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Disappointing: Rotring 800+ Mp/capacitive Hybrid


Uffuffa

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Received my black 0,7 mm Rotring 800+ Mechanical Pencil and Capacitive Tip Hybrid yesterday.

 

Nice weight, well balanced, attractive look, useful retractile mechanism (principle reason why I chose this over the 600, because I carry my MP in my pocket), etc, but I'm not impressed at all by the build quality of the mechanism.

 

It is full of "play"...as follows:

 

1) There is a 2mm lag of zero-function when clicking the cap to extend the lead. In other words, when I press my thumb on the cap, it (and at the same time the nib; ie. actually, the entire mechanism) depresses 2mm before it hits resistance; then I need to press it a bit harder in order to activate the lid-extension mechanism. This is really annoying. It also affects one's use of the eraser when pressing it onto paper. It's not a rifle trigger - I don't want or need a two-stage pressure system to extend the lead, I just want to click the cap and for the lead to extend (or the eraser to erase)! I did think my 800+ might be faulty, but now that I have read a long list of feedbacks on the Jet Pens website for the 800 without the plus (no affiliation; didn't buy from there either; link as follows: http://www.jetpens.com/Rotring-800-Drafting-Pencil-0.5-mm-Black-Body/reviews/6767) I've spotted that another user has complained about the same issue. This play remains even when the nib is retracted (ie. even in the locked position). It's not a fault with my pencil; it's a design issue.

 

2) The twist-to-extend knob rattles on its circular axis. If I stabilise the knob with my right hand, the body can rotate with about 2mm of play in the circular axis (or vice versa) before the actual pressure point is felt for the nib extension mechanism. This is the same in the retracted as well as the extended nib positions and makes the whole MP feel fragile.

 

3) However, there is very little play at the lead-end in terms of the writing experience. I can detect only the slightest smidgen of lateral play whilst writing (not functionally significant), almost no nib flexibility when pressing hard (solid build here, it seems), and no vertical play at all.

 

Just wanted to let you all know in case you are considering the 800+ hybrid (or indeed the 800, which reportedly has the same problem), since it is not cheap. However, if you need the retractile mechanism in order to protect your shirt pocket (and chest skin) from a projecting lead/tip, and would like a Rotring specifically, then you'll need to put up with these problems. Better to know about them before the purchase than after though because then at least you are making an informed choice.

Edited by Uffuffa
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Thank you for the information, I have a 600 that is supposedly on the way and when I saw the 800 series I was worried I was missing out on something other than the jump in price.

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In addition, the leads keep breaking within the pencil mechanism approximately every 2 cm. Not impressed at all.

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Just fooled around with my r0tring 600 0.5 MP and I'm pretty impressed with it at first go. The lead is not brittle like some other brands of lead, (maybe it could be ancient stock).

I tend to prefer retractable tips on my mechanical pencils especially when they are as needle like as this one, but after reading the original post I'm glad I picked this one up.

However I'm not impressed with all the additional spam e-mail I get every day since registering with Massdrop.

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