One of the most satisfying pen purchases I've ever made. For the price, surprisingly well made, and sturdy feeling. The clear body is one of my favorite features. Looks like a vial of blood when I put red ink inside. Writes well, and holds up against pens 3 times the price. Makes a great gift pen for family and friends.
The cap seal on my Eco is amazing. I keep it at work as my backup pen, so sometimes it is months between uses, and it ALWAYS starts up. It has had Sailor Yama Dori in it for about 3 years.
I've had some problems with my Eco start up. Sometimes it takes quite a while and I don't think it's the ink, since it doesn´t happen with my lamy Al Star with the same ink. Any hint on what could be happening?
The black ECO with a broad nib was my very first pen bought for more than $10. I really loved how smooth it wrote and blame it for all my subsequent more expensive pen purchases. I’m trying to capture that rush of getting a superior writing experience. It was such a big leap that I haven’t been able to replicate unless using a vintage nib. Oh, those simpler, innocent days. It is still one of my favorite broad nibs and is almost always filled with a good shading ink.
I have 4 or 5 (I think there is a Broad benched - haha) and I LOVE these pens. They write every time, no matter how long it’s been since I’ve picked it up. The price is always right too. I wanted to order Lemur Lime from John and decided I needed a pen to go with it - the TWSBI Eco Black was perfect. Thanks Mike for the wonderful review!
Definitely a fan of the eco! I will say that there have been some cracking issues at the very front of the grip section, it's happened three times for me but all on very early models and no problems since. Which is very good to see :)
Such a coincidence! I'll get another Eco (yes I love the Eco's, and other TWSBI's too a LOT) tomorrow with some of the new Diamine inks. I love how the TWSBI (broad nib) hardly ever clogs up when using the shimmering inks. And the nibs are really nice
Glad to hear that they don't have any issue with shimmering inks. I'm not sure I've tried one in an Eco. They've got a really great cap seal, though, so that's got to help.
I think I I just ordered 5 or 6 Eco’s last week. Such a good deal for what they are. Only problem is putting them back together when taking them apart to clean. Not easy to reassemble!
One of the best pens for the value that you can find on the market. Piston filler, great ink capacity, demonstrator, very well made for the price... what else you can ask for 30 usd ?
I use a Lamy Safary as my daily beater, it is a tank. I work in sales so I have to be most of the time outside. I'm want to change the Safary and I was planing on buying the Lamy CP1 but then I saw the TWSBI Eco. Can it be a work horse and tolerate temperature changes or should I go with the CP1?
The ECO can definitely be a workhorse pen. I haven't had any issues with it burping ink or anything due to temperature changes, though I guess it could happen.
Does the pen stay wet, especially when doing long lines or flourishing? For examples in caps if you wish to do heavy cross flourishing or gestural lines? the EF nib
I've never had one go dry while writing with it, but these aren't flexible nibs, and you're not going to get any expressive lines with an EF nib. They're quite fine.
@@inkdependence Thanks the flex of the nib does not matter that much to me for the usage I want from this.I can always build up what ,most people would call expression. Ordered it so hopefully will do some tests and see how it performs. Will post a couple videos on it. And see how it handles itself
Hello Mike, congratulations for all your tests, I need a little help I am looking for a fountain pen to draw with a regular line that glides well medium and resistant tips with a regular flow and very dense ink do you have a model for me advise
Well, any fountain pen should be able to draw a nice medium line. I'm not sure what "resistant tips" means, exactly, though. The other questions are really ink questions, and they aren't so easy to answer. I do have lots of ink reviews, though, so look to some of them to find an ink you'd like.
Funny how I still haven’t got around to buying an Eco, though I have tried them out before. Not half- bad in any way. I have the GO, 580AL; also had the Vac 700r, but didn’t like it and gave it away to somebody for free. The two B nibs sampled here scarcely looked like broads to me. Pretty disappointing, because I’d instinctively choose a Broad, but not these ones on display here.
Mike Matteson ...Ah, but I have 3 Sailors - a 1911L, Pro Gear, Realo - with Broad nibs. Another with a music nib. Mike, I gotta tell you all my Sailor Bs are quite wet, thick lovely Broads, on par with nearly all my Western B nibs. No marked difference, overall. Ditto my experience with my Pilot and Platinum B nibs. Btw, an older video of yours on various nib types inspired me to try the Waverly and italic nibs. Italics are my newest love. I only have two waverley nibbed pens.
