The Original Mechanical Pencil, Fixpencil? Caran d'Ache pencils

[JayStPeter]

I kept misplacing my Staedtler "lead holders", so I bought a 48 pack of basic #2 pencils.  Once I got a vintage sharpener off ebay, I can now find all my Staedtler's in the drawer.  The #2s always disappear as I keep them behind my ear and they go with me out of the shop.  Once I open a 48 pack, I'm sure to get a replacement pack.  Even though I'm a hobby WW'er and only average about 1 day a week in the shop, I go through a few 48 packs a year???  I've pretty much tried everything.  I guess I'm just old school with the wooden #2s.

 

[hgporter]

Those 3mm lead holders are drafting pencils. They created plans used to get designed parts to production before the days of CAD and plotters. They are good. You do have to keep sharpening them.

I have never paid $45.50 plus shipping for a drafting lead holder and 6 leads. Someone is going to have to show me this is one awesome pencil! You can get a well made Staedtler at Staples for a lot less. These lead holders are robust.

I have several INCRA rules and I like them. Sometimes the lead breaks and fills the hole. But I am learning a light touch works and gives me accuracy. I bought a box of 20 INCRA 0.5mm pencils for $16 with free shipping. I have broken a few, but at 80 cents each, I can even afford to let my boys have a few for school.

When I was in engineering School, the Pentel with a sliding sleeve nib was worth the extra few bucks. I will probably be ordering a few of these this week. If you have a heavy hand, the 0.5 mm pencils must be used with the lead very close to the nib.

 

[johnamie]

I have used these pencils for the past 6-7 years, they are fantastic. I gave 3 or 4 as Xmas presents a few years back and all recipients loved them as well. They are basically indestructible. The thick lead will hold up to repeated drops, falls, and being sat/stepped on. I don't recall them being quite so pricey back then but I believe they are still worth the $$$.

 

[JeromeM]

Since it appears that the readers of this thread know far more about pencils, pencil lead and all related details than I will ever learn I would ask your thoughts about the appropriate pencil for the Incra rules (see http://www.incra.com/product_markingrules.htm ) which have very small holes for marking.  Incra says ". . .  a .5mm mechanical pencil" and supply a pencil with one of the packages I bought.  It appears (to someone who knows nothing about pencils) to work just fine.  If you know something that would work better please let me know.  I would also appreciate your best judgment on which hardness of lead to use in this application.  Prior to reading this thread I had no idea that there were four or more hardness ratings with such different results.

FWIW the hardness ratings from the hardest (lightest colour) are 8H, 6H, 4H, 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B, This little snippet comes from my photo retouching days. the higher numbers are quite difficult to find unless you have a high end art supply shop near, or of course buy on line.

 

[Wim]

I worked for a shipyard and was designing the lay-out of enginerooms. In the pre-CADCAM days, we used pencils for the preparation of the drawing. We finished the drawing with inkpens. The standard issue was a Pentel pen with 0,3 mm leads in HB or H. I carried the pens in my breastpocket (as every techie) and they were removed at home when the shirts were about to be washed. After some years a lot of pens ended up in the house and they are still floating around.
I prefer the 0,3 mm leads for marking. For quite rough wood I have a 0,5 mm or even a very old fashioned 2 mm pen, from Caran d'Ache, with a sharpener in the release button.