Tom's Studio Lumos Duo

March 19, 2024

Tom's Studio Lumos Duo

Today it's not a fountain pen, but an ink pen. I wasn't sure whether it belonged in this review section (if this is the wrong place, please move it!).

I actually came across the product by chance on a trip to England earlier this year. On the way to a large art supply store - hoping for an English stationery souvenir - we stopped for refreshments in a small café and a young lady sat at the table opposite, who was immersed in journaling and flicking her pen. It actually took me a little while to realize that she wasn't just flicking her pen in deep thought, as has been seen here and there with young people for a few years now, but that she was doing it in a planned way, switching between the two ends of the pen. I initially thought of a double-ended brush pen, such as those from Tombow. On the way to the art supply store, I started thinking about that pen. When I arrived at the store, I realized that they didn't really have a gift for me. However I was very intrigued by the idea of that double pencil and the research quickly threw up a name: Tom's Studio Lumos Duo.

And lo and behold: even an English company, which is why it was the perfect travel souvenir, so to speak.

While obviously Tom had the artistic needs of his wife Gemma in mind for his pen, I was interested in the whole thing from a different perspective: Anyone who has to deal with corrections on a regular basis and loves writing with fountain pens knows the problems that come with it... Usually you don't just need one correction color, but red and green, however, red is usually used much more than green, which is why you either have to constantly screw the fountain pen with green ink closed and open again so that the nib doesn't dry out, oooooor have to deal with skipping, hard start problems or darker ink. In addition, many submitted papers are only suitable for ink to a limited extent, which is why it is best to use nibs with a moderate ink flow, which exacerbates the above problem of writing problems... So cheap fineliners, disposable gel or ballpoint pens after all? Oooooooooor .... exactly: the Lumos Duo! I ordered the Lumos in two versions: the Duo version in brass and the Mini in sage green aluminum to combine them. (A word of warning: the threaded connection should remain dry to avoid corrosion in the thread due to the brass vs. aluminum connection. However, as the pen is on my desk and only used there, this shouldn't be a problem).

Packaging

The pen comes in a cardboard box in a blue slipcase, which is not only decorative but also contains the explanation and instructions inside when unfolded. Inside the box, the pen is tucked into a folded piece of paper. This is not just a design feature either. This paper can be removed and also unfolded. It contains a letter to the customer and the parts supplied: A set of the 9 writing tips and the silicone cap for gripping. The box also contains a small barrel of black ink. Furthermore you will find a bag of black tea and a friendly card.

I like the fact that every item here is really used to the maximum, nothing is purely decorative, everything fulfills several functions at once and still looks pretty.

Dimensions and weight

Total length closed: 15.2 cm

Total length open with cap screwed on: 14.4 cm

Total length with both sides open: 15.7 cm

Length front part open: 8.6cm

Length rear part open with screwed-on cap: 9.4cm

Length back part closed: 8,3cm

The 'Mini' is the rear part of the Lumos Duo with cap.

Diameter: 1cm (cylindrical over the entire length)

Weight Duo Brass: 64gr

Weight Duo Alu: 23gr

Weight Mini Brass: 34gr

Weight Mini Alu: 12gr

'Filling mechanism'

This is one of the innovative aspects: The Lumos works like a felt-tip pen or fineliner - but refillable. The nib unit... there is no nib at all... let's rather say: The filling unit consists of 4 parts: A capillary tube, a writing tip, with a long spike that leads into the capillary tube, a plastic sleeve that connects the two parts and is screwed into the grip by means of a thread, and a brass sleeve that secures the writing tip to the plastic sleeve. This brass sleeve is also the part you grab to screw the filling unit into the grip.

What I really like about the design is how easy it is to fill: You unscrew the filling unit, dip the bottom end in ink and wait a moment. With a new tube, you can watch the ink being drawn up until it reaches the writing tip. When you then pull the tube out of the ink, everything is spotless and can be screwed back into the grip immediately. The capillary reaction ensures that everything stays securely in the tube. Nothing drips or leaks. No nib wiping or other cleaning necessary. The capillary tubes can be easily replaced if a different ink color is required and the tubes themselves can be washed out under running water, then dried and reused. You can see the focus here on the artistic field.

The two special features of this system: 1. the Lumos puts less ink on the paper than a fountain pen, which must be taken into account when choosing the ink color, as this makes them appear brighter than if they were put on paper with a nib. 2. due to the filling mechanism and the writing tips, glitter/sheen inks do not work because the particles are not transported.

The volume cannot be measured exactly and I have to check again how long a filling lasts because I have not yet written pages at a time until the pen is empty. I'll provide that information later.

'Nib'

Not only can the ink colors be changed by replacing the capillary tube, but the writing tip can also be easily replaced at any time by unscrewing the brass sleeve and pulling out the writing tip, replacing it with another one, waiting briefly until the ink has been drawn up and that's it. The writing tips can also be washed out like the capillary tubes and used again and again. What is special is the selection available: 0.1mm, 0.2mm, 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.8mm and 1.0mm fineliner tips, 0.3mm and 0.5mm writing tips (more like a Staedtler permanent pen), a felt-tip pen attachment, a marker attachment and a brush attachment... That is remarkable.

