Mechanical Pencils

[kosmo]

I've been using mechanical pencils on a daily basis since taking classes in manual drafting many, many years ago.  The best mechanical pencil I've used has been a Pentel P209 0.9mm.  I've been using them for years and haven't had one break on me yet, although I've lost a few.  I've tried the cheap copies made by OfficeMax, but they typically break eventually.  What mechanical pencils do you use?  How well do they hold up?  What lead size do you prefer?

[Kampfer]

I used lots 0.3mm & 0.5mm lead in my manual drafting class, since then I never touch pencil again.
Use tons highlighters in my early stage of my career and now everything I do is paperless.

[detron]

I love These

but I liked them better when they first came out and did not have the rubber grip as seen here


I tend to use .5mm but certain tasks I use .7 and .9

[mrynnr]

I love These

but I liked them better when they first came out and did not have the rubber grip as seen here


I tend to use .5mm but certain tasks I use .7 and .9

for a little bit you used to be able to buy them online. Guess they stopped
http://www.pentel.com/store/quicker-clicker-mechanical-pencil-original-config

I personally like these...
http://www.pentel.com/store/sharp-kerry-mechanical-pencil
And these
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004OHNTVC/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/190-2703215-3384401

[detron]

I love These

but I liked them better when they first came out and did not have the rubber grip as seen here


I tend to use .5mm but certain tasks I use .7 and .9

for a little bit you used to be able to buy them online. Guess they stopped
http://www.pentel.com/store/quicker-clicker-mechanical-pencil-original-config

yep,  sucks.

oh well, I will keep my eye open for some.  I see them on Amazon for $38.00   

[mrynnr]

I love These

but I liked them better when they first came out and did not have the rubber grip as seen here


I tend to use .5mm but certain tasks I use .7 and .9

for a little bit you used to be able to buy them online. Guess they stopped
http://www.pentel.com/store/quicker-clicker-mechanical-pencil-original-config

yep,  sucks.

oh well, I will keep my eye open for some.  I see them on Amazon for $38.00   

[enki_ck]

My two favorite are Pentel Graphgear 1000 and Faber Castell Grip 1347.

http://davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.com/2006/12/pentel-graphgear-1000-pg1015-mechanical.html

http://www.faber-castell.com/products/pencils/MechanicalpencilGRIP134707mmgreenmetallic/134763

I used to go through several Rotring Tikkis a year due to the tip bending but they were OK pencils too.


Also Dave's blog is a must for all mechanical pencil lovers.

[sawman]

Funilly enough, I also have used the P209 for over 20 years and think its the best pencil money can buy.

[Smashie]

Another fan of the P200's as well. The 205 is missing from this photo because I like the graph gear 1000's. I've probably got about 12 Pentel pencils scattered about.

The cross is one of the older ones when they seemed to have been made better

[kosmo]

Another fan of the P200's as well. The 205 is missing from this photo because I like the graph gear 1000's. I've probably got about 12 Pentel pencils scattered about.

The cross is one of the older ones when they seemed to have been made better

(Image removed from quote.)

I can remember the chrome Cross pens and pencils being very popular for decades. They always felt to slippery for me.

[Smashie]

Yes they can be slippery, but to be fair that's a pencil I carry in a suit pocket along with a fountain pen so it doesn't get serious use. More for show really 

[hiraethus]

I like 0.7mm leads - F is my favourite, but H is ok.  Like the P207 but I keep it in my pocket at work and keep bending the tip so normally go for ones with retractable tubes.  I've got a Rotring Rapid Pro which is pleasingly heavy, but the most comfortable pencil I own is a Faber Castell Grip - just seems to fit me really nicely.

[Smashie]

I like 0.7mm leads - F is my favourite, but H is ok.  Like the P207 but I keep it in my pocket at work and keep bending the tip so normally go for ones with retractable tubes.  I've got a Rotring Rapid Pro which is pleasingly heavy, but the most comfortable pencil I own is a Faber Castell Grip - just seems to fit me really nicely.

That's why I like the graphgears, retractable tube and lower cost than the rotrings. But no noticeable drop in quality

[kosmo]

I'm always breaking lead on anything smaller than the 0.9mm, so I stick with 0.9mm unless I specifically need something smaller.

[Craiger]

I use mechanical pencils at work and home, mostly for sketching concepts and notes at work, and sketching for fun at home. I used to be all .7mm but found myself switching to .9mm after using a pencil for some home and work projects and enjoying the stouter lead and always sharp looking cut marks. (Never had much fun sharpening carpenters pencils).

I have a quiver of pencils at work, Pentel being my favorite brand, and I rotate thru the week, like a true pencil nerd. My personal findings over the years:

Graphgear 1000: The pencil I want to love, but can't. Not well balanced and the rubber grips amongst the knurling is too slick for me. I wish it was all knurl and no rubber. My worst writing and sketching pencil; just doesn't feel natural, but sure is cool looking.

Graphgear 500: Very secure grip and comfortable (for short to medium sessions). I hate that the pocket clip can slide completely off. That, and the non-retractable tip make it desk-bound and not suitable to travel. Overall a very nice pencil though.

Pentel P209: The balance and feel of this pencil is remarkable, as is the almost cultish-following and positive reviews concerning durability etc. A true winner that I'm excited to use every time it comes thru the rotation.

