What''s your favourite pencil?

[Acsenray]

I'm looking for a pencil -- mechanical or wooden. What's your favourite?

[Madd Maxx]

Mechanical. It's high(er) tech. It's like comparing an ipod to a phonograph. When you find one you like you never have to get rid of it, just buy lead and erasers. Even the best wooden pencil in the world is going to gradually disappear over time because of what it is.

[Corii]

I prefer wooden ones because I like sharpening them!
I did find some mechanical ones with thick leads that I like as well, but I always seem to wear out the erasers on those pretty quickly.

[FlyingRamenMonster]

I like wooden pencils. You can't chew on mechanical pencils, plus they don't smell. I love the smell of a freshly sharpened pencil I have here a wooden pencil from 6th grade. I still use it, so it's not like it's some treasured artefact, it's just wearing down veeeery slowly. The eraser has been chewed off and almost all the paint is gone. The wood is a grubby shade of grey. When I sharpen it the cone of clean, bright-coloured is almost shocking.

<3

[Askia]

Mirado Black Warrior Pencils, #1 or #2.

They're more striking than the Yellows, have a good grip and nice dark tip and appeal to my africentric sensibilities.

[FlyingRamenMonster]

Uh, make that bright-coloured *wood*. Bleh.

[Acsenray]

Okay, just to clarify, I'm asking for specific pencils -- brand name and models, please. Whether you prefer mechanical or wooden, tell me which one I should be looking for on the shelves of the art store or stationery shop. For mechanical, specify width in mm. For wooden, specify hardness.

For example, I'm holding one here called the "PhD Ultra" (0.5 mm) by Paper Mate. It's nice, because it's got a nice thick barrel.

[twickster]

Wood -- but it's gotta be a #2.5, not a #2. The harder puzzle gets a sharper point and holds the point longer.

twicks, who, although a trained professional, solves puzzles in pencil

[twickster]

Wood -- but it's gotta be a #2.5, not a #2. The harder pencil gets a sharper point and holds the point longer.

twicks, who, although a trained professional, solves puzzles in pencil

[FilmGeek]

I like American brand wooden pencils. When I started high school (1994), my mother bought me two gross of American pencils at Sam's Club.

I still have more than half of them left. We use them for D&D.

[twickster]

Phooey. Didn't hit "stop" quite as fast as I thought I did.

[Madd Maxx]

In that case then, I use Sanford Digit mechanical pencils in 0.5 mm. I'm a drafter and I know pencils. Right now I have 38 different pencils and lead holders on my desk. 4 of them are Sanford Digits. These are also the ones I reach for most often. Cheap, widely available and easy to find refills for. I prefer the 0.5mm to the 0.7 mm because of the finer point. I also have 29 different pens and markers, for what thats worth.

[Podkayne]

I've got a rather heavy hand, and I tend to break 0.7 mm leads on mechanical pencils. I've seen some 0.9 mm lead, but it's too blunt. I've gotten hooked on 2 mm lead holders. You can find them where drafting or art supplies are sold. They hold a nice big fat 2-mm lead (hardness your choice), but you can use a lead pointer to give the lead a wicked sharp tip. (Then you have to dispose of the shavings, but it's a small price to pay.)

The lead holder itself needn't be fancy. I have one that cost $3.50 that works just fine. The pointer is a bit more problematic. The rotary pointers are just big and heavy enough that they're inconveninent to carry around. They're also a bit of a pain to use, and they only really work with their own brand of lead holder. They make mini lead pointers that are just like a teeny pencil sharpener, and work fine for my non-precision-drafting purposes, but I have a hard time finding them locally. I do have an Alvin Brand "Ben" lead holder that has as pointer in the lead-advance button. It cost around $6, I think.

People always give them a funny look, but I lurves my lead holders.

[Schuyler]

Ooohh, good question - but any answers kind of seem like MPSIMS.

For taking notes on-the-go, where I don't have the luxury of a pencil sharpener, I use a mechanical pencil, and I most prefer a Pentel 0.7mm with HB lead - it seems to fit my hand and writing style, and there is a satisfying feel to the lead advance. They also don't break or clog much for me.

For writing at my desk, where I have a sharpener handy (liberated from another lab ), then I like the feel of a wooden pencil, and I'm kind of conventional in this regard so go with a Dixon Ticonderoga #2 or a Berol Mirado HB.

I also take lots of notes with a pen, and a Sanford uni-ball Micro writes well for me on engineering paper.

[tremorviolet]

In college (engineering so we used pencils a lot), I liked the pencils with the side advance feature. I found that much handier.

Now that I have a job and use job supplied pencils, I use Pentel P205, Pentels 5mm version. I miss the side advance feature but they're decent mechanical pencils and last forever.

