I prefer a plain old Pentel P205. I've had the same pencil since 1983. No reason to change. I'm wondering how long the thing will go at this point... Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
I just started using a mechanical pencil for bullet journaling. Got a rOtoring Rapid Pro 0.7mm. Not sure where this thing lands on the overall quality scale but I am sure impressed.
I just bought a Uni Kuru Toga Roulette 0.5mm. Seems to be a nicely made writing tool for under $12 US.
My purchase of it was influenced by your post earlier in this thread (after doing some additional research). For Christmas, I was gifted a set of inexpensive but quite functional 2.0 mm lead holders, along with an assortment of black and colored leads, which require use of a lead sharpener. Interesting things, perhaps more suited to sketching and drawing, but not so much for precise writing unless I want to do a lot of sharpening. The Uni has a nice feel, a suitably "techy" look, and was a reasonable price. I think I still prefer fountain pens and ballpoints for general writing, but the Uni is getting its fair share of paper time, and certainly erases better than the former.
Why thank you! I'm happy to have enabled the separation of you from some of your disposable income! (Gawd knows others have done the same to me often enough on this forum!)
I also have the Uni, and I bought a second one in red for marking up electrical drawings at work. But in my shirt pocket I carry a Parker Jotter pen and Pencil. Maybe not the best but they take a licking. Just don’t stick them in live electrical panels. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Exact reason why I quit carrying metal pens and the such in my shirt pockets at work. I've seen first hand when the metal lid of a snuff can hits a 480 bus bar from way too close.
I let a guy borrow it to mark a hole that we were about to knock out. It touched one of the 120v bus bars in the panel, and the lock ring. It marked it alright. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have the Rotring 600 on my desk and the Rapid Pro in my field message book. I really liked the UNI Kuru Toga but after breaking a few I switched to the Rotrings.
So many good options these days. My default recommendation for the average pencil user is the Pentel Sharp Kerry. It is an excellent introduction to quality mechanical pencils and it's guaranteed to be different from anything they've ever used before. However, if you're looking for something a little different, I highly recommend you get a 2mm lead holder. I use several, but my personal recommendation is to go to Michael's and get the Staedtler Mars Technico that comes with a tube of HB lead. Also buy the rotary sharpener since using the sharpener built into the pencil can get messy.
I've been using a Pentel P205 since college many moons ago. I've seen a few on here I've thought of trying, but the P205 has worked well for me for so many years, I've just stuck with it.
I'm a fan of the Pentel Pxxx family also. My other favorites are the Pentel Kerry (really nice small in pocket -- just as reliable as the Pentel Pxxx series; the Pentel GraphGear series, and the mp with 'rotating leads' from Uni Kuru Toga. Going outside the world of Japanese mp, I am a big fan of Retro 51; like their thick leads and their wonderful large erasers -- must have taken a cue from the Parker Duofold line at a fraction of the price! Am Yisrael Chai! Moshe ben David
My favourite is the rotting 600. However, I will also second the Staedtler lead holder. Both great options. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
Like many in this thread I've used a Pentel P205 for years now at work. It's relatively small, lightweight (being mostly plastic) and cheap. It's a fine pencil that does what you need a pencil to do. The entire P series has a great reputation in the drafting and technical drawing fields. For my own personal use I've got a couple of Zebra M-402s that have also worked quite well. The stainless barrel looks nice but it's just a metal sleeve: all the guts inside are plastic. But hey, what do you expect for just a couple of bucks? I settled on the M402 for my use, but while researching I heard many great things about the Pentel GraphGear 1000, the Uni Kuru Toga, and the Rotrings (600, 800 and RapidPro). I think, think, the Rotrings are all-metal, if that's something you care about. If you want to pocket-carry then the Rotring 800 might be up your alley: the lead sleeve retracts up into the pencil body so you dont poke holes in your pocket.
Our histories are similar ... I have and use daily a Pentel GraphGear 1000 -- one of my favorites for sure. I also have a couple of the Uni Kuru Toga pencils and the rotating lead is not hype nor a gimmick. It works. Don't have any Rotring but do have a Retro 51 that is basically a clone if we're being honest. I like Retro 51 products and have several pen/pencil sets in said flock... Regarding a pocket carry I'm a fan of the Pentel Sharp Kerry. Sort of a mp take on a Fisher Bullet in how the cap and the barrel work together. Except that when you post the cap on the Kerry it is MUCH more securely posted than on the Fisher bullet. Take a look... https://www.amazon.com/Pentel-Mechanical-Pencil-Barrel-P1037A/dp/B000CD026M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10Z25TFLL0QNS&dchild=1&keywords=pentel+kerry+mechanical+pencils+0.7&qid=1597256046&sprefix=Pentel+k%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1 Am Yisrael Chai! Moshe ben David
I'm hoping for a bit of help--- I can't seem to be able to re-load my favorite mechanical pencil, a Rotring 500. I have the correct size replacement lead from the company 0.5 and load it with 3 pieces of lead as recommended by the manual... BUT the lead won't advance through the unit no matter how many times I press the advance--I have checked it for blocks by tapping etc. but--- Any advice or have you had this happen? Thanks in advance for any help---!
