You Only Need One TWSBI, But Which???
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- čas přidán 28. 02. 2024
- Few rivalries are as spirited as the Twsbi Diamond 580 fountain pen vs. the TWSBI Eco. Join me for a gentle tour around these two wonderful fountain pens to decide which one is best for you!
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Wardrobe: Sweater: Shaggy Dog in Navy by J Press, Frames are Wayfarers by RayBan. White T Shirt by LL Bean. - Zábava
Everything you said about the Eco, functionally and aesthetically, is dead on. I can’t believe how much I like my Ecos. I started daily driving one and now I can’t leave it home to bring another. It’s my favorite pen. It’s the definition of less is more. Pens guys need to quit referring to it as a beginner fountain pen because it’s beyond that.
I agree completely!
What is the beautiful music?
I was fortunate enough to acquire 18 Twsbi pens in an estate sale. I took them all apart and cleaned them and they all work perfectly. I sold a lot of them but kept four of the 580’s and quite a few of the ecos. I love them both. I have various nibs for them and I only put the shimmery ones in the broad and stub nibs.
I hesitated to get a TWSBI because of the aesthetic. It is now my favorite pen. I love to see the ink and the hexagon cap is charming. I love how smooth and wet it writes. It can keep up with my fast cursive handwriting.
My girls have a Swipe and Eco's. My two main pens are the 580ALR in Prussian Blue and the mini-580. I love the fact that they are always ready to write anytime I pick them up. I am looking forward to purchasing a Vac mini.
The tremendous ink volume also has another positive benefit for someone who likes to try a lot of inks. It is a fantastic excuse to buy another pen!
Thank you so much for the history lesson on the TWSBI company and name. That is a great story!
I own both the TSWBI Diamond 580 and the Eco. Everything you said is true. For me though I prefer the Diamond 580 for two reasons.
#1 - The larger nib on the 580 writes more smoothly than the Eco.
#2 - I found that the Diamond 580 does not dry out as fast as the Eco. I have experimented, and same ink, same fill level, and the Eco will dry out about twice as fast as the Diamond 580 in the same storage conditions.
Excellent points! Thanks for sharing.
I bought the Diamond 580 AL R with a 1.1 in nickel first (second ever FP purchase) because I liked how it looked. I didn't enjoy how the stub wrote (for me) so I swapped it for a M with little improvement. Trouble-shooting, I changed the Diamine Grey ink for Pilot fuyu-syogun (which never gives me trouble) and I STILL don't reach for this pen. The grip is ridgey and slippery (even though my fingers are dry). So, those are 2 strikes for me. Then I got an Eco and after a slow start, it writes pretty well. My last was the fancy finish ECO in Black & Rose Gold (thanks to your influence) and it's great and so beautiful. I'd love a mini but told myself no more TWSBIs (for my hand, LAMYs and Pilots seem to work better). Beautifully shot, edited, and scripted video, and very interesting topic! I never thought to compare beyond my writing experience. I am still tempted by other colours and that mini, but for now, I'm going to work with these 3. Thanks!
I damaged the fins on an eco and I haven’t had any negative consequences. Excellent video, as always 😊
I have two TWSBI 580s with specialty nib grinds and they’re my travel pens. the Prussian Blue ALR and the Emerald Green AL. Both were ground by Gena Salorino from Custom Nib Studios. One nib is a Journaler and the other one is a two sided nib with a tuned fine on the correct side and then a broad architect on the feed side.
Both are truly functional and all I need on my trips! 😊 Simple to clean, fill, and plus you get to watch all your pretty ink slosh around in the barrel.
Those sound amazing!
They sound awesome!
Great video as I did not know the differences between the Eco and the 580. I have a few Ecos and they are a good pen for the price. I like seeing the ink too.
I love the 580 as an artist. I can draw and shade cross-hatch etc with it forever!
Excellent point. Thank you!
I have the Diamond 580 currently, and love it! I am really looking forward to trying the Eco though. Thanks for the video!
I own the TWSBI Diamond 580 and can attest that it is a wonderful pen. As far as filling the pen, rather than using the piston, I simply remove the nib & feed assembly and syringe-fill the pen. It is also relatively easy to clean and comes with a wrench and silicone grease in the event it requires basic maintenance.
I also syringe fill mine. My hands are unsteady and I always make a mess when I have to piston fill a pen!
