a Moonman T1 or M800 and the person would have more fun with each of those than the Eco.
I really like that pen 580 Diamond RG, but I also like the Vac 700 Iris. I have a 3008, looks and writes fine, but the piston nub rattles a bit. In the review it looks like the 580 is bigger.
I have two TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR pens, one in silver, one in Prussian Blue. Somehow, the "rose gold bug" never bit me, and I'm not very fond of the color whatsoever. The glut of irridescent rainbow trims and rose gold trims the past couple of years have done absolutely nothing for me. Of course, as is my wont, both my 580s are in EF.
I have to admit Twsbis are not that attractive to me. To try the brand, I bought a Twsbi Eco with a fine nib and was disappointed when the nib performed more like a hefty medium. I switched it for an extra fine and, even though it improved, I was not impress. I very seldom use it now.
The two Diamond 540 I had disintegrated. I bothered to get replacement parts for the first one because I've bought several nibs for it but when the second one AND the first one developed new cracks I gave up totally on that brand. I'll never buy a third TWSBI. Life is too short and there are too many finer brands that produce pens without programmed obsolescence. I have pens from the 1930's that I trust more to not crack than those &?%?%% piece of cheap ?%$??.
I know many TWSBI owners have had the same complaints. The TWSBI company has stated they had issues with cracking and have solved the problem with the newer pens. From the website "However, as we moved onto the late 540 model and now the 580 model and all other models; we have addressed, learned, and fixed this issue. The pens now do not have the previous issue anymore. With that said, we are still improving and will always continuously do so with each product we make. "
@@InkquiringMinds They made similar declarations when they switched from the 530 to the 540. Then again when the first batch of 540s were replaced by the second or third edition of the 540, then also when they released the 540AL with aluminium parts. when they release the Vac, then the Mini. Etc. They sound like politicians, "The previous government was incompetent but, us, the new 'improved' government will solve all their shortcomings". And the cycle repeat itself. My second 540 was an "improved" 540 that shouldn't had "any of the previous issues anymore", still it disintegrated,. Not some small unnoticeable crack but literally disintegrated. The end of the barrel where the knob is fell off... while the pen was in storage at constant temperature and humidity, not exposed to light. And that's after receiving replacement parts. I was basically rebuilding the pen by ordering new parts every six months. So, for me, TWSBI demonstrators are not worth the bother. That said, I wish you better luck with yours. And if it cracks, it will make a good follow up video. (^_^)
@@InkquiringMinds yes, that's true, they did gave free replacements for both the pens, now different parts are broken and now I am no more in US, I am in India now. My point is, why quality is bad in the first place.
@@purumr The nibs are great - Bock. But I think their clear, injection-molded plastics have cracking issues due to how they are manufactured. I'm no engineer, but I know some plastics have stress fractures due to improper heat/cool tolerances when injected/extruded.
Shipping, Surprised DHL never opened the package. To me, they open not just gift box but the content. They are the worst company in shipping international. Even UPS, behave they have your package shipped with a content or illegal drug. I stick to USPS. Safe, Also love Royal mail, the queens own mail.
Yeah. I'm not super-impressed with the 580. I won't be getting a Vac700. I was thinking of it to compare with my Penbbs 456s and Wing Sung 699, but it isn't worth the money to find out.
Coffee Time and Fountain Pens as I sit on the couch and watch Douglas Rathbun tell me all about it!
me too! Cheers!
Thank you, Adam!
@@deanandreoli1975 cheers to you as well Dean! ☕️
I bought a TWSBI Eco piston filler at a retail store while visiting in downtown Portland, Oregon, for US$32.00 (on sale, orange). Funky, fun, and functional. It is the only fountain pen I've had inked up continuously. Never fails to write immediately, smoothly and nicely wet, no matter how many days I have it capped. From a practical writing point of view, the Eco puts Italian pens costing 5x as much to shame, including the one I bought, which is now buried in an unmarked grave.
Thanks for sharing!
I bought TWSBI ECO (Stub1.1) and Diamond ALR (Prussian Blue - B) just a day before this review!. Would have opted for the medium if I knew broad was a gusher. This covid-19 has been a pain for everyone but I've rediscovered writing and found some solace in it and watching your videos! ofourse!
