I have to admit, I am just as particular about pens and pencils as I am about tools. Most people (hi, Dad!) are less picky and will use any ol’ pen or pencil as long as it has got ink or graphite in it. A few weeks ago I had been searching for a good mechanical pencil for technical drawing and more precise shop use, and came across the Pentel GraphGear 1000.
Quite a few well thought out features separates the GraphGear 1000 series of pencils from those you’d ordinarily find on the rack at an office supply store. First, the 4mm sleave retracts back into the pencil when you release the pocket clip, meaning that the risk of punctured pants pockets or a bent tip is virtually eliminated.
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Second, the pencils have a knurled metal barrel with soft cushiony pads poking through. To be honest, I don’t think that these pads are really necessary since the knurling is well defined but easy on the fingers, but they they certainly aren’t a bother. It’s too soon to say whether this is the most comfortable mechanical pencil I’ve ever used, but it comes close without a doubt.
I’ve been using the 0.7mm pencil for about a week now, and I liked using it so much that I went ahead and ordered a 0.5mm version as well. When I first ordered the pencil, it was priced at ~$18, but it looks like the price has come down a a few bucks since then.
For the same $15-18 you can instead buy several dozen wood pencils or quite a few plastic-bodied mechanical pencils, but in my opinion the GraphGear 1000 is well worth it.
These pencils have straight extra long tips that make them excellent to use with rulers, straight edges, and other layout tools. Plus it’s one less thing to have to sharpen.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Pentel GraphGear 1000 pencils are currently being produced in Japan. They’re available via Amazon and various art supply and drafting supply sources.
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EDIT: This type of pencil is NOT intended to be used as a carpenter pencil substitute. It’s for more precise lines on smooth surfaces. General shop use has been edited to now read more precise shop use. As Mac and JeffD commented, pencils with thicker leads are essential to complement mechanical pencils like this one.
Mac
I actually prefer a 2mm leadholder. I can round off the tip for rough marking (e.g. on wood), or keep it sharp for writing. Mine have an in-the-cap sharpener.
Lead is available in every degree of hardness.
Bought a 5-pack so long ago I couldn’t tell you the price, but I know it wasn’t $15 each.
JeffD
This pencil might work for precision work or engineering, but in my shop it wouldn’t last a few minutes. I use a Fix Pencil by Caran d Arch. It’s solid metal with a 3mm unbreakable lead. Much better for woodworking and general shop abuse.
Stuart
By no means do I treat this as my only pencil. I have shop pencils, sharpies, standard #2s, but was still in need of something better for drafting, layout, and precision work.
I’m also a huge fan of 2mm lead holders. A decent Staedtler costs about $5-7 each, and leads are sold as packs of 2 or 12. But I generally don’t use them for laying out cut lines on wood – that’s still a job for standard carpenter pencils.
clueless
http://www.jetpens.com/index.php/cPath/340_861_118
Stuart
Wow, Jet Pens has a crazily huge selection of pens & pencils that I’ve heard about but could never find. This is going to hurt my wallet…
Thanks for the link!
JeffD
Stuey, check these out: http://www.jetpens.com/index.php/cPath/99_435
Stuart
I actually do have colored leads around here, but aromatherapy scented? Er… lol, they think of everything these days!
Robert M.
I had the 0.3mm version of the GraphGear 1000, and thought it was a pretty nice pencil. Some samples I tried in a store had a little bit of wobble to the tip, but most were pretty solid. I lost mine a while back, and have yet to replace it as I tend to use 2mm leads and haven’t had an urge to replace the 0.3mm yet.
Like some of the other posters, I am a big lead holder fan. I tend to stick with 2mm since I have some really nice, cheap, tiny sharpeners for that size and some great leads for writing. Cheaper lead holders with plastic bodies like the ubiquitous blue Staedtlers abound, and there are some decent Mitsubishi Uni holders at JetPens (the Uni lead is great). Bundoki, a Japanese stationer, has an English sister site that offers a decent selection of lead holders in different sizes: Link. Some are typical lead holders with a basic clutch collet, while others are a little more sophisticated and advance the lead like a typical mechanical pencil.
Stuart
Digging a little deeper at JetPens after you mentioned the Mitsubishi Uni, I realized that the Uni-Ball sharpener/pointer can be used for the Staedtler Silver Series lead holder.
Thanks to Clueless’s introducing jetpens to me, I placed my first order last week. It looks like I’m going to have to place another order pretty soon as well.
I’ve had no problem using the standard Staedtler 780, and their rotary tub pointer makes sharpening quick and easy, but it might be a good time to upgrade.
Elena Vigil-Farinas
I bought the .3 Graphgear 1000 and have not been able to load lead into the darn thing!! I bought it from Dick Blick called and told them it was defective. They are great and sent me another one but this one doesn’t work either so maybe it’s ME who is defective!!! It can’t be any different than any other pencil! I load the lead into the top and click and…. NOTHING. I can’t get the lead to come out! Can you please help me?? Can it only be .3mm lead? I did that too.
Stuart
I’m not quite sure what the problem could be. What brand of 0.3mm leads are you using? Maybe you can try depressing the clicker and loading a lead through the front of the pencil? This might tell you if the lead is too thick to be properly routed through the mechanism.
It is also possible that perhaps the entire batch recently sent to Dick Blick are defective.
I would also recommend that you try contacting Pentel. If this is a common issue, there’s a good chance that Pentel may have more helpful troubleshooting tips for you.
Joseph C
I splurged on one of these a while back, and initially loved how the lead holder retracted. Unfortunately, one drop bent ever so slightly but rendered it entirely unusable.
Since then I’ve been buying the Pentel P209s via Amazon for <$3 each. The plastic body is lighter and less prone to damage.
Hilton thankfully
I recently bought the 0.7mm and 0.9mm and upfront they seem to be well built and the retractable mechanism works pretty well.
I also have a Staedtler 2mm so wanted to cover a few bases.