Ditto for me - syringe fill and flush clean on the 580, without pulling the nib and feed.
@@bethg7026 Same here as far as making an inky mess. When using a syringe, there is virtually no mess whatsoever. Plus, the pen can easily be filled to capacity. 🙂
@@MarshaLove0723 One of the easiest pens to clean in my humble opinion. I'm tempted to also buy an Eco-T for the same reason. 🙂
Very informative! Thank you!
Lisa
Thanks for watching!
Very interesting comparison! I like that you prefer the cheaper eco over the pricier 580. Budget friendly recommendations aren't seen a lot on the CZcamsz!
And I had a little yay-moment when i got your notification of this video, because your announcement last Tuesday made me very curious (good job!)
Took me a long time to like Twsbi again. I had one of their first pens when they came out and I wasn't happy - nail-like nib and the plastic was prone to cracking. Fast forward, I now own a 580 and I really like it. I've found complete disassembly isn't usually necessary. Enough of it comes apart to service the piston and give it a good clean and fill. Just because you can take it apart doesn't mean you should.
This is very good advice, Lisa! Thank you!
My experience also: I bought an Eco about 6 years ago and it developed stress fractures around the nib end of the section (I don't overdo the pressure and have not had this problem on any other pen in my arsenal). No such problems with a 580 I subsequently purchased. I also find the cap on the Eco gawky, and the 580 cap more tasteful.
I love my TWSBIs I have the diamond mini and the Vacmini. Both are brilliant. The Vacmini holds a ton of ink for a more of a pocket pen. I keep it in the loop on my B6 journal cover. Another great video, HJ. Blessings
Thank you for the historical background - my first f.p. in many years was the ECO and it is still a workhorse for me. So smooth at times, I find myself purposely slowing my pace for the sake of legibility. Thanks again for the video.
Thanks for the kind words!
I have both love them! Just a wonderful viedo. You give such great information H. J. Thank you for you time
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!
I have a Twsbi eco and a mini vac and I must say that I love my mini vac. It fits perfectly in my hand! Thank you for the historic part, it was really interesting!
Bold of you to say I only need one TWSBI when in reality I need ALL the TWSBIs 😉 I love the aesthetic of the Prussian Blue 580, but my favorite writer is my Vac Mini. I’ve never tried a TWSBI model I didn’t like & use extensively. Great video as always.
Thanks very much! I am glad you enjoyed it. Plus, you know how many I have! Thanks!
Very good review, thorough and well done. I own a TWISBI Eco and love it.
Thanks for watching!
I prefer the 580. I do enjoy my eco because it was a gift from my dear husband. ❤ Both have tremendous capacity for ink which is celebratory and creates much joy. Happy March 1! ☘️
Thanks so much for watching! The best pen is the one that someone gave you who loves you!
Today I have a TWSBI 580 ALR Blue inked with Pilot Shin-kai and 580 ALR. Nickle inked with Noodlers Lexington Gray.
Another great video ,twisbi is a great pen have two ,frank in Oswego,ill
I love both the TWSBI Eco and the 580! The grip on the Eco is a little more comfortable for me but I love the looks of the 580 better ... and some of the nibs on the 580s better as well ...! I could never choose between them because I love them both and enjoy the color variety ive collected fir ink mstching! When I got my 1st 580 it was $60. I did pay $80 for the 580 Iris.
This was a great video comparison!!!!
Thanks very much! I am glad I own both and don’t need to decide. Thank you for watching!
The ink capacity comment... Dead right. This is how I started buying a 2nd and 3rd fountain pens. On to my 6 pen now lol, two of them being a Diamond 580 and a Mini Rosegold II.
Excellent picks!
Thanks for this. I enjoyed learning about the origin of the TWSBI name. I am a dedicated ECO user. Like you, I often think I might never need another pen, as it is such a joy to write with. Thanks again!
Thank you for watching!
Another great video! I really appreciate your structure and thought process as you break down each pen. I also own the iris 580 and it is a tremendous pen. The writing quality of my TWISBI’s are always fantastic, but I noticed that the nibs are not always true to size. My Iris 580 has a fine nib that writes like an EF, which is great for me because I love a super fine nib. Funny enough I actually don’t care for the color much, but I keep it because of that fact! I had two other 580’s but sold them. They were great but just didn’t need three! I’m trying to fight the temptation of buying multiple pens that I love, and just appreciating the one for what it is-a great writer.
