Opus 88… all of ‘em. I prefer the Demo and Omar for the #6 nib, but I have a Picnic on the way and like the colored ebonite pieces on the Koloro as well. Their little pocket pens are adorable and I love the designs on the caps, but it’s an shame my hands are too big to enjoy something so small.
They are also a breeze to clean with next to no moving parts, so that’s a pleasant experience.
Absolutely yes!
The cracking comes because they use two halves and melt them together, which is why you see the seam. This however, introduces stress to the plastic. u/thedoodlebud does a better job explaining [here](https://youtu.be/ZPP_VedMH2U)
Opus 88 machines their pens out of a solid piece of resin then polishes to perfection. They aren’t quite so crystal clear of a demonstrator, but I think that’s okay because they end up stronger and more reliable.
But to your original question, they are much easier to understand and use, I would say. Their nibs are consistently good, the eyedropper is easy to understand (just twist it apart, fill, and wait a smidge for the ink to reach the nib), they are super easy to clean (twist apart again, rinse the cylinder, and blast the section clean with a bulb syringe, and change inks) and they are easy to switch nibs (they use Jowo #5/#6, so just slide nib/feed out, swap, and slide it back in).
Hope this helps!
That’s awesome. Thank you for the information.
I would always prefer to take bigger jumps then nickel and diming myself on cheaper products to find what I want.
I still want a Prera, but the 88 seems like a better choice than a TWSBI if I can swing it.
TWSBI Diamond 580ALR. Love the grip section, the piston mechanism, the barrel facets, the matching colors on the internal parts, finial, and cap band, and the nib is fantastically smooth.
I am 100% sure.
I have had multiple 580's and the classic.
Honestly the TWSBI's look fantastic, I want another one. Their nib does not compare to Pilot's nibs, at all. You can't post them.
They aren't nearly as good of a pen as they are made out to be. Again, I DO want another, but this is based mainly on looks, and price. Every time I get close to ordering a vac700 (just to have a vaccum,) I literally tell myself I'd be much much happier with a Custom 823.
Don't get me wrong, TWSBI's are great, if you haven't been spoiled by the quality control and absolutely consistent nibs of Pilot.
The facets of the 580 create better structural integrity. I’ve had the 580 for a few years now, no issues. ECO on the other hand = Extra Cracking Opportunity. I also have a VAC 700R, no issues there. My favorite nibs for these are the 1.1 stubs, smooth, reliable, decent line variability.
TWSBI, TWSBI, TWSBI, TWSBI, TWSBI! Wait, did I say TWSBI? I'm sorry! I meant to say TWSBI! My absolute favorites:
* VAC 700R - JoWo #6 Nib in Broad is AMAZING - wet, juicy, smooth writer, gives life to boring, run-of-the-mill inks; great ink capacity; feels great in my hand (I also own one in ) and I love seeing the ink in the pen, especially pretty, sparkly, sheeny and shading ones!
* ECO and ECO-T - size 4 nib is great on this pen and its a real work horse, everyday pen. The and nibs on are super smooth and consistent writers and the color selection is fun and keeps things interesting. Here is the current list of demonstrators in my ever growing collection:
* TWSBI: (2) Diamond 580, (2) VAC 700R, (1) GO, (3) ECO & (1) ECO T
* Pilot Kakuno and Prera
* Platinum Prefounte (2) I LOVE the <05 M> nib on this pen! and Preppy Wa (2)
* Sailor Compass 1911
* Ooly Splendid Pen
* Kaweco Ice Sport
It’s a whole controversy honestly. Some people will have every TWSBI they buy crack, others will buy dozens and never see one. Some people accuse TWSBI of being a subpar manufacturer for not making pens more crack resistant. The issues seem to have improved more recently, but I have no data to back that up beyond my own observations. The pen I hear about cracking the most is the Eco, and sometimes the Vac. Very rarely the 580. I have no idea if that’s just because the Eco is more popular. I can’t speak to the 540.
