Posts filed under Pencil Reviews

Caran d'Ache 849 COLORMAT-X 0.7mm Mechanical Pencil Review

The Washington D.C. pen show was an exercise in sensory overload, so it is time to get back to the basics this week and tackle one of my favorite product categories: mechanical pencils.

“Basic” is a term rarely used when referring to Caran d’Ache products. Classic is probably a better term, and they do classic as well as anybody, as seen with this Caran d’Ache 849 Mechanical Pencil.

Given my love for the 849 Ballpoint and Fixpencil, both of which share a similar 849 barrel design as the mechanical pencil, I’m surprised it took me so long to try one out. My first impression when unboxing it? “Oh, yeah.”

*Top to bottom: 849 Ballpoint, 849 Mechanical Pencil, Fixpencil.*

That’s the sound of being familiar with a product lineup and brand, despite never using this exact model. The aluminum barrel of the 849 Mechanical Pencil is lightweight, sturdy, and comfortable. This model features a Blue COLORMAT-X anodized finish, giving the pencil a subtle sparkle and satin/matte feel. If the Pentel Sharp P Series mechanical pencil shipped with a metal barrel, it would look and feel a lot like this.

Staying with the Sharp comparison, the primary aesthetic difference between the two is the lack of a screw-on nose cone. The 849 barrel is one piece through the front taper, with only the tip of the mechanism appearing through the opening. It is not retractable into the barrel, unlike its ballpoint brethren.

The stock Caran d’Ache 0.7 mm lead is soft and dark. While I enjoyed writing with it, if this was primarily a writing pencil, I would look into swapping the lead out for something harder. But for artwork, drawing, and sketching, this lead is ideal. 0.7 mm width is your only choice, though.

While the lead is an easy swap, the price isn’t. This pencil is expensive for what it is, but that is the C’dA way. At around $23 it isn’t outrageous, and the similar 844 model is only a few dollars cheaper, so you are paying that Swiss premium for sure. Some of their products are easily worth that premium for me, and others have more competition.

I think the 849 mechanical pencil falls into that latter category, where I find the various 849 ballpoint and Fixpencil styles more “worth it.” I’m glad to have this pencil in the arsenal to play around with and compare to other products, but I’m not looking to add another one at this point.

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

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Posted on August 14, 2023 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Caran d'Ache, Mechanical Pencil, Pencil Reviews.

Blackwing Natural Extra Firm Pencil Review

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

It's been quite a while since I've bought new Blackwing pencils (mine still have the Palomino branding), and I've definitely missed out on the newer extra firm core. With the Blackwing Natural, I finally get to try out this more balanced graphite with a lovely natural casing.

Before we get started, here's a refresher on the Blackwing line-up and their graphite/lead grading system.

Blackwing Soft (similar to 3B or 4B) - found in the Matte
Blackwing Balanced (close to 2B) - found in the Pearl
Blackwing Firm (feels like a B to me) - found in the 602
Blackwing Extra Firm (close to HB) - found in the Natural

Blackwing pencils are known for their smooth and dark graphite cores, but I'm sure I'm not alone in being a little annoyed at their refusal to use the standard graphite grading system. It exists, and it works! Anyway, since Blackwing pencils normally run on the softer/darker side, I was excited to try this lighter, firmer core found in the Natural.

To me, the extra firm core is similar to an HB, but just a smidge darker. It's really hard to directly compare it since different pencil brands are slightly different in terms of how they categorize their graphite hardness levels.

I'm really partial to Mitsubishi Hi-Uni and 9000 pencils, and I've been really happy with how the Blackwings compares to them. They all feel different and unique, and the Natural is a really pleasant pencil to use. The tip stays sharp for a normal amount of writing, but the line is a bit smoother and darker than other HB pencils. It's a perfect middle ground for me in terms of a great general writing pencil. I love a super dark and soft pencil, but they just need to be resharpened so quickly. And on the other hand, really hard pencils don't put down a satisfyingly dark line when writing. Finding a great compromise in the middle is a great discovery for those general writing tasks.

The Natural features a cedar casing with an indiscernible amount of finish on the outside. It looks (and smells) like a raw, unfinished pencil, and the gold lettering and ferrule matched up with a gray eraser contribute to the chill aesthetic.

Ever thought that the softer, darker Blackwing cores are a bit too soft or dark for regular writing? The extra firm core is a fantastic option for the middle-ground HB hardness wrapped up in a classy cedar package. You can pick up your own pack of Blackwing Naturals for $27, or you can grab a single pencil for $2.50 to see if it works for you or not. Happy to add this extra firm core to my rotation of Blackwing pencils!

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

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Posted on August 2, 2023 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Blackwing, Pencil Reviews.

Tombow Mono Graph Lite Mechanical Pencil Review

Is there a more underrated stationery maker than Tombow?

Their product lineup is not the biggest, and they don’t cover every corner of the stationery world. They are more Zebra than Pilot, for comparison. But everything they make, especially in the sub $10 price point, is outstanding. Often, that product is the best in its category.

Is the Tombow Mono Graph Lite Mechanical Pencil the best in its category? If not, it’s close. When I pick it up and use it, I smile. Sometimes stationery is that simple.

Oh, did I mention this is a $3 mechanical pencil? That’s right. This pencil would be right at home on a students desk as much as it would be on the drafting tables of an architectural firm. They still have those, right?

Why do I like this mechanical pencil so much? Design execution. You’d think companies wouldn’t obsess over a $3 pen or pencil, but the ones that do are clear. The plastic barrel is light and smooth. The rubber grip hits in the right spot and feels nice. The fixed lead pipe is long, but proportional to the overall length of the pencil. The clip color is designed to match the barrel across the lineup. And finally, a Tombow staple, the eraser doesn’t have a cap, it twists to extend and retract.

If I can overthink a $3 mechanical pencil this much, they must be doing something right.

*The stock 0.5 mm Tombow graphite is crisp and firm - exactly what I’m looking for. Written on the* *Kobeha Graphilo Square Notebook*.

This isn’t the first time I’ve gushed over a Tombow mechanical pencil or ballpoint pen. Their woodcase pencils and brush pens are pretty darn good to. They also make my all-time favorite color pencil in the Tombow Irojiten, so yeah, you could say I’m a fan.

Tombow isn’t the largest stationery brand in the world, but not everyone needs to be Taylor Swift on The Eras Tour to be important. Sometimes, three friends loading in and out from their Econoline every night, heading from Athens to Asheville to Amherst, is exactly what you need. Like a Tombow.

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

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