My gf is on a search for the ideal mechanical pencil, just as I was on the search for the ideal pen. I thought that as people who appreciate fine writing instruments, you could help me in my endeavor (her birthday is coming soon) to help her on her search. If anyone knows of a mechanical pencil forum or a better place for me to ask this, please also tell me that.

The important qualification are:
.05 mm lead
LARGE eraser (the kind that are so big that the eraser base is twistable purely to expose more eraser would be ideal)
Durable

Optional qualifications:
Slim - ish form factor (as slim as can be with such a gargantuan eraser)
I think she favors clean, sleek (brushed metal-ish) designs, but this is easily a point of compromise.
"Side - click" preferred but easily compromised.


Since this is a gift, I don't mind shelling out for her (my budget tops out at aprox $60, but if the quality is that good, I would go slightly above.

She however, will definitely be terrified to losing it (she self admittedly loses many things like this), so I would also love a suggestion for something that fills the top four requirements and costs less than $10 so that she could easily replace it. If anything, finding such an item would be an even better gift in her eyes - writing comfort and the ability to replace it whenever (I would still get her the

--to be edited - she's in the room!

Well, I'm a wood pencil guy, so I'm no help on this. However, I do regularly read this blog, which has reviews I respect about mechanical pencils.

Good luck!

--Breck

p.s. I just got the pun of your screen name and it very nearly sent whiskey-and-soda flying out my nose. Well done, sir.

Good window-closing action.

Let's see, most of the nice FP's have accompanying pencils, which are usually nice - however, if it's just a great pencil you're looking for, check out www.pencilthings.com and poke around. Obviously, they sell just about every pencil made under the sun. Best of luck on your gift!

Best,
Summer

PS - you COULD get her a nice FP for $60. (This is the danger of asking that on an FP forum.)

I recommend a Lamy Twin or Triple Pen. Twin pens come with mechanical pencil and pen while the triple includes a highlighter. There are refills available.

It comes in different colours and finish. Check this out

http://www.lamy.com/products/writing_syste.../index_eng.html

My personal favourite is the tri pen cp 1 black. Here's a picture



There are dedicated mechanical pencils here

http://www.lamy.com/products/writing_syste.../index_eng.html

You can even get her a set of say Lamy Safari pens e.g. FP, pencil, pen. My wife has all the colours to suit her wardrobe

Take a look at the lamy Scribble 0.5

Ergonomic & unusual ~ I got the thick lead version I was disappointed in the lead quality but the 0.5 would have no problems at all

(Easily Replaceable)

I also generally use wood case pencils. It is a habit, I guess. On those occasions I use a mechanical pencil, I love Parker Duofold pencils. I think my suggestion might be over your budget, but the pencils are good. I also have a screaming yellow Lamy Safari pencil on my desk that works just fine.

As for erasers, I keep a big hand held eraser handy.

I suggest that Pentel products are the right choice, the only thing that I don't know the one which combines all things that you're looking for (except low/reasonable price and durability):

1. Pentel "Twist-Erase" 0.5 (QE515) - has "LARGE eraser (the kind that are so big that the eraser base is twistable purely to expose more eraser would be ideal)"if we will be realistic and agree that eraser as big as 7mm diameter is large as for items built-in into mechanical pencils.
2. Pentel "Technoclick" 0.5 (PD105T) - has "Side - click" and same big eraser but it's not "twistable purely to expose more..."
3. Pentel "Grafigear 500" 0.5 (PG515) - has "metal-ish design" and is slimest of three mentioned but it has negative impact on eraser size (exactly as you supposed).

Hope it helps.

For something that fulfils many of your criteria, I'd recommend the Rotring Rapid. It comes in .35, .5 and .7 mm, has a 3 cm long (if skinny) twisting eraser, is made of durable plastic, and is a bit thicker than a bic. It also has a retractable tip and a firm rubber grip.

I heard a rumour that they are being discontinued so I don't know if they are (still) available where you are, but if you can find some of these I would snap up a few (and some spare erasers!). I got mine in Japan for less than $5.

For several years I used the Rotring 600-series mechanical pencils. Quite heavvy but wonderful pencils. Especially the 0.7 version.
Now, sadly, both of them are broken. And also out of production.

Luckily, I've discovered Lamy Scribble 0.7. Great pen, both nice to use and look at. The eraser, though, could be better.
Otherwise highly recommended.




/ Roger W
Sweden

I have a Lamy Scribble, but with 0.7 mm, it is very confortable. Check out if it is in 0.5mm.

JUlio

I had a quick look on the web, appears to only come in 0.7mm.

It's almost passe, but Cross makes many excellent mechanical pencils in different sizes, finishes, etc. And they last forever.

My mech pencil preference is a Rotring 600. Solidly built.

I love my Lamy Vista pencil. The Al-Star presumably comes in pencil as well. Ligthweight, very comfortable grip (slim but not so much that it's uncomfortable) and very inexpensive. The eraser is wide but unfortunately, not tremendously deep. I found one pencil that fit that criteria years ago and haven't found it since.

I like my Pelikan pencils as well but they're .7mm

link didn't take you to pencil - there's pics on various pen sites.

I love MPs almost as much as FPs. Too bad the colored "leads" are so ick.

Confirmed, "it is fitted with a fine 0.7 mm lead"

Pentel's Sensi Grip is a very smooth writer for me. It is a drafting pen, and has a very comfortable grip. I consider it the fountain pen of mechanical pencils, as my handwriting flows as well when using it as with a fountain pen. The pen comes in a 0.5, or 0.3,0.7, 0.9mm. These pencils are around $3.75 a piece so buy many, as you will want to carry one around, and you might lose one. I really don't see why one would spend so much on a mechanical pencil when the mechanism is generally the same at least in pens in the $3.00+ range. The only thing missing in this pen is that it has a small eraser, but the writing experience makes up for this, and erasers can be found at most office supply stores.

faber-castell TK-Fine vario L 0.5, would fit the bill...however I am looking at the lamy2000 .7mm as my ultimate mech pencil.

