Mechanical pencils can be considered as one of the best evolutions of a pencil. While it is more commonly used in the classroom by students, you can sometimes find it being used by artists and adults in the working environment as well. In addition to being super convenient and easy to use since no sharpening is required, the pencil leads are refillable and it comes in a variety of style, colours and materials. You can find mechanical pencils of different quality and price range by top stationery brands such as Pilot, Faber-Castell, Stabilo, G’Soft and others.
Let’s look at some of the important criteria to consider before deciding on the right mechanical pencil for you.
Lead Thickness
Every mechanical pencil is designed to house lead of different thickness. These measurements are normally found on the mechanical pencil packaging or on the clip of the pencil itself. The 4 most common lead thickness are 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm and 0.9mm.
This is the thinnest lead and is normally used to capture specific and fine details when drawing. We do not recommend this for general writing or sketching.
The most loved and commonly bought among all due to its fine lead. Its thickness is considered medium and it’s suitable for all types of writing and drawing.
This is on the thicker end of the lot. It is more suited for sketching. This size has become increasingly popular over the years for long hand drafting as well and it appears to be more affordable than the 0.5mm.
The thickest of them all. These leads have less breakage and are more suited for younger kids. Nevertheless, adults can opt for this size for puzzles such as crosswords and sudoku.
In summary, 0.5mm is moderately strong enough for most people. However, people who are more heavy-handed do end up snapping the leads. In such cases, the 0.7mm or 0.9mm would be more suitable and long-lasting.
Lead Hardness
Many might not consider this feature of the mechanical pencil. Lead hardness determines the mark on the paper when you write. Harder leads will leave behind markings that are light and fine while the softer leads will leave a more intense black mark. Soft leads are also more blotch prone than others. The more frequently used hardness is HB, B and 2B. If you are unsure on which lead to go for, consider the HB as it has an average hardness to it.
Acronyms:
- H – Hard, the hardness increases with the number.
- B – Blackness of the lead graphite, softer leads that creates more dark lines.
- HB – combination of Hard and Black.
How to Choose a Lead Grade?
- College Students: HB, F or 2H
- Left-handed: 2H
- Designers: 8B, 7B, 6B, 4B, 2B, and HB
- Calculations: 2B
Design of the Mechanical Pencil
It is crucial to ensure that the overall design of the mechanical pencil suits your writing style and the way you hold a mechanical pencil. There are mechanical pencils that have a rubber cover on the bottom of the plastic casing to ensure your finger does not chafe against the casing. Besides that, the weight of the mechanical pencil matters as well. If it is too heavy, it would not be comfortable to hold and write for so long.
Check out some of our favourite mechanical pencils below!
Faber-Castell Econ Mechanical Pencil
Features:
- Ergonomic triangular-shaped barrel for better grip
- Fitted with eraser at the knob
- Retractable sleeve to protect your pockets
- Available in 0.5mm and 0.7mm point size
Faber-Castell Apollo Mechanical Pencil 0.5
Features:
- Pressure-absorbing tip exclusively made to prevent unnecessary lead breakage
- Extendable eraser to make sure you no longer have to fumble around looking for an eraser for small mistakes
- Ergonomic and comfortable soft grip
Pilot Super Grip Mechanical Pencil 0.7
Features:
- Sliding metal sleeve helps to prevent lead breakage
- Use together with Pilot’s super smooth and super strong pencil lead, your writing will be clean and dark
Pilot Pencil Lead 0.5/0.7 2B (12)
Features:
- Available in 0.5mm and 0.7mm
- Polymer 2B lead
- Compatible with most mechanical pencils
Lion File offers a wide variety of mechanical pencils and other writing instruments from top stationery brands. For your convenience, head on over to our online store https://store.lionfile.com to check out our full collection and arrange for your supplies to be delivered to your doorstep.