[TellMeI'mNotCrazy]

Call me crazy, but few office supplies give me as much joy as a freshly sharpened Dixon-Ticonderoga #2 pencil. I refuse to buy any other kind. Mechanical pencils are sometimes convenient but I end up having to push the button every second line of writing, and then again whenever the lead snaps (in my case, that's often). Give me my DT, and a good electric sharpener, and I'm a very happy camper.

[TellMeI'mNotCrazy]

OK, I revise my last statement - if I can't for some ungodly reason find a Dixon Ticonderoga, I will settle for Askia's Mirado Black Warrior. Those aren't too shabby either

[Eonwe]

Ticonderoga #3.

Love.

[Mithril]

Originally Posted by Madd Maxx

In that case then, I use Sanford Digit mechanical pencils in 0.5 mm. I'm a drafter and I know pencils. Right now I have 38 different pencils and lead holders on my desk. 4 of them are Sanford Digits. These are also the ones I reach for most often. Cheap, widely available and easy to find refills for. I prefer the 0.5mm to the 0.7 mm because of the finer point. I also have 29 different pens and markers, for what thats worth.

Where do you get Sanford Digits? They are my favorites, too, but I can never find them anywhere. The last time I saw them, I bought all the ones in the store, but I work with a bunch of pencil thieves and have no more Digits.

[zweisamkeit]

Staedtler Mars Draft Automatic Pencils:

http://www.artstuff.net/staedtler_ma...ft_pencils.htm

Wonderful wonderful wonderful pencils. I have the 0.3, the 0.5 and the 0.7 (I write very small so I have little/no use for the 0.9). They're a bit pricey for one pencil but they last forever; you just need refills. The only weak spot is right at the tip; you need to avoid (literally) smashing the tip or it bends. Still, they're far stronger than your average Bic or Icy pencil. These babies have served me through three Calc classes, Differential Equations, Discrete Math, two physics classes (with labs), etc. Love love love love love them.


I detest using wooden pencils because I'm obsessive about thickness. I write one sentence and the pencil is too dull and will drive me batty until I sharpen it again.

[Jayn_Newell]

Right now I use a Techniclick G 0.5mm by Pentel. It's one of the better pencils I've ever used and it drives me nuts if I think I've lost it. Like termorviolet I like the side advance, but I also far prefer the 0.5mms to the 0.7mms, and sometimes when I'm looking for a new one I don't have much choice when it comes to quality of pencil or what kind of advance I get if I want that size, so I'm glad I haven't lost this one yet.

In the wooden category, you can get some pencils which are made using recycled denim. Aside from being a pretty colour and helping the environment, I found them nice to write with too.

[Acsenray]

At one time I was quite a fan of FaberCastell's Velvet Executive No. 2 wooden pencils, but I haven't seen one in a long time.

[Anaamika]

Mechanical Zebra*. But any metal pencil is better than a wooden. Don't get me wrong, a super-sharp wooden is best, but they hardly stay sharp for a second.

*I don't believe I've ever done this, but: Band Name!

[AskNott]

Pilot Dr. Grip 0.5 It's a big fat mechanical pencil, and the part you grab is a translucent rubbery stuff. I do a lot of crossword puzzles, so I use pencils a lot. For erasing, I use a Pentel Clic Eraser. It never goes smeary like the ones on wooden pencils.

[Bearflag70]

Any 0.5 mechanical, so long as the clicker thingy is down where my fingers go and not up where the eraser goes.

0.7 is too dull.

Wood is too high maintenance.

I also like those Pentel white eraser things that's the same size as the pencil where you use the slider on the side to push the eraser out of the end.

[Dark Side of the Floyd]

Before I found my favorite mechanical pencils, like Askia, I used to use the Mirado Black Warrior pencils (not only because the erasers were excellent, but the name Black Warrior just sounds...cool).

Now, if I can help it, I use 0.5 Bic mechanicals. I tend to press hard when I draw, the 0.7s always snapped when I used them.

[mojave66]

Pentel Techniclick II, 0.5 mm. Before the start of any school year I get a half-dozen-- not because they break, but because I want some at work, some at home, some in my various backpacks. Plus I lose at least 2-3 per year. They have a great side feed, rubber grip & a decent eraser for the small things (the big things get hit by a much larger eraser.

Lordy I love these things. I'm sick.

http://www.dickblick.com/zz206/36/

As for wooden pencils, I've spent the last 15 years working with Scantron forms. I know from #2 pencils. The best, and I mean the BEST not only for Scantrons but for writing, even casual drawing, was Berol's Electronic Scorer. It left clear, dark marks, had an excellent eraser, and the barrel was glossy black. Alas, they are no more. I have a box squirreled away somewhere. I do not let anyone touch it.