I second either the Faber-Castell TK Fine Vario L, or the Rotring 600 (getting hard to find these, though). Another possibility is the Staedtler 925-95-05. I have all three of the above: the Faber-Castell has an interesting suspension for the lead, the Staedtler has adjustable lead advance, and the Rotring is a good solid drawing instrument.

If it was me, I'd get the Rotring, but it's one for the purists, in terms of design. No frills or compromise.

I got mine from www.penwish.com. They carry the Rotring and the Staedtler.

Hello,

I recently bought my sona Retro 51 Crossword pencil. It uses a 1.1mm lead, and comes ina nioce box with extra lead, anbd extra pencils. My son and I always carry a seperate stick type eraser, works much better than the one on the pencil.

Dan

I need mech. pencils sometimes as well.

My two favorite are on the opposite side of the spectrum cost wise.

The Montblanc Voltaire is my nicer of the two. Looks great but not practical for most folks needs of a mech. pencil.

So that leaves what is my absolute favorite......the Pentel Kerry...check it out....

http://www.jetpens.com/advanced_search_res...amp;x=0&y=0

For usability, my favorite pencils are the Pentel Graphgear 1000 & Pentel Sharp Kerry. Neither of these have a large eraser, but I use a Staedtler eraser. I used to use one of the original Rotring 600s (with the metal lead tube) & I think these are as good, just different.

For a pencil which has a usable eraser, I like the Staedtler 9505 Integrity. It comes in a two pack which my local Staples stocks. This is the pencil I buy to keep in all my bags & in random places. The Pentel SideFX has a large eraser & a side advance, so that might be a good choice too, but I've never used it (I used to use the original Pentel Twist Erase & the new version of that might be worth a look too).

http://www.pentel.com/
http://www.staedtler-usa.com/Mars_plastic_...?ActiveID=24149
http://www.staedtler-usa.com/integrity_aut...?ActiveID=24172

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the suggestions - really, you are among the most helpful web communities that I have ever seen.

I wanted to edit my original post but the responses came so quickly that I didn't have time to get to a computer so I'll make my additions here:

She's a physics student, and wants something that she can carry around in her pocket or backpack, depending on her mood. That's why the large eraser was important. She finds that she always forgets about the large rubber chunk she has in her bag unless she takes it out right away, and those erasers always get lost anyway. The pentels seemed to be the best bet.

I know she thinks that my safari is the ugliest pen in my small collection.

I have a Pilot Vanishing Point that I use on the rare occasions that I need a pencil. It's available in 0.5mm lead, and the nib "vanishes" inside the body when you are not using it. This might be a useful feature if she is worried about damaging it while it's floating around in her backpack.

I'm also a physics student, and while I now use solely fountain pens, I used to swear solely by Sumogrip pencils. These have the large twist style eraser and are fairly cheap, however they are push advance and have fat barrels (thus the moniker). I personally prefer fatter writing utensils so they suit me perfectly.

I just received a Rotring 600 (old style) pencil, and it's great. It was designed around engineers and mathematicians, so it may suit your purposes.

For a cheap pencil that might fit some of your requirements, have a look at the Staedtler triplus micro 0,5 mm. The eraser is quite long, and the body is a triangle, which for me is quite comfortable. This you will not mind losing, if that happens.

Fil o fax also do their own pencil, neat small and thin, with a good eraser.

The nicest for me is Yard o Led range, particularly the classics.

That pencil looks very interesting, but all I see is a 0.7 and a 3.15 (what?). I only use 0.5 lead, where's the 0.5?

In terms of practicality, nothing I have looked at or tried seems to be able to beat the Pentel Quicker Clicker. These are $4.00 pencils, so they aren't really any kind of material for a decent birthday present, but they are the most well-designed mechanical pencil around. They have a big eraser that you can pull out and keep using as it wears down, they have a very solid design and will take a beating, and the clicker mechanism near your finger might bother some, but I find it very convenient.

Nothing expensive or very fancy, but they are hard to find nowdays since they've been discontinued (I assume they've been discontinued anyways)

That link above has the best picture of all of the colors available, blue, red, black and purple. I love these pencils and I stocked up on them when I couldn't find them anymore at wal-mart. You can search "papermate titanium pencil" on amazon and find sellers who are still selling them. I love the way they look, feel and the way they work. If you wanted to carry it in a pocket or a purse you can click it and push the point all the way in so it looks more like a retractable pen, but that's also so you dont poke yourself with it, or poke holes in your pocket or purse.

The Pentel Twist Erase pencils are good also, same size and same eraser function, but they don't retract the point like the Titanium pencil does.

Already mentioned is this site. This website could be interesting too (has a forum and lot's of information about vintage pencils).



For that amount of money you can probably give her two, three or even more mechanical pencils of very good quality. In my opinion, the best mechanical pencils are made by Pentel (Graphgear series, P200/P205) .



Consider also disposable mechanical pencils (like the Bic Matic) or cheap ones like the Pentel 120 or the Pentel Techniclick.

How about the Lamy Spirit? I'm a huge fan of these pencils, they are super slim, 0.5mm leads and durable as heck. The eraser is very long, but thin and I find it lasts a fair while. There is a small catch which can be moved down to expose more of the eraser when it gets used up. Lamy eraser refills are cheap so I find I can afford to keep all 6 of my Spirit pencils dressed in new erasers without denting my wallet.