Help With Mechanical Pencils

[Ambrose Bierce]

So I like to think I know a little bit about fountain pens, but when it comes to pencils I know nothing. If I had my druthers I would always use fountain pens for writing, but thanks to pesky math teachers (and other situations) I cannot. And since I got fed up with using the standard bic disposable options, I have come here to solicit help for getting a new mechanical pencil. I will be using it mostly for math, and I would like to have the lead to be around .5 or .7. My price limit is under 15 USD, but I could see myself going up to 20. Thanks for any help you can give!

[Tasmith]

I am very happy with my Rotring 500 .5mm, I use 2B leads:

 

http://www.jetpens.com/search?q=500&ip=24&f=32678f4d49253de4dc98ab095b11c3e4

 

I use the Tombow Mono Knock eraser:

 

http://www.jetpens.com/Tombow-Mono-Knock-3.8-Eraser-Blue-Body/pd/2483

Edited January 6, 2015 by Tasmith

[risingsun]

I happily use a Pentel Kerry within that price range... Though I have others that I will gladly suggest if you want to spend more $$$

[RLTodd]

Pentel 205 or 207, that way you can buy a couple for when they get lost.

 

A Pentel Sharp Kerry is quite a bit nicer, I have used a couple, but I think they are now over your price limit. Plus, they are attractive enough to be very stealable.

[Princeps Anglorum]

I have recently bought and started using a Faber Castell Grip Plus 0.7 which I quite like and is very reasonably priced. I like the sculptured grip, bulky feel and large eraser.

[The Blue Knight]

I would recommend the Staedtler 925 in 0.7 and really high quality solid pencil.

 

It's within your budget as well

 

http://www.amazon.com/Staedtler-Mechanical-Pencil-925-25-05/dp/B002BNHMC8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420531673&sr=8-1&keywords=staedtler+925

 

http://www.amazon.com/Staedtler-Mechanical-Pencil-925-35-05/dp/B003LOQ76I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1420531673&sr=8-3&keywords=staedtler+925

[SallyLyn]

++1 on the Pentel 205 or 207s. Amazon has a 2 pack of the 205 for $6 US. Should be able to find similar price at large stores near you. I have one that got drop in drive and run over by my car. Touch of glue for the cracked case and it still keeps writing after 11 years.

 

Not an ugly pencil but not exciting so not a target to borrow or walk away. Low priced so you can have several spares. I find the lead to be most important for smoothness and darkness. Don't know your options for lead but would look at the leads at jetpens, especially the reviews. Don't have to buy from them but you can learn brands and grades you might like.

2B would be a good start in a good brand. 3B-4B softer and darker but will likely smear and also use lead quickly.

 

http://www.jetpens.com/Pencil-Leads/ct/99?f=bcf12dce3392ac0dcd5fbcfbc64dc408

 

There are also some really smooth writing wooden pencils, but then you need to carry a sharpener and ... list goes on.

[j.a.j.]

Here is a quite nice list, http://davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.fi/p/my-top-5.html?m=1

 

Personally i like Pilot Delful Shaker very much.

[risingsun]

For under $12 shipped, I still can't see not going with a Pentel Sharp Kerry. It's an amazing pencil for the price. And cappable, just like an FP.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0006SW6YO/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

[Ambrose Bierce]

For under $12 shipped, I still can't see not going with a Pentel Sharp Kerry. It's an amazing pencil for the price. And cappable, just like an FP.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0006SW6YO/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

That looks pretty tempting. If I were to buy this would it come with some lead with it. Or would it be like a FP were I have to supply my own?

[risingsun]

Comes with lead (half a dozen sticks or maybe more).

 

Review:

http://davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.com/2006/02/pentel-sharp-kerry-p1035-mechanical.html

Edited January 8, 2015 by risingsun

[thatotherguy1]

What style of pencil do you want? Graphing/technical, writing, or a mesh of both?

Pentel makes a lot of really nice pencils for your price range. I have a two pack of P205s and a GraphGear 500 myself and they're both excellent pencils. Both are technically graphing pencils, but the P205 is more of a writing pencil that can be used for graphing IMHO.

I also quite like my Alvin Draft/Matic, which can be had for just at $15 and is an extremely nice feeling graphing pencil.