What Pencil Are You Using Today?

[a m a r g o]

This thread is great! I'd second the motion to clone off a MPN -- maybe lead by Dave of Dave's Mechanical Pencils?

 

All of my fountain pens live in 'sets' which naturally include a mechanical pencil. When possible, I include the MP that matches with the FP. I also have a couple of MP which are not in sets...

 

In terms of my favorites. I prefer thicker rather than thinner leads. I also prefer the older propelling mechanisms rather than the modern twist or click mechanisms. My favorites are:

 

 

• Parker Duofold propelling mechanism, Parker 0.9 leads; from the 90's
• Retro 51 propelling mechanism, either the original 0.9 lead or the newer 1.15 lead.
• F-C E-motion, using F-C 1.4 B lead (this one sits on my home office desk at all times; very convenient for impromptu notes of all sorts)
• Pentel P209, using Pentel 0.9 HB lead
• Pentel Graphgear 1000 using Pentel 0.7 H lead

I love the Faber Castell as well... if more soft grades of lead would be available, it would be my favourite pencil!

[bernardo]

MB 167 0.9mm B

[Eduardo]

Sheaffer Stylist

[a m a r g o]

Wörther Compact 5.6mm lead, Lamy Scribble 3.15mm lead:

 

[Blade Runner]

Any recommendations for a mechanical pencil that will be used by a 4th grader? Thanks!

[watch_art]

I love the Pentel P209 .9mm. You can get them at Office Depot and some other places probably. Durable and tough. Great little pencils.

[Blade Runner]

Thanks watch_ art!

 

Other suggestions welcome in case I can't find that model.

[Chthulhu]

I'll second watch_art's recommendation, but anything in 0.9 mm is a good choice for someone that age. Your 4th grader may like the color choices of the Kokuyo Enpitsu better than the mustardy yellow of the Pentel, though:

http://www.jetpens.com/Kokuyo-Enpitsu-Mechanical-Pencil-0.9-mm-Wine-Red-Body/pd/9672

The 1.3 mm lead is also a good choice for youngsters, but much harder to come by locally than the 0.9 mm.

[Namru]

Thanks watch_ art!

 

Other suggestions welcome in case I can't find that model.

 

Anything with a retractable lead sleeve. An OHTO Horizon, Pental Graphgear 1000 or the cheaper Staedtler Graphite 764.

[a m a r g o]

Thanks watch_ art!

 

Other suggestions welcome in case I can't find that model.

 

BIC has a few models with 0.9mm lead (less breakage), all plastic and inexpensive, important things to consider if it's going to be around school, pencil cases, or bags.

 

The BIC Veclocity is good choice:

 

http://www.amazon.com/BIC-Velocity-Mechanical-Refillable-Pencils/dp/B000F2SRI0

[Blade Runner]

OK, I picked up a Pentel Twist-Erase 0.9 mm.

 

Basic question: I pull off the back end and inside two lead are free inside the barrel which I assume are extras. When I run out of lead in the pencil, how do I re-load the pencil?

 

Do the extras automatically feed into the mechanism once the lead is used up?

 

Thanks!

Edited January 26, 2014 by Blade Runner

[watch_art]

Yep - just click it a bunch and that will advance the lead.

Looks like the whole top end pushes down to advance the lead rather than just a button over the eraser. Neat!

[Blade Runner]

Thanks! Obviously I haven't bought MPs in a long time.

[watch_art]

The nice ones are just as fun to collect as FPs.

[lovemy51]

Parker Vac pencil 1.1mm 2B lead.

[Blade Runner]

The nice ones are just as fun to collect as FPs.

As I'm finding out!

[auto winder]

Faber-Castell TK4600 2.0 mm leadholder.

[a m a r g o]

Lamy 2000 0.5mm.

[impossiblebird]

Rotring Oslo 0.7 mm

[a m a r g o]

Pilot h-1010 'The Shaker'...