Awesome! Thank you, Venkatraman!
You will find that unlike the PenBBS309 the piston does not stick after every fill and there is almost no evaporative loss of ink. I have a Eco filled with Diamine Orange that has been filled for several months and it writes every time - the gasket on the section is very effective.
My 309 would stick all the time as well. But now I leave the piston about 2mm from fully open and it never sticks anymore.
Ahhhh Coffee and a pen review from Doug. Excellent and just what the doc ordered.👑🔥
I have a Twsbi Eco and a Diamond 580 which were gifted to me. I also have a couple of Go models. Honestly, I only ever use the Go.
A+ for that quote.
Thank you, Dean!
I really love the song operator too
Excellent review plus you’re an extremely talented guitar player. My brother was raised w/an acoustic guitar and toured with the school music group playing classical music.
As an adult, after work he plays a five string bass, and his largest audience (an event for men called “Promis Keepers”) was at the Coliseum in Oakland, California with a crowd of 10,000. He’s my big brother, so I have to give him a shout out! 😊
The two of you would get along well together and really have a great time. Thanks again for the great review, wonderful insights and the best Joan Rivers’ quote! Looking forward to your next review. New fan. 🙌🏼
I own a few TWSBI's including the 580 - great work horse pens to take to work and hold buckets of ink! Great review
Right on!
My favorite pen, It writes so well!
Thanks, Nichole!
Great review, as usual, Doug! It's funny how 'feel' is such an individual thing ... the 580 is my go-to for many tasks, and I really enjoy the cool, smooth feel of the barrel, which I find unique. To me, it feels like a high-quality material. On the other hand, the Platinum 3776 - another pen I cherish (for its SF nib) feels cheap to me. And I agree - Penbbs is a standout for true value (build quality, writing experience / nib, verve in design, and acrylic aesthetic).
Thank you, PL70015!
Doug you need to take the silicon grease off the piston! If you check the instructions the metal piston mechanisms specify a lithium grease.
They are talking about the piston camshaft not the piston itself. I never touched the shaft.
@@InkquiringMinds good to hear! I have read about some issues and didnt want you to get into that situation.
@Edison Trent Indeed! Thanks, Edison. Here is the update notice from TW _SBI's website " _We all know everyone is used to taking apart our pens and giving them a thorough cleaning. However, with the 580 Aluminum version, we put a special grease around the aluminum parts for smooth operations. Please do NOT wipe this grease off when cleaning.
Contrary to popular belief, changing colors for the pen does NOT require disassembly and cleaning of the back end."_
I have 3 Twsbi broad nibs and they're all firehoses like you described! Nice for some shimmer inks or inks with high surface tension like Sailor :)
Good to know!
If you tune up the nib, this is a dream to write with
Great video! I especially liked the disassembly section of the video. I'm fairly new to fountain pens and am curious about how to correctly utilize the silicone grease. Is it for lubricant or for sealing various parts of the pen?
It is a sealant against leaking and also lubricates pistons.
The Eco is actually one of my favorite Fountain pens for art. However, seeing the sticker price you payed for the 580, I can’t imagine what the import duties + taxes would raise the price of. In the US, I can get one for about 30 USD, any more expensive than that, and I would definitely think twice.
Watching reviews of Twsbi pens, and listening for the phrase “ink sloshing around” is an excellent (and dangerous) drinking game. But seriously, it is fun to watch the ink sloshing around.
Also, I just reviewed the 3008 on my channel about 3 weeks ago, and I did that clicky thing a bunch of times. Feels like more of a homage than a copy, especially with the improvement to the blind cap. Good video, I enjoyed hearing your thoughts. This Twsbi fanboy felt your criticisms were fair.
I'll remember "sloshing around" if only to get you SLOSHED! LOL
TWSBI is a love hate relationship for me. I have several but almost every single one has cracked at some point or another. That said however TWSBI customer service is second to none. They have always promptly answered my emails and replaced the broken component for the cost of shipping (usually $4.00)
I guess they AREN'T what they are cracked up to be!
Just a wild, random thought. A mistake, which is sometimes done by subcontractors, is to re-use sprue in the injection molding process. While this is routine, and seems economical and eco friendly, it shouldn't be done with construction plastics, when molding mechanical parts.
