I am not running giveaways and I will not ask you for money. Watch out for scammers and spammers, and they want to steal your money and personal information.
I agree with you on this.. the TWSBI mini is one of the best out of their line up. I thought i was the only one who felt that way. My preference is a medium nib on them as I've noticed they have the best ink flow and nib smoothness that for me gives the best experience. This is just my experience and opinion here.
I have a Vac-mini, never became an EDC, size & balance just didn't work for me. Meanwhile, my ECO (M) has been inked since day 1. Like you nib sheet comparisons. Cleaning, I like to remove nib, feed, section & flush out my pistons & vac-fillers. Not use the filling system for flushing. Just feel the system is good for x # of uses. Cleaning reduces that #.
Well if you did wear out the filling system cleaning the pen, then I'm sure TWSBI would take good care of you. The time I had a cracked body they charged me $4 for shipping to send me a new one. AND if you wear to the filling system just using the pen, then you deserve and award!
TWSBI Mini is the perfect pen. It’s small enough to be an EDC pen, secures the cap with screw to post, the nib is smooth and reliable, and it holds over 1ml of ink. I have a lot of fountain pens and these are my go-to. I agree on the preference for this vs the vac mini. The vent cap on the vac mini is sometimes hard to open making it not as fast to use. I usually use the vac mini as an air travel pen because it fully seals preventing pressure leaks.
This was one of my first pens. I bought the 1.5 stub and it was ok at best for me. I bought a normal 580 B and had to return it. I almost swore off using the brand. I ordered a replacement B nib for the mini and enjoyed it so much that it’s in my normal rotation. Last month I wanted to try using the 1.5 again since my handwriting is much better now compared to a year ago. I’m not sure what changed because now the stub performs great. It’s so much fun and looks so good on the page. I’m glad I did not give up on the pen.
I think TWSBI is a great place to start in fountain pen, so you were set up for success. I find their pens do write a bit dry... so perhaps your changing the nib out, and then back helped it some.
Great video, interesting to hear your take on TWSBI nibs as I have a GO with a broad nib which I find very unsatisfying to use to the extent that I have been reluctant to invest in another TWSBI pen. Good to hear that all their nibs are not so bad, I may need to give them another chance.
Great $50 pen. When it first came out (2014?) it and the ientical-looking Vac Mini had cracking/leaking problems, but that production issue got fixed within a year or two. I love the clear and the black ones I have, in EF and F.
Also my favorite TWSBI, along with the VAC700R. Both have stubs and are very smooth, reliable writers. The Mini did crack once, but TWSBI was very responsive and replaced it within days for a $5 shipping charge. If I lost the one I have now I would immediately replace it, and with same stub nib.
Same here…the FP is not your first born. It’s a tool. Something I learned from Nathan Tardif. So now, if my six year old charges my desk and grabs the MB, I’m like whatever-let her enjoy my collection.
I’m not a big fan of TWSBI pens, in general. I used to own four of them. Now I only have one. And it’s the (Diamond) Mini. Because it’s the best TWSBI pen and the only one I cared for enough to retain in my collection. The piston works splendidly, the broad nib on mine is a wonderful, smooth, moderately wet writer. And a totally dependable first time every time writer. It is better than the Vac Mini, because the piston is better than the Vac in TWSBI pens, in my experience. And oh, while I don’t ‘baby’ my pens, I’m quite guarded and possessive about them. I rarely if ever let anybody else use any of my pens. I certainly wouldn’t trust young children to handle my pens. But since I own lots of very expensive pens that I love and value greatly, I take great care of them and wish to see them last for my lifetime. They are more than mere writing instruments to me.
I used to be a much bigger fan of TWSBI than I am now, they just aren't to my taste any more. But I think they are great pens in general. This is much better to me than their vac-mini, I think the piston filler here is great... and I am a huge fan of vac fillers.
I like mine too, I think they're great pens, probably my favorite out of my pocket pens. I wish the O ring under the piston knob would stay put though.
I have three Eco pens: EF, F, Medium and love them. The fine nib is my favorite. I was thinking of adding a different Twsbi in a fine. But I have seen several reviews for the mini where the EF looked more like a Med so I was afraid to order the fine nib. Don’t the mini pens use the exact same nibs?
I love the size and feel and narrow nib so I can see what I'm writing. But like my other TWSBI piston filler, it leaks. I would rather have a cartridge converter that doesn't leak, like the Swipe, but I prefer the more premium materials of the mini.
If it leaks at the threads then try some silicone grease. If you can find exactly where it leaks you can contact TWSBI because they are very reactive to fix the experience for you. I will give you a link to them: www.twsbi.com/pages/contact
I understand, but on the majority I am willing to let people try the pens I carry. I do have a dollar value I stop handing them the pen to try, but that has more to do with how they might feel if they dropped the pen than how I feel about it. To me it is just a pen after all and a nib smith isn't super expensive if needed. But the Jinhao is really the safest bet there.
Here are the Direct links to Robert Oster Hippo Purple, the ink used for this review: th-cam.com/video/fjU-hc-yDyw/w-d-xo.html
I am not running giveaways and I will not ask you for money. Watch out for scammers and spammers, and they want to steal your money and personal information.
Really like your videos, man. Thx a lot for doing what you do.
I appreciate that!
this is really a great review! comprehensive and helpful. cheers.
Thank you, I'm glad it's helpful.
I agree with you on this.. the TWSBI mini is one of the best out of their line up. I thought i was the only one who felt that way. My preference is a medium nib on them as I've noticed they have the best ink flow and nib smoothness that for me gives the best experience. This is just my experience and opinion here.
