Pencil Talk(penciltalk.org)
penciltalk.org
Pencil Talk
https://www.penciltalk.org/
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Interesting follow-up to your Autopoint story. I met Jonathan Veley at a pen show. He is a pencil afficionado too (a self-professed "Lead Head") and bought the remaining stock of the Panda lead factory, plus a lot of equipment. He now produces replica Autopoint mechanical pencils and sells lead. He's a really interesting guy and he's written several books about the history of manufacturing of mechanical pencils.
See https://www.legendaryleadcompany.com for his story. I bought the least expensive of his newly manufactured Autopoints (they're called Legendary now) and I really love it; it's my best pencil. I love 1.1mm leads and find narrower leads too thin for my preference.
See https://www.legendaryleadcompany.com for his story. I bought the least expensive of his newly manufactured Autopoints (they're called Legendary now) and I really love it; it's my best pencil. I love 1.1mm leads and find narrower leads too thin for my preference.
I'm a fan of mechanical pencils myself. In school we were issued Pentel P205's and every few years I buy something new to try and always end up returning to my 30 year old P205 pencils.
I have a Pentel PS315 that's older than I am and it's basically the only pencil I've used for the last fifteen years. The 205 and 207 they still make aren't as good as any of the sliding sleeves from the 1970s or 1980s. The mechanism gets caught sometimes, it's much more difficult to get lead from a quarter push, and the eraser caps slide off easily on the new ones. So I just keep using the PS315.
That's it. It's nice that something so inexpensive can last decades. You can spend a lot more on a mechanical pencil (and I have) but none have won me over.
YMMV
YMMV
If someone could marry the eraser of the Pentel with the auto-rotation mechanics Uni Kuru Toga, I'd have a dream pencil.
The Kuru Togas are just crazy good and only like $8. The only thing that sucks is that their eraser is super tiny and also structural. It's the only thing keeping the lead in, unlike the Pentels, which house their erasers in a metal sleeve.
The Kuru Togas are just crazy good and only like $8. The only thing that sucks is that their eraser is super tiny and also structural. It's the only thing keeping the lead in, unlike the Pentels, which house their erasers in a metal sleeve.
I used them for years. Then I discovered cheap gel pens and never went back. Muji sell really very good ones for no money at all.
I get that they are kinda looked down upon, but I really like my Rotring 800 in .7mm, paired with 2B lead. The disappearing point is a must have for portability. If you have some patience they do go on sale, I didn’t pay even close to MSRP. It’s pretty much the grail of handwriting for me.
I am also a fan of the Pentel Tuffstuff stick erasers. Unlike other stick erasers they are very fine, so you can get details/letters. For bulk erasing an Artist’s Gum eraser and a Magic Rub if the Gum doesn't do a good enough job.
I am also a fan of the Pentel Tuffstuff stick erasers. Unlike other stick erasers they are very fine, so you can get details/letters. For bulk erasing an Artist’s Gum eraser and a Magic Rub if the Gum doesn't do a good enough job.
If you want to take portability to the next level, check out the Pentel Sharp Kerry. They have pen-like, post-able caps!
It's difficult for whole sites to get traction here. Which is your favorite post of the blog?
I like https://www.penciltalk.org/2023/03/apuntes because the pencils have a weird shape. (Is there an explanation of the shape?)
I like https://www.penciltalk.org/2023/03/apuntes because the pencils have a weird shape. (Is there an explanation of the shape?)
It might not apply to the pencils in the article, but the flattened shape of a carpenter’s pencil keeps it from rolling off uneven surfaces in a workshop or at a building site. Also, the flattened lead allows you to draw a thin or thick line, depending on how your orient the pencil.
And I believe a carpenters pencil is a 1/4 inch tall and a 1/2 half wide
> Is there an explanation of the shape
Some pencils have this particular flat shape to prevent them from rolling (artists and workers sometimes use inclined desks / surfaces).
Some pencils have this particular flat shape to prevent them from rolling (artists and workers sometimes use inclined desks / surfaces).
