I like the Alvin Retrac! _________________________________________________ What's wrong with engineering paper? (Other than it's cost... :broke _________________________________________________ Another engineer weighing in on this one... I like the Papermate Apex 0.5. It's pretty cheap and has all the features I like in a mechanical pencil: retractable tip - very difficult to find rubber grip - metal grips look nice, but are hard on the hands for a lot of writing solid metal lead sleeve - metal doesn't flex like plastic and the lead doesn't break as much twist-extend polymer eraser - lasts a long time and is very convenient I always used to carry one in my pocket. I broke it just last week and I'm currently using the 0.7mm version. I will pick up a 0.5mm version again soon.
Absolutely nothing at all... just my genetic quirk, that appears easily passed down. I have 3 sons who all express a desire to pursue a similar career path of varying disciplines. Both of their grandfathers and one great-grandfather were also engineers... they were doomed from the start I guess! :lolhammer:
It's nice when it's supplied for free by the employer, though I still feel just a tad guilty using a lot of it.
Not sure if engineering paper specifically is at this link - they might be calling it something else - but here's a place where you can download and print just about any paper grid pattern you want: http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/ (I have nothing to do with the site. I just stumbled across it one day when looking for something else.)
I have carried a mechanical pencil since I was in 3rd grade. It was the old twist up type that held only one lead at a time(about 1.2mm or so). don't remeber the maker. I have used them ever since and have a fairly large collection. Nothing compared to ethernecke tho :shocked:. I love the Alvin retractable also. Always in my bag wherever I go. My shirt pocket pencil tho is the Papermate Apex. Super sized eraser like the twist erase (have several of those too) :smitten: but a narrow one. Also has a retractable tip! :roof: So no more stabbing myself in the chest whenever i bend over! I love to draw (purely as a hobby) and have several drawing/drafting pencils. And i always have a few disposables around with .9 lead for wood working or marking.
Hi, Lately, I have been using the Pentel Twist Erase III 0.9 mm more often than the other mechanical pencils I have. I place it upside down in my pants pocket to prevent damage from the non-retractable sleeve. I do like the Papermate Phd Ultra 0.5 mm, but I find the 0.9 mm width more useful for my purposes. It would make more sense for the Phd to take a wider diameter lead due to the width of the pencil. I would use and trust the Sumo Grip more if it had a metal clip.
That is graph paper, but not engineering paper. Engineering paper is special for three reasons: yellow/green color - does not strain the eyes grid is printed on the back of the paper - grid is visible but does not show when paper is copied grid is usually 0.2" squares as opposed to the common 1/4" squares
Yep, I've been using mechanical pencils and lead holders since college days(1975-1980) and many drafting jobs. Currently I use a Staedtler 925 0.7 and have a Ohto Super Promecha 0.7 inbound. I work in IT so I don't have to write a lot with a pen or pencil but when I do I use a pencil and a Mars eraser. robert
OK. There is a link there to a pattern they call "engineer's paper" behind the Brick, Asymmetric, and Specialty link. Nice to know it's not real engineering paper.
I used lead holders for years, and 'EDC'd' a sharpener. Dad was an engineer, and i always thought the lead holders were cool. Still got a couple of 'em out in the shop.
I like the Autopoint pencils for thin lead as there is no play, their patented holder goes back to pre-WWII. Also love their dual lead holders for work. Having red, blue or green on the other end of a pencil is all but essential for reviewing documents. Also, I really like my Pentel. I do not know the model and it is some 30+ years old. Unusual in that the top half pops off and then snaps over the point end so it is about half size and easily carries in a pocket. I also have 4 lead holders that I use in the office for daily work as I prefer a thicker lead. I think they are all Steadlers.
I carry the Lamy Scribble 3.15mm as my EDC writing tool; sits nicely in my Bill's Urban Wallet. lead holders rule!!
I am engineer so precision counts... I always liked the architectural mechanical pencils. they have some REALLY fine points, like 0.3mm, which is nice.
Ditto on the staedtler... as for the rotary sharpener I walked into Office Mini and they had them on sale for 3 bucks...I bought 3. I like the size of the lead and the point I can maintain.
I've got the Niji Grip 350 and its clones, the Y&C (Yasutomo and Company) Grip 350, Sanford Extend and Alvin Draf/tec... I like that you can retract the point and sleeve to protect them from damage. Got those after the first mechanical pencil I received, the Niji Grip500, which was a cool intro to mechanical pencils, imo. I also have the old-style rotring 600 series mechanical pencil, which I like too. Another one which I've purchased, but not as a daily driver, is the Ohto Super Promecha (and more info is here and there, if you're interested) . That one's fun for all that you can adjust on it...
I use my Eagle Scout Cross mechanical pencil (0.5mm) and my Cross pen. I can't use a wood pencil because I always feel that it's not sharp after a couple strokes...I push down on the pencil pretty hard. With a mechanical pencil, I can push it down however hard I want and click it for a new edge.
Nothing fancy. [enlarge] Rotring 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm mechanical pencils. They work. The upper .5 mm one has been in use for 4 years. It works. Never thought about it before, but "it works" is all that can be said about it. Which is probably a good thing.
i used to be a fan of mechanical pencils, until i had to do my first Bagrut test (kinda like the israeli version of the british A-level). which we must do with pens. since then i got used to pens. i didn't use pencils since 3rd grade.
Yes, rotring makes a good pencil. I have 6 or 7 of those lower ones, the tikky model. Only problem is the metal tip gets bent easily and than they get cramp a lot