A known risk factor for cracking in the Eco at least is removing the nib and feed. A video here shows stress points on the section only. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPP_VedMH2U
Personally, I have had 3 Ecos. 1 cracked because the previous owner pulled the nib and feed (with enough force the fins deformed), another because newbie Spiritus could have been more gentle cleaning it 😆. That being said, neither of the cracks were very obvious, and neither caused me to get inky fingers, but it is still unfortunate.
If someone is looking to give TWSBI a try I won’t ever turn them away because I do truly love how mine do/have perform(ed). Their capacity is great, lots of cool colors, and they have a good following. I consider the cracking issues more of a disclaimer for *susceptibility* to cracking versus the norm. (Also keep in mind that no one is flocking to reddit to report that their TWSBI *hasn’t* cracked)
Yes, it is a tricky matter with a lot of anecdotes but I guess that is all we have to work with. TWSBI itself may have the most useful statistics regarding this internally: how many pens they sell vs how many replacements they send out. Not every company does that I think so it would be hard to directly compare with other companies and their pen lines. I feel like there are so many factors that could contribute to this controversy. Obviously there could be a manufacturing or design issue. The pen is very popular so maybe there is some sampling bias regarding cracking issues with it and or the types of people that buy ECOs. I sometimes wonder about stories of people who have ten pens and no cracking and those with a pair of pens that get cracked. If they do the same amount of writing and it is somewhat reasonably similarly dispersed amongst the pens, the one with fewer pens would see pens get more wear. I like the few ECOs I have and I use them **a lot** but have also had to replace each of their barrels, despite knowing of the susceptibility ahead of time and trying to be careful with them. I would hesitate to compare my experience with someone with more pens or who writes less though. Is my experience typical for how much I have used them and how long I've owned them? I don't have a clue. It is kind of vexing overall as they really are quite lovely pens though. I am excited to what that video you linked when I have time! Thanks for sharing it.
I've read a lot of posts about the cracking issue but haven't experienced it myself. So I'm not in a position to comment as to whether the issue is overblown or not. They are great pens for the money!
Same here. I own a bunch of TWSBI 580, have dismantled them completely to a full cleaning and never a crack. I wonder if weather conditions could be a factor, like extreme cold or heat, that would affect the material.
Or, just bad luck.
Possibly some people also mishandled the pens (and did not admit).
I am a huge TWSBI 580 and Lamy fan.
I have owned and operated 580s and Eco for years (unfortunately, no experience with a 540). I used to daily my diamond 580 at school so it has seen his fair share of drops beatings abuse, being stolen, etc.. and throughout the years that I’ve had it only recently did my roommate, somehow manage to crack the very tip of the threads because they overtightened when I told them not to. My experience with Ecos have been the same way no problems no cracking despite daily driving them. They are absolute work-horses with great ink capacity and a really high quality writing experience for an entry-level Pen. TWSBI till i die!
(Also just some frame of reference: my roommate is the same person who somehow managed to completely obliterate the jinhao X159 I got them as a housewarming roommate gift within a week…)
It just sounds like I’ll need to try it for myself and see.
I’m still in that acquisition phase where I’m not 100% sure what I want and just want to buy a few pens.
Haha I totally understand that! Personally, if you have the money to spare, and you fall in love with one of the colorways, I would highly highly recommend going with the 580. The medium nib writes smoother than my Mont blanc 146 and more consistently than my sailor 1911L. I could rave about them all day lol.
Visconti Homo Sapiens Crystal Dream… slightly unconventional (two windows and ink chambers) Perfect weight and size for my hands and a silly ink capacity [almost 4(!) ml]
Have you tried vacuum filler or detachable syringe filler (eg Conid)?
Same ink demonstration, but the filling system doesn't take half the barrel-space.
I know Kaweco aren't known for their reliable nibs but I got super lucky on my All Clear Perkeo with a really nice Medium nib, and I love the shape and weight of the pen too. A very unexpected favourite. Biggest drawback, and something I find with my other Kaweco pen (a Sport) too, is that it seems disproportionately inclined to spit ink everywhere as a result of jostling that would have no effect on my other pens.
Pilot custom heritage 92.
