TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Fountain Pen Review
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- Опубликовано: 6 авг 2024
- In this video I review the TWSBI Diamond 580 AL R Fountain Pen. This is a demonstrator fountain pen with a piston filling system. This is one of the best fountain pens on the market under $100 as well as on of the best fountain pens on Amazon.
TWSBI 580 AL R Fountain Pen - amzn.to/2YUphBy
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About this 4K video:
On Blake's Broadcast, I review the TWSBI Diamond 580 AL R Prussian Blue Fountain Pen. This affordable fountain pen is made of a very high quality polycarbonate and features striking Prussian Blue colored aluminum trim. This pen uses a piston filling system and has a German-made Jowo nib.
About Blake's Broadcast:
Blake's Broadcast is a channel that reviews fountain pens, paper, and ink.
This pen performed a near miracle for me. I've spent decades writing a little bit of everythinjg for a living, and only twice before have I found a pen that seem to be filled with personal magic. Both of those pens had gold nibs. One was stolen, and I had to sell the other a couple of decades back because of a very poorly timed health/financial crisis. The replacements I bought simply did not write as well.
I'm "retired" now, which means I work harder than ever, I just don't get paid as much. I have three pens I work to death. Two of them are pretty cheap, a 3776 and a Pilot Custom 74. I love the way they write, and the low cost means it wouldn't break my heart if I lost them, broke them, or had them stolen. Both, of course, have gold nibs.
But since I purchased the 580 ALR, I've been using those pens less and less, and the 580 more and more, even at home where I have much more expensive pens to use. I catch myself reaching for the 580 every time I sit down to write.
It feels great in my hand, it writes extremely well, and I can write with it all day long. I'm getting older, and I have arthritis and nerve damage in both hands, so being able to use this pen for my five hours minimum each day is astounding.
Some pens just fit a particular user better than they should. There's something special about the pairing. This pen is like that for me. And it has a steel nib. I never would have believed it.
I'm going to buy a second, and if it lives up to the first, I'll buy a third. Why take a chance on being caught without one?
Thank you for the comment James!
The Pilot Custom 74 and Platinum 3776 are very good pens with excellent gold nibs but I do prefer the 580 as it gets so many things right.
What size nib do you have on your 580 and if you buy a second one what will you chose?
Hi, i would like to buy a 580alr fine nib but i don't know how wet it writes. Can you tell me if is wet pen? I do like my pens to be slightly wet. Thanks
3776 and 74 are fantastic pens! These are nice too! I love their stub nib the best!
@@TheAlexcristian21 the fine is a wet writer! Have no fear!
I just found you channel and I''m viewing of some of your reviews and I appreciate the history of the pen company and development of the pen. Thank you for a great review.
Welcome aboard!
I have this pen and several other versions of the 580 AL and ALR. I like them a lot, and use them pretty often. My most recent addition to my collection is the new version of the *gorgeous* rose gold one.
Thank you for the comment. I agree that the new rose gold version is quite nice looking.
Just got this pen in 1.1 stub. Glorious writer. Beautiful overall. Love the ribbed section. Mine, in Prussian Blue is now loaded with Monteverde California Teal. It writes smoothly and toward wet. The feed is very adaquate for the needs of the stub. 5/5 *
It is definitely a great pen. I have a TWSBI Vac 700 with a 1.1 stub and love that nib too.
@@BlakesBroadcast i cant chose between the 700r and this, ANYONE PLEASE HELP!?!
Great video! Thank you for your honest assessment. I'm on the fence about getting an Eco or ALR so this is quite helpful.
Thank you! Both are great pens. Which one are you leaning towards?
I ended up getting a couple 580s and a couple of Ecos. Really, from a writing perspective, can't tell much difference. The 580 may feel a little nicer in my hand and looks a little less chunky than the Eco, but that's about it. I'm just as happy writing with these as I am my more expensive gold-nib pens.
@@redsmoker37I use an Eco and 580 interchangeably. The only other TWSBI 'thrill' would be to get a Mini AL - posted it is very similar in weight and balance as the Eco unposted. (I'd stay away from the VACs I have a VAC Mini and a VAC700 both stress cracked, 700 the cap cracked at least twice before I just gave up.) I used to like Pelikans but that soft clip makes them completely useless outside the house. I lost a 405 because they never figured out how to make a proper clip.
@@WillN2Go1 I use them pretty interchangeably too. In fact, I think I reach for the ECOs more often.
@@WillN2Go1 the minis are great, I love them!