[Hunter Hawk]

I'm fond of the Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic mechanical pencil; I alternate between 0.5 and 0.7mm.

In years past, I tried a couple of Rotring mechanical pencils--looked great, felt great, broke if you looked at 'em sideways. (Yeah, the guts of the pencil itself broke. Real shame about the quality control on those things.)

[Larry Mudd]

I use Staedler 3H wood pencils as an all-purpose pencil.

Yes, I know it's wrong. Softer pencils seem grubby to me. Don't ask me why.

[CanvasShoes]

I hate pencils. Especially the mechanical types. I have to use them occasionally in my job, and I am an ultra klutz with the darn things. I always snap them off.

Sooo...I'd have to say, when forced to use a pencil, I prefer the old fashioned #2 pencil, sharpened frequently.

[Hanna]

Papermate Clear Point 0.7 mm. I was hooked on Papermate Titaniums (0.5mm) for a few years, but I like the thicker leads (Student, pencils must survive the backack) and replaceable eraser of the Clear Point. I have a purple one and a green one.

I was constantly snapping leads with 0.5 mm pencils, and it would always startle me. It sucked having no more lead during note taking and having to stop and refill.

Wood pencils give me the heebie-jeebies, and pens are forever, and that is way more of a comittment than I am willing to commit to.

I love erasing things. It is like starting fresh whenever I erase. I love mechanical pencils.

[racer72]

Ticonderoga tri-write 2HB.

[Homebrew]

Cretacolor Monolith Graphite. I like the 2B because I like dark solid lines but anything softer can get messy.

[Speaker for the Dead]

I use the SumoGrip mechanical ones. They come in a variety of colours--grey, black, white, maroon, and blue--and lead sizes, from 0.5 - 0.9 mm. They're larger than normal pencils and very comfortable.

Here's a link to a site that sells them, in case you wanted pictures.

[Acsenray]

Originally Posted by Hunter Hawk

In years past, I tried a couple of Rotring mechanical pencils--looked great, felt great, broke if you looked at 'em sideways. (Yeah, the guts of the pencil itself broke. Real shame about the quality control on those things.)

I had a Staedtler automatic pencil that snapped in half in my pocket. I was disappointed by that.

[Godfrey Daniels]

wood - Mirado Classic or Black Warrior #2
mechanical - Sanford Logo II .05

[Acsenray]

I seem to recall that the Mirado was originally the Berol Mirado.

I for one regret the demise of the Berol company. They used to make my favourite felt tip pen, the Berol Flash. Of course, one felt tip pen generally writes as good as the next, but the Flash was very classy looking. These days, felt tip pens don't look very classy.

[Fridgemagnet]

My favourite pencil is a little 10cm/4" Zebra from Japan, a slim brushed stainless steel and gold-effect jobbie that fits snugly into my wallet. A bit too small to write with for extended periods, but handy and dead cute. For normal pencilly things I use a 0.5mm Pilot propelling for paper, a hand-sharpened 2B wood pencil for woodwork. Sometimes I'll even use a proper flat carpenter's pencil if I can find one lying around when I need it.

What's your favourite grade of graphite, oh fellow unashamed stationery geeks? We were introduced as infants to HB as the default, with maybe anything as radically hard as a 4H being thrust upon us in Technical Drawing classes. Only graphic artists tended to stray beyond 1B territory, but I find in my old age I have a preference for a nice, soft 2B, with maybe the luxury of a 4B for horticultural plant labels. There's a satisfying feel to that extra graphite.

[Kalhoun]

Originally Posted by acsenray

Okay, just to clarify, I'm asking for specific pencils -- brand name and models, please. Whether you prefer mechanical or wooden, tell me which one I should be looking for on the shelves of the art store or stationery shop. For mechanical, specify width in mm. For wooden, specify hardness.

For example, I'm holding one here called the "PhD Ultra" (0.5 mm) by Paper Mate. It's nice, because it's got a nice thick barrel.

There's a group of Black Hills indians who make pencils. I forget the name, but you can probably find them on the internet.

Oh. And always a #2. The reason for this is they're good for work and for doodling. Must be able to doodle with a pencil or it's just not right.

[kelly5078]

Pentel Quik-Click 0.5 mm without the fat padding at the end. They, of course, do not make them without the padding anymore (AFAICT), so I'm being careful to try not to lose the 3 I have left.

[Strinka]

Wooden. Especially Staples brand. Those are some kickass pencils.

[Speaker for the Dead]

Originally Posted by Fridgemagnet

My favourite pencil is a little 10cm/4" Zebra from Japan, a slim brushed stainless steel and gold-effect jobbie that fits snugly into my wallet. A bit too small to write with for extended periods, but handy and dead cute. For normal pencilly things I use a 0.5mm Pilot propelling for paper, a hand-sharpened 2B wood pencil for woodwork. Sometimes I'll even use a proper flat carpenter's pencil if I can find one lying around when I need it.