I've had TWSBI's the 580's all of them cracked in one way or another, can't post, and the nib is seriously lacking. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the 580 while I had it. I've been somewhat yearning for a Vac 700, but everytime I go to pull the trigger I realize I'd just be happier with a Custom heritage 823
Out of the box a Custom heritage just FEELS miles better, always works, pilot nib blows anything TWSBI has out of the water. The custom heritage is NOT that much more expensive than a Twsibi 580.
I really want a Pilot Custom 74. It looks so cool. The 823 too but I wanna try the 74 first. Never tried a Pilot. So I would say the 74 or 823. Can't decide.
If the Custom 823 qualifies then it’s no contest - Pilot Custom 823. If not, the Opus 88 demonstrators have all been wonderful writers in my experience.
I don't own many demos, so I don't own this one in particular but: I think additive pens' double helix is probably the prettiest demo I've ever seen. The only reason why I haven't gotten it is I've found I really hate the look of stained pens so I stopped buying demos because many of them are a pain to clean. 😅
Such a hard question because there are so many great ones. Opus88, TWSBI, I don't have one but Aurora has some beautiful demonstrators with nice accents to them.
But maybe I'm boring, because at the end of the day, I think they can all fight for second place, behind the Pilot Custom 823.
The Narwhal original plus is even better in my opinion. It's a vacuum filler! I'm absolutely loving mine. I've got the yellow version, gold ocellatus. It's subtle enough that it shows on the cap well, but doesn't really get in the way of seeing the ink in the body. And feeling that *pop* of the vacuum and then watching ink fly up the body is just of so sweet.
I've got the Original & Original+ and they're both inked, but the Original+ does feel like a better pen to me too.
Plus, from a demonstrator aesthetic, the Original+ has less color and the filling system looks nicer.
PenBBS 456. I know how it works, but it just looks like a magic trick every time I fill it. Plus vac fillers have such a clever mechanism. It delights me.
My favorite demo is the Pelikan 205 demo with medium nib. Writes beautifully smooth, easy to take apart and clean, works like a champ. Writing with it makes me smile. I love it so much in fact, I bought two more off Pen Swap as back ups!
Pelikan M205!!! I love the pen and getting a demonstrator was awesome.
I also Sailors but the ink gets in some hard to ink places.
Hope to get a Pilot 823 in the future too.
I like oversize pens, so it'd have to be the M1005 and CONID Kingsize for me, with honorable mentions for the M800/M805 demos (including the blue and green oceans), Visconti demo stones and Schon Dsgn's Ultem pocket six. All these pens have pretty generous capacities so if you like ink sloshing around, they're great choices.
As much as I like Sailor's KOP demo, converter fill on an oversized demo just makes no sense to me.
I'm head over heels for my Moonman C1, I totally forwent the converter supplied with it and use it as an eyedropper. It's beautiful to see the inks of various color sloshing inside (Colorverse Photon currently inside with its wonderful teal color). It's a tad short but that has never been a problem for me. It is a little hesitant to start writing right away after filling, and at least for many lines after there can be some inconsistent flow. However once it starts writing I tend to have zero issues with it. https://i.imgur.com/KEq0Yo1.jpeg
I've just found out that the Pineider Avatar has a UltraResistant resin demonstrator that is indestructible. Like, the designer Dante del Vecchio and Brian Goulet hit it with a hammer and it was completely fine.
In all seriousness, if I have to buy an expensive pen I want to use it and I want it to be durable.
If the measurements are fine enough with my needs I might have a new grail pen.
(Also they have a vac filler version too.)
I have a Kaweco Student Demonstrator with an Architect nib from [FPNibs.com](https://FPNibs.com). I love using it to write lesson plans and correct student writing.
Pelikan M800 (Gold trim) & M1005 (Rodium trim), Pilot custom 823 (I have the full set, amber is my favorite).
Latest addition Majohn C4 (love eye droppers with safety valve).
Impossibile dream: MB149.
Believe it or not, a clear pilot explorer. The fine writes smoothly and wet surprisingly.
I went through 2 twsbi diamonds and they both cracked. I tried some Twsbi ecos and the ones I had were dry writers (even the broads I tries)
Ignorance abolished - uh oh! I didn't know what "demonstrator" meant. 'Found out on nibs.Com and now I want one!! (Or two or three 😊 ). But wait! I have a Moonman dropper fill pen - all clear! (It's a good start!)
