Smoothest Writing Pencil?

[stuartk]

I've always liked the Mirado Black Warrior. Seems really smooth.

 

Some people claim the misubishi pencils are the best. Some others say it's the 'item 14' (or was it 12)

 

What do you think?

 

I always liked the Eagle and then Berol Turquoise pencils. I haven't bought any in a number of years though, so I don't know what the current ones (Sanford Prismacolor Turquoise) are like.

 

However, what I typically use is a 0.5mm mechanical pencil. It always writes a nice fine line, and I never have to sharpen it. There are a variety of other lead sizes that can work really well too, but 0.5 is the one that I prefer.

[dasmarians]

yes............ I use some pencil too... but collect pencils it's like collect wines.. once you finish them...they go away forever!

 

american old pencils are the best, the best it's the BLACKWING 602 (the king of pencils)

 

DasMarians

[Drone]

Uni Kurutoga mechanical pencil with 0.5mm Pentel Hi-Polymer 2B lead. The Kurotoga automatically rotates the lead as you write. A superb writing experience.

[lovemy51]

yes............ I use some pencil too... but collect pencils it's like collect wines.. once you finish them...they go away forever!

 

american old pencils are the best, the best it's the BLACKWING 602 (the king of pencils)

 

DasMarians

buena colección, D!

[jonveley]

As a mechanical pencil junkie, I'm wondering if smoothness isn't more a function of the composition and softness of the lead rather than whatever container surrounds it?

 

Whenever I pick up a pencil that doesn't write "smoothly," I throw out the lead and replace it with a vintage stick of 1.1 mm.

[XiaoMG]

As a mechanical pencil junkie, I'm wondering if smoothness isn't more a function of the composition and softness of the lead rather than whatever container surrounds it?

 

Whenever I pick up a pencil that doesn't write "smoothly," I throw out the lead and replace it with a vintage stick of 1.1 mm.

Yes, it's mostly the composition of the lead that dictates the hardness and the felt smoothness of a specific pencil (generally an inverse correlation). Unfortunately, it also goes a long way in determining how durable the point will be and how smear-resistant the markings will be. I don't use my silky smooth 4B 0.5mm leads often because they spread and smear and transfer between pages too easily. [Japanese] 2B is about as soft as I can put to regular use, and that's precisely what I keep loaded in my mechanical pencil.

 

However, as I mentioned in my first post, mechanical pencils and lead holders also have an advantage in that the lead and its corresponding vibration is mostly isolated from the rest of the pencil body (and thereby the hand). Greater mass instruments also tend to dampen vibrations and supplement writing pressure, further reducing the perception of scratchiness.

[dapv]

This may be somewhat off topic, or perhaps tangential ... is there a mechanical pencil that will advance the lead as one writes with it? Thank you.

[stuartk]

Uni Kurutoga mechanical pencil with 0.5mm Pentel Hi-Polymer 2B lead. The Kurotoga automatically rotates the lead as you write. A superb writing experience.

 

I've got a pair of these, one in 0.3mm and one in 0.5mm. I'm finding that I'm using them more and more because they write so well. They produce a very consistent, precise line, and they feel consistent and precise too; more so than other pencils.

[stuartk]

This may be somewhat off topic, or perhaps tangential ... is there a mechanical pencil that will advance the lead as one writes with it? Thank you.

 

Yes, there are a number of them that will do this. However, I've found that they don't write very well. They always feel like they're just at that point right before you have to advance the lead with a regular mechanical pencil. It winds up being somewhat scratchy and kind of mushy as the metal or plastic tip moves up and down as you're writing.

[omicron]

omicron: Is your inquiry related to writing, sketching, general use, or what? For example, when I'm writing, I want a lead that's not too hard but more importantly to me one with little breakage and dust, and easily erased. When I'm sketching, I prefer a softer lead which I find more smooth and less transmitting of friction, and the dust then helps with shading.

 

just writing, really.

[omicron]

yes............ I use some pencil too... but collect pencils it's like collect wines.. once you finish them...they go away forever!

 

american old pencils are the best, the best it's the BLACKWING 602 (the king of pencils)

 

DasMarians

 

Admirable cellar you have there.

[dapv]

This may be somewhat off topic, or perhaps tangential ... is there a mechanical pencil that will advance the lead as one writes with it? Thank you.

 

Yes, there are a number of them that will do this. However, I've found that they don't write very well. They always feel like they're just at that point right before you have to advance the lead with a regular mechanical pencil. It winds up being somewhat scratchy and kind of mushy as the metal or plastic tip moves up and down as you're writing.

 

Re: "Yes, there are a number of them that will do this." Could you please tell me the names of a few that advance the lead as you write? Thank you.

 

 

 

[dapv]

If you are a Uni Kuru Toga .5 mm mechanical pencil user, then which model are you most pleased with (Original, High grade, or Roulette)? Thanks.