I agree every single opinion about this TWSBI. This was my first TWSBI because this is the best looking one and I hated their logo on the finial, which looked like the "international biohazard sign"🤣🤣🤣🤣 I am so delighted to have another person who has the same opinion. However, the irony is that I became a TWSBI fan girl, after I got this pen though no matter how their logo looks like and now I got so many TWSBI pens.
Great minds think alike Rach!
Thanks for another great video Dr Doug. A very handsome looking pen! I got my original 580 (or was it called 560/540?) from a friend who spent part of his degree in Taiwan. At the time, we didn’t have the delights of PenBBS here in the West, and no other non-cartridge converter pens - which made it was quite a revelation! It did crack but the company replaced my pen with no charges, at all. I was very impressed. (The nibs are German, are they not? That’ll be why it’s expensive. The pen is quite revolutionary for the time).
Yes, I should have mentioned that TWSBI pens use both Bock and Jowo German nibs.
I remember agreeing with you on the Pilot Metropolitan section a while back. (We are in the minority.) So when when you mention anything about the comfort of a section or step I take note. I find the section of the Eco very comfortable because there is hardly a step and I don’t notice the threads. But I will do more research before purchasing the 580. Thanks for the thorough review.
The 580 is a nice pen. I owned one but just didn't get comfortable with it so I sold it.
A very thorough review of one of my favorite pens - keep up the good work. :)
Thanks, will do!
I’ve dabbled with having TWSBIs before, beautiful looking pens but I can’t justify the high price for the cheap feel and lack of posting. PenBBS has them beat in just about every respect, except maybe nib selection and accessories
I agree, Penbbs has spoiled me too!
lovely pen review. I have always been curious to buy a Twsbi pen. This review was helpful.
Thank you, Sadman!
Ooooo i have this pen in a broad! This is a beautiful pen, it's in my EDC since I bought it.
Lovely review!
Hope you enjoy it!
Get outta my head! I have had this pen in my shopping cart for days and was waiting for inspiration.
Oh no! LOL
Thanks Doug for the thorough review. That's a beautiful pen indeed. 😊
My pleasure!
I paired my TWSBI Diamond 580 Rose Gold II (dang that’s a long name!) with Diamine Ancient Copper. It flows beautifully and looks great in that barrel. I tried a high sheening ink in my Prussian Blue ALR, and had flow issues similar to yours. I also got a set of TWSBI inks, and they are lovely colors, but not sheening or shimmer. I think that’s probably a hint; standard inks for TWSBI pens, please!
That's not a long name! Leonardo Officina Italiana Momento Zero Grande Dark Hawaii. Now THAT's a long name!
😁👍
Always fun to watch your Penventures.
I have to agree, TWSBI's are a hit and miss.
I have 5, standard Diamond 580, mini, an ECO-T, a Vac Mini and the 700R.
Only 2 of them had decent nibs right from the start. [The 700R in M and the Vac mini in B]
The others I either had to tweak, or get replacement nibs. And they can be still frustrating.
I did not have to deal with so much tweaking with my 10 PenBBS's.
You are the PenBBS Evangelist, and rightfully so.
Happy Times in Pen Valley High 🐱👤
Thanks, Vagelis!
“Is the Twsbi all it’s cracked up to be?”
😂 That got me good
😂👍
Is it just me or the intros totally rock?❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, Pankhuri!
Your letter “D” is so cool when you write “Diamond” in the title of the pen. Bet it helps that your name starts with a “D” as well.
Yeah! I've been doing that large D for decades! LOL
@@InkquiringMinds you clearly have “Large D Energy” , best to own it and adjust your stride as needed.
logo looks like a 45 record spindle center thing adaptor. for 45s
Exactly!
Wow ! This pen looks gorgeous..
I was planning to buy Eco Rose Gold as my first Twsbi which looked great in pics., but it looked not so good and a little too ‘plasticky’ in UA-cam reviews.. May be I’ll get this one someday !
Thank you, Sathish!
My previous comment was not meant a criticism of Mr Rathburn. I enjoy his reviews. I was on the verge of purchasing this pen as my first TWISBI. However, after the issues with the thread and posting I shall save myself the disappointment. Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks, Nelson!
