Overengineered Japanese Mechanical Pencils [video](youtube.com)
youtube.com
Overengineered Japanese Mechanical Pencils [video]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PESa3Du3udY
114 comments
Might be better to think of 'regular' mechanical pencils as under-engineered, where the flaws are compensated for by using a lot lead and clicking a lot.
I've used the Uni Kuru Toga for years and have converted a few people to it. I don't think it's necessary for everyone, but it's just a great pencil.
It's also worth investing in better than the cheapest lead you can find as well. I prefer lead that is a little softer, and writes darker, than your standard "#2" pencil lead. There are a few sites dedicated to reviewing pens and pencils that are useful, and some have added on side stores where you can buy sampler packs.
I also recommend Paper Mate Flair felt tip marker pens for ink writing, especially if you've ever struggled with keeping legible notes.
I've used the Uni Kuru Toga for years and have converted a few people to it. I don't think it's necessary for everyone, but it's just a great pencil.
It's also worth investing in better than the cheapest lead you can find as well. I prefer lead that is a little softer, and writes darker, than your standard "#2" pencil lead. There are a few sites dedicated to reviewing pens and pencils that are useful, and some have added on side stores where you can buy sampler packs.
I also recommend Paper Mate Flair felt tip marker pens for ink writing, especially if you've ever struggled with keeping legible notes.
Do they really use lead? Or is it graphite?
"Lead" pencils have never used actual lead (Pb). They have always been graphite, and they've always been called "lead".
Today, lead pencils contain a mix of graphite and clay, in ratios chosen to produce varying "darkness" of the marks. Higher graphite content is softer, darker, and wears more quickly.
The traditional classification scale runs from 9B ('B' for blackness) down to 1B, HB, F (for fine, or firm, but not meaningful really), 1H, and up to 9H ('H' for hardness). HB is the US-typical "#2 pencil".
Today, lead pencils contain a mix of graphite and clay, in ratios chosen to produce varying "darkness" of the marks. Higher graphite content is softer, darker, and wears more quickly.
The traditional classification scale runs from 9B ('B' for blackness) down to 1B, HB, F (for fine, or firm, but not meaningful really), 1H, and up to 9H ('H' for hardness). HB is the US-typical "#2 pencil".
Some early writing implements actually did use lead (Pb). Here's something da Vinci sketched in leadpoint (in part):
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1860-0616-...
Really looks like modern (graphite) pencil, doesn't it? (Unless I've misunderstood which parts are lead and which aren't -- but I think I've interpreted it right).
edit: Here's a technical article about how you can positively identify lead (Pb) in medieval drawings, and distinguish it from silver and other metals. (In case anyone was still skeptical). They show a variety of other examples.
https://sci-hub.se/10.1179/sic.2009.54.2.106 ("A Note on the Examination of Silverpoint Drawings by Near-Infrared Reflectography")
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1860-0616-...
Really looks like modern (graphite) pencil, doesn't it? (Unless I've misunderstood which parts are lead and which aren't -- but I think I've interpreted it right).
edit: Here's a technical article about how you can positively identify lead (Pb) in medieval drawings, and distinguish it from silver and other metals. (In case anyone was still skeptical). They show a variety of other examples.
https://sci-hub.se/10.1179/sic.2009.54.2.106 ("A Note on the Examination of Silverpoint Drawings by Near-Infrared Reflectography")
True. Metalpoint is not traditionally considered "pencil", but it can definitely be used for writing/drawing and the stylus has the same appearance and basic use.
Anecdote: In ~5th grade science class, we had a folded sheet of metallic lead that was passed around for students to handle. I suspect this practice has been discontinued!
At the time, I thought pencils contained real lead (Pb), so I tried to use the lead sheet to mark paper. It worked well! But not as well as (and had different marking characteristics from) a regular pencil. I assumed the improvements were part of the productization, but that the pencil still used real lead.
Wikipedia says, on the discovery of naturally-occurring graphite:
> Chemistry was in its infancy and the substance was thought to be a form of lead. Consequently, it was called plumbago (Latin for "lead ore").
It's funny how names stick. 500 years and counting on this one.
Anecdote: In ~5th grade science class, we had a folded sheet of metallic lead that was passed around for students to handle. I suspect this practice has been discontinued!
At the time, I thought pencils contained real lead (Pb), so I tried to use the lead sheet to mark paper. It worked well! But not as well as (and had different marking characteristics from) a regular pencil. I assumed the improvements were part of the productization, but that the pencil still used real lead.
Wikipedia says, on the discovery of naturally-occurring graphite:
> Chemistry was in its infancy and the substance was thought to be a form of lead. Consequently, it was called plumbago (Latin for "lead ore").
It's funny how names stick. 500 years and counting on this one.
There _must_ be a market for writing out other peoples resumes.
I just quickly Googled it and the second hit was a page that offered it. (searched for 履歴書 手書き 代行)
https://writing-daiko.com/tegaki/service/rirekisho/index.htm...
https://writing-daiko.com/tegaki/service/rirekisho/index.htm...
I used to charge classmates for hand written love letters.
> It might feel "overengineered" to people outside the Japanese society...
I think the tone behind that word is more about being impressed by the thoughtfulness, and not at all derisive dismissal. If anything, I might detect a note of self-consciousness in the video's title-writer, perhaps a little embarrassment about being so impressed.
I think the tone behind that word is more about being impressed by the thoughtfulness, and not at all derisive dismissal. If anything, I might detect a note of self-consciousness in the video's title-writer, perhaps a little embarrassment about being so impressed.
> resumes have to be handwritten.
Sounds incredibly easy to cheat, but also not something Japanese would do, would they?
Sounds incredibly easy to cheat, but also not something Japanese would do, would they?
Many aspects of resumes are easy to cheat.