[Number3124]

Re: "Yes, there are a number of them that will do this." Could you please tell me the names of a few that advance the lead as you write? Thank you.

 

The Sheaffer Intrigue had an auto-advance mechanism that was supposed to be quite nice. Here's a review from Dave's Mechanical Pencil Blog. No affiliation. I've also never used this pencil, and they're not quite so easy to find.

[asiwalkhome]

now that asiwalkhome mentioned the LL... sharpie makes something similar but i think the quality is terrible...

 

see the pros and cons in this review: http://officesupplygeek.com/pen-review/pencils/sharpie-liquid-pencil-review/

 

ok, here are more cons than pros: http://www.penciltalk.org/2011/03/sharpie-liquid-pencil

 

I had a look at the link - thanks for posting that. The writing sure doesn't look like the old liquid lead that Parker used to use, which was smooth and didn't skip or blot. They must be using either a different formulation or delivery system now. With the original LL pencils, it was almost impossible to tell the difference between the liquid lead and a standard pencil by appearance.

[dasmarians]

yes............ I use some pencil too... but collect pencils it's like collect wines.. once you finish them...they go away forever!

 

american old pencils are the best, the best it's the BLACKWING 602 (the king of pencils)

 

DasMarians

 

Admirable cellar you have there.

 

THANKS!! JAJA VERY CLEVER!!

[trent]

yes............ I use some pencil too... but collect pencils it's like collect wines.. once you finish them...they go away forever!

 

american old pencils are the best, the best it's the BLACKWING 602 (the king of pencils)

 

DasMarians

 

Dasmarians: you have some treasures there! I see a Blaisdell Calculator pencil---a real beauty, and one of John Steinbeck's favorite pencils (along with the Blackwing 602 and the Mongol).

 

My favorite new pencil is the Palomino Blackwing, so utterly smooth. Apparently, a version more suited to writing---that keeps a more durable point---will be in production soon. It will look just like the original 602. Can't wait!

[Drone]

If you are a Uni Kuru Toga .5 mm mechanical pencil user, then which model are you most pleased with (Original, High grade, or Roulette)? Thanks.

 

I have a couple of the Kurutoga's bought when they first came out. I have not bought any since simply because they are so hard to find where I live (Indonesia). I'll presume these are "original". They are fine.

 

This may be somewhat off topic, or perhaps tangential ... is there a mechanical pencil that will advance the lead as one writes with it? Thank you.

 

I don't know of any "auto-advance" pencils that actually work. There have been gimmicky approaches over the years. Pencils with buttons to advance the lead are rather convenient IMO. There are "Knock" pencils which you shake to advance the lead, I've had problems with these, and they make an annoying noise when you shake them (not good for a classroom or meeting room). Many MP's have a sheath around the lead which retracts when you write to expose more lead, and keep the lead from breaking. I've had mixed results with this approach; the downside being that if anything happens to mar or scratch the end of the sheath, it will make the pencil a "scratchy" writer.

 

The Kurutoga is a worthwhile advance in technology. Otherwise stick with the likes of the venerable Pentel P205 pencil. Other pencils I particularly like are the Pentel Graph (not Graphgear) 1000 series and the Pentel PG5.

[dasmarians]

yes............ I use some pencil too... but collect pencils it's like collect wines.. once you finish them...they go away forever!

 

american old pencils are the best, the best it's the BLACKWING 602 (the king of pencils)

 

DasMarians

 

Dasmarians: you have some treasures there! I see a Blaisdell Calculator pencil---a real beauty, and one of John Steinbeck's favorite pencils (along with the Blackwing 602 and the Mongol).

 

My favorite new pencil is the Palomino Blackwing, so utterly smooth. Apparently, a version more suited to writing---that keeps a more durable point---will be in production soon. It will look just like the original 602. Can't wait!

 

Thanks!! yes the palomino Blackwing it's now my favourite pencil, people want to keep one when they see on my desk!! I think it's very elegant pencil too!

here a picture of this and another treasures..

DM

[Pepin]

What are the most beautiful, non-refillable, pencils ever made? Those palominos look stunning.

 

I've always liked the Mirado Black Warrior. Seems really smooth.

 

Some people claim the misubishi pencils are the best. Some others say it's the 'item 14' (or was it 12)

 

What do you think?

yes, the Mitshubishi Uni are very good. i use the soft lead (B+). the american made Palomino is also very good, specially the Blackwing.

 

M-Uni: http://www.jetpens.com/index.php/product/view/products_id/2943

http://static.jetpens.com/images/a/000/007/7294.jpg

 

Palomino Blackwing: http://www.pencils.com/palomino-blackwing-bulk

http://www.pencils.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/product/palomino_blackwing_0.jpg

 

(no affiliation to either...)

 

in truth, the Mirado BW seems very scratchy compare to these.