TWSBI Eco

[FredRydr]

I plucked this used TWSBI Eco off the FPGeeks classified for twenty bucks, delivered. It came in its original box and slipcase, with plastic spanner/wrench, unopened little bottle of silicon oil and instruction sheet on disassembly with its cautions about nib reinstallation. I haven't taken the bait on that.

Okay, I filled it and it was uneventful. When the piston reached its zenith, I squeezed out 5 drops (pursuant to those ubiquitous Montblanc bottled ink instruction sheets) and wiped it off. No leaks. I wrote on several different types of stationary and postcards. The F nib is annoyingly scratchy on most paper, the exception being the smoothest postcard stock. The tines are aligned. I am wary of performing a mylar treatment on the naked steel tip, so I'll just give it time to wear until an anticipated early demise (like a vintage Esterbrook nib). The pen has a nice size and heft. For $20 (used), it can't be beat, but I will follow the cautions mentioned by RobJohnson. (https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/2378-What-is-your-latest-pen-acquisition?p=314283&viewfull=1#post314283) The main drawback that I found while writing a letter on G. Lalo (https://www.europeanpaper.com/g-lalo.html) stationary is, on setting my new-to-me vintage Sheaffer 3-25 (https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/394-What-Pens(s)-Are-You-Waiting-For?p=303808&viewfull=1#post303808) aside to take up the TWSBI, the fun ends when taking up the TWSBI.

With its limitations and scratchiness, the TWSBI just isn't fun to use, a rather subjective description. But I own it now. It's filled with Montblanc Irish Green, the only green going on my pen rack, so the TWISB will be used...until empty. After that, when I have more fun pens to write with, who knows?


58167

[Pterodactylus]

The ECO of my son (F nib) also needed a smoothing session before writing acceptable.
It was quite rough, after polishing the nib it was ok.

[RobJohnson]

I have to say that the colour combination of the green, chrome and blue is quite attractive.

Point taken on the nib, I have a Medium Eco, that was good straight out of the box, I also have a stub which was horrible, but that may be down to me, I smoothed off the corners using an Arkansas stone and it is now very good.

I know just what you mean by the pen not being fun, I use a similar phrase, it doesn't give me pleasure, the Eco isn't alone in this club and it has a membership of pens at a range of price levels.

But for $20 it is not an expensive learning experience and I cannot see that it will ever be worth less than $20.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I have a fine and a stub. I like them. The fun part is watching ink slosh.

[KrazyIvan]

The stub on mine was really smooth out of the box but I purchased mine new. Hopefully, the previous owner did not attempt a nib smoothing and it went wrong. Here is my review from some years ago as a comparison. https://inktronics.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/inktronics-about-the-twsbi-eco/

[Chrissy]

I have one with a stub nib that I've yet to fill and try. I'm still hoping that it will be really nice. :)
Nowadays the finest nib width I would go for in any pen other than a Montblanc is a M.

[Sailor Kenshin]

All of mine were nice out of the box, then I stupidly tried to change out the nib on my F. It did the same to me as it did to RobJohnson.

[mizgeorge]

For that price, grab a piece of micromesh and just smooth it out. You're not going to do much damage (especially with a really high grit), and as it's just steel, if you're not happy, you can always grind it down a bit until you're happy. I have a few TWSBI nibs, and although all have been fine out of the box, I've invariably liked them more after a bit of tweaking!

[manoeuver]

yeah I wouldn't hesitate to smooth it a bit.
I have an ECO in the same color scheme. I like it.
I think I'd like the ECO-T better, my only gripe w the eco is the chunky clunky cap.

[wingwiper]

Fred I put some Noodler’s Eel (which is lubricated) in my TWSBI 580 fine and it writes pretty smooth........I mean no excitement in it to me unless you get it CI or stubbed🥸

Kind of blah......., but no leaks, burbs, to wet or dry- so I got that going.

You should grind to a stub or italic, they are cheap enough plus you can remove nib from housing and shove something more desirable in?

I have another TWSBI 580 that came with a bold, removed and put a factory Sheaffer italic in and........wow, boom- shack-a-lacka🥸🥸[emoji15][emoji15][emoji3060][emoji3060]


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[Sailor Kenshin]

Don't remove the nibs. Just. Don't.

[silverlifter]

I bought one for my teenage daughter last year, her "step up from a Lamy Safari" pen. She loves it. Nib was fine out of the box.

[manoeuver]

I've had the nib/feed out of mine, it's the simplest possible friction fit.
I'm surprised to learn it's giving people trouble afterward.

[Chrissy]

I've had the nib/feed out of mine, it's the simplest possible friction fit.
I'm surprised to learn it's giving people trouble afterward.
I heard that it wasn't a problem taking it out but rather putting it back in the right position? I haven't tried it so I don't know.

[RobJohnson]

I had no problems with ink blobbing until I removed the nib and feed, when I refit the nib and feed into the original position the nib felt loose, it would move around in the section. pushing it in further cured the problem, less than 1mm. Next morning, there was a crack along the length of the section.

Twsbi said that they would replace the one piece barrel and section but I had to send them the pen by registered mail and pay for registered mail for the return trip, which was comparable to the cost of buying a new Eco.

[manoeuver]

https://timhofmann.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021-01-07-09.51.11-scaled.jpg

had to do it. note to others: don't fill a pen with Nudeler's Zhivago and leave it in there for 3 years...

[wingwiper]

I've had the nib/feed out of mine, it's the simplest possible friction fit.
I'm surprised to learn it's giving people trouble afterward.
I heard that it wasn't a problem taking it out but rather putting it back in the right position? I haven't tried it so I don't know.

Right.....it is Murphy proof when reinstalling.
Maybe some are not aware, do not reinstall correctly?
I have had NO issues reinstalling the nib unit/housing or putting a another nib of the same size to replace the factory nib at all.
Hate the cheap, plastic feed[emoji30]
For the record the factory nib can be tweaked to better perform, yet quality control in some cases is suspect as some come a tad scratchy[emoji15]


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