Editing The Pen Addict 476/transcript (section)

== TWSBI Swipe Review ==


'''Myke:''' That was fun. I want to talk about the TWSBI swipe. I think this will be a recurring theme. Customers may remember the TWSBI swipe as the new TWSBI pen, which has a spring in the back of it, even though it maybe seems like at least Brad believed didn't need it, didn't understand why the spring would need to be there like it is on a TWSBI go. So you have Kimberly at the Pen Addict wrote a great review about the pen and had some questions, some pros and cons of it. I believe you have one as well.

'''Brad:''' Yeah. So mine just came in yesterday, just unboxed it yesterday, and I just inked it up this morning. So I definitely have some questions. And so far, my thinking is right along the lines with Kimberly in that this is a good pen. Like there's no two ways about it. Like it's a good TWSBI low cost pen. The questions that have arisen so far from my unboxing and then circling back to Kimberly's review and finding the same thing is that I'm questioning which came first, the cartridge converter design or the need for the spring. And I'm saying this because I'm trying to say this nicely. The engineering around the connection between cartridge and converter and the connection to the feed and the nib is looser than I'm used to. So there is not a lot of friction there. Okay. Like it's see, I feel like it seals. Okay. Like I feel like, okay, it grabs enough. Do you know what I'm talking about? Like, what do you, am I explaining this?

'''Myke:''' Do you wear the, like the little prongs, I guess, which stick into the converter or the cartridge?

'''Brad:''' Yes. So like it goes on, but then I can pull it off without much effort. You know how normally you have to lean into it a little bit to kind of pop it off? You've got to pull it.

'''Myke:''' Yeah. You've got to give it some oomph.

'''Brad:''' Yeah. I can just slide this on and off. So two things are appearing right now in this. And this could be like a one-off type of thing. But now I'm seeing it, Kimberly's seeing it, and other people are seeing it. What's happening is that connection, I think, is not getting sealed enough because people who are using the spring converter, it's like a little mini piston, right? Like you push the spring down. You have the converter on. You push the spring down while the nib's in the ink bottle to fill it. And then the converter, then you let go. The spring expands and pulls in the ink. And people are only getting half fills. Why are they getting half fills? Maybe because it's not sealed perfectly. I don't know. Like this is like I'm not an engineer and I'm not telling, I'm not saying this is a problem. But I am noticing it and other people are noticing it, that this is loose. Like it's a little bit, the spring is necessary. So it's like a chicken or egg thing. It's now that I have this, I went ahead and inked mine with a cartridge because I wanted to test out the cartridges because they're big and bulky. The cartridges actually snap in there pretty strongly. But I'm just wondering if the design is such to where you almost have to have the spring to keep the cartridge if you're dropping things. I don't know. I'm rambling a little bit now because I'm thinking about it out loud. And yeah.

'''Myke:''' So you're wondering if they have the cartridge.

'''Myke:''' So they have the spring because the cartridge doesn't fit properly.

'''Brad:''' I mean, it's dumb to say that out loud. When you say that out loud, you sound dumb. I'm not saying that I'm saying me. Yeah, I don't think that that makes sense. That's not on purpose. I don't think that's the case. But I will say that's the experience that people are having now and they're questioning like, well, I see why I need this spring now because it's kind of loose. But I don't think that was the intent going into it. And so I think we're just going to have to wait and see. I think in general, it's a good pen. I really don't like the clip, like just aesthetically. I'm not a fan of the clip. I do like the feel of the pen. I got an extra fine.

'''Brad:''' It's a little wider than like the TWSBI 580 extra fine. So I'll have to see if it's more like the eco extra fines that I have, which is the nib that's on here. It's like the eco nib, same size, same shape.

'''Brad:''' I think the pen is going to do fine. I think the cartridge option.

'''Brad:''' I don't know. Like I'm trying to come at this pen from a beginner's perspective and it's a little hard to separate myself from that. Like if I'm a beginner and I buy this pen and I buy a pack of cartridges and I'm going to be pretty happy with this pen. If you buy their cartridges. Yeah. Yeah. Because that's the other thing is people are finding like a standard international cartridge doesn't really does not fit well. It fits. Even though it theoretically should.

'''Myke:''' It's not secure. And I think this is the thing we were talking about this pen before where it was like they're saying this is the international standard, but it doesn't look like it. The attachment part is international standard, but the sizing is super different physically, which helps it stay in place, I guess. Right. I don't think you would want to put a regular cartridge with the spring inside of this thing. I think it's going to fall out.

'''Brad:''' Yeah. So, you know, I don't want to say this is like completely wait and see. Like I think it's good. Like I just want to be clear on that. I think it's good. I'm going to keep using it and I'm going to keep using with the cartridge and I'm going to keep using with the spring loaded in the back of the barrel.

'''Myke:''' It's pretty fairly priced too, right?

'''Brad:''' It's fairly priced. It feels good. The writing experience is excellent. One annoyance I have is that I can't. So the barrel has the TWSBI stamping on it, you know, just like the word TWSBI. And I can't get that to align with the front side of my nib. It's on the 180. You know what I mean? And I've tried like 10 times before the podcast today to get it aligned, right?

'''Myke:''' I'm looking at their images and they managed to do it.

'''Brad:''' So I'm going to have to keep working on that. I've tried every connection possible.