If you use pencils a lot, do yourself a favor and get a dedicated eraser. I personally like the Sakura SumoGrip block erasers, but even a $3 Pentel Clic from your local big box store will be an upgrade from what is typically on the back of a pencil.
My criteria for buying erasers: fairly soft and white.
The harder the eraser is the more prone it is to destroying your paper or making smudges. The disadvantage of a soft eraser is that it wears more quickly. I don't buy expensive enough erasers to where that's a problem.
Most pink erasers are fine, but I've had more than once instance of them working more like a crayon than an eraser.
Recently I got recommended trying an edding R20 eraser. It's a weird one. It's much more plastic-y than the average eraser. It's quite firm too, but still manages to not smudge and keep itself clean. Haven't used it enough to form a proper opinion yet however.
The harder the eraser is the more prone it is to destroying your paper or making smudges. The disadvantage of a soft eraser is that it wears more quickly. I don't buy expensive enough erasers to where that's a problem.
Most pink erasers are fine, but I've had more than once instance of them working more like a crayon than an eraser.
Recently I got recommended trying an edding R20 eraser. It's a weird one. It's much more plastic-y than the average eraser. It's quite firm too, but still manages to not smudge and keep itself clean. Haven't used it enough to form a proper opinion yet however.
> Most pink erasers are fine, but I've had more than once instance of them working more like a crayon than an eraser.
I avoid pink erasers for exactly this problem. I think the rubber in them hardens with time (and maybe heat? Certainly ones I keep in my car don't last). Don't let the black color of the Sakura erasers bookofjoe linked in a sibling comment scare you off; they are an upgrade from any of the white ones I've used.
I avoid pink erasers for exactly this problem. I think the rubber in them hardens with time (and maybe heat? Certainly ones I keep in my car don't last). Don't let the black color of the Sakura erasers bookofjoe linked in a sibling comment scare you off; they are an upgrade from any of the white ones I've used.
I'm a fan of the rotating lead feature of the Koru Toga
https://www.jetpens.com/blog/Uni-Kuru-Toga-A-Comprehensive-G...
https://www.jetpens.com/blog/Uni-Kuru-Toga-A-Comprehensive-G...
I dove pretty deeply into wood case pencils for a few years (then I got tired of carrying around a good sharpener). Musgrave [https://musgravepencil.com/collections/the-heritage-collecti...] makes some good pencils, though some folks don't like the pronounced hex shape. Mitsu-bishi and Tombow produce some very nice, affordable pencils, though they can be hard to find at times. Everyone knows about Blackwings, but they were never my cup of tea -- the pencil is longer than the average wood case, and the eraser, for as nifty as it is, isn't that great.
Though I use pencils less these days, my current favorites are the Tombow 2558 in 2B and the Musgrave Greenbelt.
Though I use pencils less these days, my current favorites are the Tombow 2558 in 2B and the Musgrave Greenbelt.
The Blackwing 602 is my favorite pencil. One very nifty feature is its swappable eraser - it’s also rectangular.
https://blackwing602.com/products/blackwing-602-set-of-12
https://blackwing602.com/products/blackwing-602-set-of-12
How can penciltalk be a blog about pencils? That really disrupted my perception of HN.
I expected penciltalk to be some framework or package management/deployment tool.
I expected penciltalk to be some framework or package management/deployment tool.
I’m a fan of Alvin Draftmatics.
Lots of Pentel fans… I dunno, I really like the metal grip.
Apparently this site reflects the real world well, since Alvin was, I think, not popular enough to stay in business and was bought by somebody else… they started up production again, though!
Lots of Pentel fans… I dunno, I really like the metal grip.
Apparently this site reflects the real world well, since Alvin was, I think, not popular enough to stay in business and was bought by somebody else… they started up production again, though!
This treatise on artisanal pencil-sharpening is relevant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spMaP-_Cq_8
Okay, wo, that’s freaky.
I’m a pencil fan insofar as when I use one, it’s probably for something semi-important, like a to-do list. Otherwise it goes into my phone, or computer, or cloud.