Good review. I've got about 8 TWSBIs including this one. Here's what I might add to the discussion. I'd always recommend getting the 'AL' version, the extra metal rings solve a problem I've had a few times with other models (I only have one 580 AL for about 3 years now) Stress cracks can form where the nib and the feed enter the housing. I've had mystery seeps from these cracks. None of the TWSBIs with the extra rings has ever done this. (So this one or the Mini -always get the AL) The 580 is basically just a nicer version of the Eco, but its look, feel and size are nicer.
I also really like the TWSBI Mini AL. If you have small hands it's perfect. Averaged sized hands (mine) - no problem. My first Mini has been all over Japan and the UK. I also like that it writes posted without being bulky (the Eco can't be posted and I don't use the 580 posted). I can't recommend the two VAC models. The vacuum filling is interesting one time only- when it's new. After that you can't really see what's going on. Both pens have chronic stress cracking. And the ink bottles can be a bit fussy. Sorry. Also the Vac 700 is big and heavy.
The nibs are good, but basic steel. I've got mostly stub nibs and F. The stubs give me line variation. I ground one of them into an Italic oblique angle. I thought it was pretty cool till I compared it with a stub and really couldn't tell much difference. (If you do grind away the rhodium bump on the end of nibs no worry. I've had a couple of my bootleg-grinds that are just steel no more bump. They get a little scratchy every couple of months (I write a lot) a quick series of figure 8s on 12000 or 25000 sanding pads takes it right out. TWSBI is really terrific about sending out repair parts. They'll ask for a photo of the broken part and then charge you less than $5 for mailing.
I really like that the TWSBIs hold a lot of ink, will work dirty (when other pens would've clogged). Often instead of a full cleaning I'll use a Plackers flossing stick to clean the slit and between the feed and the nib. And I add a little PhotoFlo to the ink or drip it on the nib before filling. This keeps everything moving well. (I usually use Noodler's Bay State Blue - which can clog, or I'll use Noodler's Polar Blue - which has been the most reliable ink I've ever used. You have to do a full cleaning between. Mix any other ink with a Bay State and it locks up like cement.)
It's also super light (all the TWSBIs are) so I can write for hours no problem. They all balance well, some posted , some unposted (the 580). And Stub nibs of course lay down more ink, so the larger volume is just right.
I keep looking for an excuse to spend more money and get a pen that holds as much ink, but has a 'better' nib... and I really haven't found one that I like.
And a tip: before taking one apart, especially the twist feed go over the instructions again. That thread goes backwards. The metal wrenches that come with TWSBIs often works better than the plastic one. If you have two TWSBIs you can take notes in any class without ever worrying a clog is going to cause any trouble. When I travel, backpack, TwoTWSBIs and nothing else.
Thank you for your comment! Lots of good information.
My favorite TWSBI nibs are also fines and stubs.
It is good to know that that AL versions can prevent cracking in the polycarbonate. I have not had any cracks in mine, but it does seem to be the main complaint I hear about TWSBIs.
The ink shutoff in the Vac 700 gives me extra confidence when traveling. I have had one or two leaks while traveling (I think from pressure changes) and with the Vac I don't believe you have to worry about it. For daily use at home or the office though I do not prefer a Vac filler to a c/c or piston.
I have this Prussia blue and several others. I did not get the navy one. These are amazing writers! Great review! Thank you!
You are welcome!
Great review! Thank you so much for share with us this lovely pen :)
I have a question...the grip section spins?
Thank you! The grip section does not spin.
Blake's Broadcast Thank you from 🇪🇸😊
Appreciate the review. I picked up one of these (same color) a few months ago. I mostly like it but I have a few nits to pick with it. First, the nib (mine's an EF) writes substantially broader than I expected. I've read of others having similar nib variation issues. The nib's easy enough to swap out so maybe I'll do that by and by. My second nit also relates to the nib. If I haven't used the pen for a while (a couple of days) it has a first hard start. I guess it dries out a tad or maybe it's my ink (Noodler's 54th Mass). My third and final nits regards posting. In addition to the issues you mentioned, it posts on the piston filling nob so if you're not careful you may get a bit more ink out than you intended!
Thank you for the comment! I don't have a large enough sample to say how consistent TWSBI's Jowo nibs are but out of the 7 or so I have felt their nib widths to be pretty true.
Regarding the nib drying out, I would try a different ink. 54th Mass is an archival ink which I would not recommend using in a demonstrator as it can stain the clear body. Also, archival inks/bulletproof inks do require more maintenance and can cause clogs. I would try a non-permanent ink from a pen manufacturer like Waterman, Sheaffer, Pelikan, or Montblanc.
