Vac Mini Compared To Twsbi Mini (And Others)

[TSherbs]

The top of the nib section is the same on both pens, but whereas the diamond-mini flares wider towards the piston end, the vac-mini stays straight. Hope this makes sense. I prefer the vac-mini's design to the diamond mini as its more comfortable for longer bouts of writing IMHO. Its also easier to carry around than its larger brother, the full size vac. The vac-mini is an amazing design and was well worth the wait. The one I received, which has a medium nib, is currently filled with Sailor Yama Dori and writes with a very consistent, wet line. At $60, its a tremendous writng instrument...

Thanks, Eric, but I want to know which one is wider in diameter. The Diamond Mini "looks" wider in the pics above, but the Vac Mini is clear and the classic Mini is opaque, so I am not trusting just my eyes to make the accurate determination. Goulet is not listing measurement specs yet, so the accurate numbers are unclear.

[EricTheRed]

The diamond mini is slightly wider at the base of the grip section due to its flare. The vac-mini has a slightly longer grip section. The ink storage area of the vac is significantly deeper and appears to be slightly wider than the diamond but its hard to tell. Hope this helps.

[TSherbs]

yes, thanks

 

the Vac Mini section looks like it has a deeper step-down to the section, and then has a straight (not tapering or flaring) section to the nib collar.

 

interesting

 

the Vac Mini also looks like the cap threads are a bit wider and deeper

[AlanO]

Thanks very much for the review and the photos

 

I like the look of the Vac Mini and really was planning to get one simply because I'm intrigued by the vacuum filling mechanism. But the one thing that disappoints me is that it doesn't use the same nib units as the Diamond Mini - especially as I have all six of those (and two pens).

 

It seems you can dismantle the nib units and swap the nib itself. But if they'd just, say, used the same nib units for both Minis and another common nib unit for all the full-sized models, they'd have a great pen system - as it is, they just have a bunch of individual pens and no system.

 

That, and the extra £14 ($21) UK cost for the Vac over the Diamond means I probably won't get one now - £55 ($82) is way outside of my "no-brainer, get it just cos it's neat" price range.

 

Alan

[davyk]

How does the ink capacity in the vac mini compare to the vac700?

[GalHillel]

Thank you for the excellent pictures and comparison .

A few questions .

I see that the vac mini is a bit longer than the mini, Is he considered still as pocket pen?

What do you think about the Twsbi Dimond Inkwell the vac mini will work with it?

[TSherbs]

The Writing Desk measures the new Vac Mini as larger than the Diamond Mini version in every significant dimension: section length, section diameter, barrel diameter, length uncapped, length capped, length posted, and weight.

[shane27]

Thank you for the very informative post, and the pictures are fantastic!

 

The Swan and Waterman nibs you're using, do you think #2 nibs will generally fit? How do you like them in comparison to the Vac Mini steel nibs?

 

I would love to know the ink capacity of the VM, hopefully someone will give us the lowdown

[Oldtimer]

 

These are the photos of the uncapped and posted pens. Sorry they are not the same pens, but I took the uninked pens upstairs and I'm too lazy to go and get them. (Also the nibs are Franken-nibbed vintage ones but the length of the pens are about the same as the replacement nibs are roughly the same size.)

 

I also forgot to mention that Vac Mini posts like the TWSBI Diamond Mini, in that there are threads for the cap to screw onto securely. No way for the cap to fall off while you are writing. Although, for me even the TWSBI Mini is useable without posting the cap (I have small hands) so posting the cap is optional for me.

 

Pens uncapped. L to R. TWSBI Vac 700 (Amber), TWSBI Vac Mini, TWSBI Mini (White), TWSBI 580 (Green)

 

Pens' caps posted. L to R. TWSBI Vac 700 (Amber), TWSBI Vac Mini, TWSBI Mini (White), TWSBI 580 (Green)

 

These photos are just beautiful! enhancing the natural beauty of the pens. I am a fan of smaller pens that do not stick out of your hand while writing. I did not know of the mini in white and the vac looks certainly awesome, but I will wait for 2016 to gather all actual usage information from fellow FPNrs. I have also promised not to buy any pen ... until 2016. Great enabling job !

