Which Demonstrator Pen Should I Buy And Why?

[PolarMoonman]

The best demonstrator for the money is a Nemosine Singularity. Its under $20 and writes really well and you can even get stub nibs for it!

[penviper]

get the orange 580AL demo from twsbi

 

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk236/vipercyclone/1503468_644999672208817_1468562751_n-798x588_zpsc2vmalah.jpg

Edited February 23, 2015 by penviper

[parnesh]

Just got a dozen (and gave away 4) Jinhao 599 demo's in smoke, orange, green and blue. While the build quality is anything the writing quality is decent. And @ $2 a pop, can't complain.

[Crewel]

Here's another pen model not mentioned well within your price range. It's an Indian pen called ASA Galaxy. You have a variety of nib options as well as the pen being an eyedropper for that ultimate ink capacity.

 

My first choice would be a TWBSI just because I think they are a great bang for the buck. You get a no fuss piston filler, nib choices, and easy to maintain/repair pen. As long as you are not throwing your pen against the wall, I think the new 580s are more robust than their earlier models. The only problem you may have will be in the performance of the nib. However, that can be easily tuned.

[HollyGolightly]

Has anyone had any experience with the Monteverde Artista Crystal? Damn that SBREBrown for expanding my search....

I'm terribly late but I have an Artista Crystal demonstrator in pink and I love it (Approx $30 for mine I believe?). It's a nice heft in person. I also own a Nemosine Singularity (Which I got for less than $15 dollars). I will say the monteverde seems more substantial. The plastic seems thicker, and more resilient if that makes any sense? The Singularity is a nice little pen as well of course but I feel as though it'd be easy to discern which one had cost more money. Both have fully transparent caps (which is a must for me), both have threading to close the caps securely which I like. The Artista Crystal has a clear feed which tickles my fancy personally. All in all I really enjoy the crystal. One thing to note is the crystal only comes in a medium nib- the Nemosine Singularity offers you more options when it comes to nib size!

 

The Lamy Vista is nice and I enjoy how easy it is to swap out the nibs- but aesthetically, prefer the Monteverde.

Edited February 23, 2015 by HollyGolightly

[Miz Black Crow]

Well guys.... this morning I pulled the trigger on a TWSBI Diamond 580-AL in Silver, with an M nib. I also bought a Lamy Vista demonstrator pen as a gift to my mother for her birthday; hopefully the Goulets get my goodies out the door today or tomorrow and ze package arrives by Friday morning. (Don't tell my mom!)

 

Thank you all for your kind suggestions and lovely guidance. I'll update this thread with my thoughts and comments when the pens arrive!

[OakIris]

Glad you were able to make a decision before being overwhelmed with choices and advice, Miz Black Crow! I hope you will like both pens.

 

I have a TWSBI Mini - not the same as the 580, obviously, but it's still a TWSBI demonstrator - and the Lamy Vista. The Mini is my EDC pocket carry pen. I like demonstrators but admittedly C/C demonstrators don't really do much for me. There is nothing very interesting about the "workings" of a cartridge or a converter. My Vista was actually purchased so that I can use the cap and section on a Lamy pocket pen that one of our fellow FPN members had made for a lucky few:

 

Nothing wrong with C/C demonstrators, but I like those that show a more interesting fill system than a converter or cartridge, as well as giving a clear view of the ink being used. Perhaps someday I will get myself an eyedropper fill demonstrator, just so that I can see all that pretty ink sloshing about in it.

 

Unlike FountainPages, and others, I am sure, I do like clear demonstrators. I don't have that many, but they don't look like cheap plastic throw away pens to me, but each to her or his own! A clear Pilot Custom Heritage 92 will be on its way to me later this week.

 

 

I am curious-- I love the look of the Pilot custom 92 or the sailor 1911, but what is the point of buying an expensive demonstrator, if it's just going to stain? Wouldn't it make more sense to buy an Ahab or a twisbi and then for the more expensive pen, go for something that won't stain?

 

(--hope this isn't too far off topic)

 

In my opinion, if you clean your pen faithfully, at the least when changing ink brands/colors, and avoid using inks in it that are known to stain, such as Bay State Blue, or some orange/reds/purple inks, there is no reason why your clear demonstrator barrel should develop stains. I have a relatively inexpensive TWSBI Mini that has had one ink or another in it since I purchased it in July of last year. The plastic is unstained, still looks as clear and nice as it looked the day I received it. I realize it has been in use for less than a year, but if the barrel were prone to staining, I am certain those stains would be showing by now. Theoretically, more expensive pens are made of even better plastic that should be even less prone to stain.

 

Holly

 

 

[Kuscer]

Hi dear Miz Black Crow,

I voted for the TWSBI Diamond 580. I have been intending to buy one myself as I have heard a lot of great things about these neat little pens. If you like, I'll send you a PM when I receive mine (most likely early April-ish) and I'll tell you about it.

Good luck!

Best regards,

S.

[Crewel]

I also want to note that with some inks that are known to stain, this is not a death knell for your pen.