@@inkdependence They can be! What a lot of people don't know though, especially with videos and auto-captions, is that the captions aren't very good. Especially on TH-cam. Writing your own or having someone write them for you is much more helpful! It takes time, but it really helps those who are HoH or deaf. They can be done through the TH-cam captions or embedded into the video in a font at the bottom margin of the screen. (In my opinion, the TH-cam-provided option is hard to use. I used to caption videos, but that was a while ago. Idk how it's changed since then?)
Awful pen for its section nubs near nib. Very annoying reminder to write horizontally, which is how poor writers write. Edge of section near nib must be round and smooth, which Chinese manufacturers could have done, if they had any brains (they don't). We are not children that need to be reminded to write horizontally for heaven sake. Some write with grip close to nib and will hit nubs in this case. Smallish nib makes one want to write nearer to the dreaded nubs with Eco. Of course you can grip away from nubs, higher up on section, but what good pen maker ever forces you to do this? Answer: None.
One of the most satisfying pen purchases I've ever made. For the price, surprisingly well made, and sturdy feeling. The clear body is one of my favorite features. Looks like a vial of blood when I put red ink inside. Writes well, and holds up against pens 3 times the price. Makes a great gift pen for family and friends.
All of that is true.
I’ve had the ECO with a 1.1 stub nib for years. I use it for my sparkly inks, which I’ll leave in for months. No issues.
The cap seal on my Eco is amazing. I keep it at work as my backup pen, so sometimes it is months between uses, and it ALWAYS starts up. It has had Sailor Yama Dori in it for about 3 years.
I was going to comment the same. It's in my go bag, and it can be weeks where I don't even think about it.
Yeah, they're super good at that TWSBI gets this right while lots of other more expensive brands can't nail it.
I've had some problems with my Eco start up. Sometimes it takes quite a while and I don't think it's the ink, since it doesn´t happen with my lamy Al Star with the same ink. Any hint on what could be happening?
The black ECO with a broad nib was my very first pen bought for more than $10. I really loved how smooth it wrote and blame it for all my subsequent more expensive pen purchases. I’m trying to capture that rush of getting a superior writing experience. It was such a big leap that I haven’t been able to replicate unless using a vintage nib. Oh, those simpler, innocent days. It is still one of my favorite broad nibs and is almost always filled with a good shading ink.
Very nice video
The yellow looks awesome
I have 4 or 5 (I think there is a Broad benched - haha) and I LOVE these pens. They write every time, no matter how long it’s been since I’ve picked it up. The price is always right too. I wanted to order Lemur Lime from John and decided I needed a pen to go with it - the TWSBI Eco Black was perfect. Thanks Mike for the wonderful review!
You're welcome! They're really good pens.
Definitely a fan of the eco! I will say that there have been some cracking issues at the very front of the grip section, it's happened three times for me but all on very early models and no problems since. Which is very good to see :)
I just ordered my first fountain pen. The TWSBI ECO in White with a medium nib
Hey! Welcome to fountain pens! Did you get ink to go along with it?
Mike Matteson yeah I got LAMY BLACK. And Monteverde SUPERSHOW BLUE 😁✌🏻
Nice. That supershow blue is especially good.
Such a coincidence! I'll get another Eco (yes I love the Eco's, and other TWSBI's too a LOT) tomorrow with some of the new Diamine inks. I love how the TWSBI (broad nib) hardly ever clogs up when using the shimmering inks. And the nibs are really nice
Glad to hear that they don't have any issue with shimmering inks. I'm not sure I've tried one in an Eco. They've got a really great cap seal, though, so that's got to help.
Thank you for the metric system use!
Metric is very useful for these small measurements. Hope it helped!
I think I I just ordered 5 or 6 Eco’s last week. Such a good deal for what they are. Only problem is putting them back together when taking them apart to clean. Not easy to reassemble!
Yeah, I don't take mine apart more than I have to. That piston can be a little fiddly.
I always have to google how to put it back together but there are some great instructional videos.
A nice looking pen. Love how we can see the inks moving (I don't know the correct term) inside.
Raul Rifaie Ronney sloshing around seems to be the technical term
Thank you for your help! Sorry that I didn't notice the comment and only realise it after two years. Again, thanks! 😂
One of the best pens for the value that you can find on the market. Piston filler, great ink capacity, demonstrator, very well made for the price... what else you can ask for 30 usd ?
60-80$....in europe
@@audiolover 36 Euros in Italy
I sold my 580’s but still have two Ecos! I think they’re the better pen...?
