Posts filed under Mechanical Pencil

ystudio Mechanical Pencil Review

I’m a ystudio fanboy. You know this by now. The Brassing Fountain Pen was an instant classic the moment it was released, and they continued to expand the lineup beyond the ballpoint with great items like the Desk Pen.

The ystudio Mechanical Pencil is the most recent addition to the lineup, and, as much as it pains me to say this, it’s not their best effort.

Let’s talk about the good before I delve into what gives me pause about recommending this pencil. First off, it is stunning to look at. The hexagonal brass barrel is refined, and the copper knock sets off the design perfectly. The build is extremely refined, which is a consistent theme across the entire ystudio lineup.

The way this pencil looks is a dream scenario for Patrick Ng. It’s impossible to take a bad picture of it, and it fits into any photo setup perfectly.

As great as that sounds, we buy things to use them - at least that’s what I believe in. This is not the easiest pencil to use, especially for longer writing sessions.

The barrel is wide, which, for smaller motion writing instruments like mechanical pencils, is not a good thing. Added width means added stress if the tip isn’t correspondingly wide. This is why you see very few wide barrel mechanical pencils on the market. And when you do, like with the Pilot Dr. Grip for example, they are designed specifically to help writers with hand and grip issues, like arthritis. The wide barrel of the ystudio has no such benefits. This design would make for an excellent 2.0 mm clutch pencil.

Secondly, you cannot have a continuation of the hex barrel into the grip section of a mechanical pencil. Unless you are using the Uni-ball Kuru Toga, it is common to rotate the pencil in your hand to use the sharper edge of the graphite. When using this pencil, I often rotate my grip right on to a hex edge, which is an uncomfortable writing position. I then have to adjust a second time before continuing to write. I don’t like having to think about that every ten to twelve letters.

“But Brad, wooden pencils are often hex barrels and you don’t have a problem with them?” Correct! The difference is in the diameter. The narrower barrel of wooden pencils helps with that issue, and the hex edges are softer/more rounded. The design benefits wooden pencils, while being detrimental in the case of the wider ystudio mechanical pencil.

A quick glance around the mechanical pencil market tells you everything you need to know about good pencil design. Do any other successful pencils have a hex grip? Nope. There are lots of hex barrels - like the famous Rotring 600 - but they morph into round grips for a reason.

Two minor things worth mentioning as well: There is no clip, and no internal eraser. Neither of those things bother me, although the lack of eraser is an odd choice considering the simple knock design. It’s almost like it is asking for it, yet it’s not there.

The ystudio mechanical pencil puts on a good show. It is fantastic looking, and is a photography standout. But writing instruments are made to be used, and using this one is more challenging than most.

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

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Brad Dowdy and filed under ystudio, Mechanical Pencil, Pencil Reviews.

Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L Drafting Pencil Review

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

Over the past year, I haven’t been using many mechanical pencils. For me, I’m enjoying woodcase pencils much more at the moment, but I’m always happy to try something new to see how it stacks up against the rest. In the case of the Faber-Castell TK-Fine Vario L mechanical pencil, it sports some features that you’ll find on other mechanical pencils, but not with the same combination.

On the outside, the TK-Fine Vario L (we’re going to call it the Vario from now on) looks like most other drafting pencils. It’s a bit long, has a metal grip, plastic body, and long lead pipe at the end. It doesn’t look like a premium Rotring pencil, but it also doesn’t cost as much as one either. The dark green plastic and gold type does add a bit of class to an otherwise unassuming pencil, and the shiny grip section definitely catches my eye every time I glance in its direction. The clip is nice and strong and can be removed. One thing to consider about this pencil is that the 4mm lead guard pipe does not retract into the tip of the pencil, so beware of your pockets and bags. These pipes are really good at poking holes in fabric.

One thing that I think would improve the overall look of the pencil is a simple eraser cap at the top of the pencil. To me, it looks like it’s missing a cap of some sort, but it certainly does not come with one from the factory. I’m guessing Faber Castell assumed those caps are only a nuisance when you need to use the eraser, but I disagree. I’d prefer a cap in almost every case. To advance the lead, simply click the top of the pencil (which happens to be the eraser).