Thank you very much for watching and thank you for the kind words!
I like the Diamond 580 better than the ECO.That's why I own four 580s (Iris, Prussian Blue, Nickel Grey, Black) and only one ECO (White & Rosegold). But they are all great writers and I had never any issues with them. I also have a Diamond Mini, a SWIPE (which is one of my EDC pens) and the "Draco" and the "Kai" (which are amazing). Thanks for another interesting video. 👍👍
Thank you so much for this video. I’m new to fountain pens and have several ecos in different nib sizes and was wondering if I should try the diamond 580. This was helpful in making my decision 💛🖋️
Thank you for watching!
Glad I watched this video. I don’t have either yet but was thinking of getting a Sailor Compass 1911 as my 2nd one for everyday sketching; but I thought to myself why not try a TWSBI Eco. Well, you have convinced me with it. Thank you. 😊❤
Thank you so much! I am so glad this was helpful!
Quite new to the world of fountain pens, the Diamond 580 is actually the first one I bought (a couple of other, very different pens are on the way). I'm very happy with it ; if one day I feel like buying another TWSBI, I'll probably go for a Vac mini, they look fun. And I have to thank you (amongst others), for inspiring me to start journaling. Happy to subscribe, I've watched and enjoyed too many of your videos not to ! Cheers from France
I recently got a Vac Mini & I’m really enjoying it.
Gave a winning speech at my Toastmasters club this morning. My topic was the benefits of writing a journal. I recommended for an ink pen the TWSBI with Oxblood ink.
Hi HJ! I agree with you 100%. I have had a few Diamond 580s and I have several ECOs. I ended up selling 1 of the 580s- I didn't really enjoy the section. I had the Prussian Blue (GORGEOUS COLOR!) and also Have a Demo version. I kept the Demo because the grip is plastic. Hey wouldn't it be so cool if TWSBI came out with an Eco version with aluminum cap and regular demo body.
I love both of them! I'd say if the Eco was the first pen to be used by a new fountain pen user, we'd have more enthusiasts. They are fun, smooth, and decently priced.
Another great video! Almost thou persuadest me to be a TWSBI-an, to take the TWSBI branch of the fountain pen rabbit hole. But my “No new pennnnns!” Mantra holds, though it weakens, especially after getting the bronze Kaweco Sport. Fortunately my supplier is still out of the Kaweco Terrazzo. Thanks for your efforts. I most especially enjoy your aesthetics, particularly the B roll outros.
Loved this! I hate posting and for some reason I never liked the look of the eco. But I love the look of the 580s. Normally I‘m with you on the fun of often changing inks, but the ink capacity is great for travelling.
These have such a huge ink capacity. It can take months to get though! All the best.
Great video. I really enjoyed it. I love all my TWSBIs. I have two 580ALRs, and a Mini ALR. Both the pens have a version called "Clear". The main differences are, first, the price (both are $50, 5 bucks higher for the stub nib); secondly, the parts that are aluminum on the ALR's are the same black plastic you see in the ECO, ECO-T & some others. Since those parts aren't particularly noticeable when the pen is inked, it's more a choice of whether you want the aluminum accents in the grip section & internal parts or not. If you want the features of the ALR, but not the price, the clear versions are a good choice. You still have the advantage of easy nib changes. Also, the Diamond 580s, IMO, are easier to clean. You can just remove the nib and use an ink syringe to flush out the barrel. But those of us who are TWSBI fans know you can go wrong with any of these pens.
Thanks for the kind words and for watching. I am so very glad you enjoyed it.
I am in the camp that both models make a good pairing as journaling & scribbing fountain pens. I own both. I also believe the cracking issues involve taking apart the pen when users are cleaning them up. Solvents & excessive force at the grip sections are the usual suspects. For me, I just use a mild dishwashing detergent & room temperature water, and do not touch the nib & feed when doing so. It also helps that I use well-behaved inks in my TWSBIs, and do not allow the ink to dry out in my pens. I currently own a Prussian Blue & Black 580s, and Bronze Indigo Eco, and likely eyeing one last Eco to complete my TWSBI mini collection.
I'm a big fan of the Eco. I have six of them and I'm on the lookout for a limited edition color from before I got into fountain pens to show up on the secondary market.