List an undergrad at a more prestigious university while your graduate degree is accurate. There’s a high chance outside of government few will verify. Hell, lie about it all. I know for a fact my last big tech employer never verified education.
My point is finding edge cases where a person with a certain set of antisocial traits will abuse the system doesn’t mean there isn’t value in it. The majority of people won’t take the risk to their professional reputation and will be honest.
List an undergrad at a more prestigious university while your graduate degree is accurate. There’s a high chance outside of government few will verify. Hell, lie about it all. I know for a fact my last big tech employer never verified education.
My point is finding edge cases where a person with a certain set of antisocial traits will abuse the system doesn’t mean there isn’t value in it. The majority of people won’t take the risk to their professional reputation and will be honest.
>Sounds incredibly easy to cheat
Not if they make you write something when you come for the interview. It's not uncommon to have to fill out a questionnaire, even in Western companies.
Not if they make you write something when you come for the interview. It's not uncommon to have to fill out a questionnaire, even in Western companies.
What makes you say that? Their attitudes towards concepts like cheating, deception and outcome over process behind the social wall of politeness and diligence might surprise you.
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Many people say my handwriting is nice for a guy ( the other people say i write like a girl).
Cultures differ :p
Cultures differ :p
Damn it have horrible handwriting but can type real fast... The times are'a changin.
Cool fact to know though. Makes sense like being 'read' is what is valued more in the west.
Cool fact to know though. Makes sense like being 'read' is what is valued more in the west.
> resumes have to be handwritten.
This is elitist evil.
This is elitist evil.
Is that any more elitist than judging the resume by grammar or by the prestige of the schools, former employers, and references it lists? Hiring is a situation where you're literally looking for the best: it's by definition elitist.
Unless the job is handwritting then it is unnecessary gatekeeping. And strikes me as elitist if they're trying to filter out lower classes.
Just because other practices are also elitist doesn't make this virtuous.
Just because other practices are also elitist doesn't make this virtuous.
My point in bringing up the general elitism of hiring is this: people judge reliability, capability, and dedication by all sorts of clues, though the specifics differ by culture. I don't really see a problem with handwriting being one. A dedicated, capable, responsible person will, in a culture where good handwriting is considered a sine qua non of employability, develop excellent handwriting, because they want to be successful and are willing to work at it. In Elizabethan England, a young man wasn't fit for society unless he could join in a song and improvise harmony, and you can bet that the most dedicated, ambitious young men made sure they could do so. Neither is more arbitrary than some of the criteria the American hiring process relies on.
Many jobs don't benefit from these arbitrary signals. And people are born with diverse capabilities. So digging for weak signals causes systemic harm to whole groups of people. Folks who may be more than qualified for the work in question.
Let's learn from mistakes of the past instead of repeating them out of laziness or tribalism.
Let's learn from mistakes of the past instead of repeating them out of laziness or tribalism.
More ableist I think. Some people have bad handwriting due to physical or neurological conditions
Cool! I just bought one of these (the shake one) and while checking out I accidentally didn't un-check the "sign me up for your newsletter box". Instead of automatically starting to spam me– they actually sent me a confirmation email asking if I really wanted to sign up for their newsletter– how considerate! Bravo Jet Pens for avoiding that dark pattern.
JetPens’ marketing is amazing. Their online storefront is very well put together, and above all their buyer team ensures they have mountains of imported variety in every category.
It’s so nice to see someone doing something well. Really well.
I have no connection to them other than I spent $500 with them last Christmas on gifts for my entire family.
It’s so nice to see someone doing something well. Really well.
I have no connection to them other than I spent $500 with them last Christmas on gifts for my entire family.
The website seems to mimic Japanese craftsmanship. Really simple, really useful, well made.
Reminds me of McMaster-Carr's website, which is another pinnacle of web design.
My first try to post in HackerNews, hoping this fits the spirit. I was amazed to see the features of these pencil pens.
Are these pencils common where you live? Here in Germany, they are known, but rather seldomly used...
Are these pencils common where you live? Here in Germany, they are known, but rather seldomly used...
Nah, mechanical pencils are a niche, and those Japanese ones are a niche within a niche here in the Netherlands too. In Japan they are common, mainly due to the writing system that is very well suited to mechanical pencils, so they are common in schools.
I use the Uni Kuru Toga in its fancy aluminium variant for both Dutch (mostly random notes and DIY measurements) and Japanese (I'm Dutch, but proficient in Japanese). For writing kanji, the self-rotating core just can't be beat. The line thickness remains a very neat 0.3mm with 0.5mm pencil lead due to the cone at the writing end staying, well, a cone.
Fortunately, these pencils can be ordered worldwide these days via various resellers. In Japan you get the luxury of just being able to walk into a 文房具屋 (a stationary shop) and buy one starting from ¥500 or so.
I use the Uni Kuru Toga in its fancy aluminium variant for both Dutch (mostly random notes and DIY measurements) and Japanese (I'm Dutch, but proficient in Japanese). For writing kanji, the self-rotating core just can't be beat. The line thickness remains a very neat 0.3mm with 0.5mm pencil lead due to the cone at the writing end staying, well, a cone.
Fortunately, these pencils can be ordered worldwide these days via various resellers. In Japan you get the luxury of just being able to walk into a 文房具屋 (a stationary shop) and buy one starting from ¥500 or so.
The Kuru Toga is so versatile, I have three with different lead. But I do want to investigate these others :D About thirty years ago, I had a Faber-Castell where the lead sleeve retracted and automatically dispensed new lead so finally I will be able to get a similar replacement. It’s not always Japan!
I guess you're talking about Faber Castell gripmatic.
They are still in production. Problem is they are plastic and the brand and model fades after using it heavily, which makes hard to guess which @#$! lead size you need (I use Staedler leads because the case has feeding mechanism that feeds the lead into the pencil without having to touch the leads with your hand. Neat and tidy).
