So, Has Anyone's Twsbi Not Broken?

[Cynergy]

My TWSBI 540 Smoke is fine too.No problems at all. I use it only for a month. I ask only because I am thinking of buying another one soon. It fits my hand like no other !!!

Edited May 1, 2012 by Cynergy

[JonSzanto]

As far as I know, the problem with cracking has been solved in current models. They had to modify the tooling.

 

If you do have a cracked TWSBI, I believe other posters on FPN have had their pens replaced free.

 

I have a TWSBI 540 purchased beginning of this year that has been trouble free.

I'll add a little testament: I bought my 530 in March or April of last year, when they were brand new. I have used it continuously since, and only this past Monday night finally saw a crack at the back end of the barrel. It had been more than a year, but I thought I'd write Philip and see if I could buy a barrel. All he asked for was my shipping address, and two days later I had everything for a new clear 540 except for the nib unit and cap. No questions, no charge, no nothing. In ten minutes I disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled the new pen, and it is once again perfect.

 

You simply cannot find that kind of service these days. My hat is off to Philip and TWSBI.

[gayl01]

All of mine have broken. I used them a lot though. I work in a hospital and they dropped onto the floor and cracked around the cap mostly and one on the barrel near the top and another one at the bottom. After telling Phillip I guess one too many times about my problems he gave me a sour reply so I have not bothered him in awhile.

 

I also have to say that I ruined a lot of uniform tops due to some leaking where the nib screws in. I bought two 540s when they were being discontinued, a 580 and two Vac 700s. Four out of five do not work.

 

Christmas is coming up and I saw that they lowered their prices some. I wanted to know if the classic TWSBI fountain pens have a better barrel and caps. In other words, no cheap plastic.

 

Anyone out there have any experience with the new classic TWSBI fountain pens that I see on their website?

 

PS: I have to say that the one that still works is the 580.

Edited December 16, 2014 by gayl01

[Algester]

I broke some nibs but beyond that I broke some feed fins... cause really the ones on the mini and 580 I see are fragile as heck... if they can change the design of the feed without compromising wetness maybe

[drmom777]

I had and have problems with all of my pre 580s. But I have never had the slightest trouble with any of my 580s, or minis. I don't like the vac 700 because the knob occasionally comes off, but it works. The two classics I have are good, once i discovered you need to put silicone grease on the threads behind the ink window. I hope I am not jinxing anything by saying these are all very good pens. And I loved the Micarta. It has a great nib, looks unique, and is extraordinarily comfortable in the hand. Sturdy too. I even enjoy the little bit of residual industrial smell.

 

Philip was always prompt in sending replacement parts for the 530/540 models, but I got tired of endless replacements and stopped using them.

Edited December 17, 2014 by drmom777

[SujiCorp12345]

I have a 580 and a Vac 700 and neither has broken. I've had them for some months now.

[yogalarva]

I have loved both the Vac 700's I've had and had no troubles with either. I would not hesitate to buy another TWSBI, and have my eye on getting a 580AL once the holidays are passed...

[JefferyS]

I have never dropped mine on a hard surface, but one of them has a visible crack in the plastic. I don't know if it just appeared spontaneously. They are known to "fissure."

[sexauerw]

I have one each 530, 540 and Vac700, all equipped with 1.1mm stub nibs. No problems to report with any of them. I did replace the original piston seals on the 530 with the upgraded 1.5 seals because there was a bit of ink between the two seals, but never any trace of ink above the upper seal. Speedy had sent two sets of the new seals to all of us that had the early 530s with the first version seals. It was really easy to install a set one day while I was cleaning the pen. So I still have one spare set of seals. I've never seen any ink past the first seal since I made the change.

[Newjelan]

After just a few weeks, 2 of mine cracked along the barrel starting near the piston end. I'm not hard on my pens and these are the only 2 pens I've ever owned that have developed problems. They ended up in the bin.

[MCN]

I've had two Minis, one for over a year and one for seven months, with no problems at all. I use them fairly frequently.

[Matlock]

I have one TWSBI, a 580, and have had no problems with it (although I am not greatly impressed, it does the job).

If anyone thinking of buying a TWSBI were to read the various threads regarding broken and cracked pens then no one would ever buy one. The fact that the pens do sell and TWSBI provide a good service speaks for itself. Yes you will always have the odd defective pen but I think it is the old story, only people who experience problems bother to join in. The thousands who have no trouble just keep quiet.

[Chi Town]

none of mine have broken, but i use them at my desk! i have my eye on a 700 as my next purchase....

[serpent]

I have six in rotation 1- mini 5-580's all pocket caries and never a problem.

[sgtstretch]

I've been using a 580 for the past 10 months with no issues. While I probably won't get another TWSBI, I find it to be a decent pen.

[Bemo]

I've had a 580 and 700 for about a year no with no issues. Just bought a AL 580 with a Pendleton Brown nib.

[alc3261]

I actually have 12 in total - no cracks or breakages. Poor flow on the original Vac 700s - nib units replaced by TWSBI. Rose gold plating came off nib of the 580 Black/Rose Gold - nib replaced by TWSBI.

[Jamerelbe]

I have 2 TWSBIs - ok, 3,but my newly purchased blue 540 is still un-inked. My 580 is great - no cracking, no problems. The Mini developed a crack in the cap after ~11 months, which was promptly replaced for me 5 months ago, and is still going strong. I know purchasing the 540 was a bit of a risk - but I loved the look, and will be doubly careful with it...

[mtraug11]

I have had a 530 since about 6 months after its release and a Mini for about 2 years. No problems at all with cracking, etc. My 530 had a tight fitting cap, but was cured with a little polish on the threads and multiple threading and unthreading, but that was ages ago. Love TWSBI pens!!

[fraafreg]

I have a blue 530 as daily writer. No cracks or other damage