Pencil Recommendation

[WhiskeyMan]

I have no experience with any kind of mechanical pencils, but I have been looking for a nice one to go with my FPs for awhile. Naturally, I was attracted to the vintage Duofold pencil since it would match my 20's Big Red.

 

Then, upon nearly purchasing one, I was informed that these pencils do not take regular lead that I can find in the store. This is a necessity for me since I refuse to give such importance to pencil lead by special-ordering it online.

 

Any recommendation to someone who doesn't know any models? I'm attracted to the oldies, especially the Duofold or others of a similar style, but I will have to consider new since I want to use normal lead. How much is a new Duofold pencil? Probably too much for me.

[Leftytoo]

I have never had any trouble finding lead for old pencls. Most is 1 mm or 0.9 mm, availble in most stationary stores. Cross sells this size lead.

 

For a classic pencil, I like the Parker 51. It has a 3-part clutch which is foolproof and should never break. Because it squeezes the lead, it is not fussy about the lead diameter.

 

A cool modern mechanical pencil is the Pentel "Kerry". There is a cap over the point, so it will not ruin your pocket. The only downside is no eraser.

 

Bob

[NedC]

Unless they've changed them recently the Kerry does have an eraser, it's only available when the cap is posted however.

[51ISH]

I have never had any trouble finding lead for old pencls. Most is 1 mm or 0.9 mm, availble in most stationary stores. Cross sells this size lead.

 

For a classic pencil, I like the Parker 51. It has a 3-part clutch which is foolproof and should never break. Because it squeezes the lead, it is not fussy about the lead diameter.

 

A cool modern mechanical pencil is the Pentel "Kerry". There is a cap over the point, so it will not ruin your pocket. The only downside is no eraser.

 

Bob

 

The eraser is under the cap button...here is a review of the pencil :

 

http://davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.co.uk/2006/02/pentel-sharp-kerry-p1035-mechanical.html

[51ISH]

With all due respect, you might want to reconsider ordering your pencil lead online....

 

Especially if you like vintage pencils. As Leftytoo said it is my understanding that most are 0.9mm or larger diameter leads, most modern pencils seem to use 0.5 or 0.7mm which if you are used to using thicker leads break real easy....and in the UK for example, Staples near us 0.7 is the largest they stock. Also, even in those sizes their choice is very limited.

 

0.9mm is readily available online....and the qualities and prices vary accordingly....pencil lead has gone pretty technical recently for example ...look at the range this online stockist holds in the UK:

 

http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/09mm-Lead.html

 

Choose the pencil that you want, order the lead 'in bulk' job done

 

A Parker Duofold Pencil will cost you hundreds of dollars... Sorry I don't know the lead diameter

 

EDIT: 0.9mm !!! Here is a review....however I couldn't see a current stockist in the UK??

However, loads of Duofolds on ebay.com ....young and old...

 

http://davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/parker-duofold-centennial-mechanical.html

 

Bargain !!!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120-Parker-Duofold-0-9mm-Mechanical-Pencil-Lead-Refills-/390420546408?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae6e0c368

Edited July 4, 2012 by 51ISH

[WhiskeyMan]

To everyone who suggested vintage pencils,

 

The one I liked in particular was the 20s Duofold which I heard used 1.1mm lead. Can I get this in a store, and if so, is that lead any different than what I want? I think the pencil is shorter, but I could always just break it, right?

 

I don't like the idea of ordering lead, but I guess if I just buy it all now, it could be worth it. Just looked and found some 1.1 at common online retail stores. Would that work?

 

Thanks

[51ISH]

To everyone who suggested vintage pencils,

 

The one I liked in particular was the 20s Duofold which I heard used 1.1mm lead. Can I get this in a store, and if so, is that lead any different than what I want? I think the pencil is shorter, but I could always just break it, right?

 

I don't like the idea of ordering lead, but I guess if I just buy it all now, it could be worth it. Just looked and found some 1.1 at common online retail stores. Would that work?