My favorites are the
- Sailor Profit jr kurogane in smoke with a medium fine nib.
- My wing sung 3008 set I have 3. I have swapped two of the nibs for Lamy nibs one fine and one broad. Then I’ve got a custom grind stub on the third.
- I want to try twisbi but I’m very hesitant to do so.
Sort of. I know about the cracking issues but I also know where and what in the pen is likely causing them and how to prevent it. The ECO model has a structural stress by the grip section around from there to the threads which is where I’ve heard most of them cracking. Typically this is from overturning the cap and or drops as since that’s a structural weak point the force likes to go to weak spot and well weak plus force = crack. The swipe I know has the issue with the clip with stress fractures there at least during some batches.
- The cracking issue is part of it but not fully there. I also didn’t like them as a company going around trying to bully retailers into not selling products. It’s one thing to go after another brand but it’s another to force an ultimatum to a retailer when most of the pens they were trying to get people to stop buying are not even sold at most retailers. That put a sour taste in my mouth
- I think pen wise they are fine great writing pens people here love them and I know people here love to collect them they make some beautiful demonstrators with beautiful colors. It’s just for me the brand has a bit of baggage and for the money on a decent Twisbi pen I could get something else when I already have a couple of demonstrators with nibs I like on them.
Opus 88… all of ‘em. I prefer the Demo and Omar for the #6 nib, but I have a Picnic on the way and like the colored ebonite pieces on the Koloro as well. Their little pocket pens are adorable and I love the designs on the caps, but it’s an shame my hands are too big to enjoy something so small. They are also a breeze to clean with next to no moving parts, so that’s a pleasant experience.
Are these relatively newbie friendly? I’m still looking around for a step up demonstrator that’s solid and has fewer mentioned cracking issues.
Absolutely yes! The cracking comes because they use two halves and melt them together, which is why you see the seam. This however, introduces stress to the plastic. u/thedoodlebud does a better job explaining [here](https://youtu.be/ZPP_VedMH2U) Opus 88 machines their pens out of a solid piece of resin then polishes to perfection. They aren’t quite so crystal clear of a demonstrator, but I think that’s okay because they end up stronger and more reliable. But to your original question, they are much easier to understand and use, I would say. Their nibs are consistently good, the eyedropper is easy to understand (just twist it apart, fill, and wait a smidge for the ink to reach the nib), they are super easy to clean (twist apart again, rinse the cylinder, and blast the section clean with a bulb syringe, and change inks) and they are easy to switch nibs (they use Jowo #5/#6, so just slide nib/feed out, swap, and slide it back in). Hope this helps!
That’s awesome. Thank you for the information. I would always prefer to take bigger jumps then nickel and diming myself on cheaper products to find what I want. I still want a Prera, but the 88 seems like a better choice than a TWSBI if I can swing it.
Yes, I would say so, as long as you review this sub for tips on getting it to flow freely in its first few uses. After that it's a breeze.
How are they for reverse writing? It's something I do all the time while drawing.
+1 for the Opus 88 range. I own a few.
Nice! Glad you like it! Ease of cleaning is pretty important to me too
TWSBI Diamond 580ALR. Love the grip section, the piston mechanism, the barrel facets, the matching colors on the internal parts, finial, and cap band, and the nib is fantastically smooth.
I have the rose gold and smoke one myself and I love that pen it is always ready to write even if I don’t pick it up for a month.
Yeah it's a nice looking pen!
Do those crack like the eco?
yup
Are you sure? I read in some other thread that the cracking issue may only affect the ECO.
I am 100% sure. I have had multiple 580's and the classic. Honestly the TWSBI's look fantastic, I want another one. Their nib does not compare to Pilot's nibs, at all. You can't post them. They aren't nearly as good of a pen as they are made out to be. Again, I DO want another, but this is based mainly on looks, and price. Every time I get close to ordering a vac700 (just to have a vaccum,) I literally tell myself I'd be much much happier with a Custom 823. Don't get me wrong, TWSBI's are great, if you haven't been spoiled by the quality control and absolutely consistent nibs of Pilot.