I have a Wing Sung 3008 I threw in a box over a year ago. Recently ran the nib upside down on micro mesh.....Now, I write with it daily. My Leonardo sits in a box, the Opus 88 Koloro ....box.....Lamy 2000...box, you get my drift.
Yeah I get it, Stacy! :) I have four 3008s. Three of them have rusty caps and the one that doesn't, has a cracked barrel. And only three of them were inked and then cleaned and stored. The cracked barrel one was never inked. LOL Go figure.
I replaced the screws in all my 3008s with a plastic screw from Amazon. I prefer those with the lamy style nib - all the pilot style have been scratchy, including those on the 3013 vac filler.
@@edisontrent5244 Hey Edison! Might you share the into on those screws from Amazon? I could use a few. Would be appreciated. Thanks! 😉🖋
At last! I've been waiting for the chance of an uninterrupted half hour to enjoy this video, and I've finally got it (more or less)!
I've been tempted by Twsbis, but I can't justify the price against PenBBS...
I agree!
I find it a little nuts that TWSBI pretty much popularized the use of Rose Gold trim and now almost every pen company is jumping on the band wagon but back to the pen.
I personally think the 580 is a good pen but I've never really had much success with Twsbi nibs and my 580 AL was no exception, my broad wrote very dry, layed down thin lines, had a lot of drag, and was slightly over polished in certain areas which made it feel both slighty smooth and overly feedbacky depending on the angle I wrote in.
Other minor things bothered me like the rough threads which made me compensate by over tightening the cap, the use of a smoky cap liner in a clear cap always confused the hell out of me, the oddly slipper section, and the use of a wide #5 nib which looks a little odd (IMO),
If I were to redo my purchase I'd stick with my Moonman T1.
All great points! Thanks for the input IC!
Good to hear I'm not the only one with the TWSBI Nib Blues! They're really quite a drag, 😆 a hit or miss affair. And for all the praise JoWo nibs usually get, them TWSBIs are not their best.
The Rose Gold 580 is a a “Real Looker” and compared to the other 580’s
Yeah. The others don't do anything for me.
@@InkquiringMinds I got the green one used in a FB group with a custom grind by Taiwanese nib meister Tommy Zheng. It's a nice writer and a good fit for my lefty grip. TWSBI as a brand took a while to grow on me, but you still wouldn't catch me dead with a Go.
Shows how pricing is subjective. The price of 580's and especially Eco's has made me view all steel nib Pelikan pens as excessively priced, especially now that a on sale m205 is over $90 and based on reviews is smaller than a pilot metropolitan.
Exactly. The Pelikan M200 series is way too small for my hand.
Genuine question : What is the point of pen reviewers reverse writing? Why would anyone want to write with a back to front nib? If I wanted a finer line, I would use a pen with a finer nib. All you do with reverse writing is use the pen in a way that is not intended for it to be used and then some reviewers comment that it does not write properly.
I don't personally use reverse writing but many people do. It is useful if you often use your fountain pen on cheap copier paper or forms where you need to keep the pen very dry and a lot thinner. It is also useful if you require different thicknesses of line without flexing - so like sketching or asian calligraphy.
I spoke with a nib grinder about reverse writing and he told me that it isn't advised. When you write with a fp the tines separate slightly. When reverse writing the tines naturally press together and inhibit ink flow. This can cause people to press harder potentially damaging their nib slightly for correct writing
@@mai-linhmainor5965 I doubt flipping the nib will damage it. And some nibs perform well at reverse writing. I'm reviewing a pen Saturday that has a Bock titanium nib that is designed to write in reverse. Sketch artists do it all the time.
Nice review, Dougmore. I agree with your general assessment of TWSBI; they’re good pens but overpriced when considering the competition. Now, is the RG for you or Winnie?
It is for me. I have a Pilot Decimo on the way for her as a surprise! Shhhh!
@@InkquiringMinds Curious to know which color ( I can wait till your review though !)..
Some Decimo colors ( eg., Champagne ) cost about 900 USD here in India.. Not sure why !
A regular VP costs 200 USD ( I’ve a black with golden trim )..
I use Emerald De Chivor in my 580 and it has flow issues as well too.
It is obvious the tiny #5 size feeds can't handle shimmer.
@@InkquiringMinds I had not considered that but you have an extremely valid point there!
