Posts filed under Pencil Reviews

Sun-Star Metacil Pocket Pencil Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available for pre-order!)

There are a number of reasons why pencils haven't made their way into my daily use. One, the leads are always breaking. Two, they always seem dull or like they need to be sharpened. Three, they get used up so quickly and need to be replaced often. I still enjoy them, but I don't rely on them. I was intrigued by this Sun-Star Metacil Pocket Pencil because it seemed to solve all three of my pencil woes. And it mostly does, though it comes with a few of its own.

This unique pencil has an aluminum body faceted like a traditional pencil. It is very light and feels great in the hand. Best of all, it isn't consumed as the pencil is used. This model is the short, pocket-sized version, which is the perfect length for a purse or pants pocket. It comes with a leather tip protector to keep it from marking the inside of your pocket.

The reason the pencil body isn't consumed is because this pencil never needs to be sharpened. Instead of a wood and graphite tip, the tip of this pencil is made from a blend of graphite and metal. While it does wear down slowly after much use (the package promises 16 kilometers of writing), the tip itself can be replaced with a new one.

The writing experience is where this pencil falters a bit. One of the highlights of pencil use is the texture of writing with the lead and the way its softness shades, getting darker with pressure. This pencil doesn't do that. While the friction of writing isn't unpleasant, it doesn't feel pencil-like. And the writing is much fainter than most pencils. It's comparable to the hardest, faintest pencil leads I've used--ones that aren't usually used for writing, but for shading in sketching. The lines are readable, so this still works great as an in-a-pinch/just-in-case writing tool, but I wouldn't want to write pages and pages with it. At that rate, it's going to take me a long time to wear down that 16km tip.

The lead can be erased like pencil lead, though the pencil doesn't come with an eraser--another fact that moves it more solidly into the quick-jot tool category, rather than something I want to spend time writing with.

If I stop holding this wee pencil to the same expectations I'd have of a standard pencil and just think of it as its own thing, I can appreciate it more. It definitely has handy potential. I think it would be great for camping or travel, or for craft purposes, like marking wood cuts. I even think it could be perfect for some sketching. And it still does solve my issues with pencils, so it earns a spot on my desk, for sure. I just won't be writing whole books with it.

If you're as curious about this small wonder as I was, you can get one at JetPens for $10.25, and after 16km of writing, you can replace the tip for around $4.05. I do think it's worth the cost. And if you don't mind the faint lines, it might be the perfect thing for you.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on July 4, 2024 by Sarah Read and filed under Sun-Star, Pencil Reviews.

Staedtler 771 1.3mm Mechanical Pencil Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Every now and then, I get my hands on a writing instrument that is so far outside of my normal wheel of interest. Sometimes it's a delightful surprise, and other times it ends up being a short-lived interest. Either way, trying new things is the ultimate goal. In the case of this mechanical pencil, I've been grinning so much while using it to jot notes and doodles.

The Staedtler 771 mechanical pencil is a bold, playful pencil that features 1.3 mm HB lead that lays down thick, smooth lines of graphite. The 771 is comically large, and I really giggled when I first grabbed it. Despite the loud yellow and black color scheme, it's incredibly comfortable and easy to use. After using it a few seconds, it reminded me of the large diameter (10mm) pencils students were given in kindergarten and first grade while we learned to write our alphabet. The large diameter is easier to hold and control for little hands, and the same is definitely true for this mechanical pencil.

If I had to guess, one of the main business cases for this pencil is for school children who are learning to write. It's a robust, ergonomic pencil that doesn't require sharpening. Plus, it comes with a substantial eraser that will last quite a while since you can extend more as you wear it down.

The 1.3mm lead size isn't unheard of, but it's not common in mechanical pencils. This lead is wide, and it wears down to a flat surface in just a few strokes. If you continually rotate the pencil while writing to prevent a flat side, you end up with a wonderfully stubby round piece of lead that makes roughly 1mm lines when writing. For me, I don't really enjoy rotating this pencil as I write since it has a clip and a three-sided body that messes with how the pen feels in my hand.

While this pencil is great for young people who are learning how to write by hand, this is also a great choice for artists that want a wide line that maxes out at just 1.3mm. Graphite and pencils have a larger diameter core that eventually gets ruined by the necessity of sharpening the pencil or graphite stick. You can do a lot of shading with this 1.3mm pencil, and you never have to sharpen it or constantly determine how the line is changing as the lead wears down closer to the wood casing.

