Mechanical pencil
Author
Discussion

Furbo

Original Poster:

2,164 posts

51 months

Saturday
quotequote all
As a gift to someone that uses a pencil for maths and jotting.

Budget £50-£100

Is there a go-to?

TIA

miniman

28,756 posts

281 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Rotring.

Mr Squarekins

1,402 posts

81 months

Saturday
quotequote all
miniman said:
Rotring.
This. Plus a nice selection of softer leads.

roltyid

239 posts

216 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Rotring 800+

RustyNissanPrairie

364 posts

14 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Uni Toga.

Unique mechanism that rotates the 'lead' so it doesn't become blunted / chiseled. I use one for CAD preliminary sketching. Replaceable erasers available. Honestly no need for anything more in a pencil.
Just not expensive enough to be a present.

https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Kuru-Toga-Roulette-Mec...

Furbo

Original Poster:

2,164 posts

51 months

Saturday
quotequote all

Ah thanks, I had forgotten about Rotring. What lead size? 0.5 or 0.7?

It will see a lot of maths calcs.

Sway

32,859 posts

213 months

Saturday
quotequote all
I use a Rotring Rapid Pro with 2mm lead for daily note taking, etc.

https://amzn.eu/d/8c5BK3L

Also means I have a very cool tiny sharpener!

https://amzn.eu/d/arrpnXQ

It's a lovely thing to use everyday, with absolutely zero fuss but lots of tactile pleasure.



Furbo

Original Poster:

2,164 posts

51 months

Saturday
quotequote all

Actually, the brief just expanded. Is there a good Rotring pen that will go well with the pencil? I've browsed the website but it's a bit esoteric.

egomeister

7,333 posts

282 months

Saturday
quotequote all
RustyNissanPrairie said:
Uni Toga.

Unique mechanism that rotates the 'lead' so it doesn't become blunted / chiseled. I use one for CAD preliminary sketching. Replaceable erasers available. Honestly no need for anything more in a pencil.
Just not expensive enough to be a present.

https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Kuru-Toga-Roulette-Mec...
Uni Kuru Toga wink

Lovely mechanical pencil, but as Rusty says not expensive. I think my nicest one didn't cost more than £15 or so

castex

5,017 posts

292 months

Sway

32,859 posts

213 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Furbo said:
Actually, the brief just expanded. Is there a good Rotring pen that will go well with the pencil? I've browsed the website but it's a bit esoteric.
There's a rapid pro ballpoint.

https://amzn.eu/d/5nnwVOg

Furbo

Original Poster:

2,164 posts

51 months

Saturday
quotequote all
castex said:
Prohibitively priced.

Furbo

Original Poster:

2,164 posts

51 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Sway said:
There's a rapid pro ballpoint.

https://amzn.eu/d/5nnwVOg
Looks good.

BunkMoreland

2,757 posts

26 months

Saturday
quotequote all
egomeister said:
RustyNissanPrairie said:
Uni Toga.

Unique mechanism that rotates the 'lead' so it doesn't become blunted / chiseled. I use one for CAD preliminary sketching. Replaceable erasers available. Honestly no need for anything more in a pencil.
Just not expensive enough to be a present.

https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Kuru-Toga-Roulette-Mec...
Uni Kuru Toga wink

Lovely mechanical pencil, but as Rusty says not expensive. I think my nicest one didn't cost more than £15 or so
I know the OP specified a price range, but are we really going down this route of saying £15 for something that is more than good enough is wrong and should be discounted from the list?

Digger

15,937 posts

210 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Sway said:
I use a Rotring Rapid Pro with 2mm lead for daily note taking, etc.

https://amzn.eu/d/8c5BK3L

Also means I have a very cool tiny sharpener!

https://amzn.eu/d/arrpnXQ

It's a lovely thing to use everyday, with absolutely zero fuss but lots of tactile pleasure.
I have to ask if it is worth £28 though?

thebraketester

15,230 posts

157 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Look up the Adam savage video on the matter.

Digger

15,937 posts

210 months

Saturday
quotequote all
thebraketester said:
Look up the Adam savage video on the matter.
Link please . . .

thebraketester

15,230 posts

157 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Digger said:
thebraketester said:
Look up the Adam savage video on the matter.
Link please . . .
https://youtu.be/bLwo1kOcwxs?si=gmXiM4B-TKscv3z8

egomeister

7,333 posts

282 months

BunkMoreland said:
egomeister said:
RustyNissanPrairie said:
Uni Toga.

Unique mechanism that rotates the 'lead' so it doesn't become blunted / chiseled. I use one for CAD preliminary sketching. Replaceable erasers available. Honestly no need for anything more in a pencil.
Just not expensive enough to be a present.

https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-Kuru-Toga-Roulette-Mec...
Uni Kuru Toga wink

Lovely mechanical pencil, but as Rusty says not expensive. I think my nicest one didn't cost more than £15 or so
I know the OP specified a price range, but are we really going down this route of saying £15 for something that is more than good enough is wrong and should be discounted from the list?
Depends. I took the 50-100 as an indication of care and attention the OP wanted to put into the gift as much as the value of the item itself, so in that respect a £15 plastic thing you can probably pick up at WHSmith probably doesn't hit the spot.

Anyway, turns out they do a metal bodied version for about £45 that should be more suitable biggrin
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mechanical-Rotation-All-M...

Furbo

Original Poster:

2,164 posts

51 months


On the subject of metal-bodied, is that necessarily desirable?

I have "stuff" made of metal and instinctively prefer resin or plastic because it is warm to the touch.

Any thoughts on this chaps?