Workhorse Inks Update: Water-Testing TWSBI Inks

July 13, 2021

Last week I wrote a post on TWSBI Blue-Black, a workhorse fountain pen ink that shows significant water-resistance to the point where I would consider the ink basically waterproof. Following that post, I received several questions about how the other TWSBI inks compared, so I decided to do a quick test.

Basically, the “test” was exactly what I did with the TWSBI Blue-Black: I dunked a sheet of Rhodia paper containing a writing sample of all five standard colors in a glass of water for five minutes. Admittedly, this is a pretty “extreme” test, so the effects are probably more akin to your notebook going through the washing machine than to a few raindrops or a spilled drink that’s quickly wiped away. Here are the results:

As you can see, TWSBI Blue-Black clearly performed the best, followed by TWSBI Black, which also showed significant water-resistance. TWSBI Midnight Blue also remained quite legible. Unsurprisingly, Sapphire Blue and Red showed little water-resistance, though both did remain legible to the point where you would probably be able to recover most of your writing.

Overall, I’m very happy with how the TWSBI Inks performed, and the Blue-Black, Midnight Blue, and Black inks will likely find their way into my permanent work rotation. I carry all five of these inks in the Curated Shop, and as I mentioned in the prior post, they’re priced competitively at $15.99 for a 70ml glass bottle. We also carry the full range of other TWSBI products, including the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR in “Prussian Blue,” as well as the new TWSBI ECO Lilac, which we recently added to our offerings!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we carry. By shopping with us, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

In the Curated Shop: TWSBI Inks (Swatches Included!)

April 26, 2021

While most are familiar with TWSBI pens, the TWSBI ink lineup receives less attention. TWSBI initially released a series of basic colors - Black, Blue-Black, Blue, and Red - in 70 ml bottles, and later added “Midnight Blue.” If you’re looking for work and wallet-friendly inks in an attractive frosted bottle, consider these. The blue-black has some water resistance, and I’ve found that it’s a great ink for the office because (like many traditional blue-black inks) it writes well on cheaper paper, even in broader nibs.

What’s the difference between “Midnight Blue” and “Blue-Black”? Midnight Blue lacks the water-resistance of the Blue-Black, but definitely leans more blue, whereas Blue-Black has more steel grey undertones.

TWSBI later released a series of six brighter colors in 18ml bottles: Emerald Green, Prairie Green, Royal Purple, Sky Blue, Orange, and Pink. What surprised me about these inks is the saturation. When I first saw the announcement, I expected colors such as Prairie Green, Sky Blue, and Pink to look a bit washed out, but I was pleasantly surprised at how bright and legible they are.

You can currently purchase 70ml bottles of TWSBI Ink individually in the Curated Shop for $15.99, along with a set of six 18ml bottles for $34.99. If you’re an experienced fountain pen user, these are well-behaved inks that should cover most of your writing needs. If you’re purchasing your first fountain pen or new to bottled ink, the six-bottle set is a great way to experiment with the wide range of available ink colors and broaden your horizons beyond black and blue! Remember that TWSBI pens only fill from the bottle, so if you pick one up be sure to grab some ink to go along with it.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of TWSBI and all brands sold in The T.G.S. Curated Shop.

All ink swatches done with a q-tip in a Write Notepads Dot Grid Notebook, exceptionally ink friendly paper that showed no feathering or bleed-through even with these wet swabs. Writing samples were done with this glass dip pen purchased from Papier … — All ink swatches done with a q-tip in a Write Notepads Dot Grid Notebook, exceptionally ink friendly paper that showed no feathering or bleed-through even with these wet swabs. Writing samples were done with this glass dip pen purchased from Papier Plume.

