Why Is My Rotring 800 Eating Lead :(

January 22, 2018

This is confounding me.

I was so happy to take delivery on my 800, but if anything it's a constant source of frustration.

Doesn't matter how I baby the pencil (I don't even carry it around much, let alone drop or abuse it) it will keep breaking off the exposed lead. Even at a very slight writing pressure.

Granted : I use very soft Ain Stein 4B leads. I want that dark line with a light touch. I know they are are vulnerable

BUT

I use the exact same lead in several other pencils (Uni Kuru-Toga, Pentel 1000, Pilot S20, etc.) and unless I drop the pencil they never give me any trouble. Heck I can even apply some pressure while writing.

Exposed lead is just about the same. (ie: not too much. I try to keep it between 0.9 and 1.1mm. So what gives? It's just a tube why is the Rotring so different?

-k

January 24, 2018

Since you're saying that the lead is breaking off where the lead is exposed (not inside the pencil), and it doesn't happen in other pencils, I have to wonder if there's something going on with the lead pipe. 4B is VERY soft lead. This is the first I've seen someone say they use it in a rOtring 800.

Do you have a strong magnification lens? If so, it would be interesting if you could examine the lead tip up close on your rOtring 800 and your other mechanical pencils. The thing to look for is the rim edging of the lead pipe opening. I'm wondering if the pipe in the rOtring 800 has a sharp or hard edge to it, rather than slightly rounded. Perhaps with the super soft lead and the above average weight of the rOtring 800, it doesn't take much for the edge to "lean" into the lead like a cleaver and break it.

January 24, 2018

Do you have a strong magnification lens? If so, it would be interesting if you could examine the lead tip up close on your rOtring 800 and your other mechanical pencils. The thing to look for is the rim edging of the lead pipe opening. I'm wondering if the pipe in the rOtring 800 has a sharp or hard edge to it, rather than slightly rounded. Perhaps with the super soft lead and the above average weight of the rOtring 800, it doesn't take much for the edge to "lean" into the lead like a cleaver and break it.

I do actually. I use it when I need to take a good look at the surface of a nib tip.

The Rotring is at work - I'll take a look tomorrow.

Good point on the weight though, I have not considered that. The other pencils I listed are pretty light -- except for the Pentel, but even that is no match to the solid metal of the 800.

-k

January 24, 2018

You were absolutely right.

The edge of the tube is extremely well defined. Nothing sloppy of course, such us as an excess metal ridge (this is Rotring after all), but a Right Angle Cut is a Right Angle Cut (Donnerwetter undsofort!)

In comparison, my other pencils have a lot more rounded tube opening.

I'll try to drop down to 2B and grab a pack of Uni Dia leads : they are supposed to be very strong.

Thank you for the insight,

-k

January 24, 2018

You were absolutely right.

The edge of the tube is extremely well defined. Nothing sloppy of course, such us as an excess metal ridge (this is Rotring after all), but a Right Angle Cut is a Right Angle Cut (Donnerwetter undsofort!)

In comparison, my other pencils have a lot more rounded tube opening.

I'll try to drop down to 2B and grab a pack of Uni Dia leads : they are supposed to be very strong.

Thank you for the insight,
-k

You're welcome, katerchen! I'm very glad to know that you've figured it out. I was only postulating, not having made my own comparisons before. It's curious... because I wonder if this is something to do with the principles applied in creating drafting pencils versus free hand drawing and writing. I'm going to take a look at my other pencils and see if I notice a trend. In any case, you would definitely be fine with something like HB, but 2B could very well work. Let us know how it turns out!