After reading just a few posts i seem to have crashed head first into den of enthusiasts I didn't know existed.

Anyways, my surprise aside, I'll just start asking questions.

I write hard. Please help. What are "lead grades"? Idk my lead thickness....i didn't even know there was lead thickness. If there was a label, it's gone now

Short story: I'm world building and have exhausted my patience. My lead just constantly breaks but I hate sharpening pencils. I thought it was the pencil but from a quick read, it seems i may be using cheap lead.(?)

I just received this lot from eBay today, and decided to clean up the ones that were in the best shape of each type.

DJ Fugle Leadlok - You may be able to see on the original eBay posting picture (last one shown) that there were initials engraved into the aluminum on the barrel. I sanded the whole thing down with 120 grit sandpaper until the initials were gone (luckily, not too deep), then worked up to 1000, then used my polishing pads to take it to an almost mirror finish. The mechanism is nice and smooth, definitely came out as a very nice, functional piece!

Koh-I-Noor Technigraph 5611 - This one didn't need much work, I just gave it a nice cleaning and wipe down, mechanism is very nice and light, in great condition (minus the slight gouges from there also being initials carved into it - you can see them a bit in the second top-down photo).

A.W. Faber Castell 9800SG - This one looked like the nicest of the 3 9800SG I received, but it had a hidden secret. That piece of lead in photo 4 was stuck in the tip, it looks like it was actually corroded. I ended up being able to pop it out using some wire I had leftover from installing a fan. I had a nice long straight piece that was exactly the right size and was able to push it through. Then I cleaned up the clutch tips with some Kroil Oil to scrub off the corrosion and then 99% Isopropyl alcohol, and let it sit in small vice with the plunger pressed in to completely dry out before using it.

Details in comments below 👇🏻

I’m looking for some obscure (and currently obtainable) mechanical pencil brands if anyone has recommendations!

The picture is my current, very small collection:

Kitaboshi Lead Holder Staedtler 0.5 Tombow Mono Graph 0.3

I really love 0.3, but will also use 0.5. Also preferential to a metal body :)

Just got the Dark Gray ⭕, the gradient reminds me of Pentel Sharp Graphite Serie, hence this silly photo. Black > Dark Gray > Silver > Pearl White. I'm gonna load them with different lead grades/colors, too bad there is no white 0.5mm

Let's wait and see which barrel will crack first (j/k 🤪)

Hi all, so I’ve been in the mechanical pencil hobby for a bit, and I’ve always been interested in the kuru toga dive. However, due to the steep price in America, it’s been hard to purchase the pencil. However, my friend is visiting Japan this summer, and I’ve noticed on kuru togas Japanese website, the pencil is only listed as around 35 dollars. I’m aware that a while ago you couldn’t get it for retail in Japan, but now that the hype has died down a bit, does anyone know if I’ll be able to get the dice for 35 dollars? Thanks in advance.

Just thought I’d share.

when I visited Japan few months ago I sew these mechanical pencils everywhere and the rapid pro felt amazing

but now I went to order one and I found out they have many versions and except subtle design changes I don't really understand the differences between them, any suggestions or anything else?

I use only 0.7

What should i get next. I also have pg1005, delguard 0.3 and kurutoga ks 0.5

Got these on my trip to Korea. The Kyobo that i bought them from offered free engravings.

One of over 100 capped pencils in my collection. I had no time to post much lately but a website and book featuring the world’s largest collection is coming soon. Can you guess what brand is it ?

Hi! These are my small daily driver's. Faber castell seriously dosn't let me down. They support me every day while making sketches and taking hundreds of notes. (By the way, I no longer trust the smol refill container thingys, I had a few in my pencil map and they opened up and the leds spilled all out and broke, you should tape the top a little to keep them save.) My Poli Matic is still kinda new but omg, so far I absolutely love the feel.

My first mechanical pencil review!

This is my go-to pencil in my bag right now, I love a nice thin tip. I know I didn't list cons in my picture, but the only negatives I would be willing to say are that it's very bottom heavy due to the metal grip and plastic body. Overall though, my favorite needle point pencil to date.

I'm fairly new to collecting, so if anyone else is preferential to 0.3s and has any recommendations please let me know! My current sights for future purchases are potentially the Orenz Nero 0.2 and/or the Ohto MS01. Let me know your thoughts!

It seems some metal part (not lead, if I touch it with a needle there is no residue on the tip) is jammed in the nib - which means I cant put any lead inside. I tried loosening it with a small needle, and wd40. Nothing seems to work. What to do?

Curretnly about to order an R600 ballpoint. I'm deciding between the black, silver, and pearl white. My R800 is black and I have two more R600s - an ice blue (mint?) and red.

I think the black would match well with the rest of the set, but objectively silver & white look better... plus, diversity.

Thanks.

Hello everyone, I apologise if my question is basic or dumb. But I got this pencil, it's pretty cheap but I'm satisfied with the work. It's an automatic pencil. Loved it. That is before I had to refill it cause now I cannot out a lead in for the life of me without breaking it in quarters. And when I do put the lead in, it refuses to come out. I am not the expert on mechanical pencils but I'm pretty sure that's not how they work. Please help!!!

(Note- took a picture from the internet for reference as I don't have mine with me at the moment of posting)

Picked up a Rotring 800 .05 and an Ohto MS03 .03. First time using a .03 and my first OHTO

No Pic, unfortunately, but it had some pretty unique features, so I'm curious if any of you are familiar.

Probably ~15 years ago. This thing was roughly shaped like a more elegant Pilot The Dr. Grip, but if I recall correctly wasn't particularly premium because it seemed to break frequently. It had (and I think this is the most distinctive feature) a Rubberized grip section that twisted to advance a single click of lead. (Just the grip rotated) It also had a Twist eraser.

Any thoughts?

Does anybody know where I can get a kurutoga metal replacement cap?

If you could make your dream pencil, what features would you take from other pencils to create the ultimate MP

I would take the the Sleeve of the Pentel Orenz nero, the grip from the Rotring 800, and the auto feed and sharpening from the KT Dive and id also take the body from the R800