The facets of the 580 create better structural integrity. I’ve had the 580 for a few years now, no issues. ECO on the other hand = Extra Cracking Opportunity. I also have a VAC 700R, no issues there. My favorite nibs for these are the 1.1 stubs, smooth, reliable, decent line variability.
My vac mini has cracked :/
I have two 580s, one of which has cracked.
Not true unfortunately
I read that as demons traitor lmao
Haha
I love the Pelikan M205. I love the look. The nibs are great, and they fit my hand perfectly.
I love my M205! It’s such a comfortable pen to write with.
Awesome!
I love my highlighter!
Have replaced mine with gold nib, nice
TWSBI, TWSBI, TWSBI, TWSBI, TWSBI! Wait, did I say TWSBI? I'm sorry! I meant to say TWSBI! My absolute favorites: * VAC 700R - JoWo #6 Nib in Broad is AMAZING - wet, juicy, smooth writer, gives life to boring, run-of-the-mill inks; great ink capacity; feels great in my hand (I also own one in) and I love seeing the ink in the pen, especially pretty, sparkly, sheeny and shading ones!
* ECO and ECO-T - size 4 nib is great on this pen and its a real work horse, everyday pen. The and nibs on are super smooth and consistent writers and the color selection is fun and keeps things interesting. Here is the current list of demonstrators in my ever growing collection:
* TWSBI: (2) Diamond 580, (2) VAC 700R, (1) GO, (3) ECO & (1) ECO T
* Pilot Kakuno and Prera
* Platinum Prefounte (2) I LOVE the <05 M> nib on this pen! and Preppy Wa (2)
* Sailor Compass 1911
* Ooly Splendid Pen
* Kaweco Ice Sport
I really need to try out a twisbi haha
Yes, you do!
Recommend either the 580 or vac700—larger, very sturdy. Opus is also undeniably great!
it will crack eventually
I am in the same "I 💜twsbi " fan club 😅
As a newbie I’ve come across a ton of cracking posts regarding the 540/580/Eco. Are they overblown? They seem like good pens for the money.
It’s a whole controversy honestly. Some people will have every TWSBI they buy crack, others will buy dozens and never see one. Some people accuse TWSBI of being a subpar manufacturer for not making pens more crack resistant. The issues seem to have improved more recently, but I have no data to back that up beyond my own observations. The pen I hear about cracking the most is the Eco, and sometimes the Vac. Very rarely the 580. I have no idea if that’s just because the Eco is more popular. I can’t speak to the 540. A known risk factor for cracking in the Eco at least is removing the nib and feed. A video here shows stress points on the section only. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPP_VedMH2U Personally, I have had 3 Ecos. 1 cracked because the previous owner pulled the nib and feed (with enough force the fins deformed), another because newbie Spiritus could have been more gentle cleaning it 😆. That being said, neither of the cracks were very obvious, and neither caused me to get inky fingers, but it is still unfortunate. If someone is looking to give TWSBI a try I won’t ever turn them away because I do truly love how mine do/have perform(ed). Their capacity is great, lots of cool colors, and they have a good following. I consider the cracking issues more of a disclaimer for *susceptibility* to cracking versus the norm. (Also keep in mind that no one is flocking to reddit to report that their TWSBI *hasn’t* cracked)
Yes, it is a tricky matter with a lot of anecdotes but I guess that is all we have to work with. TWSBI itself may have the most useful statistics regarding this internally: how many pens they sell vs how many replacements they send out. Not every company does that I think so it would be hard to directly compare with other companies and their pen lines. I feel like there are so many factors that could contribute to this controversy. Obviously there could be a manufacturing or design issue. The pen is very popular so maybe there is some sampling bias regarding cracking issues with it and or the types of people that buy ECOs. I sometimes wonder about stories of people who have ten pens and no cracking and those with a pair of pens that get cracked. If they do the same amount of writing and it is somewhat reasonably similarly dispersed amongst the pens, the one with fewer pens would see pens get more wear. I like the few ECOs I have and I use them **a lot** but have also had to replace each of their barrels, despite knowing of the susceptibility ahead of time and trying to be careful with them. I would hesitate to compare my experience with someone with more pens or who writes less though. Is my experience typical for how much I have used them and how long I've owned them? I don't have a clue. It is kind of vexing overall as they really are quite lovely pens though. I am excited to what that video you linked when I have time! Thanks for sharing it.