Pentel Twist Erase Click: I like the clear orange barrel and LOVE the big, clean, always-ready eraser. Very comfortable for long periods of writing and drawing. Can't use it with dirty hands or in the shop; the rubber grip gets nasty, quick.

Bic Velocity: I like the retractable tip and the comfortable grip. I also feel no sentiment for them, so they are my sacrificial pencils. Staged in the truck, garage, toolboxes etc. But I also have one I rotate thru at my work desk. Feels like I could write an essay with it; very comfortable.

Unishift Pipe Lock: I bought this with the intention of EDC and did so for awhile. Then the paint starting wearing on the plastic barrel and the pocket clip got tweaked. I like the unique look, knurling, and retraction/locking mechanism, but hate the eraser and the cheap paint job. I still enjoy using it though.

Pentel Twist Erase Express: Another clear/orange barreled pencil with a hefty eraser. I sketch with this one at home. Not a fancy pencil, but very comfortable to sketch with. The barrel comes off way too easy and the tip doesn't retract, so forget about taking it anywhere.

Pentel Twist Erase GT (.7mm): Finally, a Pentel with a jumbo eraser -and- a retractable tip for EDC. Initially I was really stoked on this pencil, but they never made it in .9mm and I found the "accordian style" rubber grip attracted all sorts of dirt and pocket lint. But, having just fiddled with it during this writing, I have decided to take it to work tomorrow for old-times sake.

[Corwyn]

My TRusty Rotring Tikky 0.5:

[Steinar]

I'm a weirdo who prefer wooden pencils and lead holders. Most of the time I use a short lead holder from Koh-I-Noor. https://rsvp-berlin.de/en/online-shop/46/kohinoor/1185/Koh-I-Noor-mechanical-pencil-short Excellent for having with my note book.

[MadPlumbarian]

Wow they still  have mechanical drafting? I thought they stopped that along time ago. I took 7yrs of that/blueprint class back in the day. I always used a small one, like 0.3-0.5mm, anything bigger left too fat of a line, i think i still have one of my old pencils, i always liked one with a knurled grip.
JR

[kosmo]

There was a heavy duty mechanical pencil I used at one time.  It was a draftsman's pencil.  Fairly heavy, all metal and holding the lead like a collet, the lead was advanced by spring cap in the rear.  You had to place the tip against your finger to prevent the lead from falling out.  Anyone know what that might have been?

[Steinar]

There was a heavy duty mechanical pencil I used at one time.  It was a draftsman's pencil.  Fairly heavy, all metal and holding the lead like a collet, the lead was advanced by spring cap in the rear.  You had to place the tip against your finger to prevent the lead from falling out.  Anyone know what that might have been?

Do you remember the thickness of the lead? By your description of the mechanism, I wonder if it was a lead holder. Perhaps you can find it on http://leadholder.com/ ?

[pfrsantos]

Wish I had one of these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpuOSaB5jcU


I have some old Rotring Tikky



and an old Pentel


 
and a couple of old Caran D'Ache (love these!)



(The pics are not from my pencils but the models are the same)

[firiki]

I swear by these: Faber Castell TK 4600 (lead holder). I love how balanced it is! It's for drawing mainly, there's a version of it for writting but I prefer the weight on this one better. My handwritting can be very artistic sometimes anyway



I also use a Rotring Tikky, 1mm lead, it's OK but I'm not crazy about it. I liked some Pentels I borrowed in the past but I had a feeling they weren't quite solid

[MadPlumbarian]

I had a lead holder too, I think this one.
JR

[kosmo]

There was a heavy duty mechanical pencil I used at one time.  It was a draftsman's pencil.  Fairly heavy, all metal and holding the lead like a collet, the lead was advanced by spring cap in the rear.  You had to place the tip against your finger to prevent the lead from falling out.  Anyone know what that might have been?

Do you remember the thickness of the lead? By your description of the mechanism, I wonder if it was a lead holder. Perhaps you can find it on http://leadholder.com/ ?

I completely forgot about them being referred to as lead holders.  That's what it was.  Now this is jarring my memory from my first drafting class from high school, so long ago.  There were a variety of lead sizes.  I always gravitated to the thicker lead for non-drafting purposes.

[kosmo]

I had a lead holder too, I think this one.
JR
(Image removed from quote.)

Mine may have, very well been a Staedtler.

[MadPlumbarian]

I had a lead holder too, I think this one.
JR
(Image removed from quote.)

Mine may have, very well been a Staedtler.

I had so many diff ones, but we're talking over 15yrs ago! Lol
JR

[NutSAK]

Here's the Pentel I've been using at work for years.  I would prefer .7mm, but I haven't been able to lose or break this one, so I keep using it. 

[AlephZero]

Been using this one for close to 20 years, and just found out it's considered vintage and sells on eBay for $35 




Staedtler Micrograph F 770

 

[hiraethus]

A little bundle of stuff arrived today, including an OHTO Cute 0.5mm mechanical pencil.  About 10mm shorter than a P207 with a retractable tip this should make a nice pocket pencil.  Feels quite nice in the hand - it's got a metal barrel -  though may be a little small in diameter.  Only a couple of quid too, so no big deal if it's no good.

[kosmo]

I just came across an old Staedtler #77505 0.5mm that I've had since my hand drafting days.  It looks to be designed much like the Pental.