Pencil fetish

[Efrogwr]

I have a Lamy 2000 pencil that I use quite a bit. It’s the 0.5 mm version - sometimes wish I had bought the 0.7 tbh.

I am finding the Lamy HB 0.5 mm lead too hard and want a darker line. Can I use a B from another brand? There are 0.5mm B leads from Rotring and Pilot but the length is not listed.

https://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/ink-refills/pencil-leads/

They are a standard length, so any lead will usually fit any pencil. There are a few weird exceptions, but they are fairly obvious.
I haven't tried Rotring or Pilot leads, but they should be good; other stuff from those firms is.

[Woofage]

I have a Lamy 2000 pencil that I use quite a bit. It’s the 0.5 mm version - sometimes wish I had bought the 0.7 tbh.

I am finding the Lamy HB 0.5 mm lead too hard and want a darker line. Can I use a B from another brand? There are 0.5mm B leads from Rotring and Pilot but the length is not listed.

https://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/ink-refills/pencil-leads/

I always use rotring B lead in my Lamy 2000 0.5mm pencil. I use the same in my Pelikan pencil too.

OTOH, I find Lamy 0.7mm HB leads ok for me despite my usual preference for a softer grade. When the factory supplied leads run out I normally refill with rotring or Pilot B grade.

[Sergeant Pluck]

Thanks both. A couple of packs of B lead on the way.

[mrcharly-YHT]

For your delectation
https://www.makerscabinet.com/products/brass-hovel

https://youtu.be/2SbHVehH004

[robgul]

For your delectation
https://www.makerscabinet.com/products/brass-hovel

https://youtu.be/2SbHVehH004

That's insane - at least the price is.    But nicely engineered

I shall continue with my Poundland sharpener (although I do have a nifty sharpener for those flat woodwork/carpentry pencils - and that was Aldi at £1.99 with 6 pencils)

[Ham]

I'll just leave this here, in time for Christmas

https://www.makerscabinet.com/products/brass-hovel

[Chris N]

If you'd read the thread you could have got one in time for Halloween.

[Mr Larrington]

I was intrigued by the idea of a brass hovel, and am now a little bit disappointed.

[Ham]

I'll just leave this here, in time for Christmas

https://www.makerscabinet.com/products/brass-hovel

 

[robgul]

I'll just leave this here, in time for Christmas

https://www.makerscabinet.com/products/brass-hovel

 

I'm close to perfecting my pencil sharpening techniques - either with a disc sander machine . .  or a chisel.

The Hovel thing is great, just need to wait for $5 Chinese knock-off to be on Banggood or Aliexpress

[Canardly]

Planting your pencil stubs for Christmas.

https://www.euronews.com/living/2020/11/22/you-can-turn-this-pencil-into-a-christmas-tree

[slope]

A mechanical pencil sharpener is required. The Mitsubishi KH-20 doesn't appear to be available in the UK

Does anyone have any thoughts or experiences of a Swordfish 'Curve' or 'Scholar'? The former is certainly more pleasing on the eye as well as wallet 

[ElyDave]

Bought myself an OHTO SuperProMecha as I seemed to have misplaced my other good mechanical pencil. It really is lovely to use.

I also bought myself a new clutch pencil as my other one had disappeared "Oh, I borrowed that" says Daughter No1 "but the lead went blunt so I'm not using it any more"

She now knows how to use a clutch pencip sharpener, and I also bought her a nice mechanical pencil for Christmas as she'd been coveting my Ohto

[T42]

I also bought myself a new clutch pencil as my other one had disappeared "Oh, I borrowed that" says Daughter No1 "but the lead went blunt so I'm not using it any more"

In my first job in computers we had a programmer who sat beside the stationery cupboard. When his pencil went blunt he would simply help himself to a sharp one.  We only discovered this when one of the other blokes went to get a new pencil and wailed.

At least they weren't chewed.

Programmer's name was Alex. I've only ever known two blokes called Alex and they were both shits.

[pcolbeck]

A mechanical pencil sharpener is required. The Mitsubishi KH-20 doesn't appear to be available in the UK

It is available in the UK. Cult Pens have it for starters:

https://www.cultpens.com/i/q/UN28293/mitsubishi-kh-20-desk-sharpener

[slope]

A mechanical pencil sharpener is required. The Mitsubishi KH-20 doesn't appear to be available in the UK

It is available in the UK. Cult Pens have it for starters:

https://www.cultpens.com/i/q/UN28293/mitsubishi-kh-20-desk-sharpener

It is again now, back in stock as of today BUT, this arrived today, so up yours Mitsubishi



And yes, intemperance and insanity are finally confirmed at Snowdon Towers

[slope]

Faber Castell No52/20 N desk pencil sharpener restoration

https://youtu.be/cF02NKnQeIk

Edit: SORRY - are adverts now the youtube? Did this happen this week?

[woollypigs]

Nice, that is a good channel to follow. But what adverts are you speaking about ?

* woollypigs got Ublock and Badger installed so don't see stuff like that

[Davef]

If you are going to do it properly

https://youtu.be/wn1XnrZQabM

[mrcharly-YHT]

I have 'pretty' mechanical pencils and pens (christmas presents). Also, worn-out rotrings.

Bit fed up of using them for work jotting. Leads either wobble, or don't extend well, and snap.

So, during xmas break I bought myself a utilitarian 'propelling' pencil. Faber-Castell Grip Plus.

It is excellent in all ways except aesthetics.
Lead extends well, and the whole nib/lead holder retracts.
No lead wobble.
Eraser is permanently exposed, hence quick to use. It is a long eraser, about 30mm, extruded by a rotating knob. Spare came with pencil.
Absolute bargain at £9.99.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Double absolute bargain at half the price! https://www.cassart.co.uk/faber-castell-grip-plus-mechanical-pencil-0.7mm--metallic-green--c/
There's a branch in town, hmm...

[Beardy]

I got a clutch pencil with 6mm lead as a Christmas present. It’s ather good.

[Regulator]

I know it's not a pencil but I bought myself a Lumos Pro pen from Tom's Studio recently and it's fab!  He also does a rather nice looking mechanical pencil.

[Woofage]

Faber-Castell Grip Plus.

It is excellent in all ways except aesthetics.

I don't mind the appearance. It's functional.
I've had mine (blue, 0.7mm) for over 6 years and it gets daily use in the workshop. I blagged it from the F-C UK distributor at a trade show. Bargain indeed!

[Vernon]

He also does a rather nice looking mechanical pencil.

I bought one of these (0.7mm in Ivy) when over in the UK recently. It is a thing of beauty with a pleasing weight and heft. I'm not sure I am as enamoured of the click of the mechanism as Tom is, but that is because the metal on metal scrape of the pusher on the barrel gets in the way. That will hopefully wear over time and quieten down.