Workhorse Pens: The Case for the TWSBI 580 and the TWSBI 580AL/ALR

April 11, 2020

For a reliable, low cost workhorse fountain pen, you can’t go wrong with any TWSBI. From the original TWSBI 530 to the modern 580, 580AL or 580ALR, ECO, Mini, Vac, Vac Mini, and GO, TWSBI has seemingly perfected the art of making interesting pens with different filling mechanisms at a wide range of price points. I’ve long been a fan of the brand. Even years ago, when TWSBI still suffered from periodic quality control issues, I was willing to give them multiple chances because I believed in their goal: to create a well-made piston filler that could be sold at an accessible price well below $100. Though it took several years of experimenting, the company eventually struck the right balance between cost and quality before finalizing the design of the current model 580, which has not changed in recent years other than to add anodized aluminum accents (i.e., the TWSBI 580AL and 580ALR).

But then came the ECO, an even less expensive piston filling fountain pen with a new rounded barrel that not only decreased manufacturing cost but also eliminated what many suspect were the culprits that caused stress cracking on early renditions of the 580: the “diamond” facets. 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 my list of Best Fountain Pens for Beginners. While TWSBI originally released the ECO only in black or white, you can now purchase a clear demonstrator, a version with a triangular Safari-like grip (the TWSBI ECO-T), as well as limited edition colors that rotate throughout the year. TWSBI clearly has invested in expanding the ECO segment of its business.

What Does the ECO Mean for the TWSBI 580?

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. What does the ECO mean for the future of the TWSBI 580? Should anyone still buy the pen? Is the $25 markup over the ECO justified? My answer to those questions is yes.

TWSBI nibs write a true medium, shown here with TWSBI Blue-Black Ink in a Write Notepads Dot Grid Notebook.

The main feature that the TWSBI 580 offers, which the ECO does not, is an interchangeable nib unit. (Perhaps I should say “easily interchangeable nib,” since technically you can swap the nib on an ECO, you just have to pull the nib manually as opposed to unscrewing a nib unit, and you cannot purchase ECO nibs separately.) If you like to use different nib sizes, and don’t want to own five or six different pens, you can purchase a single TWSBI 580 and an handful of individual nib units. This ability to swap nibs also comes in handy if you want to keep a stock of custom nib grinds, such as cursive italics or architects, and rotate them in and out of the same pen.

There are additional functional and aesthetic differences between the 580 and the ECO. While I’m an ECO fan, I prefer the feel of the original 580. The 580 has the heft of a Pelikan piston filler, and although you can’t post the pen, it has excellent balance and a massive ink capacity, suitable for an all-day (or all-week) marathon writing session. If the ability to post a pen is important to you, consider the TWSBI Mini, which has a smaller ink capacity but actually extends to a slightly longer writing length than the standard 580.

Of all TWSBI pens, the Diamond Mini is my favorite to use posted.

Aesthetically speaking, I also prefer the look of the 580 over the ECO. While I don’t dislike the ECO, the oversized, faceted cap will certainly stand out more in a professional environment, which I sometimes have to consider. The standard TWSBI 580 demonstrator, or the TWSBI 580ALR in Nickel, makes for a better “office pen”, at least for my particular workplace.

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.

Takeaways and Final Thoughts

I don’t subscribe to the idea that TWSBI should replace the 580 with the ECO. While the ECO is an excellent pen in its own right, it is a different pen, both in terms of design and functionality, and to be honest, the 580 offers the look and feel a much “higher-end” fountain pen at a mere $25 markup over the ECO. Combined with the 580’s interchangeable nib, that is more than enough justification to keep both pens in TWSBI’s lineup.

At the same time, I do wonder whether there is a rationale for discontinuing the TWSBI 580ALR limited editions. I don’t know how many of these pens TWSBI makes in each run, but with interchangeable nibs, it’s harder to justify owning more than one 580, and at $30 the ECO makes for an easier “catch ‘em all” purchase. Since we’re seeing more of a focus on ECO variants and limited editions, this may be where things are headed.

I’ve written full reviews of both the TWSBI 580 and the TWSBI Eco over the years, and both are fixtures on my “best pens” recommendations lists. Check out those reviews for a more in-depth discussion of specs and details of each pen. UPDATE: As of April 2021, TWSBI pens can be purchased directly from me in the T.G.S. Curated Shop.