What Pencil Are You Using Today?

[AmandaW]

In use for the past few days is a 0.7 Milan Compact mechanical pencil found on clearance for the princely sum of AU$1.43. I like the girthiness, but struggling to get used to using the side button to extend the lead. It was much improved by swapping it's insipid lead for a Pilot Neox 2B.

 

[ParramattaPaul]

34 minutes ago, AmandaW said:

In use for the past few days is a 0.7 Milan Compact mechanical pencil found on clearance for the princely sum of AU$1.43. I like the girthiness, but struggling to get used to using the side button to extend the lead. It was much improved by swapping it's insipid lead for a Pilot Neox 2B.

 

It looks like a good pen for someone with arthritic hands, but I have to wonder if its girth and (ahem) looks are why it was on clearance.

[AmandaW]

21 minutes ago, ParramattaPaul said:

It looks like a good pen for someone with arthritic hands, but I have to wonder if its girth and (ahem) looks are why it was on clearance.

I have arthritis in my hands, so I do hope so. I have no idea about any problem with its looks and, I'm guessing, don't want to in case it spoils my childish fun. It  kinda reminds me of a Lamy 2k. A cartoony 2k. In plastic.

[ParramattaPaul]

2 minutes ago, AmandaW said:

I have arthritis in my hands, so I do hope so. I have no idea about any problem with its looks and, I'm guessing, don't want to in case it spoils my childish fun. It  kinda reminds me of a Lamy 2k. A cartoony 2k. In plastic.

My thinking is that most people have a mental image of what a pencil, including mechanical pencils should look like, and anything that doesn't resemble that image would be off-putting.  It's sort of a psychological stumbling block.  Imagine someone who has only ever seen or eaten sweet, red apples and is given a Granny Smith to eat.  Their first thought might be, 'No, that's not an apple.'

[AmandaW]

Just now, ParramattaPaul said:

My thinking is that most people have a mental image of what a pencil, including mechanical pencils should look like

Yes, agreed. And that was what made me take a chance on it. I have skinny pens and pencils for the summer months when not in so much discomfort. And fat pens for the winter. Now I have a fat pencil too. I never thought to go look for one.

[ParramattaPaul]

3 minutes ago, AmandaW said:

Yes, agreed. And that was what made me take a chance on it. I have skinny pens and pencils for the summer months when not in so much discomfort. And fat pens for the winter. Now I have a fat pencil too. I never thought to go look for one.

Rather surprisingly, fat pencils are recommended for children who are first learning to write as well as people with weak grip strength.  It seems counterintuitive, but apparently serves them best.

[corniche]

Musgrave NEWS #600 and Staedtler Norica. Enjoy them both... very dark and very smooth. 😃

 

- Sean

[ParramattaPaul]

I'm using my ever faithful Derwent Precison 0.7.

[AmandaW]

A 5.6mm Koh-i-noor Versatil 5347 with a 2B lead. Early start in the studio after a sleepless night.

 

Edit: nope, it's a 4B. Sleepless was caused by nightmares. Sketching what I remember to see if any of it's useful.

[Doug C]

Omas .9 m Burkina pencil.

[51ISH]

Well, I could have chosen the Faber-Castell Grip Plus at work today when I needed a pencil today....but she's much too 'delicate' for me, so I went with a 'Freebie' wooden pencil. At home it's the Staedtler Mars Technico 780c.  I don't think Mechanical Pencils are for me 🙁  Anything less than the old 0.9mm  'Propelling pencils' (Papermate 😜)  I just keep breaking the lead.

[corniche]

19 minutes ago, 51ISH said:

Well, I could have chosen the Faber-Castell Grip Plus at work today when I needed a pencil today....but she's much too 'delicate' for me, so I went with a 'Freebie' wooden pencil. At home it's the Staedtler Mars Technico 780c.  I don't think Mechanical Pencils are for me 🙁  Anything less than the old 0.9mm  'Propelling pencils' (Papermate 😜)  I just keep breaking the lead.

 

Hi 51ish,

 

Ah, I see you have just the delicate touch that's perfect for using a fountain pen. 😆

 

I remember those pencils; Scripto made a similar product with a metal spiral advancer inside.

 

I don't care for mechanical pencils, either. I prefer the "warmth" and familiarity of holding a woodcase pencil.

 

- Sean

[51ISH]

2 minutes ago, corniche said:

 

Hi 51ish,

 

Ah, I see you have just the delicate touch that's perfect for using a fountain pen. 😆

 

I don't care for mechanical pencils, either. I prefer the warmth of wood instead of cold, hard plastic. 

 

- Sean

 

Ah, I see you have just the delicate touch that's perfect for using a fountain pen. 😆

 

I know........, It makes no sense does it?  I have no problems using a fountain pen (We had to use them at school at 11 years old) I think in the main mechanical pencils just make too fine a line for me and in trying to make it 'bolder' I break the lead. 😠

 

I used 4H box pencils in 'Technical Drawing' back in the early '70's which didn't help as you had to do very fine delicate lines, and 'bolder' lines for the actual drawing, which as you were using the same pencil, you had to vary the pressure to change the boldness of the line.

[Mercian]

On 3/21/2023 at 4:04 AM, AmandaW said:

It  kinda reminds me of a Lamy 2k. A cartoony 2k. In plastic.

My first thought when I saw it was exactly that 👍

[Mercian]

1 hour ago, 51ISH said:

Anything less than the old 0.9mm  'Propelling pencils' (Papermate 😜)  I just keep breaking the lead.

At the risk of seeming like somebody who only comes on here to try to spend your money, have you ever looked at the selection of MPs that is available on the Cult Pens website?

 

One can filter by ‘tip size’ - there are many that are available in 0.9mm or thicker.

And lots of types of lead refill too.

[ParramattaPaul]

4 minutes ago, Mercian said:

At the risk of seeming like somebody who only comes on here to try to spend your money,

🤣

[51ISH]

37 minutes ago, Mercian said:

At the risk of seeming like somebody who only comes on here to try to spend your money, have you ever looked at the selection of MPs that is available on the Cult Pens website?

 

One can filter by ‘tip size’ - there are many that are available in 0.9mm or thicker.

And lots of types of lead refill too.

 

At the risk of seeming like somebody who only comes on here to try to spend your money....

 

You sounded like my Ex there for a minute 🤣🤣🤣

 

Thanks for the suggestion....but ...no thanks...🙂 .....I don't use pencil much, but I've always preferred clutch pencils. The Staedtler 780c fills all my pencil needs.

[51ISH]

51 minutes ago, ParramattaPaul said:

🤣

 

Don't encourage him....🤣🤣🤣 

[Mercian]

6 minutes ago, 51ISH said:

 

Don't encourage him....🤣🤣🤣 

😁👍

[essayfaire]

On 3/21/2023 at 12:25 AM, ParramattaPaul said:

Rather surprisingly, fat pencils are recommended for children who are first learning to write as well as people with weak grip strength. 

and chubby crayons