Twsbi Diamond 580 ALR: An Artist’s review

Hello pen people!
This is my video on the Twsbi Diamond 580. It’s got some similar features to the Twsbi Eco, but does it deliver enough extra value to justify its higher price point? Watch and see!
Truphae had the best deal on this pen, so they get the link!
www.truphaeinc.com/products/t...
The ink is Lamy Crystal Agate. I think it’s my favorite ink that I own! Check it out!
amzn.to/40FVA5j
Some of my links are affiliate links. I get a commission at no cost to you. You know the drill. Help me buy more pens :)
Thanks! Please subscribe to my channel if you like what you see!
bit.ly/3iVayOb
You can also connect to me and find me on other social media platforms through my website:
www.stepheninks.com
Contents:
00:00 introduction
00:40 Parts and features
09:04 ink fill
10:48 test lines
18:00 drawing sample
22:46 final thoughts

[@Schnarlz]

If you flip the pen upside down from the fill position and squeeze the air out, then back to the fill position, you can easily get rid of the air bubble with two goes of it.

[@stepheninks]

Every time I hear this explained to me, I still somehow get confused. Why Twsbi didn’t just go with regular old silicone grease (which is also really cheap) is beyond me.

[@JanvierSoldat]

Recently bought a Diamond 580 and am loving it, the grip and heft is pretty comfy!

[@stepheninks]

It’s a step above the Eco. I love it!

[@user-gl5ld9vm7i]

Hey Stephen. Good to see your new post. Love the channel.

[@stepheninks]

Thanks for watching!

[@farmerfox3332]

lol i am thinking a future pen box video is needed....your collection of those is growing. thanks for another good video.

[@stepheninks]

I’ve got one more of those… but (spoilers) I need to wait for them to get back to me about something. At least they’re consistent, right?

[@UJB123]

Fountain pens are easy to top up ... just hold the tip up ⬆️ and push the air out slowly... when ink starts to pop out, stop, & stick it back in the ink ... fill up, whaola! The 580 is a 5 nib and the Eco is a 4 nib. (You can easily post the Eco top on the 580 ... I do it all the time when I need the xtra length. ) The tops are interchangeable. 😉 Your ink matters. Try a different ink b4 messing with the nib. Sometimes it takes a day or 2, particularly if you didn't rinse b4 use. Works great with Herbin, Pilot, Diamine, and Carbon ... including reverse writing.

[@stepheninks]

Yeah, I know how to do that, I just don’t really care enough to do it. I think I’d just rather fill once, and refill as needed.

[@MersedessBens]

Thanks for the video. I've took ECO recently and I have quite a nice impression on it so far, I like it more then Lamy Safary and Kaweco Sport, to be fair. I haven't try to disassemble it yet, lets see.. Also, will think about Diamond version if I will need one more pen. Currently, my favorit pen is Sailor Fude 55 deegrees because of unique bent nib, it is quite fine for sketching, ECO I also use under watercolor paintings with Platinum Carbon ink. Other my pens I use mostly with colored watersoluble inks and quite rarly. After ECO they look and feel very chip, but were quite fine to me before, Kaweco especially lost in comparison with other pens 🙂 Everithing became understandable in comparison. Sailor has not a very expencive design, but I realy love the Nib! So it is out of comparison to me.

[@stepheninks]

I have and enjoy all of those pens! I really like the Fude nib on the HongDian Black Forest as well!

[@susanmeadows3706]

HiStephen. I have a Twisbi 580 AL coming in the mail and I can hardly wait. I have lots of fountain pens and the Eco is one of my favorites. I know the AL stands for aluminum. What does the R stand for?

[@stepheninks]

I think if you like the Eco you’re going to love the 580 ALR. My only gripe with the Eco is how many of their units have sections that cracked over time (mine cracked after about 2 years). I tried to look up what the “R” in ALR stands for, and I didn’t find much, but an article on Goulet pens mentioned that the only difference between the 580 ALR and the 580 AL, is the matte finish of the aluminum, and the patent of fine, circular ridges around the cap and grip. Could “R” stand for ridges? Rings? Can’t be sure, but it’s my best guess.