On the tip of the Vario between the cone and the grip is a lead type indicator. Most drafting pencils have a small barrel that allows you to select the type of lead you have inside the pencil, but they’re normally located at the top of the pencil close to the click mechanism and eraser. In this case, the indicator is right under the grip. The type ranges from 2B to 4H (2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H, and 4H), but I find myself accidentally moving the indicator while writing if my fingers happen to slip down from the grip a tad. It’s not a huge issue, but certainly an annoyance that could easily be resolved with a better design decision.

The grip section is hit and miss for me. I love how it looks, but I’m not a big fan of how it feels when writing. The flange as the base of the grip looks cool and also adds some helpful weight at the low center of gravity to improve the level of control you have while writing, but it’s really slippery. The grooves along the upper part of the grip don’t add much in terms of grip. If you use a "normal" grip on your pencils, your mileage will vary. For me, my fingers start slipping almost immediately under normal, non-sweaty conditions. You’ll likely already know exactly what you think about this type of grip based on past experience. I had a pretty good idea that I wouldn’t enjoy the grip very much due to the slick metal and narrow grip, and I was right. But, you might also be on the other side of the fence and really enjoy this grip. It’s definitely not a "one size fits all" situation.

Like most pencils in this price range, the Vario boasts a special feature: the ability to vary a lead clutch from "soft" to "hard." All this really does is allow you to control how tightly the lead is clutched when in use. "Soft" means that the lead will automatically retract under pressure, protecting it from breakage. "Hard" means that the lead will not retract under pressure, which gives you more control but also means it’s more likely to snap the lead. According to the diagrams on the box, "soft" is for writing and "hard" is for drafting. This can be useful in some circumstances, and I’ve found the two settings to do exactly what they promise.

At the end of the day, writing with the Vario isn’t a great experience for me. I’m not a drafter by any means, and I have noticed that using this pencil for drawing and sketching is more comfortable depending on what angle I hold the lead. It’s also great for using with a straight-edge for drawing lines due to the long pipe. The long pipe also makes it easy to see what you’re doing.

Despite my own reservations due to personal taste and usage, this is a great pencil. At the $20 mark, the Faber-Castell Vario does have a fair bit of competition, but I think it offers enough unique attributes to hold its own. If this grip doesn’t scare you away, then it’s a great pencil to try out. It’s available in 0.35mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, and 1.0mm lead sizes, but the only color is dark green.

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

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Faber-Castell, Mechanical Pencil, Pencil Reviews.

Platinum Pro-Use 171 Drafting Pencil 0.9 mm Review

While Platinum may be primarily known in pen addict circles as a manufacturer of fine fountain pens, did you know they also make high-quality drafting pencils as well?

The Platinum Pro-Use 171 is the latest to hit the market, and the best I have tried from a very good Platinum bunch. It is important to get the feel right in a drafting pencil: Weight forward towards the tip, light up top, both working together for ultimate pencil control. Platinum nails the feel with the 171.

The lightly-knurled metal grip section looks, feels, and functions great. It has some weight to it, which it should for proper balance. The knurling provides enough grip without being too aggressive, which would tire out your fingers. It also functions to engage and disengage the pressure-absorbing spring mechanism in the pencil, which helps prevent lead breakage. With a lead as wide as 0.9 mm breakage issues aren’t all that common. I can see this coming into play more with 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm lead widths.

Another feature the 171 has is an adjustable lead pipe sleeve length. This pencil does it differently than other mechanical and drafting pencils I have used with this feature. Instead of twisting to retract or extend the sleeve itself, the nose cone on the Platinum twists up and down to cover the sleeve. Functionally it’s fine, but aesthetically it’s not my favorite look when the sleeve is completely covered. It breaks up the clean lines of the pencil design.

The stock lead the 171 ships with is not noted specifically, but it feels and performs like an stock HB lead. It’s dark and smooth and doesn’t break down too easily. The eraser is shockingly good. I never expect much from small mechanical pencil erasers, but this one takes away the marks completely and cleanly.

I chose the 0.9 mm size to review since I have been enjoying wider lines to sketch with. The Pro-Use 171 also comes in 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, and 0.7 mm width, each with a different barrel color to denote the tip size. At $19 I can see avid users of drafting pencils buying the full set. The build quality of the pencil is top-notch and should last for years through heavy use. I may have to pick up the 0.3 mm to add to the collection myself. They are that good.

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

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!