Staedtler Technical Pencil

[B. Honeydew]

I lost my 30 yr Staedtler Mars technical pencil (2mm).  Does any one have suggestions for an alternative (2mm) or should I just stick with the tried and true and get another one?  If i get a new one, is the quality similar to the old models?

[Sh.Andrews]

I have all of the recommended high quality 2mm pencils and the Staedtlers are without a doubt my favorites. Their leads are the best in my opinion as well.  I keep a red (think they call it crimson) in a black one and regular (the softest, 3B or 4B??, don't remember) in the blue one.  Keep one of those very small bladed pointers so keeping a sharp tip doesn't take much effort.  The metal knurling is perfect. 

 

Never had a 30yr old one but I'm guessing it's the same.

 

The Faber-Castel is the only other one I would recommend.  It has a nice shape but grip area is kind of slippery (plastic).  The larger 3?mm has a nicer size body but I don't care for that lead size.

[B. Honeydew]

11 hours ago, Sh.Andrews said:

I have all of the recommended high quality 2mm pencils and the Staedtlers are without a doubt my favorites. Their leads are the best in my opinion as well.  I keep a red (think they call it crimson) in a black one and regular (the softest, 3B or 4B??, don't remember) in the blue one.  Keep one of those very small bladed pointers so keeping a sharp tip doesn't take much effort.  The metal knurling is perfect. 

 

Never had a 30yr old one but I'm guessing it's the same.

 

The Faber-Castel is the only other one I would recommend.  It has a nice shape but grip area is kind of slippery (plastic).  The larger 3?mm has a nicer size body but I don't care for that lead size.

 

Thanks for the feedback.  The only thing I can find that is different now is aluminum vs brass for some parts on the Staedtler.  I tested my college kid's newish Staedtler bought for an engineering design class and it is still pretty good quality.

[Beechwood]

13 hours ago, B. Honeydew said:

I lost my 30 yr Staedtler Mars technical pencil (2mm).  Does any one have suggestions for an alternative (2mm) or should I just stick with the tried and true and get another one?  If i get a new one, is the quality similar to the old models?

 

My Staedtler is about 20 years ago, sees daily use and if I lost it I  would just  replace it. I use Rhodia notebooks so I would buy softer leads than my HB, paper is too smooth

[Ink Sandwich]

I quite like my Koh-I-Noor 5900 and 5608 (they make all sorts of 2mm clutch pencils) with a 5B lead.

 

You could also look into the Faber Castell TK 4600. The sharpener at the end is quite good (plus, they make really good leads).

[Anne-Sophie]

 

A lead holder user since secondary school, only 2 could be considered outstanding, Criterium, now Bic Crrterium lead holder & Mars Technico. 

 

The Criterium was bought and used, in France, for 15 years with its outstanding leads, it was available as a silver color, I think, metal pencil. Grove for the grip and built in lead pointer, it served me very well.

 

When I moved to the U.S, I replaced it with a Mars Technico.

 

When I visited France, i was gifted another Criterium, this one, in black plastic, lighter & same outstanding features.

 

 

I lost my Technico, somewhere around 2014.

 

I bought 3 replacements:

 

A complete dud, Art Alternatives 2 mm push lead holder, with a lead pointer glued backward, which would be dangerous for a child to use, the sharp blade of the pointer being  sometimes exposed.

After a day or 2 of use, the lead was stuck inside, it still is, I have dismantled the mechanism, no way to fish it out. It is now a somewhat hazardous lead pointer.

 

        

My everyday writer, An Alvin made in Italy, in blue plastic, very light weight , no built in lead pointer = no chance to spill its content. (which just happened with the Art Alternative while I was moving it around)

 

I take an enormous amount of notes with it, it is fitted with a Steatler HB lead.

 

 

A Pacific Arc H-1305 metal grip, blue plastic, grip mechanism, built in lead pointer and lead grade indicator. The later feature is the cause of that pen relegation to 4th place, it is placed between the clip & the lead pointer. The lead pointer has less space to be secure & has a tendency to get loose.

Fitted with an HB Steatler lead, until it is used up. It will be replaced with a B or 2B from the same maker.

 

 

If I ever get back to public meetings, a new Steatler Mars Technico, fitted with an HB  Steatler lead, will find its way to my EDC.

 

It is really the perfect lead holder.

 

 

 

 

[Dillo]

I really like the Staedtler Mars Technico 788C leadholders. I used to have the 780 and 782. My problem with both is that I tended to wear the grip down to the brass. Once I got the 788C, I've never had this problem because it's all plastic.

[B. Honeydew]

1 hour ago, Dillo said:

I really like the Staedtler Mars Technico 788C leadholders. I used to have the 780 and 782. My problem with both is that I tended to wear the grip down to the brass. Once I got the 788C, I've never had this problem because it's all plastic.

I’ve read, but not confirmed, they have replaced the brass with aluminum so it shouldn’t have any plating to wear off.

[Dillo]

I might have to take a look then. It was a very bad problem that I had because it just made my hands smell, and it just didn't look great. It would happen after around a year of use. I still generally prefer a plastic grip on my pens and pencils and avoid metal when possible. There are some pens with metal grips that I use, but not many.

[B. Honeydew]

I ended up replacing with a Staedtler Mars 780 C.  Nicely constructed but a little lighter than I remember.  I'll put it through it's paces over the holidays.