All about mechanical pencils
Fun facts
The first mechanical pencil was found aboard the wreckage of HMS Pandora which was sank in 1791, and the first patent for a refillable pencil with lead-propelling mechanism was issued to Sampson Mordan and John Issac Hawkins in Britain in 1822.
Introduction
Mechanical pencils are rapidly replacing traditional wooden pencils, and there are hundreds and thousands of mechanical pencils to choose from. But what is a mechanical pencil? By definition, a pencil with a replaceable and mechanically extendable solid pigment core called a “lead” count as a mechanical pencil. The lead, which often made of graphite, is not bonded to the outer casing, and the user can mechanically extend it as its point is worn away from use.
Some benefits of using mechanical pencils include:
- write and draw continuously without the need to sharpen
- draw more precise and uniform lines, which is useful for technical drawing and writing
- don’t need to throw away pencils, just refill, more environmentally friendly
- more ergonomic for long period of use, but putting too much force on it can cause lead to break
- they just look better
Lead
We can’t talk about mechanical pencils without mentioning the core of them - lead. Nowadays, pencil lead is made from a mixture of graphite and clay. The graphite is what makes the mark on the paper, while the clay keeps the graphite from being too soft and crumbly. The most commonly used sizes are 0.5mm and 0.7mm, both of these provide a favorable balance between precision and strength. 0.3mm is much thinner, so it is more technical and used more often in drawing and sketching. Most mechanical pencils can use only one single lead diameter.
Comparison of popular mechanical pencils
The look: transparent, so users can see the inside structure of the pencil, which gives the pen a kind of futuristic look, many colors to choose from
Weight: 20g
Ergonomic: nothing Special, hard grip, not as good as the other ones
Lead extension mechanism: shake + click
Eraser: yes, twist cap to use
Usage: daily writing, school and office
The look: professional, simple yet elegant, perfect for those of you who like darker colors
Weight: 15g
Ergonomic: there is actually little sponges at the grip, feels nice
Lead extension mechanism: click only
Eraser: yes, pull out eraser cap to use
Usage: highly recommend for sketching and drawing
The look: professional, the metal parts make it look stylish and sophisticated, many colors to choose from.
Weight: 15g
Ergonomic: the metal grip looks cool and surprisingly feels quite nice when holding it
Lead extension mechanism: click only
Eraser: yes, pull out eraser cap to use
Usage: sketching and drawing, suitable for daily writing as well
The look: the gradient looks soo good, simple structure, but nice colors
Weight: 11g
Ergonomic: feels really light, so your hand doesn't get tired easily
Lead extension mechanism: click only
Eraser: yes, pull out eraser cap to use
Usage: daily writing, school and office
The look: resembles the look of traditional wooden pencils, fun design, very colorful and playful.
Weight: 8g
Ergonomic: Feels like holding a traditional wooden pencil but lighter
Lead extension mechanism: click only
Eraser: yes, at the top
Usage: daily writing, school and office
The look: standard appearance of a mechanical pencil, suitable in all settings (school and office), less interesting
Weight: 20g
Ergonomic: the soft rubber grip makes it really comfortable to hold onto especially during long writing sessions (ie. exams and journaling)
Lead extension mechanism: shake + click
Eraser: yes, pull out eraser cap to use
Usage: daily writing, school and office
Happy writing everyone!!