 

More specifically, I was one of many to purchase the TWSBI 530, the first model, when TWSBI came into the FP scene back in 2010. I bought 2 with one designated as my Noodler's Baystate Blue pen. Over time, the barrel did stain a little. However, all was not lost. Before using any other products such as Koh-I-Noor, you can use a solution of 1 part bleach to at least 10 parts water to remove the stain. I can attest to the effectiveness of this method because I have managed to clean my original 530 barrel back to its original clarity. It may require a little patience and some elbow grease (I used a Q-tip to get inside the barrel to "scrub" some of the more stubborn areas), but you will be happy with your results.

 

I'm sure you can use the same method for any demonstrator you will own.

[Kuscer]

Has anyone had any experience with the Monteverde Artista Crystal? Damn that SBREBrown for expanding my search....

Oh, he got you too?

[arran]

A conid bulkfiller

To enjoy the hi tec filling system

[Miz Black Crow]

Update: the TWSBI arrived and I am so deeply in love it's almost shameful. It feels so refined! Perfectly weighted, with a nib as smooth as melted butter. It tends to run dry after a few pages--a bit of skipping--but a little priming of the feed fixes it (and gets the ink about five shades darker, which is kind of amazing). And it just looks. So. Cool. :wub:

 

ETA: Its inaugural ink is the sample vial I got of Liberty's Elysium, which just looks fantastic through the bezeled face. Much enjoy! Though I syringe-filled and it ate the WHOLE SAMPLE all by itself! That's a lotta ink capacity!!

Edited February 27, 2015 by Miz Black Crow

[HollyGolightly]

Update: the TWSBI arrived and I am so deeply in love it's almost shameful. It feels so refined! Perfectly weighted, with a nib as smooth as melted butter. It tends to run dry after a few pages--a bit of skipping--but a little priming of the feed fixes it (and gets the ink about five shades darker, which is kind of amazing). And it just looks. So. Cool. :wub:

 

ETA: Its inaugural ink is the sample vial I got of Liberty's Elysium, which just looks fantastic through the bezeled face. Much enjoy! Though I syringe-filled and it ate the WHOLE SAMPLE all by itself! That's a lotta ink capacity!!

Pictures, pictures!

[Crewel]

Update: the TWSBI arrived and I am so deeply in love it's almost shameful. It feels so refined! Perfectly weighted, with a nib as smooth as melted butter. It tends to run dry after a few pages--a bit of skipping--but a little priming of the feed fixes it (and gets the ink about five shades darker, which is kind of amazing). And it just looks. So. Cool. :wub:

 

ETA: Its inaugural ink is the sample vial I got of Liberty's Elysium, which just looks fantastic through the bezeled face. Much enjoy! Though I syringe-filled and it ate the WHOLE SAMPLE all by itself! That's a lotta ink capacity!!

 

Congrats Miz Black Crow! I'm sure you will get much enjoyment from the pen. Sounds like the nib is fairly OK except for those little missteps you mentioned. If they become more of an issue, check out TWSBI's videos on YouTube as they have some quick tutorials on adjusting the nib to your liking.

[FOUR X FOUR]

Wow, that's a pretty question. I've never purposely tried to just do a partial fill, say 25 to 50% however, if I were trying for that I would try lifting the pen from the ink well or bottle, quicker; after releasing the plunger.

Wow, this was embarrassing to read. It's too late to edit. I meant to say, " that's a pretty 'neat' question"

[OakIris]

Glad you like your TWSBI!

 

The fact that it seems to dry out while you are in the midst of writing is a bit troubling; I hope you can get the flow adjusted. I don't believe Liberty Elysium is considered a particularly dry ink, but perhaps it and your pen just aren't playing nice? (Or there is too much surface tension in the converter, too many air bubbles, who knows. ) You might want to try a different ink and see if that helps before trying to make adjustments to the nib.

 

Holly

[Miz Black Crow]

http://www.samanthawilding.net/penstuff/twsbi2.JPG

 

http://www.samanthawilding.net/penstuff/twsbi1.JPG

[Frank C]

My favorite demonstrator is an Aurora 88 Nera. It is a beautiful pen and built like a tank.

[mgmmaze]

I am fairly new to FPN and I am not sure how I feel about demonstrators yet personally. The 580 with Liberty Elyusum looks so nice. My gf was watching the video on The Ahab since she likes my ahab and I had to explain the history that I know of the demonstrators and she says eww thats gross. Me personally The one demonstrator that did catch my eye was the Konrad in Nathan's youtube video showing air ink interchange.

[Frank C]

I am fairly new to FPN and I am not sure how I feel about demonstrators yet personally. The 580 with Liberty Elyusum looks so nice. My gf was watching the video on The Ahab since she likes my ahab and I had to explain the history that I know of the demonstrators and she says eww thats gross. Me personally The one demonstrator that did catch my eye was the Konrad in Nathan's youtube video showing air ink interchange.

 

The fun part of using a demonstrator is seeing how the pen works.