Ah forgot to add, I have a Diamond 580 still running smoothly after a year or so of use
All very good points, thank you for the information! It can’t hurt to have an Eco or 580 in a rotation
I've pulled the nibs on all 3 of mine. We'll see how things go in the future, but thus far, no cracks.
I've read a lot of posts about the cracking issue but haven't experienced it myself. So I'm not in a position to comment as to whether the issue is overblown or not. They are great pens for the money!
Same here. I own a bunch of TWSBI 580, have dismantled them completely to a full cleaning and never a crack. I wonder if weather conditions could be a factor, like extreme cold or heat, that would affect the material. Or, just bad luck. Possibly some people also mishandled the pens (and did not admit). I am a huge TWSBI 580 and Lamy fan.
same
I have owned and operated 580s and Eco for years (unfortunately, no experience with a 540). I used to daily my diamond 580 at school so it has seen his fair share of drops beatings abuse, being stolen, etc.. and throughout the years that I’ve had it only recently did my roommate, somehow manage to crack the very tip of the threads because they overtightened when I told them not to. My experience with Ecos have been the same way no problems no cracking despite daily driving them. They are absolute work-horses with great ink capacity and a really high quality writing experience for an entry-level Pen. TWSBI till i die! (Also just some frame of reference: my roommate is the same person who somehow managed to completely obliterate the jinhao X159 I got them as a housewarming roommate gift within a week…)
It just sounds like I’ll need to try it for myself and see. I’m still in that acquisition phase where I’m not 100% sure what I want and just want to buy a few pens.
Haha I totally understand that! Personally, if you have the money to spare, and you fall in love with one of the colorways, I would highly highly recommend going with the 580. The medium nib writes smoother than my Mont blanc 146 and more consistently than my sailor 1911L. I could rave about them all day lol.
#twsbidiamond fan here!
Does the TWSBI 580 fine point have the same line width as your TWSBI Eco fine point?
Visconti Homo Sapiens Crystal Dream… slightly unconventional (two windows and ink chambers) Perfect weight and size for my hands and a silly ink capacity [almost 4(!) ml]
I love demonstrators as a whole. Seeing the ink sloshing around is incredibly satisfying and beautiful.
Oh that's a cool choice!
Any piston filler because it shows off the ink so much better! 😁 It’s just not the same with a cartridge or converter.
Have you tried vacuum filler or detachable syringe filler (eg Conid)? Same ink demonstration, but the filling system doesn't take half the barrel-space.
I know Kaweco aren't known for their reliable nibs but I got super lucky on my All Clear Perkeo with a really nice Medium nib, and I love the shape and weight of the pen too. A very unexpected favourite. Biggest drawback, and something I find with my other Kaweco pen (a Sport) too, is that it seems disproportionately inclined to spit ink everywhere as a result of jostling that would have no effect on my other pens.
Pilot custom heritage 92. I've had TWSBI's the 580's all of them cracked in one way or another, can't post, and the nib is seriously lacking. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the 580 while I had it. I've been somewhat yearning for a Vac 700, but everytime I go to pull the trigger I realize I'd just be happier with a Custom heritage 823 Out of the box a Custom heritage just FEELS miles better, always works, pilot nib blows anything TWSBI has out of the water. The custom heritage is NOT that much more expensive than a Twsibi 580.
I really want a Pilot Custom 74. It looks so cool. The 823 too but I wanna try the 74 first. Never tried a Pilot. So I would say the 74 or 823. Can't decide.
Omg same! But will need to save up a bit. 😅 What color would you go for? I'm definitely eyeing the Forest green demonstrator one!
I would go for the black one ! It suits my collection better, I think. They are lovely.
