Soulcatcher
Member
10 years old, got it when started uni, made in Japan, still working perfect. I don't like ones with retractable ends, they always feel wobbly when you write.
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Mechanical Pencils
- Thread starter Bagels
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Twilight Gap
Member
0.7 master race
I can't write with anything else.
They're pretty basic but these ones have been good to me over the years. Main downside is that the clip breaks easily and the erasers aren't that good for drawing. Only better one I've used was an old Paper Mate that also had a ballpoint tip inside if you twisted it. Haven't been able to find those anymore
I can't write with anything else.
They're pretty basic but these ones have been good to me over the years. Main downside is that the clip breaks easily and the erasers aren't that good for drawing. Only better one I've used was an old Paper Mate that also had a ballpoint tip inside if you twisted it. Haven't been able to find those anymore
10 years old, got it when started uni, made in Japan. I don't like ones with retractable ends, they always feel wobbly when you write.
That's one reason the Technica-X is so perfect. The retractable part really locks into place.
was waiting for this thread.
great work bagels.
why no inclusion of:
They're the ones i have for my doodling:
Staedtler .5, .7, .9 (which i don't use really and it's really old). The Zebra is too light to handle and the last one is a lead holder.
For erasers, am using Faber-Castells - I've heard that the Tombow brand is better of the lot... but what do i know.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
i have a passion for mechanical pencils myself. the first thing i do with any mechanical pencil is take it apart and see how it works, in case i need to do any "surgery" on it when something in the mechanics fucks up.
i'm inclined to say that i prefer 0.7 lead because i tend to write with a heavy hand. when i use 0.5 the lead breaks all of the time unless i am only using a specific type of pencil with a short sleeve.
0.9 lead smudges too much for my liking, but i enjoy the way it flows on paper. i think 0.7 is the best of the .5 and .9 lead worlds.
i never use the eraser on the end unless its easy to remove it no matter where it is. i usually have a separate eraser with my mechanical pencils. i probably prefer the bic pencil eraser style the most, out of anything, instead of a cap.
i'm inclined to say that i prefer 0.7 lead because i tend to write with a heavy hand. when i use 0.5 the lead breaks all of the time unless i am only using a specific type of pencil with a short sleeve.
0.9 lead smudges too much for my liking, but i enjoy the way it flows on paper. i think 0.7 is the best of the .5 and .9 lead worlds.
i never use the eraser on the end unless its easy to remove it no matter where it is. i usually have a separate eraser with my mechanical pencils. i probably prefer the bic pencil eraser style the most, out of anything, instead of a cap.
Twilight Gap
Member
Most of the high quality pencils seem to be too skinny I need something that's at least 3/4 - 1 centimeter in diameter.
Exactly these.
I need something that's at least 3/4 - 1 centimeter in diameter. Exactly these.
Acrylic7
Member
I use the Faber Castell Vinyl Erasers. I highly recommend them to anyone trying to actually erase something, instead of half assing it.
That this is magic. Its like I have a real life undo button.
I usually draw with Zebra F.301 because they come in a large pack for $10 (Sams Club), and they are pretty great. I just exchange the lead with a better quality, just for different shades though. And I love the Steadtler 925 03. for fine detail. I want to pick up some Faber Castell mechanical Pencils and lead holders but they do get expensive.
akachan ningen
Member
I use a kuru toga when I need a pencil, which is hardly ever.
ipitydatfu
Member
i like the zebra, but the clicker has a special place in my heart
helloresolven
Member
Durable, beastly and doesn't break the bank.
How is this not in the OP? Zebras are awesome!
Acrylic7
Member
yup, I bought the 9ct. Its been 5 years and I still have 7.
the F.301 ballpoints are great as well.
DJ_Lae
Member
My go-to writing instrument through all of university was a pair of Zebra M-301s, one of which I lost at some point. The second...I have no idea where it is, actually, though I saw it a few weeks ago. They're sturdy as hell, and cheap.
I also have an M-402 that I think feels a bit better...I just wish it didn't have the rubber grip.
And I have a handful of Staedtler Marsmicros, in 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9mm sizes.
I remember having a really fat purple one when I was younger, and it had a retractable tip. I lost it and have never found a replacement - it was a Berol Scribby. No idea if it was actually any good, but I used it a ton when my cousin and I drafted maps for a video game we never finished.
I also have an M-402 that I think feels a bit better...I just wish it didn't have the rubber grip.
And I have a handful of Staedtler Marsmicros, in 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9mm sizes.
I remember having a really fat purple one when I was younger, and it had a retractable tip. I lost it and have never found a replacement - it was a Berol Scribby. No idea if it was actually any good, but I used it a ton when my cousin and I drafted maps for a video game we never finished.
Doctor Ninja
Sphincter Speaker
Dude I just love your threads =D
Moleskine mechanical pencils are my choice of pencils.
Moleskine mechanical pencils are my choice of pencils.
Might buy something from the OP soon thanks. I use this and I have no idea if it's shit but I love it because it provides a perfect balance for spinning and I haven't had any problems writing with it. It's ridiculous how many I've bought though. I usually leave it in my pockets and it always breaks above the grip. While it's still useable after, I can't store lead inside anymore.
I know the Sharp Kerry gets a lot of love, for $19.50.
I love both the Technica-X and the Vicuña because they both feel really solid and well made. Those are go-to pencils for me. I've used the same Technica-X every day for over a decade and it has always behaved flawlessly. I've taken so many notes, written so many essays with that pencil...
