Rotring Troubles

[cambookpro]

Hi

 

I know this is a fountain pen forum, but I see other writing types discussed and see no better place to ask!

 

I have a rotring Tikky pencil - not the most exciting but I use it as my only pencil. Let me preface this by saying I'm by no means a mechanical pencil expert - this is the only one I own at the moment. This could very easily be operator error, but I just wanted to see if people thought this type of behaviour of the pencil is normal.

 

Essentially, when I push the top button it usually only advances the lead once - any further pushes refuse to do anything. It has the same 'play' in the button as when clicking it normally, and even sometimes you even hear a clicking noise, but no more lead comes out.

I've checked and I have one spare lead in there along with the lead that is being advanced - surely that's not enough to cause some kind of jam? There's plenty of lead left in the bit that is advancing.

 

What's weird is that when I twist the top metal cap and hear some mechanism inside 'click', it often then advances the lead on the next push of the button. This is why I think it may just be my fault and the pencil is designed this way, but I can't see anything at all about having to twist the cap to advance the lead on the next push.

 

Is this normal?

 

I like this pencil and will use it for the foreseeable future, but it's getting a bit worn out - all the markings have faded and it's a bit scratched - so was thinking of buying one that would last much longer, 5+ years at least. Now I like my fountain pens, but use my pencils if that makes sense: I don't really want anything fancy, just something dependable. I was thinking maybe the rotring 500/600, Rapid Pro or a TWSBI Precision? Maybe that's for another topic

 

Sorry for the long post for a fairly minor problem, but thank you for reading it!

Edited May 22, 2014 by cambookpro

[The Blue Knight]

I have a tikky 3rd generation with that problem. I think it's a fault in the design I have strangely found the problems has got better the more I use the pencil and it rarely shows this problem. I have no Idea how it was sorted though.

After losing my rotring 500 pencil my tikky has become my daily use pencil. I prefer it to the similarly priced Staedtler Mars Micro as I think the ergonomics are far better. If you are looking for an upgrade a 500 is a very good pencil that I had no problems with in the six months I owned it for before I unfortunately lost it. I personally I think it's the best value from the range has it has the same features as the 600 but with a lighter body and costs half the price.

[bsenn]

I can't speak to the problem on the Tikky, but I have a couple of pencil recommendations. The Staedtler 925-25 is a really nice solid pencil. It has very fine but grippy knurling which feels good on my fingers even after a long period of use. The Mitsubishi Uni 552 (I have the 4mm lead version which is great with the right lead) is a nice inexpensive and cool looking pencil (black barrel, orange lead hardness ring). I use it everyday and really like it.

 

For reference I also have a Rotring 600, a Redcircle 600, a Staedtler 925-85, a TWISBI, a Promecha SP500 series, and a few more. The two above are my favorites and won't break the bank.

 

Brian

[cambookpro]

I have a tikky 3rd generation with that problem. I think it's a fault in the design I have strangely found the problems has got better the more I use the pencil and it rarely shows this problem. I have no Idea how it was sorted though.

After losing my rotring 500 pencil my tikky has become my daily use pencil. I prefer it to the similarly priced Staedtler Mars Micro as I think the ergonomics are far better. If you are looking for an upgrade a 500 is a very good pencil that I had no problems with in the six months I owned it for before I unfortunately lost it. I personally I think it's the best value from the range has it has the same features as the 600 but with a lighter body and costs half the price.

 

Thanks for the reply, it seems weird that it happened on yours too - actually, it makes sense given it could be a design flaw! I've used it pretty much everyday for about 6 months since the problem developed, so unfortunately I don't think using it more will help.

I'd lean towards the 600 than the 500 as I much prefer heavier pencils - I've used a rotring 600 multipen and it was almost perfect when writing with the pencil bit. The metal seems like it would be better durability wise?

 

 

I can't speak to the problem on the Tikky, but I have a couple of pencil recommendations. The Staedtler 925-25 is a really nice solid pencil. It has very fine but grippy knurling which feels good on my fingers even after a long period of use. The Mitsubishi Uni 552 (I have the 4mm lead version which is great with the right lead) is a nice inexpensive and cool looking pencil (black barrel, orange lead hardness ring). I use it everyday and really like it.

 

For reference I also have a Rotring 600, a Redcircle 600, a Staedtler 925-85, a TWISBI, a Promecha SP500 series, and a few more. The two above are my favorites and won't break the bank.

 

Brian

 

Thanks for your suggestions. I've found both on Cultpens and they do seem quite attractive, especially for the price! I prefer metal bodied pencils so was looking at the Staedtler more - is there any reason why you'd recommend it over the TWSBI/rotring? I only ask as I know it's a bit silly, but sometimes I just find it easier to stick with brands I've used before - as I said above, I've used the rotring 600 and I felt it was really great, though it is double the price of the Staedtler.

[EclecticCollector]

Have you considered the Rotring 800? It's a bit more expensive but I like the extra features it offers, like the retracting lead guide.

[cambookpro]

Have you considered the Rotring 800? It's a bit more expensive but I like the extra features it offers, like the retracting lead guide.

 

Thanks, I did have a look at it, but I sometimes use the pencil for technical and isometric drawing and wonder whether the retractable sleeve would make it more unstable? Not sure though.

[bsenn]

After using Koh-i-noor drafting pencils (hex barrel shape) for years I decided I should replace them so I picked up a number of different pencils. After using the new pencils for 5 months, the ones I am carrying and using are the Uni 552 and Staedtler. You have caused me to examine why I am carrying them and it may be the feel of the knurling and the round barrels. The Rotring and TWSBI have hex barrels.

 

Really, I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

 

Brian

[cambookpro]

Ok, thanks that's really helpful. I'm going to try and get through with the Tikky until the end of the school year, but after I'll be looking to buy one you mentioned or the TWSBI/rotring as hopefully they'll last me a bit longer!

[Algester]

Else a Uni Kuru Toga will be your friend it has more mechanics (the "self lead Sharpening rotating mechanism") though so it could easily break, personally I would get one but I could not find anywhere in my part of the world but Hong Kong being the nearest... but its on par with Rotring I would say

[inotrym]

Not a pencil girl myself, but I am really happy with my Pentel P203/5/7/9.

I just love the feeling of control I have over the pencil and the precision of the lines.

 

Match that with some nice, soft and dark lead and you won't need another pencil.

 

 

ps. TWSBI definately looks cool and it will match the new FP they have announced.

I like the robust metal body.