They are still in production. Problem is they are plastic and the brand and model fades after using it heavily, which makes hard to guess which @#$! lead size you need (I use Staedler leads because the case has feeding mechanism that feeds the lead into the pencil without having to touch the leads with your hand. Neat and tidy).
Hoi! I am in the Netherlands as well, which site did you use to purchase the Kuru Toga? I am interested in buying one too
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Overengineered certainly fits the bill, but boy do I love mine (Pentel Orenz).
At 0.2mm it’s great for a math, especially with the number of super and subscripts I find myself ending up with.
The redesigned clutch on the one pencil is a Kevin good idea I wish all pencils have. Being able to write till the last 0.5mm of lead instead of wasting 10mm.
10mm doesn’t sound like a lot, but standard lead is only 60mm long, so we’re talking about wasting 16% of the lead. It gets even worse if it happens to break into shorter pieces.
At 0.2mm it’s great for a math, especially with the number of super and subscripts I find myself ending up with.
The redesigned clutch on the one pencil is a Kevin good idea I wish all pencils have. Being able to write till the last 0.5mm of lead instead of wasting 10mm.
10mm doesn’t sound like a lot, but standard lead is only 60mm long, so we’re talking about wasting 16% of the lead. It gets even worse if it happens to break into shorter pieces.
I feel like lead distribution/packaging/format is suboptimal. You can only buy leads in very small quantity, compared to the size of their container, and their short length, as you say, means you have lots of losses.
Maybe longer leads would mean more breakage, but I feel like there is room for improvements in terms of general waste.
All my German pens and colored pencils are for art, interestingly. Great investment it's been over the years, keep on coming back to faber-castell, but it does seem to be the focus of what is made in your country.
You had me at overengineered.
> Are these pencils common where you live?
In my experience in the US (Texas), most school students only use mechanical pencils for regular work. It's more convenient (no sharpener), and cheaper than a regular pencil.
In my experience in the US (Texas), most school students only use mechanical pencils for regular work. It's more convenient (no sharpener), and cheaper than a regular pencil.
I grew up in Iran and these were very common back in the day. I personally had a very bad reaction to the sound of pencil on a paper and i could only write using these.
Im amazed these aren't common here.
Im amazed these aren't common here.
Where I grew up mechanical pencils were common but they were either very utilitarian (stick of graphite that you would adjust by twisting the 'shaved' portion of the pencil), goofy, or the regular click to extend. I got one of the kuru togas at a friends recommendation when I was working on my hand writing and it is the first time in over thirty years that I've had a pen or pencil that I've kept and maintained. It wasn't even expensive, about ten dollars, buying 'disposable' pens and pencils had cost more.
Getting japanese supplies in Europe ain't easy. Most of the stuff you find in Amazon is from this party suppliers and is overpriced.
I guess in Germany you can buy some stuff from Müller. Whenever I visit Majorca (I know, sometimes it feels you're not in Spain but in a small länder) I go to the stationery section in the Müller located in Plaza de España.
I guess in Germany you can buy some stuff from Müller. Whenever I visit Majorca (I know, sometimes it feels you're not in Spain but in a small länder) I go to the stationery section in the Müller located in Plaza de España.
I know that mechanical pencils with a dampened tip where used in Germany at least since the late 80s. This was the heyday of technical drawing and it is where I encountered them. I believe that they were rarely used even back then.
I have a couple of Rotring 800’s that i adore because of the disappearing tip(makes them much more packable!) However I’m the only person I know who has anything not disposable.
I grew up using a lot of mechanical pencils, but I was too reckless and the cheap ones I used broke easily.
Now I just use a standard #2 pencil.
Now I just use a standard #2 pencil.
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When I was younger I lived in Japan for a year when my dad was stationed on a navy ship in Yokosuka.
Most people I can remember then using "mechanical pencils" had those where there was a stack of maybe 8 pencil tips (lead + plastic casing around it) going down the hollow plastic body, and when the piece broke or wore down too far, you would remove it from the stack and push it back in the top of the pencil to make the next tip available. I hated using them, they always broke, felt bad to use, and if you put it in your pocket the wrong direction you'd stab your hand when you went to grab something.
While exploring downtown on Blue Street (which had a mosaic of blue pebbles mixed into the road itself) we found a huge stationary store where the entire second floor was devoted to writing utensils. I went straight for the pencils section, more specifically, because I'm the kind of person who now uses hackernews, for the mechanical pencils section.
It blew my mind.
This store had everything. Metal pencils, plastic pencils, cheap pencils, expensive pencils, auto rotating lead, shake lead, with grips made of all kinds of materials. I don't remember if I even bought anything then, but what stuck with me was the fact they existed at all.
Later in high school I pissed off my parents by doubling my school supplies cost by making a JetPens account, the online embodiment of that stationary store on Blue St.
I tried a few different brands at first, but eventually the Tombow Zoom 505 Mechanical Pencil (0.5 mm) took the crown as my favorite. There's still one on my desk today.
I almost felt like a different person writing with that pencil. I also started only buying 8.5x11 lined paper because my calc teacher required it, but that added to the experience. I was no longer handing in crumpled pages from a spiral notebook with broken pencil marks all over it, but professional products on crisp full size paper with perfect text.
This started something for me, because ever since I've put a higher priority on what tools I use to make work. I have an happy hacker keyboard, a color graded BenQ photography monitor, and soon planning on upgrading to a stupidly expensive mirrorless camera.
Maybe I'm just making "buying expensive high quality things" into more than it really is, but at least for me it makes a noticeable mental difference when I'm making things and can feel the engineering that went into the tools I'm using.
