Mechanical Pencil For Engineering Student?

[ICantEvenDecideAMajor]

Hi all!

I'm an avid fountain pen enthusiast, but in engineering sometimes it's nice to be able to erase things... So I'm just wondering what's the best mechanical pencil out there (0.5mm) for this purpose? I don't draw a lot, but certainly do a lot of calculations and formula writing. Budget is not a huge concern; I have no idea how much mech pencils cost but I don't think I'm willing to spend more than $200 on one.

 

Any recommendations? Thanks!

[Notgatherox]

Maybe a drafting pencil would be nice - have a look at Rotring 800 (a link - https://www.amazon.com/rOtring-Retractable-Mechanical-Pencil-Barrel/dp/B00AZWNS84)

 

Alternatively, if you have a fountain pen like the Lamy 2000 or the Souvaran series (Mxxx pens), you can consider getting the set pencil. I love my D400 pencil.

 

Lamy 2000 pencil - https://www.amazon.com/LAMY-Mechanical-Pencil-Brushed-L101-5/dp/B0002T3YCA

 

D400 - https://www.amazon.com/Pelikan-Souver%C3%A4n-Mechanical-Pencil-black/dp/B001P3LL18

 

Several factors to consider of course, weight being one. I prefer lightweight pencils.

 

Just pulling up links for your consideration, no affiliation blah blah.

 

 

 

~Epic

[Algester]

when we think of engineering we think of a good needle lead pipe not conical tips... for this uhh

and must come in the most used lead sizes .3, .5, .7 and .9mm

Pentel GraphGear or Graph

Rotring 300

Pilot S series (S10 is a good start)

uni-ball Shift

Staedtler 925 series is also good

and remember to mate it with a good lead refill :3

Pentel Ain-stein should work

unless Pilot NEOX Graphite is what you want it will also work

Faber-Castell TK-Vario

Edited October 8, 2016 by Algester

[sciumbasci]

Although during my engineering studies (and up until now) I have relied into the philosophy "less is better", I find the TWSBI Precision a nice tool

[milkb0at]

Assuming you want a drafting pencil (with fixed sleeve, different weighting, lead grade indicator etc):

 

https://davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.co.uk/p/top-10-drafting-mechanical-pencils.html

 

Or for a general range of mechanical pencils:

 

http://penpaperpencil.net/pencils/

 

Personally, of the pencils I have they are all so very different that it's hard to pick a favourite and to recommend one that is right for you. Still, I haven't tried a GraphGear which normally tops these lists. I have an Ohto Super Promecha which is super-fancy and is great for drafting, but not so good for writing (I prefer my Pentel Sharp Kerry for that).

[Mon34480]

I use a TWSBI Precision for drawing up my diagrams and a pentel kerry for scribbles if that helps.

 

For a engineering student you wont need a few hundred dollars worth of drafting pencils at all just get what you need

[Kataphract]

Pentel GraphGear 1000 for me. An extended narrow tip for use with rulers and other guides. The tip is retractable so you don't stab yourself when it is not in use. Variable window so you can remember what hardness lead you have loaded.

[flatline]

Pencils are so much cheaper than fountain pens that you don't have to find the perfect pencil on the first try or risk breaking the bank. For $200, you could have a dozen good pencils and still have money left over.

 

The Pentel 120 a3dx got me through school. It's probably the best bang for the buck drafting pencil I can think of. I got my first one in 1996 for $6 and my most recent one for slightly more just a year or so ago. The quality is still awesome. Unless you know you don't like rubber grips, this is my recommendation as a first pencil to try.

 

My favorite drafting pencil is the Pilot s10. I like the s10 because it has great metal knurling and is so bottom heavy that I don't have to exert any pressure of my own and can write forever without fatigue. The s20 is also very popular, but I don't have any experience with it.

 

The Rotring 300, 500, and 600 are all excellent quality, but they each feel different in-hand so it's hard to know which you might like best. The 300 is the lightest and has plastic knurling. The 500 has metal knurling but a plastic body so it's weighted more towards the tip than the 300 and 600. The 600 is all metal and so it's heavier and weighted further back than the others.

 

My own preference is for pencils to be either light enough that balance doesn't matter, or bottom heavy. As such, I like the Rotring 300 and 500 just fine, but don't care for the 600.

 

The Alvin Draftmatic has wonderful metal knurling and a plastic body, so it's weighted like a Rotring 500. I love mine, but it doesn't get used much anymore since I discovered the Pilot s10.

 

If you don't want a pencil with a fixed sleeve, your options become a little more limited. The Uni-Shift is excellent. So is the Rotring Rapid Pro. The Rotring 800 has a mushy click and doesn't feel good in my hand, but you might like it. I'd definitely want to try it before purchasing if I were you. The TWSBI Percision has an excellent reputation and looks pretty, but I've never seen one in person so I can't give an opinion.

 

There are so many good pencils out there there's no way to cover them all in a single post. Go to JetPens and look around to see what's available, then post whatever questions you might have.

Think about whether you want a knurled, contoured, or cushioned grip. Do you like light pencils or something more weighty?

 

--flatline

[inotrym]

All of the above are great pencils. I may also add:

 

Cultpens pencil (double knock)

Franklin Christoph Stockton

Caran d Ache Ecridor

Montegrappa Piacere

[PAKMAN]

To me you can't beat a Pentel P205 for a mechanical pencil for a student. I used one through out college as an engineering student and 40 years later, it's still right here on my desk in perfect working order! I also have one in .7 and .3 lead sizes.

[a m a r g o]

I'll back the Pentel Sharp P205 also! There are a few barrel color options on the 0.5mm width as well...

[ICantEvenDecideAMajor]

Thanks all for the input! I was trying pencils at my local pen store and decided to go for a Rotring 800+. I loved the bauhaus design and the retractable nib, and the stylus tip was a huge plus!

[milkb0at]

Nice choice! That looks great.

[goatgolfer]

Pentel PS315 in 0.5 got me through engineering school (before CAD was popular) and is in my pen block on my desk to this day. I remark often on how the durability of its' engineering supported me if I just fed it once in a while. Google says they are ~35$ at the moment and if you don't need flash you will pass it to your grandchildren if pencils still exist then.

 

No question for me Pentel PS315.

 

Good luck, the learning is the best part. After that you practice.

Edited October 13, 2016 by goatgolfer

[Aquaria]

Math/Japanese language major here.

 

I use the Uni KuruToga Alpha-Gel in .5 lead. Does well when writing for very long stretches.

 

I also have a Mitsubishi (Uni) lead holder in 2mm that someone brought me from Japan way back in the Stone Age when I was studying electronics in the USAF. It was perfect for schematics and other graphing. I keep it because 1) it's held up to years of abuse and 2) I'm simply used to it when it's time to draw. You can get it in a variety of lead styles that suit your purposes. I like the 2 mm because it never breaks on me. The holder and replacement leads are relatively inexpensive as well.

Edited December 5, 2016 by Aquaria