GraphGear 1000 Premium Mechanical Pencil Set

My excuse for buying this was to be greener. To replace the plastic 0.5 mm disposable mechanical pencils that I use every day with something more durable ,refillable and comfortable to use seemed a bit of a no-brainer. So when this turned up at a very good price I succumbed. I expected it to be as well designed and made as the other Pentel kit I rely on, but this exceeded my expectations.It is an absolute delight. Well balanced, comfortable to hold for long periods, beautifully engineered and with a clever design that allows the collar and lead to instantly retract out of harms way by pressing the pocket clip. It feels solid enough to withstand the knocks and falls my kit is always subjected to. The only protrusion -the clip- sits neatly out of the way in use, is sturdy and has a heavy hinge pin that has no play in it. Pentel leads are not only smooth, contain 92% of recycled materials, but are also far less prone to snapping than other brands I've tried so are definitely worth getting. The pencil also has a little window on the side that can be rotated to show the grade of lead within.The only downside is the lack of any instructions on the pack which makes it advisable to read some reviews to work out how to use it. (Also I suspect that lending it or leaving it lying around may result in its disappearance as it is so very, very covetable.)This really is the Rolls-Royce of draughting pencils and I recommend it.

The 0.7 lead is perfect for drawing or writing. I purchased some 2B leads for mine and it’s great for jotting down shopping lists etc. Nicely balanced, positive grip , well made and terrific value for money. Feels like it should last a lifetime.

A great pencil, nice design and easy to use.Would buy again, especially as they are on offer (16% off) at the minute.

It's incredibly hard to find good mechanical pencils these days. The market seems to be dominated by cheap ones that break quickly and need immediate replacing or expensive ones that look pretty but aren't designed for convenient use. This one is different. It has a metallic covering which prevents it from being damaged and gives it the appearance of much more fancy pencils yet is as functional as cheaper ones.The main advantage of this pencil is that it will not tear a hole in your pocket like most others do. The point retracts into the bottom when you close it making the end blunt and dull. When extended the tip is locked in place by the clip, which here goes down lower when the button is depressed. This allows it to retract without suffering from the problem of other retractable pencils where they are easily pushed back leaving nothing to protect the lead from breaking. It's really the best of both worlds. The only problem with this is that when the tip is retracted the clip sticks out quite a lot which can over time cause it to get bent out of position.The rest of the pencil is fairly standard. The eraser is small and gets used up quickly so you probably want to use a separate eraser whenever possible. The grip is unusual in that it is mainly metal with only thin rubber bits sticking through to provide a grip. This is almost as good as a fully rubber grip and is quite a bit more durable. The body of the pencil is light and thin. It can take a significant amount of damage but it's really best not to push it. The only reason I replaced this pencil (with another of the same make) is because I lost it. It lasted almost two years without substantial damage, which is a rarity for my pencils.I don't know if all copies of this pencil are shipped from Japan but both of mine certainly have been. Delivery takes about 3-4 weeks but is cheap and affordable. If you need a new pencil immediately this probably isn't the product for you, but if you want a mechanical pencil that will last without breaking itself or your pockets then this is the one for you.

This is an expensive mechanical pencil. You can purchase something at half the price that will do the job. But, I find pencils to be an extention of my arm and look for something of quality and taste. The Pentel Graphgear 1000 Draughting Pencil, 0.5 mm fits the bill. It's well designed, accepts any 0.5mm lead, retracts the vunerable sleeve at the end of the pencil and if you set it, tells you what grade of lead your using. If someone wants to buy you a present steer them towards gifting you one of these, a gift you will treasure, but a purchase that you might find hard to justify.

I’ve been using the 0.7 model for many years. Totally my go-to writing tool. It’s so-well made, easy to write with, well balanced in the hand etc. I like that there’s the option to set a visual at the top that reminds you what grade of lead you are using. I always use Pentel Ain Stein refills, and always 2B, but that’s not a fact I hold in my head every day, so when I go to order refills the “2B” reference is useful.This is my go-to tool for writing notes at work. And has been for years.What I don’t like - it’s quite long, even after clicking the button to retract the nib. Having said that, it still fits in any case or bag that in which I transport it.Other things - give it good quality lead. It works brilliantly with Pentel Ain Stein leads. They’re smooth when laying down text (I don’t have any experience of drawing with this tool)When I first got it I used whatever 0.7 leads I had to hand, and it was awful. The above Pentel leads are now available a lot cheaper - and are significantly better.Hope that helps in your purchasing decision. I have amassed quite a ‘collection’ of mechanical pencils including Rotring etc, but this one is totally the best. Not just slightly better- a lot better. My ‘collection’ isn’t really a planned collection- it’s stuff I’ve bought over the years on the journey to find a really decent mechanical pencil.Pentel Ain Stein Leads are equally key, in any pencil. Very smooth.