Thanks for posting this! Brought up a lot of memories obviously lol
Most people I can remember then using "mechanical pencils" had those where there was a stack of maybe 8 pencil tips (lead + plastic casing around it) going down the hollow plastic body, and when the piece broke or wore down too far, you would remove it from the stack and push it back in the top of the pencil to make the next tip available. I hated using them, they always broke, felt bad to use, and if you put it in your pocket the wrong direction you'd stab your hand when you went to grab something.
While exploring downtown on Blue Street (which had a mosaic of blue pebbles mixed into the road itself) we found a huge stationary store where the entire second floor was devoted to writing utensils. I went straight for the pencils section, more specifically, because I'm the kind of person who now uses hackernews, for the mechanical pencils section.
It blew my mind.
This store had everything. Metal pencils, plastic pencils, cheap pencils, expensive pencils, auto rotating lead, shake lead, with grips made of all kinds of materials. I don't remember if I even bought anything then, but what stuck with me was the fact they existed at all.
Later in high school I pissed off my parents by doubling my school supplies cost by making a JetPens account, the online embodiment of that stationary store on Blue St.
I tried a few different brands at first, but eventually the Tombow Zoom 505 Mechanical Pencil (0.5 mm) took the crown as my favorite. There's still one on my desk today.
I almost felt like a different person writing with that pencil. I also started only buying 8.5x11 lined paper because my calc teacher required it, but that added to the experience. I was no longer handing in crumpled pages from a spiral notebook with broken pencil marks all over it, but professional products on crisp full size paper with perfect text.
This started something for me, because ever since I've put a higher priority on what tools I use to make work. I have an happy hacker keyboard, a color graded BenQ photography monitor, and soon planning on upgrading to a stupidly expensive mirrorless camera.
Maybe I'm just making "buying expensive high quality things" into more than it really is, but at least for me it makes a noticeable mental difference when I'm making things and can feel the engineering that went into the tools I'm using.
Thanks for posting this! Brought up a lot of memories obviously lol
Ah, a fellow "Tombow Zoom 505" enthusiast! In case you didn't know already, they have expanded the lineup somewhat. There is now a 0.9mm Mechanical pencil and a Ballpoint pen over and above the original 0.5mm Mechanical Pencils and Rollerballs[1].
There is also a new "Multifunction pen" (Black+Red+0.5mm) in three colours. It is slightly longer than the Mechanical pencil[2].
Finally, the Pentel Kerry makes a very good companion to the Zoom 505.
1. https://www.tombow.com/en/products/zoom_505/
2. https://www.tombow.com/en/press/180312/
There is also a new "Multifunction pen" (Black+Red+0.5mm) in three colours. It is slightly longer than the Mechanical pencil[2].
Finally, the Pentel Kerry makes a very good companion to the Zoom 505.
1. https://www.tombow.com/en/products/zoom_505/
2. https://www.tombow.com/en/press/180312/
The Kerry is a must have for me; it got me through my maths degree.
The simplicity of being able to close the cap and toss it in a jacket or jean pocket without worrying about pencil marks meant I always had a pencil on me and could write down things as soon as they clicked in my head.
Ah, a fellow Pentel Kerry user! I cannot stop singing its praises. I've one in 0.7, and one in 0.5, and between them they make good companions for my Uni Kuru Toga :)
I bought the HHKB when I began my first infosec job 5 years ago. It’s outright the best keyboard I’ve ever used and even today I’m amazed at how well it is engineered and has held up. Japanese engineering is truly top notch in some areas.
Can strongly identify with this - at school I had a very artistic friend who introduced me to Rotring pens - crazily expensive but beautiful writing implements. I still recall making crystal clear interlinear notes in textbooks using the smallest nib I possessed (0.2 mm iirc) and there was a real aesthetic joy in this, heightened by the distinctive smell of the ink they used.
There's over engineered mechanical pencils and then there's the Wingback[0]. A £140 mechanical pencil made from stainless steel, featuring bespoke internals made in Japan and finished with a tungsten carbide coating.
It may be over engineered and overpriced, but damn if it's not one beautiful item of stationary.
[0] https://wingback.co.uk/collections/mechanical-pencil/product...
It may be over engineered and overpriced, but damn if it's not one beautiful item of stationary.
[0] https://wingback.co.uk/collections/mechanical-pencil/product...
Alright, I went in thinking "come on, how 'overengineered' can a mechanical pencil be?", and by about halfway through I wanted to buy one, and at the end I readily admit that they've managed to find exactly the problems with these things and fix them, way beyond what I would have thought practical. Remarkable:)
A product is not overengineered when it has many features, but when its many features make basic usage problematic, generally because the thing becomes less robust and fails too often. These features in the video look useful, but we haven't heard anything about failure rates, so we can't say if it's overengineering or not.
Here in China I realised if you want more than 4 colors or so, multicolour pens are also Japanese imports only. But they're too fat to be useful, IMHO. It's also hard to source ballpoint pens in non red-blue-black colours, for no apparent reason. I guess I'm oddball for liking colour contrast in my notes. The nicest pen I ever bought was machined out of Laotian tropical hardwood but it was a traditional calligraphic pen with the nib and ink management issues. For modern writing implements... you can't beat a fullscreen terminal, vim and a Cherry (German design, China fabrication I guess). https://www.cherry-world.com/
> I guess I'm oddball for liking colour contrast in my notes.
I just started taking notes to learn a new programming language. Writing the code with a red pen and my own notes in blue makes for a fantastic contrast.
I just started taking notes to learn a new programming language. Writing the code with a red pen and my own notes in blue makes for a fantastic contrast.
I agree that these pencils are "overengineered" in that they are multiple times more complex and expensive than their simpler counterparts while offering relatively little improvement in function, but if you use a pencil every day I think that increase in cost is more than worth it.
I, for one, have loved my Kuru Toga pencil (the rotating lead one) since the day I got it a few years ago.
I, for one, have loved my Kuru Toga pencil (the rotating lead one) since the day I got it a few years ago.
Is a Lexus overengineered, or just better at a cost?
