Best Bang For Buck Mechanical Pencils?

[Dillo]

Hi,

 

I just made a new post in the review forum about all the mechanical pencils that I have liked. Dillon's Pencil Picks

 

Dillon

Edited August 24, 2012 by Dillo

[adallak]

I have just received a pack of 12 Papermate TL7 0.7 mm pencils for about $7 including shipping.

Great knock around 0.7 mm pencil. Very similar to Pentel P203 - P209 series. A little bit thinner round plastic barrel does not look as classy as Pentel does, but seems to be as well built and lead advance mechanism is crisp and sound. Good grip. The clip is very good as well. What I also liked about these pencils is that when you remove the eraser assembly the spare leads will not fall out by accident. There is an orifice which will not let that happen. You can feed the spare leads one by one into barrel.

 

A very nice pencil indeed and can be purchased for less than $1.00 a piece.

 

An advice for OP. There are plenty of great mechanical pencils under $10. Just stay away from 0.3 mm. They are not for general use. They break easily and wear out very fast. So they are kind of expensive as well. I would recommend 0.7 mm pencils for everyday use.

Edited August 24, 2012 by adallak

[lovemy51]

Hi,

 

I just made a new post in the review forum about all the mechanical pencils that I have liked. Dillon's Pencil Picks

 

Dillon

thanx Dil. on my way to see n.........

[FPFan]

Does anyone know if the Kuru Togas work well with softer leads? I did get some Uni NanoDia HB refills which are very nice, but I heard that softer B or 2B leads don't activate the rotating mechanism as well. I love the Roulette model and may upgrade my plastic grey Kuru Toga eventually (particularly if they're a little cheaper in Japan as I'm going there in a few months).

 

I haven't noticed any problem with the softer leads. I really prefer them in pencils smaller than .7 as the lead doesn't break as easily 'cause one uses less pressure to make a darker mark.

[Garageboy]

I wish someone would make a cap for the 205 Pentels

I keep stabbing through my bag's pen slots

I also have a 4" long scar from the time I put on pants where a P205 had stabbed through the pocket

[adallak]

I wish someone would make a cap for the 205 Pentels

I keep stabbing through my bag's pen slots

I also have a 4" long scar from the time I put on pants where a P205 had stabbed through the pocket

You might want to try a piece of PVC tubing as a removable protector.

[mr T.]

Out of the kuru toga and p205, which would you guys recommmend?

Pentel 120 A3 DX

Pentel PG30x (Pentel PG303 PG305 PG307 PG309)

[lovemy51]

I wish someone would make a cap for the 205 Pentels

I keep stabbing through my bag's pen slots

I also have a 4" long scar from the time I put on pants where a P205 had stabbed through the pocket

 

your answer could be this plastic point protector:

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n419/peterpaul_rguez/P9040151.jpg

this one can be found 12 for a couple of $ on the net.

 

or, if you want metal:

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n419/peterpaul_rguez/P9040147.jpg

this one can be found at Daiso japanese stores, 5 for $1.50

[muskets]

My Kuru Toga's mechanism doesn't seem to do much at all with my usual 2B lead - maybe a difference in writing style?

[PenTool]

I have a Pentel GraphGear 1000. Nice pencil, good weight/balance, but the distance from my fingers to the point of the lead feels too far. I like to choke up a bit and on this pencil, that leaves me on the downward sloping/slippery metal section that defies a secure grip. That might be nitpicking, but it makes me not reach for this pencil. I rarely use it. Also, as someone pointed out previously, the lead doesn't completely retract, there's always a tiny sliver of lead exposed. It's annoying considering the cost of the pencil.

 

The Papermate ClearPoint is one of my favorite mechanical pencils.

 

PROS:

- a retractable point...an absolute must.

 

- a side lead advance button. With this, I can just rock advance the lead with my thumb without changing my hand position. This is a must for me as I don't like changing my entire grip to advance the lead on pencils with "top of the pencil" type lead advances.

 

- a Twist Erase eraser that's huge...no need to carry around an extra eraser.

 

- a very comfortable grip section made of silicone strips...not too grippy, not too slippery...it's just right.

 

- cheap enough @ $2.00 - 3.00 or so. If I lose it, no tears are shed.

 

CONS:

- it feels a little flimsy and cheap. Mind you, it has not broken. I just wish Papermate would make a more substantial version of this great pencil.

 

 

There is a review here: Papermate ClearPoint mechanical pencil review

[Garageboy]

Those point protectors are the ones for wood pencils?

I have a few, never thought of jamming them on my MPs

[chiaroscuro]

Pentel Graphgear 1000 in 0.3 or 0.5 all the way. If you don't need a retractable tip and don't mind spending a bit more, the Staedtler 925 (silver all-metal version with the knurled grip) is AMAZING in-hand. The Graphgear comes quite close though and, because of its awesome retracting mechanism and clip, is my go-to pencil when I'm outside my home. The only downside is they're a bit fugly, but in a cool way. The Staedtler stays at home (my precious).

 

Stationeryart.com (no affiliation) has the former for about 11.00 USD with shipping, and the latter for not much more than that, I think.

 

The lead is IMO, almost as important as the pencil itself. Pentel AIN Stein in 2B or 3B are out-of-this-world smooth (0.5 lead is more readily available and comes in a wider range. For example, the AIN Stein in 0.5 comes in 4H-4B with 40 leads per pack, while the 0.3 comes in 2H-2B, with 15 leads per pack for the same price – hence, if value is your top priority, 0.5 is the way to go. The AIN Stein leads are a good value IMO).

 

Good luck with your search.

[WriterProspect]

Diplomat Moderns Soft Touch is as of now going for $25 on eBay.

[adallak]

I find 0.5mm too fine with frequent lead breaks. Unless you are an engineering student or an artist interested in a very fine line, I would strongly suggest 0.7mm (or thicker) graphite.

+1.

[Thornton]

The Pentel Sharp/P205 gets my vote. I use them regularly and they're very durable. A friend of mine has used the same Pentel Sharp for 10 years daily and it still works perfectly. It's well within your price range too.

 

I also have a couple of Kuru Togas from JetPens, and while I like the way they look and write, the paint seems to chip off rather easily.

 

I think it might be just outside your price range by about a dollar, but I also have used Pilot Dr. Grip LTD since high school (I'm 28) and I love the weight and durability of the pencils. I think they only come in 0.5mm lead, but there are a few color choices.

[TitoThePencilPimp]

The Kurotogas feel cheap, and quite gimmicky. Decent MP under $10 would be the Pentel Smash, Graph Gear 500, Graph Gear 1000, and Pentel Sharp.