Great video (I eventually learned a lot about Twsbi's history, thanks Dear HJ!). I've had the same dilemma over the years… I've now decided the Eco is THE most appropriate pen when I need a stub (I've 7 of them permanently inked). Yes, the 580 is more stylish indeed but… kinda boring because of its "heaviness". The Twsbi VAC Mini, which has the same design as the 580, is really handy when leaving home for a few days in case I run out of ink on all my other fountain pens.
Thanks so much for the kind words. I am very glad that you enjoyed this one. I love your thoughts on TWSBI. Thank you!
Thank you for this video! I have both pens (my ECO is an ECO T). Both of pens have 1.1 stub nibs and both are very smooth and wet writers. I love the feel of the Diamond 580 - the clip has such a nice smooth feel and the facets on the barrel are elegant. But, truth be told, I prefer writing with the ECO T.
As you said, it is lighter and it just feels better in my hand. Both of my TWSBIs were not in use at the moment. After watching your video, I pulled out the ECO and filled it. I’m happily writing with it now. Thank you!
Mary Kerr
Thank you very much for watching! I am so glad you enjoyed this.
Thanks!
Thank you so much! I appreciate it!
I love my TWSBIs, and a big reason for that is that I can ink them up and still neglect them for long periods of time, but when I reach for them the ink always flows readily and the writing experience is consistent and enjoyable. I enjoy writing, practicing handwriting and sketching with a variety of inks, so the price point of the ECO is low enough that I can buy multiples and still write with a pen that has more heft and feels less disposable, while still having a variety of inks and nibs at the ready. In fact, I recently bought a translucent yellow ECO as a dedicated pen to use for my Platinum Citrus Black iron gall ink. The price is low enough that if the acidity of the ink degrades the pen over time it’s not a problem. I don’t think it will be a major problem because I have two Platinum Preppys loaded with Citrus Black for over a year with no issues. From a writing perspective the Preppys work wonderfully and do keep the ink ready for a long period of time due to their excellent sealing mechanism, but the stellar writing experience of the Preppy is marred by what looks and feels like (and is) a much cheaper pen body. Even the slightly more upscale Platimum Prefounte dries out on me much quicker than the Preppy or TWSBI ever would. So because I love my inks, I love my TWSBIs for always being loaded and ready to write with no fuss. My favorite TWSBI is the mini vac, because it can post (screw on) and the balance is excellent in my hand, much better than the Vac700 for me. But I love the failsafe of that screw drive mechanism to push ink out if I ever get in a dry ink situation, it’s much easier to flood the feed on a standard ECO if I get desperate.
I am similar in that I love to use my TWSBIs to keep my permanent inks (for water coloring over, recipe writing, addressing envelopes, and such) because they are always ready and I don’t have to worry if the sit awhile.
I love my Eco but I also have a Diamond Mini that I carry. It has a threaded post so you know that the cap is not going to pop off (not that I have had a problem with my Eco). I like the smaller size and realize that it carries less ink, but less is relative when talking about a Twsbi.
I own mutliple TWSBI, and I love each one. Every TWSBI I own is Unique, for example I own a 580 in every NIB, I have the 700 vac, a couple KAI. They are always my go to pen. I own several more expensive pens with gold nibs, Sailors and Pilots but the TWSBI just always calls me back. I have 3 TWSBI inked up all the time and a full fulling of ink I get 2 months use out of them. That's with switching to other pens on occasion. I do agree sometimes you get tired of the ink in there. Then again I tend to keep my TWSBI filled with my Favorite inks, not to mention Diamine Oxblood just looks awesome in a clear demonstrator so it is not an issue. So I do switch to other pens with much smaller capacity to play with new inks. I always come back to my TWSBI though before long.
Great video Hemingway! TW is also an abbreviation for Taiwan, and the Mandarin word for pen is "bi", so an inside joke is that TWSBI also stands for Taiwan's Pen. Cheers and Happy Leap Day!
I like that! Maybe they had duel intent. Thanks for watching!
Based on your observations, I'd go with the 580 although either is an excellent value. I already bought the Vac Mini. Overall I like it, and it's the one to use for shimmer or questionable ink because it is meant to be taken apart for thorough cleaning. Thanks for the brief intro to a fascinating pair of pens!
