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i like mechanical pencils

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Originally posted by: ZippyDan
and i want to buy one(s). the best one(s)

i had these and i did really like them (.3, .5, and .7). but im wondering if i can do better. http://www.dickblick.com/zz206/22/

im not looking for a fancy pencil per se. i am most interested in the best functionality. the mechanical part of the pencil is what i like the most, so the best internals are important. so are the ergonomics and quality of construction and materials.

the guide tube, the type of metal, the type of grip, the type of plastic (if any), the moving parts are all things id consider and more

so anyone want to recommend some pencils to me? is there a pencil that can switch sizes with a twist?
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I have one of those, the .5 one. I used them a lot in college... would probably go through one a year.
 
I like the Papermate PhD. It's got a twist eraser that's about two inches long and resides in the barrel of the pencil, you just twist for more.

They're expensive, but worth it. The erasers are kind of hard to find in store, so I wait till I'm buying something from staples/etc with free shipping and stock up.
 
Meh, I used to use the nice pencils in middle school, but kids would always steal them. So I started using Bic Matic Grips, .7mm. Cheap and easy to write with.
 
Originally posted by: Indolent
I used one pencil throughout college. It was the pentel twist erase kind. The mechanical part works great and never failed. And, I erase a lot, so the extra long eraser that you twist up is very useful.

here
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I've been using the same one for several years.
 
I don't use pencils much in college. Usually just on exams/quizzes and calculus (which I don't bother erasing if I mess up.. i just use a ton of paper) so cheap Bics do it for me 🙂
 
Originally posted by: OREOSpeedwagon
I don't use pencils much in college. Usually just on exams/quizzes and calculus (which I don't bother erasing if I mess up.. i just use a ton of paper) so cheap Bics do it for me 🙂
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Obviously you're not a science engineering major.
 
Originally posted by: fleshconsumed
Here's a nice one, got one my sis for her BD (she is into drawing):
http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/cPath/45_154/products_id/563

There is also a simpler version, which I bought for myself:
http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/cPath/45_154/products_id/833

And here's the ones I use for daily beater
http://www.artstuff.net/staedtler_mars_draft_pencils.htm
the only problem is the top part is plastic, not aluminum like the rest of the pencil, otherwise it would have been perfect. (BTW description is wrong, grip should be metal, unless it's a slightly different version).
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ooo i really like look of these, both in features and construction. im wondering though about the internals. got any pics or description?
 
i had these pentel ones...they were good. my first one was a clickster/clickster grip. my favorite one was the very cool looking pencil that i bought when i was in japan.

my favorites have got to be the dr grip, the phd, the sumogrip, and now the papermate clearpoint.

oh, its all 0.5 lead only. 0.7 is too much, and while i have .9, its only when i have no other pencil as a backup. ive never heard of 0.3 lead either.
 
My favorite is the regular Pentel Sharp? Mechanical Pencils .7mm, Blue, loaded with white eraser & B lead (which is sometimes hard to find)

I go through them pretty fast. Always nice to get a new one with a real firm sharp edged grip. Grip tends to "round off" & nib gets wobbly after a while, so I just get a new one.

If new one has a smudging green eraser I replace that with a smudge-free white eraser.

this one

 
Originally posted by: Xanis
Dr. Grips are very nice, but they're expensive and maybe a little too fancy. I've been using cheap Bic .5mm mechanical pencils for years and they haven't let me down yet. However, the mechanical pencils that I think were the best were the Zebra M-301s. Stainless steel barrel, comfortable grip, and all-around fantastic build quality. And you can buy them at Staples too. 🙂
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I've been using the zebra for years. i like it a lot, my only improvement would be a metal tip and sleeve, i have an old one that is all metal, but the threads are striped on it, gonna have to fix it one of these days, but on my zebra the metal part seems to get pushed up into the plastic, maybe from being in my pocket or backpack.
 
I'm a contractor for the AF, so I get the good 'ol Skilcraft stuff most of the time. Using a Skilcraft now, works fine. I added a rubber grip to it tho.

I think I may have to try one of those Jetpens.....
 
i had a really nice set of drafting ones. but i lost them.

now i use wood again. the cheap mechanical pencils are just to cheap to use.
 
Originally posted by: herm0016
Originally posted by: Xanis
Dr. Grips are very nice, but they're expensive and maybe a little too fancy. I've been using cheap Bic .5mm mechanical pencils for years and they haven't let me down yet. However, the mechanical pencils that I think were the best were the Zebra M-301s. Stainless steel barrel, comfortable grip, and all-around fantastic build quality. And you can buy them at Staples too. 🙂
Click to expand...

I've been using the zebra for years. i like it a lot, my only improvement would be a metal tip and sleeve, i have an old one that is all metal, but the threads are striped on it, gonna have to fix it one of these days, but on my zebra the metal part seems to get pushed up into the plastic, maybe from being in my pocket or backpack.
Click to expand...

check this baby out. i love the M-301, but I agree that the tip should be all metal. Behold, the M-402. Saw these at walmart the last time I was there. They look pretty sweet.

Only gripe I have with the M-301 is that I have to carry an extra external eraser because they come with such small ones. I assume it is the same with the M-402.

Edit: link would be nice -> http://www.zebrapen.com/pencil-m402.html
 
I like .7, it doesn't break as easy (I push hard). I had one that had a button on the side and the eraser was big and unscrewed. Loved it, but lost it. 🙁
 
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