(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
A lot of us got our start in fine-tuned stationery with precise drafting pencils. These were fairly easy to find in big box office supply stores, and even easier to find in college bookstores, art stores, and crafting supply stores. The specifications and features on these pencils went beyond the generic "0.5mm mechanical pencil" description, and that was deeply attractive to those of us that craved more precise control of our writing instruments and the ability to fine-tune our writing experience.
Drafting pencils have always held a special place in my heart. I would ransack my dad's supply in his oak roll-top desk when he wasn't home and explore all the old relics from his days as a drafting student in engineering school. Drafting pencils first introduced me to the concept that other lead sizes and lead holders existed outside of the 0.5mm and 0.7mm varieties we had access to during back to school shopping season. It was a fascinating and lasting glimpse into another world where it was obvious that people took these instruments very seriously, and that really resonated with me.
Fast forward a couple decades, and here we are. I have more pens and pencils than I'd rather count, and I'm aware of a vast majority of writing instruments and endless customization options. Even though my interests and preferences have expanded, I always remember the humble beginnings of the drafting pencil with great fondness. And that's why the Staedtler 925-75 drafting pencil is an interesting product that is worthy of attention.
The Staedtler 925-75 has a very boring name, but the color options are very exciting in a world of black, gray, and silver writing instruments. Drafting pencils are usually very business-centric instruments, but the playful color options of this Staedtler line is refreshing. I have the purple option here, and it really does add a nice pop of color to my desk amidst the many other pens and pencils that frequent the desk space. With pastel color options that include green, purple, yellow, pink, blue, and white, you can definitely find something that fits your palette preference.
Aside from the fun colors, these are actually solid drafting pencils. While they only offer a lead size of 0.5mm, the plastic construction is solid and lightweight, while also keeping costs down. On top of that, there's a small lead grade indicator ring on top of the pencil to help you keep track of what type of lead is in the pencil.
In concept, it's a great pencil at a great price, and I'm sure that it will work well for many. For me, the grip is just uncomfortable no matter how I hold it. As far as cheap drafting pencils go, I've always been very partial to the Pentel line — particularly the similarly-priced Sharp drafting pencils and the slightly more premium Pentel 120 A3DX pencils. At under six bucks for any of these, you can't go wrong. I just happen to prefer the grips on both of the Pentel models that I have.
The Staedtler pencil functions perfectly. The mechanical pencil mechanism is precise and crisp, and the material quality is top notch. The 4mm lead pipe provides excellent visibility and a nice solid piece to hold against a straight-edge when needed. It even includes the gratuitous (and mostly unusable) tiny eraser that doubles as the lead stopper. The inclusion of a lead grade ring indicator is nice, but it's too loose for me to trust. A slight bump of the ring is enough to move the indicator to a different lead type, which is annoying if you really rely on it. Comparing that to the Rotring 600 isn't fair given the price difference, but the Rotring lead grade ring has a good amount of friction that makes it really difficult to accidentally adjust it, while also being easy to adjust when you mean to.
At just over four bucks, it's hard to complain about such a great pencil. I really am splitting hairs when it comes to the Staedtler 925-75 line, and it mostly comes down to personal comfort and how the grip feels in my hand. It's an excellent pencil that ticks all the boxes in terms of how it performs as a mechanical pencil, and the price is really hard to beat for a drafting pencil!
If you like the colors of these pencils and need a good 0.5mm drafting pencil (or even a few for different lead grades), then give the Staedtler 925-27 a shot! It's a great pencil that will serve you well assuming you can agree with the grip.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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