 

Thanks

 

Yes... why would you think it wouldn't?? This is a common problem,

 

Glad you have found a work around that suits

Edited July 4, 2012 by 51ISH

[JustinJ]

I have the Pentel Kerry pencil but find it a little small. It is a nice cheap portable mechanical pencil.

 

The Lamy 2000 pencil is a nicer pencil than the Pentel Kerry. I like the feel and texture of the Lamy 2000 pencil out of all my mechanical pencils. Another nice mechanical pencil is the Lamy Scribble. I have the 3.15 lead which can be sharpened to a smaller point if desired. The Lamy Scribble also comes in a .7 mm lead size.

 

If you like Drafting Pencils, then the Pentel Graphgear 1000 is excellent for the price. The pencil lead rarely breaks and the pencils are built solid. When you push on the clip, the sleeve and pencil lead both retract together. My 8 year old son uses a Pentel Graphgear daily and is very hard on the pencil. It still looks new, even after 7 months of hard use.

 

I recently saw the Platinum Hayakawa Pencil, which looks very nice.

 

Platinum Hayakwa Pencil

Edited July 5, 2012 by JustinJ

[nxn96]

Autopoint Company in Janesville WI still makes the older .9 and 1.1 mm pencils, and is a good source for leads in that size. You might also want to check them out if you want a new pencil with a vintage look.

[twdpens]

 

A Parker Duofold Pencil ... Sorry I don't know the lead diameter

 

EDIT: 0.9mm

 

Apart from the versions that are 0.7mm...

 

FTR, many vintage pencils (eg earlier Duofolds, Eversharp, all Yard-O-Led, Burnam etc) use the 1.18mm size. Yard-O-Led still produces pencil refills in this format.

 

Martin

[nsquared]

All great recommendations. If you are interested in a pencil that is not vintage, consider the Uni-ball Kuru Toga. It has a neat mechanism that automatically rotates the lead each time the pencil tip is picked up. No more manually rotating your pencil while you write! Here is alpa gel version I have also seen the basic version at office supply stores such as Staples.

[stuartk]

All great recommendations. If you are interested in a pencil that is not vintage, consider the Uni-ball Kuru Toga. It has a neat mechanism that automatically rotates the lead each time the pencil tip is picked up. No more manually rotating your pencil while you write! Here is alpa gel version I have also seen the basic version at office supply stores such as Staples.

 

There are also a couple of higher-quality versions of this pencil. They're a bit thinner than the standard one, and the grip area is metal. One has a knurled surface and the other is kind of rippled. (I find the rippled one is a bit too smooth and slippery, but the standard and knurled version work really well.)

 

There are various colors available too. Here are some examples:

 

http://www.ebay.com/...=item5ae6c4c284

 

http://www.ebay.com/...=item5ae7df4f0f

 

 

I wouldn't be afraid of a vintage pencil like the Duofold. The lead is readily available online, and how much of it are you going to use? It shouldn't be difficult or expensive to get a 6-month or more supply. That will make it fairly convenient. (I don't use a pencil as much as I used to, but when I used one a lot I found that a tube of 12 leads lasted at least several months.)

 

One of my favorite mechanical pencils is the Pentel P205. I've been using them for a very long time. They're not good for putting in a pocket, but they work really well if you don't need to carry them around. I have them in several colors (I just ordered some special edition ones with a metallic finish), and in several sizes of lead.

 

If you want to read more about mechanical pencils:

 

http://www.jonathanv...id=51&Itemid=61

 

http://davesmechanic...s.blogspot.com/

 

 

I have a couple of old Norma pencils. They're very nice if you can find one.

 

http://www.roger-rus...com/normapg.htm

 

 

 

There are so many mechanical pencils out there that it's difficult to make a recommendation. I just mentioned a few that I happened to think of.

Edited July 5, 2012 by stuartk