If you don't lose a pencil, it lasts for decades and the cost is trivial.
If you don't lose a pencil, it lasts for decades and the cost is trivial.
That was fun. I don't use anything except mechanical pencils but none of those really grabbed me and I generally love gadgets. For some reason I don't like the bouncy feel of the spring-protected tips and the only time I break leads is when I drop the pencil on the floor.
The engineering on the spring protected pencils is amazing, I also like the rounded tip, retractable sleeve on the 0.2mm pencils. I hadn’t seen that before this video.
Many years ago I really hoped the Kura Toga would be as revolutionary as the Quicker Clicker was back in the mid-90s, but it always felt like I was fighting the lead orientation. I have eventually settled on the rOtring and draftmatics because I enjoy their aggressive knurling.
I would really like a heavy, aggressively knurled side advance (preferably lower than the Pentel’s). I really miss the transparent barrel that displayed the action of the Quicker Clicker, but like the ergonomics of the fatter, tackier rubber grip.
I found the QC and the Pilot Precise V5, around the same time and nearly 30 years later they are still among my favorites. I mostly use the V5RT these days, but gladly grab a V5 (in blue or green) when I can.
Many years ago I really hoped the Kura Toga would be as revolutionary as the Quicker Clicker was back in the mid-90s, but it always felt like I was fighting the lead orientation. I have eventually settled on the rOtring and draftmatics because I enjoy their aggressive knurling.
I would really like a heavy, aggressively knurled side advance (preferably lower than the Pentel’s). I really miss the transparent barrel that displayed the action of the Quicker Clicker, but like the ergonomics of the fatter, tackier rubber grip.
I found the QC and the Pilot Precise V5, around the same time and nearly 30 years later they are still among my favorites. I mostly use the V5RT these days, but gladly grab a V5 (in blue or green) when I can.
+1 on the Quicker Clicker. A fatter grip would be nice, but it's still hands down the best mechanical pencil I've ever used, and I've tried some fancy ones. My Kuru Toga stopped rotating and it no longer feeds lead properly. I've never had a QC break on me, I just lose them eventually due to frequent use.
The last time this happened, i dismantled the cone of my Kuru Toga and found a small piece of lead stuck between the dispenser and the "side wall". Cleaned it out, and the pencil was as good as new. Switched to a slightly better brand of pencil lead (Staedtler), and have not seen this problem again.
Don't knock rotating lead till you try it. Seriously, it's like a real time pencil sharpener.
I've never felt like the rotation of the lead was an issue for me (except for the few times the lead broke). Do you (and others) do a lot of drawing?
If, like me, you're reading this from India and want to get your hands on one of these beauties, a few of them (zebra delguard, tombow graph) are available at scooboo.in.
Wow these are amazing. I bought my daughter a mechanical drafting pencil with 0.9 mm lead because 0.5 tends ti break on her. These might be the better solution
These are super cool, but I have to admit I’ve sworn by BIC 0.5mm mechanical pencils for years. Part of it is that they are so cheap and commonplace, I like that at least for one aspect of my life I don’t rely on some super custom, boutique version of an everyday product.
I have two Pentel 0.5mm classic black pencils with the teeny weeny erasers under a steel cap. I have used these since high school, so over 40 years.
(I also have a Sharp calculator from the same era that is still working just fine. The Japanese really built things to last in the 80s.)
(I also have a Sharp calculator from the same era that is still working just fine. The Japanese really built things to last in the 80s.)
In middle school, a buddy of mine drew a beautiful picture of a Bugatti Veyron with a silver Pilot Dr. Grip Ltd. shaker pencil and I was so enamored by his drawing and his pencil. He spent weeks getting the details just right during downtime in math class.
It got me interested in stationary ever since then, and I've always loved JetPens. I've gone through phases where I really like mechanical pencils, although I mostly write with Uni Signo UM-151 0.38mm gel pens. Super smooth with a crisp, fine line.
JetPens is a great site with a very cool niche. Check out Kinokuniya too. There's one in Little Tokyo in LA. Lots of pens, pencils, notebooks, and all sorts of books and manga.
It got me interested in stationary ever since then, and I've always loved JetPens. I've gone through phases where I really like mechanical pencils, although I mostly write with Uni Signo UM-151 0.38mm gel pens. Super smooth with a crisp, fine line.
JetPens is a great site with a very cool niche. Check out Kinokuniya too. There's one in Little Tokyo in LA. Lots of pens, pencils, notebooks, and all sorts of books and manga.
I looked hard for a nice pen about 5 years ago. I ended up going with a Zebra Sharbo X LT3. I use them so much that the matte finish comes to a shine in about 3 months and the plastic mechanism inside loosens up in about 1 year. They probably would last much longer if I did not flip them all day everyday. I happily buy new ones when it's time from JetPens. I've tried a few other models but nothing compares to the Sharbo X LT3.
Unfortunately, the pretty colors have been discontinued, but if you're looking for a multipen and don't mind putting up some money, they're great.
Unfortunately, the pretty colors have been discontinued, but if you're looking for a multipen and don't mind putting up some money, they're great.
I love Jet Pens. I actually found my way into it from the pen side, rather than the pencil side, getting very into Japanese made inks and fountain pens (and nib replacements for non-Japanese fountain pens). My first entry into this world was a quaint little stationary store in Kansas City where I found and bought a pen specifically designed to fit in the spine of a checkbook (this dates me, I'm sure). After that I began to realize the world of pens was larger than cheap bics and the occasional logoed click pen given away for free at a conference.
Since that experience I've become a devoted fan of Zebra's line of pens, and I always carry an F-301 or F-402 in my pocket, have huge stacks of them in my pen drawer, and discovered the entire world of Japanese stationary. I now buy almost all of my stationary products from Japanese companies, except ironically mechanical pencils. My favorite mechanical pencil is the Rotring 800, which is made by a German company. For a fit of double-irony, they no longer manufacturer them in Germany and they are instead made in Japan under license by Holbein (who also makes amazing pencils for art use).