The entire range of tips is made in Japan and the cost of replacements is limited. I mainly use the writing tips and sometimes the brush. However, the fineliner tips also work great for correcting. For longer writing, however, the writing tips are more robust, it seems to me.

As I said, it doesn't work with glitter inks and comparatively little ink gets onto the paper, but it does so absolutely reliably, without any interruptions and without the ink flow dying down after a few words. It runs like a reliable fineliner and with all the inks I have in stock here, from Pilot Iroshizuko to Sailor, Diamine, Pelikan Edelstein, Herbin and Rohrer&Klinger. That is really very pleasing.

Fit & Finish

What really impresses me is the cleverly conceived and well-made construction: the cap and body screw together the other way round: The thread on the barrel is on the inside and the thread on the cap engages with the inside wall of the barrel and therefore between the barrel and the brass sleeve of the writing tip.

This is quite precision work, but ensures that there is no annoying thread on the outside. In addition, there are no transitions between the cap and body or the front and rear pin parts. A rubber seal is fitted to each of the threads and the counterparts are beveled at the front so that there is no visible gap despite the seal. The dimensions are identical for the different versions and the tolerances are so fine that they can be interchanged without any problems (like my brass + green aluminum [but keep in mind, both materials could react and corrode]).

I also think the filling unit is really well made: the capillary tube is only plugged in, but still holds super securely (even after repeated washing out, refilling and changing), but is super easy to change if you spontaneously want to take a different color with you in the mini. The same goes for changing the tip: everything is super easy and bombproof on the other side. Nothing wobbles or moves.

Everything is really well done and promises long-lasting enjoyment.

The only 'disadvantage' is the physicality of a cylinder... it rolls On the other hand, the team at Tom's Studio have also thought of this: there is a cork handle that also acts as a roll stopper. It's a bit too bulky for me, which is why I'm toying with the idea of a leather strap. On the other hand, I haven't missed a roll stopper yet because I hold the pen in my hand the whole time I'm correcting anyway.

Price

The Lumos Duo costs €113.95 in aluminum or €143.95 in brass. The mini versions are available for €53.95 and €77.95 respectively.

The assortment of 9 writing tips supplied with the Duo costs €12.95, individual tips in sets of 3 cost €3.95. Capillary tubes can also be purchased separately. However, as they are washable, you don't need new ones all the time. This is more worthwhile if you have several colors in use at the same time and store the filled tubes in a jar.

Conclusion

I think the approach is great and the product is really well made. Although the nibs are certainly consumable and don't last as long as the nib of a fountain pen, there is still dramatically less waste than with disposable pens and also less than when using ink cartridges in a fountain pen. The variety of possible tips combined with the use of your own favorite inks (if not glitter or Steen) is also something that should be of interest to many. Even if it's just for creative play. My primary interest is in this pen as a correction pen. The correction marathon lies ahead of me and I will soon report on how the Duo has fared and whether it has lived up to my rather high expectations as a 'perfect correction pen'. In any case, it has mastered the first few exams with flying colors - only the flipping of the pen doesn't look as skillful to me as it does to the creatively journaling lady in England. I still need to practise that...

And I'll have to say something about the inks soon. I think they're great as correction inks: the biggest problem with corrections is somehow always that even good work has a lot of red around the edges. Now, it's one thing if the sheer amount of red alone gives the impression that it's serious. It's even worse if the red itself also makes it a really serious matter, for example if it's deep blood red. So I'm always on the lookout for 'friendly' correction tones. Tom's Studio Strawberry Jam is pleasantly bright and luminous, while the New Forest is a beautifully strong dark green. But more on that later

March 19, 2024

March 19, 2024

March 19, 2024

March 20, 2024

Great review, thank you!

I have a Duo Tip pen from Tom and I do enjoy using it. It has sometimes stood in my pen pot on the desk for weeks but always writes straight away when I pick it up.

The filling system is remarkable and so easy with little to no mess at all.

What I have done at times is drop a little water into the top of the mechanism just to refresh the ink and it works well.

Your point about the lightness of the ink as compared to a fountain pen is valid and must be taken into account when using light coloured inks. I have Diamine Salamander in my pen and it does come out nice and light unlike the fountain pens with the same ink.

It is a pity you did not pick up his Spark Fountain pen especially the one with the Pro Flex nib. Tom has designed a feed that is just simply marvellous and is able to cope with extreme flexing of the nib. It has a Zebra G nib which does flex a lot and yet, his feed mechanism is able to cope very well with it. Tom has certainly applied himself very well to the task of designing good solid and reliable fountain pens that are somewhat different o many other makes around.

March 20, 2024

@Stompie: Thanks for your long term impressions and your lines about the Spark with Zebra G... The Zebra nibs are untipped, right? I've never had the opportunity to try one.

Here are some more detailed pictures of the Lumos I took in bright sunlight today: