What Pencil Are You Using Today?

[Mark from Yorkshire]

My pencils are getting some time off lol 😂

[TrueBlue719]

I've been using a 1949 Parker 51 mechanical pencil since I found it at an antique store a few months back!

[Ink Stained Wretch]

10 hours ago, TrueBlue719 said:

I've been using a 1949 Parker 51 mechanical pencil since I found it at an antique store a few months back!

 

Oh, that sounds great! Does it use a 1.1 MM lead?

[51ISH]

I've been using a Faber Castell Grip Plus in Navy Blue 0.7mm (I also have the matching BP)

I do like FC pencils (I also use them in my lead holders)

 

 

https://www.faber-castell.co.uk/products/GripPlusmechanicalpencil07mmnavyblue/130732

[TrueBlue719]

12 hours ago, Ink Stained Wretch said:

 

Oh, that sounds great! Does it use a 1.1 MM lead?

Yes it does! What I like about it is that it never breaks on me!

[Ink Stained Wretch]

5 hours ago, TrueBlue719 said:

Yes it does! What I like about it is that it never breaks on me!

 

Yes, that is an up-side of the 1.1 MM leads. I just recently started exploring 0.9 MM leads.

[MYU]

Diplomat Aero mechanical pencil. These have been around for over 8 years (maybe 10?). Apparently Diplomat still makes them. Originally they were quite overpriced IMHO... but as of late, another round of discounting has taken place. Cult Pens had 30% off, plus some colors with additional discounts. On Amazon US, they've gotten as low as $98. It's a heavy writing experience, but somehow the balance, taper and fluted body makes it work.

I am usually not a fan of twist mechanisms. I find others like rear click (typical), body-knock (best), and shaker (novel) are more efficient... but this Aero design is nicely done.

[Zookie]

I just received an Ohto 2.0 and plan on using that to see how I'll like it.

[51ISH]

I've been using a Faber Castell Grip Plus in Navy Blue 0.7mm (I also have the matching BP)

I do like FC pencils (I also use them in my lead holders)

 

 

https://www.faber-castell.co.uk/products/GripPlusmechanicalpencil07mmnavyblue/130732

 

This one again for me.....

 

This pencil has sat unused for years in my office drawer. as I'm usually too heavy handed on 0.5mm mechanical pencils, but this is 0.7 and feels pretty forgiving

[gweimer1]

Not using today, but I guess it's National Pencil Day.

[Doug C]

Legendary pencil Co pencil. 

[Silvicolus]

In honor of National Pencil Day, a Jade celluloid Parker Duofold ringtop pencil.

[lectraplayer]

On 3/24/2023 at 5:28 PM, 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.

I think the Orenz was made just for you. ...though this one looks different from mine.
 

https://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Orenz-AT-Mechanical-Pencil-0.5-mm-Gray/pd/35950

 

That said, the tip slides out to protect the lead from those who push it too hard, like Static-X. Still, it's quite detailed in feel. ...though I tend to reach for my Kuru-Toga for .3 to .7mm when I can.

[AmandaW]

National Pencil Day, eh? Mine is a Koh-i-noor 5.6mm clutch with a 4b lead sharpened to a nice long point using an electric Ledah.

 

[lectraplayer]

I'm still actually looking for a container to help me package and carry my 5.6mm leads, especially since I like to carry colored pencil leads with me as well. As such, I typically either use 2mm or 2.8-3mm clutch pencils most of the time.

[AmandaW]

8 minutes ago, lectraplayer said:

I'm still actually looking for a container to help me package and carry my 5.6mm leads, especially since I like to carry colored pencil leads with me as well. As such, I typically either use 2mm or 2.8-3mm clutch pencils most of the time.

 

How about one of the little boxes the Koh-i-noor 5.6mm leads come in? All the grades as well as mixed boxes are available.

 

 

 

 

[lectraplayer]

5 minutes ago, AmandaW said:

 

How about one of the little boxes the Koh-i-noor 5.6mm leads come in? All the grades as well as mixed boxes are available.

 

 

 

 

Dunno. What DO  they come in? I haven't bought Koh-I-Noor lead yet.

[txomsy]

It is a plastic box with 6 5.6mm leads.

Cretacolor also has similar plastic boxes with 6 leads.

 

There are assorted boxes that come with a soft graphite, a a white chalk/pastel, light sanguine/sepia, dark sanguine/sepia, soft charcoal, soft graphite and soft black. But there are assorted color boxes, and uniform boxes with different degrees of graphite or charcoal leads.

 

You can search for "cretacolor assorted leads 5.6mm" or for "Koh-i-noor mixed leads 5.6mm" in Amazon for the drawing kit boxes, but remember, there are also boxes with Russet Sepia, 6B, 4B, 2B, mixed (metalic, "magic"..) colors, Sanguine (dry, wet, light, dark), charcoals, black chalks, oil leads, nero, gold, silver, blue, titanium white, etc...

 

These plastic boxes feel to me a bit brittle, which is why I do carry one with a mechanical 5.6mm Koh-i-noor pencil, an eraser and Kuretake brush pens in a roll-type leather bag in a backpack.

 

If I could find a similar, round corner box in tin or something more resistant to carry in a jeans pocket (even if somewhat shorter), that would be ideal for using the Kaweco Scketch-up.

 

Added: I seem to remember there were also 7 lead boxes, but do not take my word for it.

[51ISH]

18 hours ago, lectraplayer said:

I think the Orenz was made just for you. ...though this one looks different from mine.
 

https://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Orenz-AT-Mechanical-Pencil-0.5-mm-Gray/pd/35950

 

That said, the tip slides out to protect the lead from those who push it too hard, like Static-X. Still, it's quite detailed in feel. ...though I tend to reach for my Kuru-Toga for .3 to .7mm when I can.

 

As it happens, I was a bit too hasty judging the FC Grip 0.7  I have responded  a couple of times since this post with me using it at work   But if I have to choose one pencil, it's the Staedler Mars Technico 780C  Clutch pencil for me. 🥰

 

[Ink Stained Wretch]

On 3/30/2023 at 4:59 PM, gweimer1 said:

Not using today, but I guess it's National Pencil Day.

 

Thursday was National Pencil Day? I missed it  ! Drat!