Between Jet Pens and Goulet Pens, I've spent a small fortune on stationary products over the years, but it creates a visceral experience that can't be replicated electronically (I've tried). My writing has improved, I take more notes, I write with more eloquence, and I've found using good stationary and writing well is so rare now that it becomes a nice symbolic touch that gets remembered.
Since that experience I've become a devoted fan of Zebra's line of pens, and I always carry an F-301 or F-402 in my pocket, have huge stacks of them in my pen drawer, and discovered the entire world of Japanese stationary. I now buy almost all of my stationary products from Japanese companies, except ironically mechanical pencils. My favorite mechanical pencil is the Rotring 800, which is made by a German company. For a fit of double-irony, they no longer manufacturer them in Germany and they are instead made in Japan under license by Holbein (who also makes amazing pencils for art use).
Between Jet Pens and Goulet Pens, I've spent a small fortune on stationary products over the years, but it creates a visceral experience that can't be replicated electronically (I've tried). My writing has improved, I take more notes, I write with more eloquence, and I've found using good stationary and writing well is so rare now that it becomes a nice symbolic touch that gets remembered.
I’ve been a huge JetPens fan for years. Something about the over-engineering makes it almost hobby-like to collect these pens and pencils.
On the downside, I probably own 500 or so pens and pencils of all variety, plus a requisite number of over-engineered pencil cases.
The habit extends beyond JetPens into somewhat exotic materials, like the pens from Tactile Turn out of Texas. It’s easy to spend $400+ on a pen there. It makes a fun conversation piece but very few understand the “cool pen” impulse some have.
On the downside, I probably own 500 or so pens and pencils of all variety, plus a requisite number of over-engineered pencil cases.
The habit extends beyond JetPens into somewhat exotic materials, like the pens from Tactile Turn out of Texas. It’s easy to spend $400+ on a pen there. It makes a fun conversation piece but very few understand the “cool pen” impulse some have.
I've used a Pilot shaker mechanical pencil [1] over 20 years ago, and I'm quite surprised that the shaking mechanism, and many other quality-of-life improvements, still aren't that ubiquitous.
[1] https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/pilot-id-shaker-mecha...
[1] https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/pilot-id-shaker-mecha...
Isn't a button on side that you can press with pointing finger much simpler and faster way for achieving same thing? Was shaking in the video exaggerated and single flick of wrist sufficient or do you really need to shake that much? Looking forward hearing from someone who has used it, from the video it looked more like a gimmick than practical improvement.
I've used the Kuru Toga for years. The mechanism is so good that I don't see the argument for any other pencil. Which is actually a shame, as I can't get excited for other pencils anymore.
During my school years we had all kinds of discussions and comparisons for best pencils, best pens, best erasers.
During my school years we had all kinds of discussions and comparisons for best pencils, best pens, best erasers.
I feel the same about the GraphGear 1000.
As for erasers - do you recall anything that beats out the Pentel Hi-Polymer block eraser for the overwhelming vast majority of use cases?
I seriously couldn’t gear over just how bad Staedtler block eraser performed when I’d seen so many rave about it. I haven’t tried much other than it & the Pentel when it comes to erasers tho.
As for erasers - do you recall anything that beats out the Pentel Hi-Polymer block eraser for the overwhelming vast majority of use cases?
I seriously couldn’t gear over just how bad Staedtler block eraser performed when I’d seen so many rave about it. I haven’t tried much other than it & the Pentel when it comes to erasers tho.
I'm happy with my Sakura Foam eraser but the Pentel is certainly a classic. Not sure about Staedtler but everyone I've known throughout grade school and college coalesced onto Japanese brands, presumably for a reason ;)
How does the automatic lead extender know by how much to extend the lead? If I were to write lots of dots, the lead would wear off less than when I wrote lots of dashes, but I would touch the paper and lift the pen an equal amount of times. Guess: is it weight controlled?
The automatic lead advance works like this: When the lead sleeve is retracted by any amount, it springs back to it's full length and along with that advances the lead by that amount. The way this happens in practice is as you write, the lead wears down till the sleeve rubs against the paper. Usually we write with the pencil at an angle with the paper. This angle causes the lead sleeve to retract when it rubs on the paper and then when you lift the pencil for the next stroke, the lead sleeve will spring back into position advancing the lead with it.
If you're interested in more details and how the mechanism actually works, here is a good link: https://stationery.wiki/Auto-Advance_mechanism
If you're interested in more details and how the mechanism actually works, here is a good link: https://stationery.wiki/Auto-Advance_mechanism
I am not 100% sure how it works, but I own two of them, and if I write a bunch of dots, it does not keep extending the lead.
What are a few goto pens that people use for note taking that involves some diagrams (think napkin system designs).
I currently use a pilot G2 and it's decent but I feel like a weighted pen body could feel better.
I currently use a pilot G2 and it's decent but I feel like a weighted pen body could feel better.
Two I like are the Pilot G4 range, and the Uni Pin fineliner range. They punch above their weight and if you damage the tip you haven't spent too much. The 0.3mm has become my new goto: https://uniball.co.uk/brands/pin/uni-pin-03-line-drawing-pen...
I adore this kind of precise and incrementally improved solution.
To me this exhibits the very best of the engineering craft: small, measurable improvements anchored in real issues faced by the consumer/client.
To me this exhibits the very best of the engineering craft: small, measurable improvements anchored in real issues faced by the consumer/client.
This is crazy cool!
I wonder how these miniscule and thin lead sleeves are produced and how they manage to stay within tolerance and even get a rounded edge.
Haven't watched the video yet, but I did just the last couple of weeks buy 2 Uni Kuru Toga pencils from JetPens and am enjoying them immensely.