I think their pistons work better than their van fillers.... and I think this is their best pen. Not taking anything from the Eco with that statement.
Great philosophy you have re. fp's: Don't treat them as precious - they're pens. I used to be too careful with my pens, but now I'm more casual.
I just don't think 50 years ago they were being especially guarded about them. Just a pen.
I have a Vac-mini, never became an EDC, size & balance just didn't work for me. Meanwhile, my ECO (M) has been inked since day 1. Like you nib sheet comparisons. Cleaning, I like to remove nib, feed, section & flush out my pistons & vac-fillers. Not use the filling system for flushing. Just feel the system is good for x # of uses. Cleaning reduces that #.
Well if you did wear out the filling system cleaning the pen, then I'm sure TWSBI would take good care of you. The time I had a cracked body they charged me $4 for shipping to send me a new one.
AND if you wear to the filling system just using the pen, then you deserve and award!
TWSBI Mini is the perfect pen. It’s small enough to be an EDC pen, secures the cap with screw to post, the nib is smooth and reliable, and it holds over 1ml of ink. I have a lot of fountain pens and these are my go-to. I agree on the preference for this vs the vac mini. The vent cap on the vac mini is sometimes hard to open making it not as fast to use. I usually use the vac mini as an air travel pen because it fully seals preventing pressure leaks.
👍
This was one of my first pens. I bought the 1.5 stub and it was ok at best for me. I bought a normal 580 B and had to return it. I almost swore off using the brand. I ordered a replacement B nib for the mini and enjoyed it so much that it’s in my normal rotation. Last month I wanted to try using the 1.5 again since my handwriting is much better now compared to a year ago. I’m not sure what changed because now the stub performs great. It’s so much fun and looks so good on the page. I’m glad I did not give up on the pen.
I think TWSBI is a great place to start in fountain pen, so you were set up for success. I find their pens do write a bit dry... so perhaps your changing the nib out, and then back helped it some.
Great video, interesting to hear your take on TWSBI nibs as I have a GO with a broad nib which I find very unsatisfying to use to the extent that I have been reluctant to invest in another TWSBI pen. Good to hear that all their nibs are not so bad, I may need to give them another chance.
They are affordable enough to give them another try.
Great $50 pen. When it first came out (2014?) it and the ientical-looking Vac Mini had cracking/leaking problems, but that production issue got fixed within a year or two. I love the clear and the black ones I have, in EF and F.
Even if the body cracked they just had you pay the $4 shipping and they sent you a replacement body.
They handled it very well.
Also my favorite TWSBI, along with the VAC700R. Both have stubs and are very smooth, reliable writers. The Mini did crack once, but TWSBI was very responsive and replaced it within days for a $5 shipping charge. If I lost the one I have now I would immediately replace it, and with same stub nib.
Back when mine cracked they sent a new body for $4 and that was jus shipping. So ya, they handled that like true pros!
Same here…the FP is not your first born. It’s a tool. Something I learned from Nathan Tardif. So now, if my six year old charges my desk and grabs the MB, I’m like whatever-let her enjoy my collection.
I have let kids use some of my more expensive pens. I have found you show them that they don't need to press hard and off they go, so real worries.
I’m not a big fan of TWSBI pens, in general. I used to own four of them. Now I only have one. And it’s the (Diamond) Mini. Because it’s the best TWSBI pen and the only one I cared for enough to retain in my collection.
The piston works splendidly, the broad nib on mine is a wonderful, smooth, moderately wet writer. And a totally dependable first time every time writer. It is better than the Vac Mini, because the piston is better than the Vac in TWSBI pens, in my experience.
And oh, while I don’t ‘baby’ my pens, I’m quite guarded and possessive about them. I rarely if ever let anybody else use any of my pens. I certainly wouldn’t trust young children to handle my pens. But since I own lots of very expensive pens that I love and value greatly, I take great care of them and wish to see them last for my lifetime. They are more than mere writing instruments to me.
I used to be a much bigger fan of TWSBI than I am now, they just aren't to my taste any more. But I think they are great pens in general.
This is much better to me than their vac-mini, I think the piston filler here is great... and I am a huge fan of vac fillers.
I like mine too, I think they're great pens, probably my favorite out of my pocket pens. I wish the O ring under the piston knob would stay put though.
Right on
I have three Eco pens: EF, F, Medium and love them. The fine nib is my favorite. I was thinking of adding a different Twsbi in a fine. But I have seen several reviews for the mini where the EF looked more like a Med so I was afraid to order the fine nib. Don’t the mini pens use the exact same nibs?
I am fairly certain they are the same nib.
@@AnInkGuy - Thanks. Maybe what I saw was them using a very wet ink?
I love the size and feel and narrow nib so I can see what I'm writing. But like my other TWSBI piston filler, it leaks. I would rather have a cartridge converter that doesn't leak, like the Swipe, but I prefer the more premium materials of the mini.
If it leaks at the threads then try some silicone grease. If you can find exactly where it leaks you can contact TWSBI because they are very reactive to fix the experience for you. I will give you a link to them:
www.twsbi.com/pages/contact
7:05 yeah, about that - NO. i have jinhaos for that
I understand, but on the majority I am willing to let people try the pens I carry. I do have a dollar value I stop handing them the pen to try, but that has more to do with how they might feel if they dropped the pen than how I feel about it. To me it is just a pen after all and a nib smith isn't super expensive if needed.
But the Jinhao is really the safest bet there.
Mini AL or Mini Classic?
classic