So I like to use really good pencils for such things, and Blackwings are my favorite. The California incense cedar smells great when you sharpen them, and the soft (but not too soft) graphite makes nice, dark lines and text.
I’m a pencil fan insofar as when I use one, it’s probably for something semi-important, like a to-do list. Otherwise it goes into my phone, or computer, or cloud.
So I like to use really good pencils for such things, and Blackwings are my favorite. The California incense cedar smells great when you sharpen them, and the soft (but not too soft) graphite makes nice, dark lines and text.
My problem with mechanical pencils is they never seem to do well in my pocket if I'm on the bus running around and such, and I rarely need a pencil at home.
Is there any mechanical pencil that's meant to toss around in a bag and survive? Or do people use padded cases?
Is there any mechanical pencil that's meant to toss around in a bag and survive? Or do people use padded cases?
> Is there any mechanical pencil that's meant to toss around in a bag and survive?
I'm not sure exactly what the failure mode is that you're experiencing, but the Rotring 800[0] is retractable. I've gotten a lot of use out of my Rotring 600 but wish I had bought the 800 to be able to retract and protect the lead sleeve.
[0] https://www.rotring.com/pens-pencils/pencils/rotring-800/SAP...
I'm not sure exactly what the failure mode is that you're experiencing, but the Rotring 800[0] is retractable. I've gotten a lot of use out of my Rotring 600 but wish I had bought the 800 to be able to retract and protect the lead sleeve.
[0] https://www.rotring.com/pens-pencils/pencils/rotring-800/SAP...
The leads tend to break inside the pencil with random cheap stuff
I feel like a shill in this thread, but pencils are my jam. I've kept a Kura Toga (with fragile 3mm!) casually tossed in my gym bag for the last few years. Zero problems with it so far.
I use a non-padded box, it is just a little plastic thing. All that you really need to protect them from is getting dropped or pressed up against something (it is also nice to not get poked), so the box just needs to be somewhat rigid. Padding seems excessive.
Gotta get a pencil bag or pen sleeve
Love these but they have gotten very hard to find! https://unsharpen.com/pentel-wood-pencils/
PaperMate LOGO was a great mechanical pencil. Large white eraser. Retracting metal nib (when not in use). Why they killed this pencil is beyond me.
For those that don't want to read too much on this blog to find answers, the simple answer is nothing beats a quality mechanical drafting pencil if you're using it for writing and not for art. The Rotring 600, the Pentel Graphgear, and the Pentel Sharp (P205) are all fantastic choices. For art pencils it's hard to beat Staedtler.
It's an interesting blog, but after spending way too much of my energy on pencils and pens over the years, I've realized there's some great Goldilocks choices out there, so hopefully I save someone reading this the rabbit hole.
It's an interesting blog, but after spending way too much of my energy on pencils and pens over the years, I've realized there's some great Goldilocks choices out there, so hopefully I save someone reading this the rabbit hole.
Pentel GraphGear 1000 is phenomenal.
+1 for the GraphGear 1000. Had one for about 8 years before I dropped it and broke the tip. Definitely my favorite pencil. Ordered a replacement off Amazon and hit the jackpot as they sent me a whole box of them rather than just a single one lol. I've now got more than enough GG1000s for my lifetime.
I once needed a special blade for my saw. They only offered a 3-pack so I ordered that, and received 3 3-packs.
I don't know, but I felt that I should report it. Fiddled around for som time on their reporting pages, but absolutely no way to report that kind of error.
Are you in my neighborhood? You can have 3 saw blades for one GG1000 ;-)
I don't know, but I felt that I should report it. Fiddled around for som time on their reporting pages, but absolutely no way to report that kind of error.
Are you in my neighborhood? You can have 3 saw blades for one GG1000 ;-)
Pentel Graphgear 1000 & a Pentel Hi-Polymer block eraser are goated to the max.
Boutique pencils. Sure.
Along the way I discovered that there is a Reddit devoted to mechanical pencils and they were happy to hear this story. And even happier to see that the pencil was well used.