What Pencil Are You Using Today?

[lovemy51]

glad someone started one of these "what you are using today" pencil thread. thx kolakhan!

 

today... wood case pencil: musgrave HB and for MP: kurutoga roulette .5mm silver body.

[xxloverxx]

There's only one I like: Mars technico 780 C. Bit annoying, having to sharpen it all the time, but it's comfortable to write with and the 2mm lead means it doesn't break too often. I do get annoyed when people expect it to have a spring inside to let the lead out in increments though…always take a bit of lead out for them before handing it over…

 

IMO, Staedtler's mechanical pencils look ridiculous — only the lead holders suit my tastes. The Pilot lead holders look and feel worse (too thick; can't stand the curvature), but the mechanical pencils look much better…

[impossiblebird]

 

Rhodia pencils are not available in Kolkata, India.

 

Are they not cost-effective bought over the internet?

[impossiblebird]

IMO, Staedtler's mechanical pencils look ridiculous — only the lead holders suit my tastes.

Some mechanical pencils do look self-consciously "technical": definitely trying too hard. So I was initially put off the Staedtler 925 25 20 by its looks, and the fixed leadpipes on the smaller lead versions are an accident waiting to happen, but the 2mm one is great in terms of function; I love that long grip that goes nice and close to the business end, and it's extremely tolerant of the small variations you find in lead diameter, whereas I find 2mm leadholders I've used more finnicky. I have one 2mm leadholder (Criterium 2603) that won't use anything fatter than a 1.8mm lead!

[fluctuations]

IMO, Staedtler's mechanical pencils look ridiculous — only the lead holders suit my tastes.

Some mechanical pencils do look self-consciously "technical": definitely trying too hard. So I was initially put off the Staedtler 925 25 20 by its looks, and the fixed leadpipes on the smaller lead versions are an accident waiting to happen, but the 2mm one is great in terms of function; I love that long grip that goes nice and close to the business end, and it's extremely tolerant of the small variations you find in lead diameter, whereas I find 2mm leadholders I've used more finnicky. I have one 2mm leadholder (Criterium 2603) that won't use anything fatter than a 1.8mm lead!

 

+1

I agree that Staedtler 925 20 is NOT the prettiest pencil around. But it's true beauty is in its functionality.

[fluctuations]

Rhodia pencils are not available in Kolkata, India.

 

Are they not cost-effective bought over the internet?

 

I think so.

[aawhite]

Usually the Koh-I-Noor 1860 graphite pencils 4B.

 

Sometimes, I use the Koh-I-Noor woodless graphite pencils 4B. Normally used for sketching, this pencils are fantastic for everyday use. For me, Koh-I-Noor (EU made) are the best graphite pencils.

Edited March 13, 2012 by aawhite

[Laura N]

Today: a Mitsubishi Hi-Uni HB and a Palomino Blackwing 602. I also like the Tombow Mono 100 HB.

 

I use Staedtler 8Bs to write on the back of paper I'm developing in the darkroom.

[fluctuations]

I also like the Tombow Mono 100 HB.

 

Tombow Mono, as far as I know, is quite expensive! It is also highly praised.

 

By the way, some very good and informative links about pencils:

http://www.penciltalk.org/ [A very informative site about pencils, notebooks,...]

http://davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.in/ [A treasure trove for mechanical pencil enthusiasts]

 

 

 

 

[PENitent]

Palomino Blackwing 602.

[michaelH]

Hi, I WANT to be writing with an old Sheaffer flat top pencil that I bought the other day, but I have no lead. I think it takes 1.1 (0.9 is too small). Does anyone use these, and if so, can you point me to the right lead to buy? (I'm about to order the Autopoint leads on amazon, but don't know if that's right.)

 

Instead, since I'm working from home today, I'm using my daughter's BIC Velocity! :roflmho:

[impossiblebird]

Hi, I WANT to be writing with an old Sheaffer flat top pencil that I bought the other day, but I have no lead. I think it takes 1.1 (0.9 is too small). Does anyone use these, and if so, can you point me to the right lead to buy? (I'm about to order the Autopoint leads on amazon, but don't know if that's right.)

 

Instead, since I'm working from home today, I'm using my daughter's BIC Velocity! :roflmho:

1.1mm? or 1.18mm?

1.18mm is the standard diameter of lead used in the very old pencils, of many brands, if not all. Other than ebay bargains, the most economical way of buying it for me has been the Yard-O-Led tube which contains a whole yard of leads: 12 x 3" lengths. In the UK I'd go here for it (no affiliation).

[michaelH]

1.1mm? or 1.18mm?