What's that orange ink in the orange Eco? The colour looks amazing
That’s Graf von Faber-Castell Burned Orange. It’s really good.
I have the full demonstrator. I find myself using the Vac700 more often though.
I have a couple of 700s, and they've fallen out of use. I don't know why, exactly. I should get them back out.
I just recently got a Vac 700, and I very much like it. I do worry I will get tired of the ink long before it runs out!
I use a Lamy Safary as my daily beater, it is a tank. I work in sales so I have to be most of the time outside. I'm want to change the Safary and I was planing on buying the Lamy CP1 but then I saw the TWSBI Eco. Can it be a work horse and tolerate temperature changes or should I go with the CP1?
The ECO can definitely be a workhorse pen. I haven't had any issues with it burping ink or anything due to temperature changes, though I guess it could happen.
Does the pen stay wet, especially when doing long lines or flourishing? For examples in caps if you wish to do heavy cross flourishing or gestural lines? the EF nib
I've never had one go dry while writing with it, but these aren't flexible nibs, and you're not going to get any expressive lines with an EF nib. They're quite fine.
@@inkdependence Thanks the flex of the nib does not matter that much to me for the usage I want from this.I can always build up what ,most people would call expression. Ordered it so hopefully will do some tests and see how it performs. Will post a couple videos on it. And see how it handles itself
Love me my TWSBI Eco’s. Why don’t I have more than two? I should have more than two. Let’s fix that. Good video. Thanx.
I have a clear one, and it has a tiny crack in the grip, since you can't replace the part, I can't use the pen without seroius leaking.
That's too bad. Have you contacted TWSBI about that? They usually have good customer service.
@@inkdependence I know, I've heard, I guess I'll do that. Instead I just bought another ECO, the clear blue one
Hello Mike, congratulations for all your tests, I need a little help I am looking for a fountain pen to draw with a regular line that glides well medium and resistant tips with a regular flow and very dense ink do you have a model for me advise
Well, any fountain pen should be able to draw a nice medium line. I'm not sure what "resistant tips" means, exactly, though. The other questions are really ink questions, and they aren't so easy to answer. I do have lots of ink reviews, though, so look to some of them to find an ink you'd like.
Twsbi eco vs twsbi 580Al???
Which is best to buy
I don’t actually know. I’m waiting on my first 580AL to arrive.
Funny how I still haven’t got around to buying an Eco, though I have tried them out before. Not half- bad in any way. I have the GO, 580AL; also had the Vac 700r, but didn’t like it and gave it away to somebody for free. The two B nibs sampled here scarcely looked like broads to me. Pretty disappointing, because I’d instinctively choose a Broad, but not these ones on display here.
Yeah, I think the broad nib is on the narrower end of broads. It's not a western broad, but wider than a Sailor broad, I think.
Mike Matteson ...Ah, but I have 3 Sailors - a 1911L, Pro Gear, Realo - with Broad nibs. Another with a music nib. Mike, I gotta tell you all my Sailor Bs are quite wet, thick lovely Broads, on par with nearly all my Western B nibs. No marked difference, overall. Ditto my experience with my Pilot and Platinum B nibs. Btw, an older video of yours on various nib types inspired me to try the Waverly and italic nibs. Italics are my newest love. I only have two waverley nibbed pens.
Please slow down. We hearing impaired have trouble following you. Thanks
There should be captions available on the video. Are they helpful?
@@inkdependence They can be! What a lot of people don't know though, especially with videos and auto-captions, is that the captions aren't very good. Especially on TH-cam.
Writing your own or having someone write them for you is much more helpful! It takes time, but it really helps those who are HoH or deaf. They can be done through the TH-cam captions or embedded into the video in a font at the bottom margin of the screen. (In my opinion, the TH-cam-provided option is hard to use. I used to caption videos, but that was a while ago. Idk how it's changed since then?)
3:00 not with that attitude
Awful pen for its section nubs near nib. Very annoying reminder to write horizontally, which is how poor writers write. Edge of section near nib must be round and smooth, which Chinese manufacturers could have done, if they had any brains (they don't). We are not children that need to be reminded to write horizontally for heaven sake. Some write with grip close to nib and will hit nubs in this case. Smallish nib makes one want to write nearer to the dreaded nubs with Eco. Of course you can grip away from nubs, higher up on section, but what good pen maker ever forces you to do this? Answer: None.
wtf?
Swear to god! Every time I click the video, the first thing I heard is “You hate a$$? I hate a$$!” 😂😂😂😂😂