[J85909266]

I wish that the Vac Mini had shared the smoke colored section and knob from the Vac 700. I hate clear sections. I like the clear barrel, but the ink in the feed clinging randomly around the section looks very messing and unappealing.

[sirgilbert357]

How does the ink capacity in the vac mini compare to the vac700?

 

Goulet's website says 2.0 ml for the Vac Mini...

[visvamitra]

Great comparison. Thank you!

[Bex66]

Yay

Mine has arrived today, from The Writing Desk. I love it. I love my Diamond Mini, but I may be about to like this more!

Yes, the step down from the barrel to the section is more pronounced, due to a straight not tapering section. However, the section is longer, so the step is well away from my fingers. The lack of flaring at the nib end, makes for a more comfortable writing experience for me, as I tend to hold my pens quite low down. I think the section is identical in width to the Mini, despite Writing Desk's quoted dimensions. It actually feels slightly narrower, due to the non-tapered, non-flaring shape. (I don't have the right equipment to measure accurately).

I was very surprised to receive a 'ribbed' pen (both cap and barrel) as I was expecting it to be smooth. However, I really like the ridged pattern. The ink and light play nicely together.

The pen is slightly longer (approx 8mm) than the Mini which I also like, as I don't post my pens, and the Mini is a touch short without posting. This is perfect for me and the balance is excellent (I can't make friends with the ALs, due to their weight and back-heavy balance)

I have a fine nib. I'd say it's closer to the medium Mini nib than the EF. It's smooth out of the box and a very pleasant writing experience indeed.

All in all, I'm VERY happy with this pen. It was a little more expensive than I was hoping for, but I don't regret paying the price.

Edited December 23, 2015 by Bex66

[Jamerelbe]

@Bex66, thanks for that - I came across a somewhat less positive review earlier this week, at http://www.nibandink.com/pens/2015/12/19/review-twsbi-vac-mini. I've gone ahead and ordered one of my own, though - and am even more eager to see it 'in the flesh' now that I've gotten your hands-on perspective.

[Bex66]

Hmmm, I just read the review you posted a link to, Jamerelbe.

 

I'd say the problems quoted are mostly ones of aesthetics, not performance - and there are lots of positives...

The silver cap ring is exactly the same size as on the Diamond mIni, but the cap itself is about 5mm longer, overall. To me, the TWSBI and Vac mini wording are the same as on the Diamond mini and the cap matches their brand design. I appreciate that the visible black plastic O rings and threads can look cheap. Personally, I think it gives the pen a utilitarian look, and you can see the workings even more than usual. I like that in a demonstrator.

My cap clip doesn't move side-to-side or wobble at all (though my Diamond mini has done since I first got it!)

As a woman with average sized hands, I definitely don't think the pen is too small. It's absolutely spot-on for me, unposted. I'd have been disappointed if it had been any bigger. It is perfectly balanced for me, and I know now from experience, since my last post, that I can write for a long period without any discomfort.

I can't compare it with the Eco, because I haven't tried one.

I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do!

[ele]

Is anybody else annoyed by the bad posting thread design? I can't stand the cross-threading!

[Bex66]

I'm not keen on the posting threads, as I don't post my pens. To me, this pen is way too big, posted. However, I got used to the threads in the Diamond Mini, so I don't really notice them.

Edited December 24, 2015 by Bex66

[thriolith]

Is anybody else annoyed by the bad posting thread design? I can't stand the cross-threading!

 

I am. I'm finding I often have to back it up to screw it down properly.

[jdllizard]

Excellent comparison review! And the side-by-side pics are a perfect visual resource for anyone who is trying to decide what TWSBI is right for them.

 

Glad to learn the nibs are all swappable as well!

 

Great work!

[amberleadavis]

SNAK, my daughter decided that the VacMini as you photographed it, looked like a lightsaber. Thus, when she received hers for Christmas, she promptly filled it with Blue Lightning and she now calls it the lightsaber.