I love my TWSBI Eco, my son picked it up to write with the other day (he loves drawing graffiti and generally prefers markers) and he was surprised how pleasurable it was to draw with. I have the broad nib inked up full with Diamine Writer's Blood and am happy to stick with this for ever as it looks so beautiful on Tomoe River Paper and writes so smoothly.
That all sounds like a wonderful combination!
@@HemingwayJones Who could not love Tomoe River Paper, I wish that the Travelers Company would make the super lightweight paper insert a staple. It is by far my favourite medium for ink, water colour and pencil drawings.
My TWSBI Eco arrived several weeks ago with a stub nib bought as a "Shimmer" pen. As soon as I decide on an ink, I'll share my experience. Thank you for comparing the two.
Congratulations on an excellent pen.
I love this video, especially how you sectioned it, but then I would because I was a technical writer, before retiring.
I thought I might buy a TWISBI 580 Iris at some point. Then I thought the GO looked about the same price as the Eco; however, I have read many comments online about the barrel cracking that I'm hesitant. And yet, the large ink capacity these pens have is something I am really looking for so as soon as I can get to a pen shop I will investigate the Eco.
Thanks again for a great video.
BTW:
Did you hear the news that Mitsubishi (pencil co.) bought Lamy?
A great video as always - much more insightful than just a straight up pen review.
I had no idea what was behind the acronym. What an interesting story. I have 3 580 TWSBIs (2 of them were gifts) and I have gifted several Ecos to pen curious friends and they were very well received.
Wonderful and thank you so much!
I agree that the 580 is more refined but I prefer how the Eco writes. I think that both pens punch well above their weight. Thank for sharing
I agree on both counts! Thanks for watching!
Nice! But did you miss the TWSBI Swipe? It's not a demonstrator, but it's nice. But maybe it came after you reccorded this? Yes, of course I have all three. After all, I'm a collector.. Best pen wishes! Liselotte in Sweden.
Thanks for watching! I may have missed it, but I thought this one was between 2 of them, the Eco and the 580. I need to watch it again. It’s been a while. All the best!
Hi. I think the Vac700 is the best, love that broad nib.🤗 cheers.
Vac 700 is pretty great!
I vastly prefer my ECO to the 580. I ended up selling the latter, it just didn't feel or write as well, but the ECO just feels right and doesn't lose anything if you ask me!
Nice video! I liked TWSBI's back-story. I was unaware as to what it's name means.I have an Eco, Diamond 580, and Vac 700. I enjoy them all. I gave my boss an Eco for his 50th bday a couple of years ago. It's his EDC. He's not a FP person, but he loves that pen. He dropped it and broke the cap in half a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately, no ink escaped. 😅 He was pretty bummed about breaking it. He was able to glue the cap back together and it's fine now. I'd also recommend the Eco to anyone who wants to experience a great pen at low cost.
Scott! How are you!? Thanks for watching! They do make great gifts!
Hey Scott, if you contact the company and tell them what happened to the cap, chances are better than even you can get a replacement cap. The same thing happened to my friend’s Eco and they sent him a replacement. They have been very customer service oriented when I’ve interacted with them, too. Good luck!🍀
Thanks! I'll do that.
I have a couple of 580s, ECOs, GOs, and a mini, and I like them all. I prefer the 580 AL Diamond as the nibs feel a little better to me. I tend to gravitate towards heavier pens, and the 580 AL Diamond works better for me in this category. In addition, I like the option to be able to swap out different nibs. The mini is a great economical substitute for a MB Boheme; it holds a lot of ink, and functions similarly to the Montblanc Boheme, sans the retractable nib and cartridge.
I have a Swipe and had aspirations to get a Diamond 580 which died away, but now you've rekindled that. Darn.
Thank you. I have been into this rabbit hole since my wife gifted me my first fountain pen this Christmas. Your channel and a few others are fantastic, and I appreciate the videos. I now know my next pen to try.
Question, how is TWISBI fine vs ultra fine compared to the Ultra Fine Lamy Safari?
Why I love my TWSBI Eco's: good utilitarian nibs, affordable, always ready to write. I keep a few in my bag with different colors for marking up reading materials, note taking, journaling, and other writing tasks. Nice to have the different colors at hand. Also nice to not worry too much about losing or dropping the pen - I'd be sad, but not bankrupt. But I'm thinking of getting a 580 for the larger nib. Maybe at the upcoming Baltimore pen show I'll be able to try one out and make the call.
