Faber-Castell TK9400 2mm 2B Clutch Pencil, Black

Product Information

Unlike the thin leads the 2mm leads do not snap, even when you apply a lot of pressure. They are a pleasure to work with. Nothing beats having the proper sketching tools for sketching and drawing, and this Tombow Mono Graph Shaker pencil was the best pencil largely due to its weight and comfort over long periods of time. Different from other mechanical pencils, the lead is retracted by shaking the pencil, which saves time having to reposition your hand. With a normal pencil, once the graphite tip (commonly referred to as 'lead') has blunted, you need to sharpen it using a pencil sharpener. A mechanical pencil, in contrast, usesan internal spring to push the lead upwards into the barrel, when you press the button at the other end. When the lead has been fully used, you then simply insert a new replacement. Why are mechanical pencils better than wooden pencils? I use clutch pencils for all sorts of drawing, preparatory sketching and notation. I use them in place of regular pencils, which I hardly ever have now. I like them because they’re really comfortable in the hand, plus it’s very easy to get a range of marks with the fatter ones. You can sharpen the lead to a point but also use it well-rounded for easy tonal drawing. They’re refillable and durable, and I really like things that are made to last, rather than having to keep buying new. I think I’ve had the Cretacolour one for over 10 years. I love that you don’t need a regular pencil sharpener or knife to use these, and the leads don’t tend to break either. They are also really good for mixing with other media, like other coloured pencils, watercolour and ink.” When the lead runs out, there are two very easy ways in which you can refill STAEDTLER mechanical pencils with pencil leads:

Unlike wooden pencils, a mechanical pencil casing is usually made of a mix of plastic, metal, or rubber. Whereas a wooden pencil must be sharpened often and will last only as long as the wooden body, a mechanical pencil has the lead integrated within the casing and has the potential to last forever with the right care. However, if your mechanical pencil has an eraser on the end, just may have to remove the eraser and the refill chamber will be underneath it. Don't automatically assume this is the case, though! The eraser may be glued to the barrel, in which case you would use the first method. OHTO Mechanical Wood Pencil: Suppose you want a mechanical pencil that looks like a traditional pencil. In that case, the OHTO Mechanical Wood Pencil is what you need. It has a traditional wooden body and the look of a standard pencil, but it takes 0.5mm pencil leads inside.

Conclusion

The best pencil for professionals will have either full metal surfaces or be made at least partially of metal. Lead hardness Best Mechanical Pencils for Technical Drawings: Staedler Mars Mechanical Pencils for Technical Drawings The main benefit of mechanical pencils is they don't need sharpening.This saves you a lot of hassle and mess. More importantly, it means mechanical pencils provide more consistent lines, enabling you to create more precise and accurate drawings, and neater handwriting. The fine lines also tend to be easier to erase.And of course, you don't have to carry a sharpener with you all the time. Why are mechanical pencils more expensive? Mechanical pencils generally have quite different designs, so it's not always obvious how to refill them with lead. Most of the time, it's just a matter of screwing the barrel at the end to remove it, inserting a new refill inside and then reassembling the pencil. In addition to Lauraine's expertise in art, she has experience in commerce content, grant writing, and health and wellness. Before becoming a freelancer, Lauraine held various positions in large and grassroots organizations locally and abroad.

In this article, we've gathered together the best mechanical pencils on the market today, selected from a mixture of recommendations from artists as well as extensive internet research. We'll start with the best pencils for drawing, but if you're only interested in writing then skip ahead to the best mechanical pencils for writing. Rhodia 9340C: The Rhodia 9340C has a distinctive hexagonal metal shape that works as a roll stop on a slanted desk. It also has a refillable 3-in-1 multi-pen and mechanical pencil mechanism. Tip: Refill leads compatible with all mechanical pencils are also available in red, blue and green for use on paper, drafting film and tracing paper. What’s more, the built in eraser can be extracted by twisting the top of the pencil. Other features on this mechanical pencil include a retractable tip, metal clip, and an attractive soft blue casing. Pros A pencil for drawing is a highly personal tool and each artist has different preferences for weight, balance, size and shape of the barrel and size of the lead. Some artists prefer a light or heavy pencil, some prefer the balance towards the tip or towards the centre, some like a smooth barrel and some like a knurled grip-zone so they can slowly rotate it as they draw to keep the tip even more precisely sharp.Mechanical pencils are commonly used by professionals involved in technical drafting, such as engineers and architects. Many artists also prefer mechanical pencils, even for more expressive and imaginative work, because the size and weight of the lead remains consistent, whereas a wood pencil gets finer the more you sharpen it. Mechanical pencils are also favoured by anyone wishing to produce neat and elegant handwriting.If you're going to use a mechanical pencil for sketching, you might want to consider investing in one of the best sketchbooks. Is a 0.5 or 0.7 pencil better? Mechanical pencils are the best because they let you write and erase like a traditional pencil but without the possibility that you snap your pencil in half in your bag like you probably did in school. The durability and convenience of a mechanical pencil make it an excellent choice whether you are taking notes, solving a math problem, or sketching for art.

Meanwhile, to further build up your artist toolkit, don't miss our guides to the best pencils of all kinds, the best pens for artists, and for expressive work and special effects, the best watercolour pencils. The best mechanical pencils for drawing Many of the thin lead mechanical pencils come with an eraser in the end, either under the removable push button or by twisting out. Lead hardness – when choosing a graphite lead you will have a choice of lead hardness, 6B usually being the softest and therefore the darkest. Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media. I thought clutch pencils would be a bit anachronistic, but there are still many clutch pencils available, and there are good reasons to use them.

Undeniably, a quality EDC mechanical pencil will last you a long time. That's why it's essential to choose the right mechanical pencil, and in this guide, I'll go over some of my favorites and explain why they deserve a place in your everyday carry.

Best Mechanical Pencils for Drawing for Artists: Zebra Stainless Steel Mechanical Pencils for ArtistsLike a standard wood-cased pencil they are available in different hardnesses of graphite, though not as wide a range as wood-cased pencils – usually HB to 6B – as well as some charcoal and coloured chalk leads in the 5.6mm size. This wraps up our guide to the best mechanical pencils for drawing. Not only have we discussed how you could identify the different kinds of mechanical pencils, but we’ve also shared our recommendations in various contexts. Holds up to 12 pencil leads in one go = the total contents of a typical STAEDTLER lead tube, allowing you to work longer without refilling While most mechanical pencil lead is actually made of graphite– a carbon with a hexagonal shape, the terms lead, and graphite are used interchangeably.