What Pencil Are You Using Today?

[A-xy]

Today, a Blackwing Natural pencil

[GoldenArrow]

I mostly use propelling or clutch pencils - currently a Lamy 2000 and a Caran d´Ache Ecridor.

[Mike-S]

My new number one---Caran d'Ache Fixpencil---currently wit a B lead.

[a m a r g o]

On 3/14/2021 at 7:04 PM, Chthulhu said:

A Staedtler 925 35-20B, with the surprisingly dark and smooth HB lead that came with it.

 

That's an unbelievable beautiful lead holder!

 

How do you sharpen the lead? I find uncomfortable to extend the lead, sharpen it and then push again the button to retract the lead using a hard surface while pushing it back...

 

I know that there isn't any other way with this one, nonetheless I own the blue and gray versions, they're gorgeous...

 

Congratulations!

 

 

[a m a r g o]

Staedtler 780 Black loaded with a Staedtler 4B lead...

[flatline]

I'm using a Tombow Mono 100 HB and 2B today. The lead is a little grippy for my tastes but as long as I don't directly compare to other pencils, it doesn't bother me. Once I start using other pencils, I have to put the Tombow away.

[RJS]

24 minutes ago, flatline said:

I'm using a Tombow Mono 100 HB and 2B today. The lead is a little grippy for my tastes but as long as I don't directly compare to other pencils, it doesn't bother me. Once I start using other pencils, I have to put the Tombow away.

Grippy? That's not at all how I'd describe my Mono 100's. 🧐 Is it Japanese leads in general you feel that from? 

[RJS]

2 hours ago, a m a r g o said:

 

That's an unbelievable beautiful lead holder!

 

How do you sharpen the lead? I find uncomfortable to extend the lead, sharpen it and then push again the button to retract the lead using a hard surface while pushing it back...

 

I know that there isn't any other way with this one, nonetheless I own the blue and gray versions, they're gorgeous...

 

Congratulations!

 

 

I extend the lead, sharpen it, and push it back in with my fingers whilst depressing the button.

[flatline]

6 hours ago, RJS said:

Grippy? That's not at all how I'd describe my Mono 100's. 🧐 Is it Japanese leads in general you feel that from? 

 

My Hi-Uni and Palomino Orange are fine, but the Tombow Mono 100 has just enough grippiness that I notice when I switch to it from a non-grippy pencil.

 

But it's just a hint. Nothing at all compared to the likes of Koh-i-Noor and Faber-Castell.

 

[Chthulhu]

13 hours ago, a m a r g o said:

How do you sharpen the lead? I find uncomfortable to extend the lead, sharpen it and then push again the button to retract the lead using a hard surface while pushing it back...

 

 

With one of these:

https://www.jetpens.com/Kitaboshi-2-mm-Pencil-Lead-Sharpener/pd/8055

[Chthulhu]

This one, though only briefly:

[RJS]

7 hours ago, flatline said:

 

My Hi-Uni and Palomino Orange are fine, but the Tombow Mono 100 has just enough grippiness that I notice when I switch to it from a non-grippy pencil.

 

But it's just a hint. Nothing at all compared to the likes of Koh-i-Noor and Faber-Castell.

 

Interesting. Hi-Uni are my preference for woodcase pencils too, but I rate the Mono 100s highly. The lead in the Caran d'Ache 777 and Grafwoods is also excellent, though the 777s have a low quality casing with horrendous lacquering. I agree about the two poorer brands you mentioned... The Koh-I-Noor's can be gritty like the cheapest Chinese pencils, and Faber Castell have very faint lead (whether caused by too much clay or low quality graphite I cannot say).

 

I'll compare the Hi Uni's with the Mono 100's tonight, to see if I can discern a difference.  

[flatline]

6 hours ago, RJS said:

Interesting. Hi-Uni are my preference for woodcase pencils too, but I rate the Mono 100s highly. The lead in the Caran d'Ache 777 and Grafwoods is also excellent, though the 777s have a low quality casing with horrendous lacquering. I agree about the two poorer brands you mentioned... The Koh-I-Noor's can be gritty like the cheapest Chinese pencils, and Faber Castell have very faint lead (whether caused by too much clay or low quality graphite I cannot say).

 

I'll compare the Hi Uni's with the Mono 100's tonight, to see if I can discern a difference.  

 

I don't want to give anyone a negative impression of the Tombow Mono 100. This is purely a subtle difference in how the lead feels against the paper  that I happen to notice if I'm switching between the Tombow and, say, the Hi-Uni or Lumograph.

 

--flatline

[gweimer1]

Given my new interest in pencils, one of these is likely to be used during the day.  The Hicks pencil is what I use for the grocery list.  😃

 

[Mike-S]

What you call 'grippy' Flatline I would probably call feedback which to me is just what I like about the Tombow Mono 100, my favourite wooden pencil.

Mike-S

[flatline]

Could be. I generally like a little bit of feedback, but perhaps the Tombow gives just a little too much for me.

 

--flatline

[Estycollector]

Autopoint Rocket

[Aramchek]

Koh-i-noor Shake it. Shaker pencil with a rubberised grip, made in Japan. It seems to be the same as the Zebra z-grip plus.

[flatline]

That really does look like the Zebra Z-grip plus.

 

I bought a 3-pack of the Zebra a while ago. I gave one to each of the kids and kept one for myself. I found the shaker weight to be annoying, so I opened the pencil up, removed the weight, and reassembled the pencil. Now it's a very lightweight pencil. I kind of like it...

[Zookie]

A USA made Papermate Mirado Classic #2.