A while ago I got four nice 0.5mm mechanical pencils to compare:
- Uni Kuru Toga Roulette : Haven't touched this one in months. It's very interesting mechanically, but the lead wiggles too much and the rotating feature doesn't make enough of a difference for that to be worth is for me. Maybe in a larger lead size this would work better. I have to admit it looks cool though.
- Uni Shift Pipe Lock : The retractable lead pipe is nice. I have bent the lead pipe on the staedler and pentel pencils, so keeping it away can help with that. The wiggle isn't too bad but the weight distribution is a bit off for me. This would be a great pencil to throw in the bottom of your bag if you need a draft pencil that can take a bit of a beating. Otherwise see the options below.
- Staedler 925 25-05 : My solid #2. Very well made, no lead wiggle as long as the tip is screwed on tight, so writing is smooth. The knurling is a bit sharp but personally I enjoy that grip. I keep one of these at my desk so I don't have to take my other pencil out of my bag. My biggest issue is that the eraser feels a bit loose, but it's not too bad. The price is a bit much for me too.
- Pentel Graphgear 500 : Instantly my favorite, and has stayed as such for the couple of years I've used them. The lead pipe is totally fixed to the grip so there is no lead wiggle and I've only had it bend once when it flew spinning down onto tile. The knurling is a bit softer than the staedler, it's a nice middle ground. The eraser feels tight but it does wear a bit fast as someone who makes a lot of mistakes. Just a good pencil, and the cheapest of the lot. That's hard to beat.
As someone who does a lot of math and diagrams on paper I pretty much stick to the 0.5mm graphgear now. Alongside it I use the Pentel Hi-Polymer eraser for bigger erasing jobs and a MUJI 0.38mm black pen for dark permanent lines. I highly recommend both of these too, no matter what pencil you use.
| Manufacturer | Pentel |
|---|---|
| Brand | Pentel |
| Item Weight | 0.32 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 0.37 x 5.8 x 0.37 inches |
| Item model number | PG525A |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color | Black |
| Closure | Twist |
| Grip Type | Knurled |
| Pencil Lead Degree (Hardness) | 0.5 mm |
| Material Type | polymer |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Size | 1 Count (Pack of 1) |
| Point Type | Fine |
| Line Size | 0.5 |
| Ink Color | Black |
| Manufacturer Part Number | PG525A |