If you think of it, let me know what you think. Enjoy the show!
The Baltimore show was great. I went for a Pilot Falcon and a TWSBI 580 ALR in navy blue, M nib.. Love it. Balances better in my hand than the Eco's and the nib is smooth and has the kind of juicy flow I like. Right now it's inked with Colorverse Mariner 4,, but of course part of the fun of a new pen is finding the ink that is that pen's soul mate. So I expect to try a few blues and blue blacks and Perle Noir before I settle down.
@@HemingwayJones
I have both love them both. The 580 to me feels more premium.
I agree with you completely! It is a step above. I still like the ECO better, but I do agree with you. Thanks very much for watching!
I would choose the 580 if I had to choose. For the extra $$ I feel it writes a bit smoother and is a bit nicer than the ECO, BUT, I love my Ecos too. I especially like my Eco stub. The Eco and other less expensive pens are nice to have if you are traveling or going to the beach or someplace you don't want to worry about if something happens to it or you lose it.
Wonderful points.
I have both and also choose the Eco over the 580. I just figured I must have a weird taste in my choice of fountain pens....LOL.
We share this in common!
This video was timely as I'm considering a demand 580 or two ECOs. I own one ECO already with a 1.1 stub nib and want to get one in an extra fine. I'm heavily leaning toward the 580 only because I don't need a new pen, I want a new pen and find it hard to justify buying a duplicate pen even if it's a different nib. So I think I'll go with the more refined 580, maybe in black and rose gold.
The price of the TWSBI 580AL is available at $65, the 580 at $55 . The 580 you show in your video is a special edition I think. and yes they are $85. I own 4 580's with different nibs, fine, broad, 1.1 Stub and 1.5 stub. I enjoy them all.
Hi, I want to hate Twsbi but I love them, they were the next level and I thank them for helping me get a great affordable yet funky looking pen. I now have a few 580alr's and they are a great daily writer and people want to know what I'm using to write with.
Chels
I'm sure this is true for a lot of people, but the Eco was my first "serious" fountain pen, back when spending $30 for a pen seemed almost crazy to me. Weren't those the days... anyway, the 580 didn't seem very appealing to me for a long time, but then they came out with that recent black 580 and it got me. I'm really enjoying the pen so far, of course I enjoy my Ecos as well.
In terms of design, I do think I might like the Eco a little more. I picked up the Bronze Indigo Eco and I think that's just an outstanding color combo. I love the bronze colored nib. But the black accents on the black 580 are also very sharp, and it probably feels a bit better in the hand for me. I personally enjoy the ribbed section and the additional weight.
The points you made about the aesthetics of the clips were interesting, but I was a little surprised you didn't mention how functional they were, because while the clip on the Eco is perfectly fine and works as you'd expect, the clip on my 580 is incredibly stiff, to the point I would say it's not functional as a clip, just a roll stop. Maybe it's just my 580 that has that issue. I don't know.
My clip feels similar to the Eco on both my 580s. That would be an issue though, were it too tight. Thanks for watching!
I love both the Eco and the 580 but I lean more towards the 580 because I love the way the facetted barrel and the sloshing ink look together 😊 plus my husband got me the white and rose gold 580 for Christmas last year so thats my new favorite :)
That is an excellent gift! So nice! 👍
I chose a Diamond Mini in rose gold, a gorgeous pen !
You have chosen wisely!
There is also the TWSBI Classic and the TWSBI Precision. Personally - special/limited editions (like the Kai and Draco) not included - my favourite pen in TWSBI's catalogue is the TWSBI Precision (the only drawback of it is that it is not as easy to get a nib unit replacement for it like it is with the TWSBI Diamond 580; while its nib unit looks like that of the Diamond 580, it is a different nib unit).
Hardcore posters ahaaaa 😂
Nice comparison, thanks for the vid !
Thanks for watching!
If I had to choose only one, I'd go for the Diamond 580. I like the Eco, but the joy that the 580 brings me when writing or drawing with it is worth the price difference. The slightly larger nib on the 580 makes a difference for me, but the esthetic pleasure of watching the ink slosh around in the faceted barrel is worth a lot to me. No other pen I own gives me such consistent visual pleasure, plus it always writes and I can take it on a trip for a week's worth of journaling without the slightest concern that it will run dry when I do so.