1.18mm is the standard diameter of lead used in the very old pencils, of many brands, if not all. Other than ebay bargains, the most economical way of buying it for me has been the Yard-O-Led tube which contains a whole yard of leads: 12 x 3" lengths. In the UK I'd go here for it (no affiliation).

 

Uh-oh. I said 1.1 because someone said that was probably what it was in another thread. Also I'd seen a couple of similar pens for sale on some of the pen websites and at least one of them said it took 1.1, but I don't really know anything except that 0.9 is too small. Better hold off until I figure something more definitive out.

[impossiblebird]

1.1mm? or 1.18mm?

1.18mm is the standard diameter of lead used in the very old pencils, of many brands, if not all. Other than ebay bargains, the most economical way of buying it for me has been the Yard-O-Led tube which contains a whole yard of leads: 12 x 3" lengths. In the UK I'd go here for it (no affiliation).

 

Uh-oh. I said 1.1 because someone said that was probably what it was in another thread. Also I'd seen a couple of similar pens for sale on some of the pen websites and at least one of them said it took 1.1, but I don't really know anything except that 0.9 is too small. Better hold off until I figure something more definitive out.

Up until the late 40s, the commonly used lead diameter was actually 0.046 inches, which when I do the maths is 1.17mm, but anyway it's usually called 1.18mm, though 1.18mm lead is often rounded down in correspondence and on product labels to 1.1mm, or occasionally rounded up to 1.2mm.

 

So when people say 1.1mm lead it's more than likely they're referring to the 0.046 inch/1.18mm stuff, as in the case of Pendemonium, who state "1.1mm = 0.046 inches" ... having said which, according to mechanical pencil Dave, "but sometimes 1.1mm is really 1.1mm as distinct from 1.18mm", which is not at all helpful. Though he does also say "if 0.9mm is too slim for your [vintage Parker 52] pencil then it's almost certainly 1.18mm".

 

There was an old lead diameter of just about 1.0mm, referred to as type M, but that was far less common. Pendemonium have apparently been known to stock it.

 

In your shoes, I'd bet the price of a yard of lead that it was the 1.18mm your hungry Sheaffer's crying out for.

Edited March 13, 2012 by impossiblebird

[fluctuations]

1.1mm? or 1.18mm?

1.18mm is the standard diameter of lead used in the very old pencils, of many brands, if not all. Other than ebay bargains, the most economical way of buying it for me has been the Yard-O-Led tube which contains a whole yard of leads: 12 x 3" lengths. In the UK I'd go here for it (no affiliation).

 

Uh-oh. I said 1.1 because someone said that was probably what it was in another thread. Also I'd seen a couple of similar pens for sale on some of the pen websites and at least one of them said it took 1.1, but I don't really know anything except that 0.9 is too small. Better hold off until I figure something more definitive out.

Up until the late 40s, the commonly used lead diameter was actually 0.046 inches, which when I do the maths is 1.17mm, but anyway it's usually called 1.18mm, though 1.18mm lead is often rounded down in correspondence and on product labels to 1.1mm, or occasionally rounded up to 1.2mm.

 

So when people say 1.1mm lead it's more than likely they're referring to the 0.046 inch/1.18mm stuff, as in the case of Pendemonium, who state "1.1mm = 0.046 inches" ... having said which, according to mechanical pencil Dave, "but sometimes 1.1mm is really 1.1mm as distinct from 1.18mm", which is not at all helpful. Though he does also say "if 0.9mm is too slim for your [vintage Parker 52] pencil then it's almost certainly 1.18mm".

 

There was an old lead diameter of just about 1.0mm, referred to as type M, but that was far less common. Pendemonium have apparently been known to stock it.

 

In your shoes, I'd bet the price of a yard of lead that it was the 1.18mm your hungry Sheaffer's crying out for.

 

Absolutely speechless.

[watch_art]

After today I'll be using my old GREEN pentel Sharp!!! Yay I found it! It's been lost since last summer. Where did I leave it? In the pocket of my shorts I wore last! :roflmho: Found it earlier tonight! Yeeha!!

[fluctuations]

After today I'll be using my old GREEN pentel Sharp!!! Yay I found it! It's been lost since last summer. Where did I leave it? In the pocket of my shorts I wore last! :roflmho: Found it earlier tonight! Yeeha!!

[lovemy51]

today: zebra multi-function 4BP colors+1pencil

 

pic from jetpens

http://static1.jetpens.com/images/a/000/000/578.jpg

Edited March 14, 2012 by lovemy51

[Nonsensical]

Uni Kuru Toga, Pentel P205 and a wooden pencil from China, Chung Hwa HB pencil.

[gcole]

i use a pencil more than a fountain pen.

 

Usually i use one of the graf von faber perfect pencils , today it is the first style , silver plate with no sharpener

 

i also use the a couple of GvFC pencils , the guilloche , and III