SKU:
TWSBI Vac Mini (Clear and Smoke Versions)
$60.00
$60.00
per item
Company:
TWSBI is a Taiwanese manufacturer of writing instruments that has been operating for over 40 years. TWSBI's name is an acronym for the phrase "Hall of Three Cultures" in Chinese. "San Wen Tong" (Hall of Three Cultures) was reversed and "Bi" (Writing Instruments) was added to create TWSBI.
https://www.twsbi.com/pages/about-us
Product:
The TWSBI Vac Mini is a vacuum-filling fountain pen from TWSBI. The specifications of the pen are as follows:
Review:
The TWSBI Vac Mini is a unique vacuum demonstrator that was released by TWSBI in 2015. The pen has the TWSBI logo on the finial at the top, a metal clip that has some spring and is able to clip to most pockets, a smoked inner cap to prevent the nib from drying out, and the words "TWSBI" on the front and "VAC mini TAIWAN" on the back of the cap.
The pen has at least three o-rings located at on and inside the body of the pen to prevent the pen from leaking; hence, the pen purportedly does not leak, even when traveling via airplane. The pen also has a vacuum plunger that can be activated by screwing out the bottom of the pen (counter clockwise) and pulling out the plunger when the pen is not inked. To fill the pen, pull out the plunger, dip the nib in a bottle of ink, and push the plunger down to draw ink into the barrel. This can sometimes take a few tries, but usually the vacuum system is able to fill the pen halfway with ink on one try.
The Vac Mini has a good weight due to the body's material and the metallic rings around the body that ostensibly prevent cracking of the pen. The nib (the pen pictured has a "Fine" nib) writes smoothly, but it may run dry if the plunger is all the way down. To rectify this, simply unscrew the back of the pen to loosen the plunger and allow ink to flow from the body of the pen to the feed. While the pen can write with the plunger fully screwed in, it often runs dry; hence, the Vac Mini must often be used with the plunger unscrewed a bit to allow the ink to flow to the nib. Be careful not to pull out the plunger, however, as this may cause ink to be pushed through the feed and nib and leak out.
Overall , the TWSBI Vac Mini is a unique and reliable pen at an impressive price point. Most vacuum-filling pens cost hundreds of dollars, but at around $60.00-$65.00 retail, the Vac Mini is an outstanding value pen. In addition, the pen comes with extra o-rings, silicone grease, and a TWSBI wrench for the pen to be completely disassembled. Thus, the pen is easy to fill, somewhat easier to clean (although it can be difficult to remove ink from all of the orifices of the pen), smooth, and leak-resistant due to the o-rings on the pen (in our experience, the pen did not leak when it was taken aboard a flight). However, it is worth noting that the back of the pen must often be unscrewed for the pen to be usable, since it often runs dry otherwise.
Due to its price point, design, functionality and overall writing experience, the TWSBI Vac Mini is recommended by Lion's Stationers. It can be purchased from the following vendors:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Doffice-products&field-keywords=twsbi+vac+mini
Ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR4.TRC1.A0.H0.Xtwsbi+vac+mini.TRS0&_nkw=twsbi+vac+mini&_sacat=0
Goulet Pen Company:
https://www.gouletpens.com/twsbi-vac-mini/c/429
Jet Pens:
https://www.jetpens.com/search?q=twsbi+vac+mini&v=2
TWSBI:
https://www.twsbi.com/products/twsbi-vac-mini-fountain-pen
TWSBI is a Taiwanese manufacturer of writing instruments that has been operating for over 40 years. TWSBI's name is an acronym for the phrase "Hall of Three Cultures" in Chinese. "San Wen Tong" (Hall of Three Cultures) was reversed and "Bi" (Writing Instruments) was added to create TWSBI.
https://www.twsbi.com/pages/about-us
Product:
The TWSBI Vac Mini is a vacuum-filling fountain pen from TWSBI. The specifications of the pen are as follows:
- Cap: Screw
- Colors: Transparent (Clear) Body or Smoke
- Body Diameter: .5 Inches
- Body Length: 4.5 Inches
- Grip Diameter: .4 Inches
- Material: Resin
- Nib Color: Silver
- Nib Material: Steel
- Total Length (Capped): 4.9 Inches
- Total Length (Posted): 6 Inches
- Total Ink Capacity: 2.0 Milliliters
- Total Weight: 24 Grams
Review:
The TWSBI Vac Mini is a unique vacuum demonstrator that was released by TWSBI in 2015. The pen has the TWSBI logo on the finial at the top, a metal clip that has some spring and is able to clip to most pockets, a smoked inner cap to prevent the nib from drying out, and the words "TWSBI" on the front and "VAC mini TAIWAN" on the back of the cap.
The pen has at least three o-rings located at on and inside the body of the pen to prevent the pen from leaking; hence, the pen purportedly does not leak, even when traveling via airplane. The pen also has a vacuum plunger that can be activated by screwing out the bottom of the pen (counter clockwise) and pulling out the plunger when the pen is not inked. To fill the pen, pull out the plunger, dip the nib in a bottle of ink, and push the plunger down to draw ink into the barrel. This can sometimes take a few tries, but usually the vacuum system is able to fill the pen halfway with ink on one try.
The Vac Mini has a good weight due to the body's material and the metallic rings around the body that ostensibly prevent cracking of the pen. The nib (the pen pictured has a "Fine" nib) writes smoothly, but it may run dry if the plunger is all the way down. To rectify this, simply unscrew the back of the pen to loosen the plunger and allow ink to flow from the body of the pen to the feed. While the pen can write with the plunger fully screwed in, it often runs dry; hence, the Vac Mini must often be used with the plunger unscrewed a bit to allow the ink to flow to the nib. Be careful not to pull out the plunger, however, as this may cause ink to be pushed through the feed and nib and leak out.
Overall , the TWSBI Vac Mini is a unique and reliable pen at an impressive price point. Most vacuum-filling pens cost hundreds of dollars, but at around $60.00-$65.00 retail, the Vac Mini is an outstanding value pen. In addition, the pen comes with extra o-rings, silicone grease, and a TWSBI wrench for the pen to be completely disassembled. Thus, the pen is easy to fill, somewhat easier to clean (although it can be difficult to remove ink from all of the orifices of the pen), smooth, and leak-resistant due to the o-rings on the pen (in our experience, the pen did not leak when it was taken aboard a flight). However, it is worth noting that the back of the pen must often be unscrewed for the pen to be usable, since it often runs dry otherwise.
Due to its price point, design, functionality and overall writing experience, the TWSBI Vac Mini is recommended by Lion's Stationers. It can be purchased from the following vendors:
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Doffice-products&field-keywords=twsbi+vac+mini
Ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR4.TRC1.A0.H0.Xtwsbi+vac+mini.TRS0&_nkw=twsbi+vac+mini&_sacat=0
Goulet Pen Company:
https://www.gouletpens.com/twsbi-vac-mini/c/429
Jet Pens:
https://www.jetpens.com/search?q=twsbi+vac+mini&v=2
TWSBI:
https://www.twsbi.com/products/twsbi-vac-mini-fountain-pen