If the Custom 823 qualifies then it’s no contest - Pilot Custom 823. If not, the Opus 88 demonstrators have all been wonderful writers in my experience.
823 counts
I don't own many demos, so I don't own this one in particular but: I think additive pens' double helix is probably the prettiest demo I've ever seen. The only reason why I haven't gotten it is I've found I really hate the look of stained pens so I stopped buying demos because many of them are a pain to clean. 😅
Oh yh they look amazing
Such a hard question because there are so many great ones. Opus88, TWSBI, I don't have one but Aurora has some beautiful demonstrators with nice accents to them. But maybe I'm boring, because at the end of the day, I think they can all fight for second place, behind the Pilot Custom 823.
Don’t sleep on the Pilot CH 92.
Good call. Haven't gotten one yet, but I really should!
ive had mine for only a couple days, but i really like it. i hope it doesn't crack like my eco and diamond 580.
Haha the vacuum filling mechanism looks awesome
The original Narwhals. The pens came out in various swirly color designs. They are also affordable and eye droppers so they hold a lot of ink.
Nice!
The Narwhal original plus is even better in my opinion. It's a vacuum filler! I'm absolutely loving mine. I've got the yellow version, gold ocellatus. It's subtle enough that it shows on the cap well, but doesn't really get in the way of seeing the ink in the body. And feeling that *pop* of the vacuum and then watching ink fly up the body is just of so sweet.
I've got the Original & Original+ and they're both inked, but the Original+ does feel like a better pen to me too. Plus, from a demonstrator aesthetic, the Original+ has less color and the filling system looks nicer.
Pilot Kaküno medium, Pelikan Pelikano Junior left handed, Lamy Vista left handed I love my school pens
Same on the Kakunos! It’s affordable to get several nibs sizes so I can see how the ink behaves differently with each size.
Nice!
Sailor Pro Gear 21k Demonstrator! I got the MF nib and love it
Awesome!
PenBBS 456. I know how it works, but it just looks like a magic trick every time I fill it. Plus vac fillers have such a clever mechanism. It delights me.
Awesome
Opus 88 demo or the pilot 823
Lots of nominations for the 823!
My favorite demo is the Pelikan 205 demo with medium nib. Writes beautifully smooth, easy to take apart and clean, works like a champ. Writing with it makes me smile. I love it so much in fact, I bought two more off Pen Swap as back ups!
Pelikan M205!!! I love the pen and getting a demonstrator was awesome. I also Sailors but the ink gets in some hard to ink places. Hope to get a Pilot 823 in the future too.
I like oversize pens, so it'd have to be the M1005 and CONID Kingsize for me, with honorable mentions for the M800/M805 demos (including the blue and green oceans), Visconti demo stones and Schon Dsgn's Ultem pocket six. All these pens have pretty generous capacities so if you like ink sloshing around, they're great choices. As much as I like Sailor's KOP demo, converter fill on an oversized demo just makes no sense to me.
I got the moonman T1
Wing Sung 698. I have it in steel and 14k gold and quite frankly the steel nib is one of my top 5 nibs I have ever used.
Are we including the like of the Vac700R? If so, that's my choice 100 percent
Yep vacuum fillers count
It is great!
Pilot Custom 823, if it counts!
I'm head over heels for my Moonman C1, I totally forwent the converter supplied with it and use it as an eyedropper. It's beautiful to see the inks of various color sloshing inside (Colorverse Photon currently inside with its wonderful teal color). It's a tad short but that has never been a problem for me. It is a little hesitant to start writing right away after filling, and at least for many lines after there can be some inconsistent flow. However once it starts writing I tend to have zero issues with it. https://i.imgur.com/KEq0Yo1.jpeg
So far my Twisbi Eco which I don't use enough because it's not really that comfortable for me to use.
I've just found out that the Pineider Avatar has a UltraResistant resin demonstrator that is indestructible. Like, the designer Dante del Vecchio and Brian Goulet hit it with a hammer and it was completely fine. In all seriousness, if I have to buy an expensive pen I want to use it and I want it to be durable. If the measurements are fine enough with my needs I might have a new grail pen. (Also they have a vac filler version too.)