Zebra is a fairly cheap brand, yet plenty of people in here have gotten a lot of use out of Zebras. If you spend more than about $10, you'll get something of ridiculously good quality. Even something that costs $5 can last you your entire life. The disparity with price isn't the same here as it is between, say, fountain pens.
nailbombxx
Member
Holy shit. Amazing thread!
AnathemicOne
Banned
Durable, beastly and doesn't break the bank.
Zebra love ftw, exact same pencil I use, lead size and errything
MisterNoisy
Member
Ha! Awesome thread. I'm a huge fan of mechanical pencils for both writing and sketching, with my daily driver being a 15-year old .7mm Quicker Clicker. There nicer stuff out there, but I can't come up with a reason to replace it.
Etrian Oddity
Member
When I was in college, you best believe whenever I found a left-behind mechanical pencil it was finder's keepers.
Mechanical pencils are the truth.
Mechanical pencils are the truth.
if im not doing anything super large, i love to use them for drawing! much easier to decipher my sketch lines. really hard to procure red 0.5 lead at art stores though since they typically seem to be out (at least around here!) so i ordered a few 12 packs of refills online. It was like fucking heaven when the package came
mechanical pencils are so rad
mechanical pencils are so rad
brianjones
Member
what do you guys even write
like tone poems
like tone poems
These babies make for great field sketching tools. Lead holders are the better drawing tool technically, but practically mechs have them beat. I hate carrying around the huge cylindrical sharpener that comes with lead holders.
Thank ye lord for mechanical pencils, I am a believer.
Thank ye lord for mechanical pencils, I am a believer.
Duebrithil
Member
Pentel Technica-X user here. Found it one day while searching for double mechanism (tip retractable by also clicking, not just pushing) pencils, and it really doesn't disappoint. Glad to know it has lasted you ten years, I've been looking for another one in brick and mortar stores ever since without any luck.
Cereal KiIIer
Member
I'm not going back.
The apex is my favorite lead pencil ever. I got it in HS from a 99 cents only store and it has beat every pencil I have gotten since. It's too bad it broke on me and they never brought it back.
You can click the picture in post #2 and buy them from Amazon! Paper Mate Apex is one of my favorite 0.7 mm pencils.
Jaffaboy
Member
As a graphic designer and illustrator, I love these things. As a teacher, fuck these things. It's the most infuriating thing to see students fucking about putting in the lead for 5 minutes when they should be writing something that would take them 30 goddamn seconds! Then there's the kids breaking it up into bits and throwing it at each other which means it goes all over the floor and trodden on, leaving huge streaks of pencil across the floor. It makes my classroom look like shit, and guess who has to clean it up? Yeah. Me.
These should be banned from use of anyone under the age of 16 or something, until their motor skills and maturity has developed enough.
These should be banned from use of anyone under the age of 16 or something, until their motor skills and maturity has developed enough.
I'm not going back.
What's interesting about erasable pens is that THEY'RE NOT MECHANICAL PENCILS.
Cereal KiIIer
Member
They completely replaced them for me.
I'm not going back.
Oh Yes! Yes these. I love these. All the fucking time in every fucking color. They haven't completely replaced pencils but they do a good percent of the time I would have never dared to use a pen.
On another note, I just discovered this thread and I can't believe we have a thread about this...Somehow, its completely cool. Great job OP!
May I suggest...the 0.6mm pencil?
Yes. Exactly that.
What's a tone poem?
Your transparent attempts to get on my good side will get you nowhere.
I'm totally lying. Please keep it up!
I try, you know? I hope that, if the topic is only of the most remote interest (or of none at all), the OPs are at least entertaining.
Zebra M-402 is easily my favorite mechanical pencil. Less than $10 for a perfect writing instrument.
I literally went to Zebra's website to find the model number, then google image searched and found this exact picture, from the same URL, and then scrolled down from the OP to see this post. Well... it's a good pencil, though I've lost 3 or 4 of them and actually have none right now. Weighted very nicely.
OrlanisWorks
Banned
Damn fine thread here. Love me a mechanical pencil.
When I use mechanical pencils, I still usually stick to kneaded erasers. Are they not boss enough, Bagels?
And this is a reminder that I gotta get me a fountain pen.
When I use mechanical pencils, I still usually stick to kneaded erasers. Are they not boss enough, Bagels?
Acrylic7
Member
Damn fine thread here. Love me a mechanical pencil.And this is a reminder that I gotta get me a fountain pen.
When I use mechanical pencils, I still usually stick to kneaded erasers. Are they not boss enough, Bagels?
Vinyl erasers my friend. You wont go back.
Snytbaggen
Member
I love it
NinjaCatfish
Member
I've grown really attached to pencils this year when starting university. I just enjoy using them so much more than the bog-standard pens I'd used for years prior.
Nothing special, just some regular old supermarket 0.7mm mechanical pencils, but I still love using them.
Nothing special, just some regular old supermarket 0.7mm mechanical pencils, but I still love using them.
Damn fine thread here. Love me a mechanical pencil.And this is a reminder that I gotta get me a fountain pen.
When I use mechanical pencils, I still usually stick to kneaded erasers. Are they not boss enough, Bagels?
I try not to judge. I fail miserably, but I try.
There are a ton of great 0.7mm pencils out there! I've been using Paper Mate Apexs forever and they're really hard to beat. I'm not sure if they're out of production, but they're getting harder to find. I'd snap a few up in you're interested.
OrlanisWorks
Banned
Vinyl erasers my friend. You wont go back.
Vinyl erasers, yes. I shall try one of those for sure. That a good brand of eraser?
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