I agree with you that posting the cap on the piston filling knob is a bad idea.
@@BlakesBroadcast Thanks. Appreciate the time you took for such a thorough reply! I cleaned out the 54th Mass, replaced it with Diamine Midnight. So far, so good! Of course, during the clean out, I erred a bit on the reassembly so now I'm fiddling with the piston fit since I shrank my ink capacity!
Great review of a great pen.
Call me crazy, but it seems a crying shame to fill a TWSBI 580 ALR in Prussian Blue with red ink.
Makes my OCD come out, but I'd have to use blue, teal, or black in this particular pen.
When I see the pen being used, I want one but when I think of the extra parts(wrench and grease) I feel like it may not last me like my other pens. Plastic? For me that would be a first. I just might take the plunge! Great review, thanks!
My TWSBIs have been reliable for me. I know some have mentioned issues with cracking but I haven't had that issue.
This is my current favorite pen. I got it in Medium. 10/10 for me. The ribbed section is so nice. I can't stand the AL version because it's too slippery.
Thank you for the reply Chith. I definitely think it is one of the best pens out there. Metal grip sections don't always agree with me but the texture on the ALR grip section is perfect.
@@BlakesBroadcast The ribbed aluminum section is the only part of the Diamond 580 ALR that I do not like. I could learn to get along with how very narrow the grip is; but,the ribbed aluminum is too slippery for my hand. Hoping I can replace that part.
One other thing I found to dislike on the Diamond 580 ALR I received is the aluminumband just above the clip and just below the finial;the one I got was knife-blade sharp on the edge! I used a nail file to smooth it just for safety's sake. It removed the color on that metal part but is much more friendly to hold. I usually hold the cap while writing and that sharp edge was just too much to tolerate. I think I would have been happier with the all-plastic version.
The ECO-T is still my favorite TWSBI pen.
On a positive note I love the way the nib glides on the paper and puts out a lovely quantity of ink.
I concur with the OP love this pen!
I got a free bottle of Monteverde Iced Cookie ink from Dromgooles when I bought my white & rose gold TWSBI ECO. I picked 3 possibles and that’s the one they sent. It was my #1 pick. WooHooo! Why did I want it? Because it is THE perfect perfect match for my Prussian Blue TWSBI Diamond 580! If you’re looking for a good ink that’s a color match...this could well be your best bet.
That does seem to be a perfect pairing. I really like Monteverde inks but haven't tried Iced Cookie yet. I will add it to the list. Thank you for the tip!
You are correct! That’s a glorious ink!
I use yami dori ink in mine and seems to write wetter than what you have there.
There is some minor variation that I've noticed in TWSBI Jowo nibs but not as much as some other brands like Lamy. Also, the ink could easily make the difference.
My first fountain pen. Well, the first since about 1978 as a teen when I had one but lost interest, and made a big mess.
Hi Dean, the TWSBI is an excellent choice for a first fountain pen!
Cost $70.00 on Amazon now, 2yrs later...........
Hi Mike, the retail is $65. It might be $70 on Amazon because of Prime Shipping.
this or the 700r? ughhhhh
They are both really good...tough call. I personally prefer the piston filling mechanism of the 580 but the vac filler is not without its benefits and I do prefer the larger nib on the Vac 700R. If you told me I could only have one TWSBI it would be the Vac700R.
Blake's Broadcast good to know, i pulled the trigger on the TWSBI Vac700R Fountain Pen Stub1.1 nib about an hour ago so i guess ill see how it is for myself :)
@@squintygreeneyes I found the broadone was much more enjoyable than the stub on this pen. I find the grip section on the 700r to be too wide to be comfortable for my grip.
Unpopular opinion: twsbi breaks and cracks, still very expensive, better to save up for japanese brands.
Thank you for the comment. I have heard of TWSBIs cracking. It is possible that the polycarbonate is brittle or maybe some batches are more fragile than others...I am not sure. I have had six of them including five that I have had for over 5 years and none of them have cracked on me.
The ones with the extra aluminium parts do not crack.
@@paulmetdebbie447 they still do crack
C- sincerely... Pelikan and MontBlanc resins crack too! The only different is that Twsbi has much more users at the market for its price... much pens... much cracks xd
I have abused all my pelikans and they survived everything.
I dont know about pigeonpoop(montblanc).
Twsbi do crack, thats fact, thats why they ship replacemnt parts so eagerlly