I highly recommend getting the kuro toga pipe slide. The pipe slides up to protect the lead as you're writing, but you still get the clutch mechanism that rotates the lead.
They're available on amazon for not a huge amount of money:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pipe+slide+kuro+toga (no affiliate link)
They're available on amazon for not a huge amount of money:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pipe+slide+kuro+toga (no affiliate link)
Gotta admit, the spring inside the tip to prevent stress breakage sounds amazing. It was the #1 reason I stopped using mechanical pencils.
I have a Pentel Orenz Nero 0.2mm with such a feature. It is pretty nice, but you will often scratch over the paper with the metal which is definitely a counter argument.
Makes 0.2mm usable though. I think for 0.5mm you don't need it, just get some decent 'lead'.
I have a Pentel (0.5) that I purchased 12 years ago. I treat it with equal ritual and reverence as I do, say, my Korean crossbow, or Leica optics - it has its own altar of sorts. I may have appendages of my own form that are guarded less. I modified it though, using a glue to permanently fix the pocket clip into a particular position.
I was hesitant to post a trivial comment, but I discovered an ancient container of 0.5 pencil inserts this morning, and... I worship high quality Pentels. Built to last!
I was hesitant to post a trivial comment, but I discovered an ancient container of 0.5 pencil inserts this morning, and... I worship high quality Pentels. Built to last!
There's a "pipe slide" model of the kuro toga that will slide the pipe with the writing so only a little bit of lead is exposed at all times.
Uniball also has custom lead with a softer outside and a harder core.
Uniball also has custom lead with a softer outside and a harder core.
Nice, but when you're actually drawing (technical, not 'artistic') nothing beats a 4H pencil, a B pencil and colored pencils. But they have to be well sharpened.
I had used a combination of 0.35mm, 0.5mm and 0.7mm mechanical pencils, but they had been significantly worse than 'real' pencils.
I had used a combination of 0.35mm, 0.5mm and 0.7mm mechanical pencils, but they had been significantly worse than 'real' pencils.
Thats not overengineering, its good engineering. It solves real problems with great eye for detail.
Beautiful instruments. Personally, I still opt for a faber-castell clutch pencil, alvin lead, and a dahle or staedtler sharpener. In the event it's misplaced, it's not much of a loss (financially).
I have the Orenz Nero, the Kuru Toga and even a Faber-Castell alpha-matic, but my favorite is a Faber-Castell e-motion with its lovely tactile wood barrel and expressive 1.4mm lead.
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The pointy metal ends on these bend so easily though. I love the concept but that just makes them a liability for daily driver use
You're looking for the Rotring 800, my friend. Twist to retract / extend the lead sleeve into / out of a rounded nub. And it has a beautiful solid heavy build.
There are also the Pentel GraphGear models, which retract / extend with push, but the build isn't as satisfying.
There are also the Pentel GraphGear models, which retract / extend with push, but the build isn't as satisfying.
Having used the Rotring 800, I can’t imagine why anybody would choose it over a GraphGear 1000. Even without taking the price difference into account.
Yeah it’s a sad day when the tip land straight onto the floor :(
Don't kill me for this - but is there any advantage to using a pencil over a pen for writing, except for erasability?
One other reason i can think of, a pencil has a near zero chance of leaving smudges on paper or marks on your hands/clothing. Also, a better choice if you are writing on both sides of the paper and it isn't super thick, because pencil writing won't be visible on the other side of the paper.
Pencil smudges are definitely still a huge issue for left handers....
I think that pencils are of course nice cuz you can write things lightly and then erase stuff. But honestly, after being forced to use a pen when moving to Europe in HS after years of "you have to use a pencil for math".... just scratching things out works so well.
Pencils also are pressure sensitive, if you want to do anything like gradients...
I still like pencils for doing paper puzzles or the like, just cuz it's a bit easier to "fix" stuff, but it's definitely the minority of my usage.
I think that pencils are of course nice cuz you can write things lightly and then erase stuff. But honestly, after being forced to use a pen when moving to Europe in HS after years of "you have to use a pencil for math".... just scratching things out works so well.
Pencils also are pressure sensitive, if you want to do anything like gradients...
I still like pencils for doing paper puzzles or the like, just cuz it's a bit easier to "fix" stuff, but it's definitely the minority of my usage.
I really love my staedtler.
I had a smile on my face throughout the whole video, lovely.
“Zebra DelGuard Type-ER”
Sold.
Sold.
Wow, I'm impressed. I've used mechanical pencils for decades and I'd hate to go back to wooden pencils that one sharpens (although I make exceptions for carpenter's pencils in woodworking - but even then I'll use a mechanical pencil for that purpose if there's one in my shirt pocket at the time).
My writing looks terrible if I use a ballpoint pen so I've always used pencils where possible, if I have to write in permanent ink then I'll use a good nibbed fountain pen (I've a collection including a Waterman, Parker and a Mont Blanc but good pens are outrageously expensive - and all of them are messy so I avoid them whenever possible).
I don't know if others have this problem but the neatness of my handwriting is highly dependent on the type of implement that I'm writing with so I'm quite particular about the type of pen or pencil I use. (I've no idea why the quality of my writing is so variable and so dependent on the type writing implement that I'm using, so I've considerable envy for those who can write with just about any type of pen or pencil and that their writing always remains neat and tidy.)
For years, I've used Cross 0.5mm mechanical propelling pencils and found them good but they too are hellishly expensive especially the gold plated ones, so when one of mine broke I kept my two remaining Crosses for best (as dress pencils for my suit etc.) and I started using the very much cheaper plastic Pentel ORENZ 0.5 and 0.7mm mechanical pencils (fact that they're cheap means I can have many more of them and scatter them around everywhere without the worry of losing one. By now I must have about a dozen or more scattered around the house. The reason I've so many is that I run a selection of leads with different hardnesses, typically HB, B, 2B and 4B.