'''Myke:''' That's like me and Lamy Safaris though, man. I just sit there and like click. Oh, it didn't work. Click it over one more time. Do it again.

'''Myke:''' So, yeah.

'''Brad:''' So, I don't know what to say. It's like a 7 or 8 out of 10 pen. Like it's really hecking good. But like I definitely have questions about let's see some long-term usage and how that connection holds up. So, that's all. I think it's good. Like I wouldn't tell anyone not to buy it if you're interested in it. And I think it is going to be a good beginner pen if you're sticking with TWSBI cartridges. I think for like the super... Or the converter, really. Or the converter.

'''Myke:''' Because again, like I think we're getting lost again. But I think the real benefit I think here is that this is a TWSBI converter pen, which is new for them.

'''Brad:''' Yeah. Like which I'm down with. Yeah. I'm all for it. I just think people... Some more experienced people are going to enjoy this less. And that's fine. That's not why this pen is being made. Right?

'''Myke:''' I don't think it's for them though, right? Yep.

'''Brad:''' It's a $27 entry pen. Right. So that's what I'm trying to wrap my head around when I talk about this. I don't want to talk down on this pen because it's a good pen. But I do have some like coming from a very experienced place, I have some questions.

'''Myke:''' Yeah. My thinking on it still, having not used it, my thinking on it still though is I would still recommend you get the TWSBI Go. Mm-hmm. But hey-ho. Because I think the best way to use the TWSBI swipe is still with the converter.

'''Brad:''' Mm-hmm.

'''Myke:''' So I figure if you're going to do that, you may as well go with the TWSBI Go. Although I'm sure that it looks very much so that the swipe would have a vastly improved ink capacity.

'''Brad:''' I don't know about that. You don't think so? The swipe have more ink capacity than the Go? I'm not sure. I would have to look. I don't like to know. I can't speak on that. I'm sure chat will tell us before we're done if the measurements are public on TWSBI's site. I don't know that they are. But regardless, I'm still going for the eco is number one. Like, again, this is coming from a different place than a beginner place. If I'm buying TWSBI's, I'll take one go and one swipe and 10 ecos.

'''Brad:''' That's how I feel about that range of product.

'''Myke:''' I didn't understand what that meant.

'''Brad:''' As far as what I think is the best product. Right. Like, I need one go, I'm fine. One swipe pin, I'm fine. Eco, I'm good having five or 10 of those because they're just cool colors. The piston filling mechanism is great. Like, there are shockingly less questions about the eco than both the go and the swipe.

'''Myke:''' Makes sense. I love the color, though. I do, too.

'''Brad:''' Like, they're all good. That's what I'm saying. I just don't want to. I know I've talked myself in circles around this one. They're all good pens. I really like all of them. I like that TWSBI's trying things and, like, is messing around doing some weird stuff. And I'm down with that. So, I just want to make sure that, yeah, I think they're good. And I do have some questions, though. We'll see.

'''Myke:''' Do you want to know a great place that you can go to if you want to pick up some of these TWSBI pens, Brad? Man, where is that, Myke?

'''Brad:''' You're such a professional.

'''Myke:''' Pen Chalet. What? They sell the very best products from all of your favorite brands. They have roller balls, fountain pens, ballpoints, mechanical pencils, and so much more. Like pen holders, refills, converters, ink, accessories, notebooks, everything the true pen addict wants in their life. And they're always doing great deals. They run discounts twice a month and close out specials as well. And they're always adding new styles of pens. So, there's always something new to go and check out over at Pen Chalet. They do free shipping on orders of over $50 in the U.S. And they sell internationally as well with great shipping rates. Pen Chalet wants their customers to be happy with their great products. So, they have not only low prices, but on their high quality pens. Also, a 100% satisfaction guarantee. They really have everything that you're looking for with fast and reliable customer service to boot. So, go to penchalet.com. That's P-E-N-C-H-A-L-E-T.com. Click the podcast link at the top of the website and enter the password penaddict. This is where you will get the code that you need to save 10% on anything at any time. And also, the list of this week's special offers. What have we got, Brad?

'''Brad:''' We have a crazy deep list of products. So, sometimes, Ron sets us up sometimes. Sometimes, we'll put the hot thing at the top. Sometimes, you got to dig for it in the middle or at the end. Or sometimes, it's just literally all over the place. And that's what we have today. No hunting this week. No hunting this week. He's dropped the Visconti Homo Sapiens Demo Stones. So, that was Visconti's new release. Did it come out this year? We're in August. I think it came out earlier this year. It is the translucent Homo Sapiens in green, red, or blue. They're really, really pretty with a really, really good price. They were... And a free ink. Yeah. And a free ink. And they were more expensive than the Homo Sapiens that I bought recently. And now, they're at a good sale. And Myke, if you scroll down and scroll... And I don't want to discount anything that's on here, including our friend, the Stipula Neto. That's what I was going to say. Wait.

'''Myke:''' I can't remember now.

'''Brad:''' How did this come up the first time? I found it here.

'''Myke:''' Okay. Like, two weeks ago. Like, wait. Because I'd never seen it. Is Ron Punk in us right now? No, no, no, no.

'''Brad:''' I'd never seen it before it came up on this list. And I was like, what is this? And we had to stop the read.