But why should I choose? I have an Eco with a different nib, and it brings me writing pleasure as well, although it does not bring me the pure joy of the Diamond 580 Iris.
Great review and analysis. My TWSBI 580 AL R weighs 27 grams capped and full of ink. My Egyptomania Doue weighs 45 grams, and the standard Egyptomania weighs in at 37 grams, capped and filled. The Montblanc 149 weighs in at 32 grams, and the 146 at 26 -- virtually identical to the TWSBI 580. I guess, for me, most of my favorite pens are substantially heavier than the TWISBI 580, and I find its weight to remain on the lighter side of the quality, fountain pen spectrum.
In my hands, the TWSBI Eco -- sorta like the Lamy Vista (19 grams) -- feels cheap, unrefined and insubstantial. A pen can be too heavy, but it can also be too light for my tastes. The 27 grams of the 580 is in the sweet spot, for me, of pens on the light side, but still with a feeling of substance and solidity.
The Kaweko Sport Brass weighs 50 grams, with optional clip and a full tank of gas! :)
I carry and use an Eco almost everyday and it IS my favorite TWSBI... BUT, I get a compliment every time I use my smoke / rose gold 580. The 580 also feels like more of an adult pen.
Why choose? Have one of each! I do. The Diamond 580 is prettier but the Eco is just a fantastic pen. I can 'sort of' understand why people buy so many of them. Have you caught Helen's cold?
Thank you. You saved me buying the Diamond. I like my Ecos, and I cannot post that Diamond.
I don't have either the Eco or the 580, i have 2 vac minis, stub and ef, and just broke the cap on my mini. (Right where the threads are underneath the cap ring.) My mini was the first what I would call non-entry level pen.
Love 'em all, not sure if I will get another, but I really like the feel more so than the Eco. They certainly don't have a problem with shimmer inks. (I was tempted to get the vac 700 iris, but I said no more pens based on design. And then Benu and Kilk made a liar of me for that.)
I have both.. thinking on the mini but... i need to save for a grail pen 😅
This makes me want to use my TWSBI eco more! Have you tried the Nahvalur Peter Draws special editions? Very much like an Eco but with the beautiful Peter Draws design
I’ll have to check that one out. Thanks!
My Eco developed a small crack just after one month 😢 It's not causing any functional issues, but it was a bit discouraging. I'll keep using it, but I'm gonna look for something else. It was my first good fountain pen purchase.
I'm gonna try out a Kaweco Sport, too, just to have a decent pocket pen. The small amount of ink is a bummer, but they seem to be very reliable and don't crack or break often, from my understanding.
I managed to damage the fins on a feed but was able to simply bend them back with ( surprisingly ) no ill effect. I'm much more careful now after that mishap.
Thanks very much for the feedback!
I’m not really into the 580/580al or the Eco. BUT I love my Vac700r.
Vac 700R is top shelf!
1. Here's a data point on how popular they relatively are. Amongst FountainPenCompanion users, the ECO is the #1 pen, with 3190 owners. The Diamond 580 is #42, at 250.
2. I doubt the manufacturing cost of the 580 is over twice as much as the ECO.
3. TWSBIs leave me cold, which clearly makes me an outlier.
The fact that you are an outlier, makes you invaluable to me! Thanks for the info.
I own 3 Diamond 580s and love them. They’re my benchmark against which I measure all other pens. I don’t think there’s a better value (with the possible exception of the Eco, which I have on order). The nibs are consistent and reliable, the pen disappears in my hand, the nibs are replaceable, and it can be disassembled and serviced. If I’m going to pay $200 for a pen, I better enjoy it twice as much. Very few pens I’ve tried satisfy that equation.
That is a wonderful and sensible way to evaluate the options. Well done.
I'm used to the diamond 580 being only $50. I myself prefer the look of the eco over the 580 and want to get one eventually.
Ok I'm cheap. So my 1st foray into TWISBI was the GO with a stub nib. It wrote poorly and the seller was gracious sent me a broad nib gradus. That too had difficulties. Not until the Swipe came along did I find a tolerable TWISBI. Besides I find demonstrators, well, a bit of a gimmick. Thanks for your thorough review of the Eco and 580. Of the two I prefer the Eco. Perhaps in the future.