I selected the Pentel ORENZ type as they were the best of the plastic types available at my local office supplier, and I was unaware until now that there are likely to be better alternatives available in the cheaper class of pencils.
One of the problems I've always had with mechanical pencils, including the high quality Crosses, is that I press hard and write heavily thus I'm forever breaking leads (incidentally, I use Pentel leads with the exception of 4B as over the years I've found them to be the strongest and most consistent).
I can't quite say that about the Pentel ORENZ however, compared with the Cross I found that I'm breaking leads between two and three times more often. Moreover, it was even more frequent with some of these pencils. On careful inspection I found that the protective extension tube was a thou or so larger in diameter than the others and this led to the leads breaking much more frequently. In recent times this has led me to also use the next lead size up - 0.7mm (it's a bit thick but it's OK for quick and rough work).
Whilst 0.7mm leads are definitely more rugged and much less prone to break, I would still much prefer to write with 0.5mm leads (again, my writing looks much tidier when I use them).
The enhancements I've seen in the pencils in this story I've not seen previously anywhere else. Of particular interest to me are the improved lead delivery mechanism and the rotating lead arrangement so I'm particularly interested in purchasing them. (The smearing and broadening effect as the lead wears down is particularly annoying so I hope that feature works well.)
One of the major problems with the sliding sleeve arrangement is that it interferes with one's writing by rubbing on the paper. The problem isn't very noticeable with the Crosses but nevertheless it's still annoying and it's close to being objectionable on the Pentel ORENZ. Moreover, if you drop the pencil it's likely to get a burr on the tip of the sleeve which will make things worse (the sleeve will then scrape across the paper instead of sliding over it). With these new pencils I can avoid that and I should be able overcome the problems I've been having with the Pentel ORENZ.
I'm mindful however of the fact that the Pentel ORENZ is also reviewed in this collection and it was given a glowing writeup, so I'm expecting that some hype has crept into the comments on all pencils.
I now have to figure how to purchase them, for certain there'll be no one near me who stocks them.
My writing looks terrible if I use a ballpoint pen so I've always used pencils where possible, if I have to write in permanent ink then I'll use a good nibbed fountain pen (I've a collection including a Waterman, Parker and a Mont Blanc but good pens are outrageously expensive - and all of them are messy so I avoid them whenever possible).
I don't know if others have this problem but the neatness of my handwriting is highly dependent on the type of implement that I'm writing with so I'm quite particular about the type of pen or pencil I use. (I've no idea why the quality of my writing is so variable and so dependent on the type writing implement that I'm using, so I've considerable envy for those who can write with just about any type of pen or pencil and that their writing always remains neat and tidy.)
For years, I've used Cross 0.5mm mechanical propelling pencils and found them good but they too are hellishly expensive especially the gold plated ones, so when one of mine broke I kept my two remaining Crosses for best (as dress pencils for my suit etc.) and I started using the very much cheaper plastic Pentel ORENZ 0.5 and 0.7mm mechanical pencils (fact that they're cheap means I can have many more of them and scatter them around everywhere without the worry of losing one. By now I must have about a dozen or more scattered around the house. The reason I've so many is that I run a selection of leads with different hardnesses, typically HB, B, 2B and 4B.
I selected the Pentel ORENZ type as they were the best of the plastic types available at my local office supplier, and I was unaware until now that there are likely to be better alternatives available in the cheaper class of pencils.
One of the problems I've always had with mechanical pencils, including the high quality Crosses, is that I press hard and write heavily thus I'm forever breaking leads (incidentally, I use Pentel leads with the exception of 4B as over the years I've found them to be the strongest and most consistent).
I can't quite say that about the Pentel ORENZ however, compared with the Cross I found that I'm breaking leads between two and three times more often. Moreover, it was even more frequent with some of these pencils. On careful inspection I found that the protective extension tube was a thou or so larger in diameter than the others and this led to the leads breaking much more frequently. In recent times this has led me to also use the next lead size up - 0.7mm (it's a bit thick but it's OK for quick and rough work).
Whilst 0.7mm leads are definitely more rugged and much less prone to break, I would still much prefer to write with 0.5mm leads (again, my writing looks much tidier when I use them).
The enhancements I've seen in the pencils in this story I've not seen previously anywhere else. Of particular interest to me are the improved lead delivery mechanism and the rotating lead arrangement so I'm particularly interested in purchasing them. (The smearing and broadening effect as the lead wears down is particularly annoying so I hope that feature works well.)
One of the major problems with the sliding sleeve arrangement is that it interferes with one's writing by rubbing on the paper. The problem isn't very noticeable with the Crosses but nevertheless it's still annoying and it's close to being objectionable on the Pentel ORENZ. Moreover, if you drop the pencil it's likely to get a burr on the tip of the sleeve which will make things worse (the sleeve will then scrape across the paper instead of sliding over it). With these new pencils I can avoid that and I should be able overcome the problems I've been having with the Pentel ORENZ.
I'm mindful however of the fact that the Pentel ORENZ is also reviewed in this collection and it was given a glowing writeup, so I'm expecting that some hype has crept into the comments on all pencils.
I now have to figure how to purchase them, for certain there'll be no one near me who stocks them.
Great for drawing too
First, Kanji signs are more detailed than the alphabet and uneven lines can make it really ugly/hard to read. Same issue with breaking lead, causes ugliness.
Second, traditionally handwriting in Japan have been seen as a way to measure one's upbringing; you can fake looks and style but if your handwriting is bad, that signals that your parents didn't raise you well. This was(and still is in some places) the reason resumes have to be handwritten.
So tools that helps your handwriting had uses beyond just utility.
(my handwriting is garbage and I'm happy IT and tech jobs doesn't check this)