What's your favourite grade of graphite, oh fellow unashamed stationery geeks? We were introduced as infants to HB as the default, with maybe anything as radically hard as a 4H being thrust upon us in Technical Drawing classes. Only graphic artists tended to stray beyond 1B territory, but I find in my old age I have a preference for a nice, soft 2B, with maybe the luxury of a 4B for horticultural plant labels. There's a satisfying feel to that extra graphite.

I use 2B. Have since my professor told me that my writing was too light to read properly.

[buckgully]

Another vote for the Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic. I have several in different sizes and loaded with different hardness lead. I like the balance, the feeling of heft and and the metal grip area.

I don't have any wood pencils right now. I do have some prismacolor woodless graphite pencils, though. They're more for sketching than writing, though.

In addition: Pentel Clic Erasers rock.

Oh, wait, I do have wood pencils, Fridgemagnet just reminded me. I recently bought a tube of carpenter's pencils at Home Despot. I haven't tried drawing or writing with those yet, though. Perhaps I should, they do have some nice soft lead.

[ioioio]

The Pentel P205 has been my standard for many years. Either 0.5mm or 0.7mm. Wooden pencils drive me nuts: if the lead if fine enough, the writing is too light. The point is never sharp enough for me.

Oddly enough, I collect pencil sharpeners. I have hundreds.

[Feydeau]

Avery Doubleclick.

I get mine at Staples, although I'm sure that most office supply stores carry them. It's a pen AND a mechanical pencil in one -- twist it one way for pen, the other way for pencil.

And they come in purple. (And green, and blue, and -- ugh -- orange.)

[Rhiannon8404]

I recently discovered the Mriado Black Warrior pencils. My sis bought my son a pack. They are great. And the erasers are the best pencil-top erasers I've used. (Nothing beats Pink Pearl eraser, though!)

I love sharpening wooden pencils. But not with those new fangled electric sharpeners, or even the manual ones with the handle. I have a great hand help sharpener, the kind you hold and turn and it goes "scritch, scritch, scritch"...I love that sound.

[Green Bean]

Woodcase all the way!

And The Pencil by Henry Petroski is a must-read for all you pencil fans.

My favorite pencil ever was the now-defunct Mongol. Pretty thing, that Mongol.

I agree that Staples brand pencils are pretty damn good.

My preferred commonly available type is the Dixon Ticonderoga #2. It is an excellent quality and consistent pencil for a reasonable price. And it's good looking.

I also like Staedtler 4Bs for crossword puzzles. They make good lines on the New York Times Sunday Magazine paper.

But my current favorite pencils are the ones my mom steals from her bridge club. They are just cheapo imprinted pencils, but they are so great! They make a nice dark line, and they have the most wonderful soft erasers. I'm thinking of finding out where they are ordered from so I can get some for myself. (I wonder what I would have printed on 'em?)

[toadspittle]

My favorite pencil is the American Natural , which used to be made by Faber Castell but now is PaperMate. Unpainted. Good eraser that doesn't streak. Nice wood and lead when sharpened. Love it.


But... I work with pencils all day, and I can't be bothered to carry a pencil sharpener (and when I carry wooden pencils in my pocket, the points always break). So I also buy lots of cheapo mechanicals: PaperMate SharpWriters. I tend to misplace pens and pencils, so for me quantity and cheapness is more important than super quality.

[Dr. Love]

Originally Posted by Boscibo

Papermate Clear Point 0.7 mm. I was hooked on Papermate Titaniums (0.5mm) for a few years, but I like the thicker leads (Student, pencils must survive the backack) and replaceable eraser of the Clear Point. I have a purple one and a green one.

Bingo. I adamantly refuse to use any pencil without a side lead advance, and after using this pencil, I am a convert to the ways of the retractable eraser. However, I would prefer to have the lead advance closer to the tip of the pencil, and have a metal clip (the plastic ones break too easily). Looking at the Papermate website, the Syncro (sorry, but I can't seem to get a direct link to work, so click Syncro on the left side of the page to see the pencil) doesn't look to bad either.

[Beware of Doug]

[quote=Green Bean]Woodcase all the way![quote]I'll second that. I also miss the Mongol. My next fave is the Ticonderoga, but can you even get 'em in hard leads anymore? (I'm a southpaw, and after a few minutes' scribbling with a #2 I could lubricate light machinery with the blade of my hand.)

And The Pencil by Henry Petroski is a must-read for all you pencil fans.

Or for anyone who enjoys the history of technology. It's a classic! When I read how Eberhard Faber Jr. signed every business letter with a Mongol, I got warm fuzzies like you wouldn't believe.