The feeds do have to be larger to allow it to flow properly. I have a broad twisbi Eco and a Stub Nib Twsbi Classic... and both have a similar hard start on the shimmer effect. I had not considered that before!
You just taught me something new there! Thank you!!
@@AdamGoodson Wooo! :)
I have Emerald of Chivor in my 580, and have experienced no flow issues. Go figure!
I like my TWSBI GO, but all their other models I think are too expensive. Not clear to me why they are so popular. Is this pen worth double my metal, German, LAMY CP1 I keep raving about? Not to me. Though I do admit this TWSBI is a looker.
Yeah, I agree. I keep looking at my $35 Penbbs 456 and thinking why would I pay double for the 580? Taking one for the team I guess.
Got myself a 580ALR with stub nib. I agree number 6 size nib would look great but it does write pretty well. I probably wouldn't have bought it if not for the discounted price I got it for.
Thank you, Jibran Baig!
Coffee time.... I'm not a Twsbi nib fan but I love the review. Thank you
Fair enough!
I tell myself all the time, “I am here for the pens, but I stay for Doug.”
@@AdamGoodson LOL Thanks Adam!
I own several models of twsbi, but I haven't really used any of them ever since PENBBS came into the picture. My 580 have not cracked, but the screw that held the clip and finial somehow rusted after a month of normal use.
That's not good!
I was looking into buying a 580/ but after watching this>
i ended up buying
A 456 by pen BBS instead😎
Good choice! My favourite Penbbs. I just bought another this morning.
Doug, sorry you don't love the 580. I have a 580 alr Prussian Blue and really enjoy it. At first the section on the alr felt weird because it's not just anodized there are tactile ring groves on it which gives a good purchase on the section making it totally non slippery. As for the threads I really don't notice them when writing.
I have to totally agree with you about the inability to post the pen. Why can't everyone make their pens postable? And yes the Pelikan M800 is wonderful when posted. The TWSBI mini was designed with threads on the knob end of the barrel the securely post that model why not something like that for the 580.
Anyway as always I enjoyed your review, candor and humor. Keep up the excellent work.
Thanks, Richard. I was torn between getting this 580 RG and the white and rose gold mini. I was afraid the mini might be TOO mini. But the way it posts intrigued me.
The only TWSBI I have is the Precision (similar to the classic). I like the mechanical appearance. I got it in fine and it was a bit scratchy. I did a thing bit of work to it and I like it.
I contemplated getting a 580ALR now I'm not sure. Perhaps way down the road.
As always, fun review - thanks.
Thank you, Craig!
Nice cutscenes 😂
I have the same pen, but I got mine from Pen Realm with a custom nib. The pen writes like a dream. I also got a TWSBI Draco with a different custom nib, and oh my gosh I can’t tell you how much I love it. I will be sending a Conklin and another TWSBI i have to have their nibs customized by Pen Realm. The shipping is super fast, and their prices... let me just tell you... you’ll be surprised. Pleasantly surprised. Oh, and for ink... check out Cult Pens. I am addicted to Diamine and they have the best prices I’ve ever seen, even if you add the shipping prices they are still much much cheaper than anywhere else. Always enjoying your reviews.
Thank you, clc3897!
i like twsbies, but id love to have something not transparent from them
I have three TWSBIs. One Classic (which broke spontaneously in my hand, confirming all the rumors of fragility I'd heard), one 580 and one 580AL. Treat them gently, would be my advice. 🙄
Yeah, I suspect they've had issues with their formulation for their plastics and the processes for injection molding. Perhaps their temperatures are off and cause micro-stress fractures in the material as it cools.
That's a handsome beast, Doug.
Thank you, Ajius!
Dr Horrible amd Twsbi Eco are pretty much the same thing to me as well. I bought a cheap eco, in a broad nib, just to use as an ink testing pen.it is “okay” but the money for an eco can be spent on a PENBBS 308 or a Wing Sung 699 or a Moonman T1 or M800 and the person would have more fun with each of those than the Eco.
I agree!
Recently got a white TWSBI Classic. I think the 580s and VACs are overrated.
Thank you, Manny!