[@gunsmokeandghouls]

Im interested in twsbi but hesitant because of the cracking issues. Have you had any problem with this one or know of any? Thanks. Also ive heard Twsbi uses a different nib manufacturer now? ,Do you notice a difference between your eco and diamond nibs?

[@stepheninks]

Yeah, I did have a crack issue after about 2 years with my Eco. There’s a video about it on this channel. I reached out to Twsbi and they did do something to help me out, which is good, but it should not have happened in the first place. Twsbi claims that they’ve fixed this in more modern pens, but I’m skeptical, as are many others in the pen community. Also, if big retailers (I bought mine on Amazon) are still holding on to old stock from before the supposed fix, it really doesn’t matter if they’ve fixed it. The faulty products are still out there. Based on where my Eco cracked, I am highly doubtful that the Diamond 580 ALR will crack, but I don’t hold much hope for other pens with a plastic section. The whole thing makes me hesitant to recommend Twsbi. Also, the nibs are very good in my opinion. Both the Eco and 580 nibs feel pretty much identical to me.

[@chrisblanc663]

I’ve had my echo’s for about 4 years, and have had no issues with either of them. I much prefer the Diamond over the eco, and would say the price difference is worth it. But I wouldn’t hesitate to get an eco as it’s great quality for the price.

[@unknowncrash1]

I wonder if Moonman will copy this soon. It would be funny considering the whole thing twsbi had with moonman previously.

[@stepheninks]

Haha. I think they were trying to claim that the Moonman T1 stole their IP (which they appropriated from elsewhere) in that statement they made. I lost so much respect for Twsbi when they did that. Moonman definitely does steal ideas, but I don’t think Twsbi is allowed to throw stones in that situation.

[@unknowncrash1]

@@stepheninks yup, I was tempted at this model specifically, though the price and cracking reports have always kept me from ever trying one. On another note, I got a few penbbs 456 after re-watching your videos, I agree with the comfort for drawing. It's super well balanced capped and uncapped. Though, the threading on the cap to body isn't exactly smooth. I've had many caps that need twisting. This penbbs model is probably the least smooth of them. Still great pen though. I have more on the way still.

[@stepheninks]

@@unknowncrash1 when it comes to lower priced pens like the 456 (I guess the 456 is or isn’t that, depending on what the rest of your collection looks like), I always say it’s not perfect, but it’s not priced to be perfect… then whenever I get a pen that is priced high enough that it SHOULD be perfect, I realize that a lot of lower priced pens I am lucky enough to enjoy are way better than they have any business being. Haha.

[@martinshephard6317]

Looks like a great option. Can anyone recommend a black, waterproof ink that I can use in the 580? I like to use a colour wash as part of my drawing process.

[@stepheninks]

Two that are fountain pen safe are Platinum Carbon Black, and De Atramentis Document Black. I have them both, and I can confirm that they do not run or bleed under watercolor washes.

[@UJB123]

Platinum Carbon. Sketch Ink

[@kellysartthrob]

FYI, your IG link doesn't work. Nice pen! Fun drawing 💯

[@stepheninks]

Hi! Which IG link did you mean? The one on my website? Because that on worked for me, but there isn’t a direct IG link on this video. If you let me know, I might be able to fix it.

[@kellysartthrob]

@@stepheninks it's the one in your about tab under description. It didn't work for me...🤷

[@stepheninks]

@@kellysartthrob oh, I see what you’re saying. I can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong with it, but I’ll fix it eventually. In the meantime, you can connect to me via my website (www.stepheninks.com) or by going to Instagram and searching: stephen_inks. Thanks for letting me know.

[@ichirofakename]

I think the TWSBI silicon grease is actually liquid and it pours out of the bottle, no squeezing needed.

[@stepheninks]

I’m still baffled by this little bottle. The one on my Eco has lasted a long time… because I do not know how to use it.

[@jomeson4081]

I wish I was so lucky. My 580 is a Waterfall

[@stepheninks]

Oh really? I guess Twsbi’s wide range of quality control exists up and down their product line. Shame.

[@SilverSeaOT7]

What paper are you using?

[@stepheninks]

Canson pen and ink. It’s a pretty good compromise between coated paper (like Tomoe River) and watercolor paper (which is pretty good for line control)

[@allensampier5651]

y anacrynom for twsbi is the world suffers being ignrant!

[@stepheninks]

Haha.