I have and love both. My favourite is my Diamond 580 because I love the extra aesthetic pleasure of using it, especially the beautiful iris version. However both write beautifully and I don’t think you mentioned that one really good features of TWSBI is the ability for the user to take them apart with tools (provided) to sort out any problems. I also use fountain pens for sketching and often filled with waterproof inks that are more likely to clog. This is why I bought the Eco, partly because of the risk of me ruining the pen and because of the risk of losing them when out sketching. Filled for weeks with R&K pigment ink they still write first time. Both brilliant pens and they have made TWSBI my favourite brand. For those that would like a slightly smaller capacity there is also the equally wonderful 580 mini!
I accidentally "crushed" the fins when trying to remove and clean the nib and feed (because I didn't know what I was doing!) Ruined the ink flow--it dripped and leaked and made a mess, so I had to replace it. I have a few ECOs, a mini, a diamond 580 and the 700. I generally am not a fan of clear, translucent or demonstrator type pens, but purchased them to experience the different styles of filling systems. Also influenced by reviews like yours! I have mostly broads and stubs because I use them for my Shimmer/Sheening Inks!
Thanks so much! I’ve always wondered what would happen. Supposedly, it is to catch ink from around the feed, but I hear many people saying it’s for ink flow. Thanks!
Goulet pens has a video on how to take an Eco apart to swap out the nib. If you break your feed, you might be able to swap it out with another nib (say if you have a twsb Go, you might e able to use that nib). Check out the video to see if it will work for you.
Most 580s are about $60; $80 is for the iris. To me the 580ar is my favorite; the aluminum grip feels better.
I don't have 'lots' of pens, as I don't tend to collect more than I use. My two most used pens are the Eco and the TWSBI Precision.
It looks like the Precision uses the same nib as the 580, in any case I find the writing touch on the Precision very slightly better (possibly because the barrel absorbs vibration better).
I got the Precision because I really like the 'engineering pen ' look of the old Rotring 600 and am really happy with it. The Eco is my stealth pen though when I'm feeling low-key.
EXCELLENT VIDEO... I vote for the Eco, I have 2...... Been looking at a Diamond 580, really don't need it.. I am so confuzed...
Glad you liked it!
I have a Mini with bent fins. It writes perfectly.
You’re the first one to ever respond. Thank you!
"It's *clear* they are TWSBI" - I see what you did there.
Thank you for this video. I do not currently own a fountain pen but I have been watching videos about them for some time trying to decide what to purchase. I am very interested in the TWSBI and this video clarified a lot. My question is concerning the nib size. You mentioned that the ink flows easily, so what nib size do you use and recommend? I usually write with a gel pen in a .5 needle point. Thank you in advance for any comment.
Thanks so much for watching. Give them a try and see if you like it. I would go with a Medium. With TWSBi fine would work too. Enjoy!
There are quite a few 'different' Twsbis: the Classic, the Precision, the Draco, and the Aurora ... as well as the Micarta.
I have had my New Eco for about a couple of months. I have filled it with the Organic Studios Nitrogen and I bought the Eco with a stub nib that really brings out the sheen an shimmer of the ink. The pen writes very smoothly. I do like the look of the Eco better as simplicity of design usually wins me over versus complication . It is also a factor of diminishing returns for me, does the 580 write so much better than the Eco to justify it's price point? My answer is No. As to the robustness of parts, I have had my original Lamy All Star for about 20 years and it is still on it's original nib and converter and writes as good today as it did out of the box, so if you take care of your pens they will all outlast their owners.
Very true! Thanks so much for the great comment.
3/11/2024: I have tonight become aware that TWSBI ECO pen owners are reporting the pen cracking and bleeding out after from 3 months use to 2 years use. This is of great concern to me. This indicates to me that the cracking is a quality management issue and not an issue of owners abusing the product.
I am hoping to find assurance that TWSBI intends to correct this problem soon and with apologies to buyers who trusted a company to conduct business with integrity. Thank you, Hemingway, for allowing me to share this concern.
Have you ever tried the TWSBI 50 inkwell? I once had a couple of the inkwells for the Vac-700. After initial positive results I found they were prone to leakage, particularly as a compression stroke on the piston added pressure to the inkwell.
The 580's inkwell would never see positive pressure, though. Tempting to grab one and see how it works.
I will comment more when I've watched the whole video, but may I ask which ink was used for the Oppenheimer quote?