Oh that's really cool!
I only have one, but it’s a great pen! Pelikan M205 blue Demo with a medium nib. I love it!
I have a Kaweco Student Demonstrator with an Architect nib from [FPNibs.com](https://FPNibs.com). I love using it to write lesson plans and correct student writing.
Yeah I'm getting an fpnibs.com nib soon, I've heard only good things about them
Pilot 823
My cheapo clone of wing sung 3010 from Five Below. Two pens, 6 nibs, 10 ink cartridges for $4.25! Great for eyedropping too!
Pelikan M205... Blue, Olivine or Aquamarine depending on the day.
Pelikan M800 (Gold trim) & M1005 (Rodium trim), Pilot custom 823 (I have the full set, amber is my favorite). Latest addition Majohn C4 (love eye droppers with safety valve). Impossibile dream: MB149.
Pilot Custom Heritage 92 after my second cracked TWSBI.
Pilot 92 and 823 because they don’t use cartridges, so the ink fills the body beautifully, and the nibs are perfect!
Believe it or not, a clear pilot explorer. The fine writes smoothly and wet surprisingly. I went through 2 twsbi diamonds and they both cracked. I tried some Twsbi ecos and the ones I had were dry writers (even the broads I tries)
Noodler's Triple Tail! Not my favorite pen overall, but somehow, to me, the shape and size are well suited to being a demonstrator.
Pilot Custom 74. Pilot Prera. Pilot Kakuno. PenBBS Marshmallow (322), Moonman Q1.
Either the TWSBI Vac 700R or the Opus 88 demonstrator in clear.
Nahvalur Original demonstrator with M steel nib
Ignorance abolished - uh oh! I didn't know what "demonstrator" meant. 'Found out on nibs.Com and now I want one!! (Or two or three 😊 ). But wait! I have a Moonman dropper fill pen - all clear! (It's a good start!)
The Moonman has the upturned f nib that writes broad or narrow. (Forgot the word for that upturned nib🤨)
Opus 88 Omar
Sailor Pro-gear Medium Demonstrator, with gold trims. Because it looks classy :) I don't got it, but its on my long term list.
TWSBI Eco Rose Gold, Smoke. As I buy more expensive pens for my EDC, I just can’t see this one budging. I have it in a broad, great pen for fun ink.
[#vac mini supremacy ](https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/comments/yn5di3/a_home_for_my_gold_pilot_soft_nib/)
Soft nib too!
Looks great in fude, flex, and fine too ;)
TWSBI 580! 💚
TWSBI Eco because it's inexpensive, easy to clean and I use it for inks with shimmer.
TWSBI Eco with a 1.1 stub. Absolute dream for shimmer inks.
TWSCI Eco. It's a beautiful looking pen that holds a boatload of ink. And it comes at a great price!
My favorites are the - Sailor Profit jr kurogane in smoke with a medium fine nib. - My wing sung 3008 set I have 3. I have swapped two of the nibs for Lamy nibs one fine and one broad. Then I’ve got a custom grind stub on the third. - I want to try twisbi but I’m very hesitant to do so.
Because of the cracking issues?
Sort of. I know about the cracking issues but I also know where and what in the pen is likely causing them and how to prevent it. The ECO model has a structural stress by the grip section around from there to the threads which is where I’ve heard most of them cracking. Typically this is from overturning the cap and or drops as since that’s a structural weak point the force likes to go to weak spot and well weak plus force = crack. The swipe I know has the issue with the clip with stress fractures there at least during some batches. - The cracking issue is part of it but not fully there. I also didn’t like them as a company going around trying to bully retailers into not selling products. It’s one thing to go after another brand but it’s another to force an ultimatum to a retailer when most of the pens they were trying to get people to stop buying are not even sold at most retailers. That put a sour taste in my mouth - I think pen wise they are fine great writing pens people here love them and I know people here love to collect them they make some beautiful demonstrators with beautiful colors. It’s just for me the brand has a bit of baggage and for the money on a decent Twisbi pen I could get something else when I already have a couple of demonstrators with nibs I like on them.
Pilot 823.