I really like that pen 580 Diamond RG, but I also like the Vac 700 Iris. I have a 3008, looks and writes fine, but the piston nub rattles a bit. In the review it looks like the 580 is bigger.
I couldn't get to like the Iris at all. I tried but no.
I have both diamond 580 in punch pink and Vac700 i
Iris 😍. Both the pen and nib are larger on the Vac700
I have two TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR pens, one in silver, one in Prussian Blue. Somehow, the "rose gold bug" never bit me, and I'm not very fond of the color whatsoever. The glut of irridescent rainbow trims and rose gold trims the past couple of years have done absolutely nothing for me. Of course, as is my wont, both my 580s are in EF.
I couldn't get myself to like the Iris. I tried but failed.
Are you happy enough to keep the pen? I have this one and barely use it since I got into Penbbs
Yes. I'll keep it for reference if nothing else.
"all its cracked up to be" . . . my sides . . .
LOL Thanks!
TWSBI = calamus non grata IMHO! I have had awful cracking issues and won't by another.
Ne calamum! Caveat emptor!
I have to admit Twsbis are not that attractive to me. To try the brand, I bought a Twsbi Eco with a fine nib and was disappointed when the nib performed more like a hefty medium. I switched it for an extra fine and, even though it improved, I was not impress. I very seldom use it now.
Thanks for sharing!
lovely! What paper are you using??
I say right at the top of each of my writing samples. It is Clairfontaine 90gsm.
@@InkquiringMinds -oops sorry!!
The two Diamond 540 I had disintegrated. I bothered to get replacement parts for the first one because I've bought several nibs for it but when the second one AND the first one developed new cracks I gave up totally on that brand. I'll never buy a third TWSBI. Life is too short and there are too many finer brands that produce pens without programmed obsolescence. I have pens from the 1930's that I trust more to not crack than those &?%?%% piece of cheap ?%$??.
I know many TWSBI owners have had the same complaints. The TWSBI company has stated they had issues with cracking and have solved the problem with the newer pens. From the website "However, as we moved onto the late 540 model and now the 580 model and all other models; we have addressed, learned, and fixed this issue. The pens now do not have the previous issue anymore. With that said, we are still improving and will always continuously do so with each product we make. "
@@InkquiringMinds They made similar declarations when they switched from the 530 to the 540. Then again when the first batch of 540s were replaced by the second or third edition of the 540, then also when they released the 540AL with aluminium parts. when they release the Vac, then the Mini. Etc.
They sound like politicians, "The previous government was incompetent but, us, the new 'improved' government will solve all their shortcomings". And the cycle repeat itself.
My second 540 was an "improved" 540 that shouldn't had "any of the previous issues anymore", still it disintegrated,. Not some small unnoticeable crack but literally disintegrated. The end of the barrel where the knob is fell off... while the pen was in storage at constant temperature and humidity, not exposed to light. And that's after receiving replacement parts. I was basically rebuilding the pen by ordering new parts every six months. So, for me, TWSBI demonstrators are not worth the bother.
That said, I wish you better luck with yours. And if it cracks, it will make a good follow up video. (^_^)
I have twsbi mini and vac 700. Both are broken now. Their build quality is very bad.
I hear they have excellent customer service and have replaced parts and whole pens for customers.
@@InkquiringMinds yes, that's true, they did gave free replacements for both the pens, now different parts are broken and now I am no more in US, I am in India now. My point is, why quality is bad in the first place.
@@purumr The nibs are great - Bock. But I think their clear, injection-molded plastics have cracking issues due to how they are manufactured. I'm no engineer, but I know some plastics have stress fractures due to improper heat/cool tolerances when injected/extruded.
Shipping, Surprised DHL never opened the package. To me, they open not just gift box but the content. They are the worst company in shipping international. Even UPS, behave they have your package shipped with a content or illegal drug. I stick to USPS. Safe, Also love Royal mail, the queens own mail.
Unfortunately, Appelboom never ship via Dutch Mail
I doubt the shipping company opens it. It is probably customs and border security.
Your tone, despite the words, has a bit of a meh feel to it. Was this pen worth the $85 to you? My guess is,....no.
Yeah. I'm not super-impressed with the 580. I won't be getting a Vac700. I was thinking of it to compare with my Penbbs 456s and Wing Sung 699, but it isn't worth the money to find out.