I don't have any fear that it will leak or anything, but there is a little crack near the back knob possibly from over-tightening. This is not a "heavy" grease and is best for lubricating pistons. Also, the vacuum piston and don't have the ink stopper that shows in the picture.
At only $30, it’s indisputable (to me at least) that the TWSBI ECO is the best “pound-for-pound” piston filler on the market, earning the top spot on I’ve read and heard a lot of commentary about how TWSBI’s recent focus on the “ECO” line of fountain pens threatens to cannibalize - if it hasn’t already - the market for its original pen. They suggested contacting TWSBI and TWSBI claimed they made a recent design change and didn't update the product instruction.
- posted in TWSBI: So I recently purchased a TWSBI Vac Mini in Smoke from my local fountain pen store. My immediate thought was that there was a crack in the pen and that it was leaking onto my fingers.
This is the second Vac 700 of mine thats had a major component snap in two. Goulet pens, indipendance, are two that carry the thicker grease. I thought TWSBI pens are great.
Here is an update on the situation: I cleaned the cap threads on both the cap and the pen. Its not necessary to have it too tight.
At 24 grams, it’s got a nice bit of heft without being heavy. Bought it from Goulet. I have had the same issues you described and almost sent mine in as well, but found out the design changes were intentional.The Fountain Pen Network uses (functional) cookies. A few weeks ago, I bought a used TWSBI Vac Mini with a F-C cursive italic nib and it has since been my go to replacing my TWSBI Eco as my daily writer. The design changes turned out real. Should anyone still buy the pen? They seem similar in terms of looks, the 456 is cheaper but it may be more well constructed (heard the horror stories from twsbi users reporting cracking). Hi, I'm wondering between 2 pens, the Vac Mini from Twsbi and the 456 from PENBBS. TWSBI replaced the grip section for me and it is working fine so far.
My answer to those questions is yes. All content is the property of The Gentleman Stationer and Digital Divide Media, LLC and should not be reproduced without permission. I'm pretty sure TWSBI will hook you up with a new pen or something. What does the ECO mean for the future of the TWSBI 580? What’s new in the mini is the one piece body and section. Just wasted whole bunch of time.Give them a shout. Vac series with unique filling system seems to be especially difficult to maintain and finicky. "It is the thing itself but the view we take on it that offends us" -EpictetusThanks for the reply! So that was supposed to stop in leaking which won't work. The tail cap won't screw in correctly after a few days of use. The simple fact that along with the pen TWSBI provides a ‘special’ wrench and silicon grease can discourage many. Several functions may not work. The tail cap won't screw in correctly after a few days of use.
I opened it and found that there is a loose rubber ring between end screw and cap. Just wasted whole bunch of time.
Strange. Because, they sent me a replacement body for shipping only and that has the same design. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.So I recently purchased a TWSBI Vac Mini in Smoke from my local fountain pen store. If it happens again, I will definitely try the suggested trouble shoot and post an update here! The piston seems too loose. Years, in fact. But the pen is now a dud. TWSBI’s Vac Mini feels like a $65 pen should. But the pen is now a dud.
The truth is, that taking TWSBI Vac to pieces …
TWSBI has been teasing the Vac Mini for quite some time. In fact, the nib is still great.
Which brings me to a second commonly heard criticism of the Vac Mini: to post the pen, you have to screw the cap onto the threaded end of the pen (the "end cap").
Your pen came with a tiny bottle of TWISBI silicone grease. Has anyone else experienced something similar before? It just came apart. I remember seeing a mention of it a couple of years ago on the TWSBI Facebook page and people went ga-ga over it. I opened it and found that there is a loose rubber ring between end screw and cap. Now, a couple of years and several teasing posts later, we have the TWSBI Vac Mini.
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As much as the ECO’s funky looking cap has grown on me, it’s still a touch “out there” for the office, and the pen itself is a bit long posted.I don’t subscribe to the idea that TWSBI should replace the 580 with the ECO.
I did send a message to TWSBI. The piston seems too loose. I use that pen regularly as I write a lot and the ink capacity and the nib quality are both great.
Is the $25 markup over the ECO justified?
You currently have javascript disabled. I went through the cracking problems with the Diamond 530. I inspected the grip and cap threads with a flashlight and a laser pointer to see if there were any cracks and failed to see anything (in a way this was perhaps unsurprising as I never dropped the pen before).This left me thinking, could it just be ink trickle from being bounced around in my knapsack, or is there actually a crack in the pen I should look to get repaired? For creating a good seal in threads a thicker grease is more effective. The faceted plastic body is smooth to the touch and pleasing to hold. Should anyone still buy the pen? Bought it from Goulet. "It is the thing itself but the view we take on it that offends us" -EpictetusIf there was a crack where the grip joins the barrel you should be able to see a line where the ink stains the plastic. I didnt abuse it. What Does the ECO Mean for the TWSBI 580? Also, the vacuum piston and don't have the ink stopper that shows in the picture. I am having bad experience with TWSBI VAC Mini as well. The grip section unscrews from the barrel, but it cannot be disassembled further besides pulling the nib and feed out.
Page 1 of 4 - Twsbi Vac 700 Broken - posted in TWSBI: I reached for my smoke colored TWSBI Vac 700 today and started to uncap it -- and only part of the cap came off. I want a relatively cheap, vacumatic/vac and long lasting pen. (Perhaps I should say “There are additional functional and aesthetic differences between the 580 and the ECO. So my Vac Mini has been through all but it could be because I use it more than any other TWSBIs. In fact, the nib is still great.