And you can also compare this to the more engineering-focused lead holders, though those typically use large lead sizes as well. Still, the perk of the Staedtler 771 compared to a lead holder is ease-of-use. Need more lead? Just click the back of the pencil to extend some more. Want to retract the lead so you can safely stow it in a pocket or bag? Easy. Not so much with a lead holder.

Along with the large body, triangular grip, and wide lead, there's also a lead cushioning system built in to the pencil to protect the lead from excessive pressure. Again, a great feature for people that are learning how to write. In my testing, it works well at preventing lead breaks.

Whenever I see a pencil with a tiny eraser, I mumble and complain about how pointless it is. If you're going to put an eraser on a pencil, make sure it's a useful one. The erasers you find a woodcase pencil are great, but when they're gone, they're gone for good. The 771 features an extendable eraser that should last for many mistakes, and does a great job at disappearing the wide 1.3mm graphite marks. And if you need more erasers, they're easy to replace and don't cost much either (about $2 for a 3-pack).

Writing with the pencil is comfortable thanks to the wide body, triangular shape, and rubber grip section, but this isn't a pencil that I reach for when I want to write notes. The large lead size just doesn't pair well with my relatively small writing style — the letters are hard to read. But, this has been a go-to for drawing and doodling since you can get a lot of different line widths from different sides of the lead, and it also does a great job at shading.

At $9.75, the Staedtler 771 1.3mm mechanical pencil is a lot of fun, and I think it meets its purpose beautifully. It looks silly, but that's okay. It's supposed to be fun because learning to write and drawing is fun. If the school-themed yellow/black colorway isn't your thing, there are other colors too (white, black, and blue)! Just be sure to pick up some extra lead with your order since you'll go through it quickly while rediscovering your inner child.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on May 15, 2024 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Staedtler, Mechanical Pencil, Pencil Reviews.

Blackwing 2X Firm Graphite Core Pencil Review

With the launch of Volume 2, Blackwing introduced an Extra Extra Firm graphite core to their product range. As a fan of all things firm, I was anxious to put this one to the test, and compare this core to the rest of their product lineup.

That lineup now consists of:

— Soft (Matte Black barrel)

— Balanced (Pearl)

— Firm (602)

— Extra Firm (Natural)

— 2X Firm (Volume 2)

*Core grades, from top to bottom: Soft, Balanced, Firm, Extra Firm, 2X Firm.*

The first four are available as stand-alone products outside of the limited Edition Volumes series, while - at least so far - the 2X Firm is only available in Volume 2, and not the standard offerings.

With the relaunch of the brand in 2010, the 602 took its place as the firmest in the lineup, and was instantly my favorite. In the case of the 602, “Firm” is relative to the rest of the lineup. It is dark and smooth, and has great point retention for a pencil that feels this great on the page. That said, I’d be surprised if it grades out firmer than a 2B, or maybe a B.

Given the 602’s softness as compared to graphite outside of the Blackwing lineup, the introduction of an Extra Firm core in Volume 24 (2016) was well-received. As much as I love the 602, I found my Blackwing home with the Extra Firm. This core found its way into more Volumes editions, and eventually into the stock lineup.

The 2X Firm core takes things up the hardness scale even further … and is my least favorite core they have launched so far.

Blackwing has set my expectations very high for their choice of graphite. From Soft through Extra Firm, the experience is consistently smooth and dark, and with above average point retention. I actually feel a difference when I use a Blackwing, as compared to many other brands in similar grades. The 2X Firm core feels like any other decent HB core. That’s not bad in a vacuum, but given Blackwing’s prices, I want it to feel special. It looks special on the outside, I’ll give them that, but on the inside, it’s average. I can get above average for much cheaper.

My current Blackwing Core ranking looks something like this: Extra Firm, 602, Soft, Balanced, 2X Firm. I’m not sure the 2X Firm even has a place in my wooden pencil rotation like the rest of the lineup does.

*After writing a full page (see below,) without sharpening.*

I guess the broader question for Blackwing is what are their long-term core goals? Are we eventually going to see the full stock lineup of someone like Mitsubishi or Staedtler, with ranges from 10H to 10B? Or will they stick with what they do best, and see them experiment with cores in the Volumes series? I’m glad they surprised us with the 2X Firm core, and even though it is my least favorite, this is the perfect opportunity for a test run.

What are your thoughts on the new core if you have tried it? Which end of the spectrum - softer, or harder - would you like to see them experiment with next?

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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