The 7 Best Mechanical Pencils
Having a reliable classic pencil is a must for most woodworkers. But, the best mechanical pencil is an entirely different story, especially when it comes to continuous use and precise markings. If you don’t want the trouble of unsharpened or easily breakable lead, especially when working on a rush wood project, then the best mechanical pencils are always handy.
Working with traditional wooden pencils and their need for constant sharpening whenever they snap or simply become dull might be too tiring and tedious. This problem gets even more unfortunate when you don't have a sharpener around or when you're hurrying to get a wood project done.
Thus, having the right mechanical pencil can definitely save the day. In our list today, you'll find our top 7 picks. Our guide covers some of the best premium-grade mechanical pencils today, from the best grips to most refined shades.
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Comparison Chart
Pentel GraphGear 1000 Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm
The Pentel GraphGear 1000 is a cost-efficient mechanical pencil that fits all your writing needs. This exceptional pencil can meet demanding standards with its versatility and superior looks.
rOtring 600 0.5mm Black Barrel Mechanical Pencil
The Rotring 600 with a knurled grip is perfect for those who need a highly suitable pen for sketching. Its hexagon shape makes it easy to hold for sketching & drawing purposes.
Uni Core Keeps Sharp Mechanical Pencil, Gun Metallic
The Uni Core mechanical pencil comes with a retractable tip to prevent any accidental injury when keeping it in your pocket. It is also a bit heavier than a regular graphing pencil for people who prefer the cold, heavy metal feel of a mechanical pencil while working.
Pentel Sharp Kerry Automatic Pencil, 0.5mm Lead Size
The Pentel brand is the best mechanical pencil in terms of versatility and durability. These automatic pencils are popular for their unique design and innovative technology.
Zebra M-701 Stainless Steel Mechanical Pencil
This pencil is the perfect blend of style, durability, and comfort when drawing, especially on wood. It offers a premium experience with its precise design and stable grip.
Uni Mechanical Pencil Kurutoga Pipe Slide Model 0.5mm
The Uni Kurutoga Pipe Slide mechanical pencil has an innovative and unique cross rotation mechanism and pipe slide system that enables the lead inside to rotate inside the pencil every time you lift it off from the page.
PILOT Dr. Grip Limited Mechanical Pencil
The Pilot Dr. Grip Pencil was manufactured, especially for people who have arthritis or those who work long hours and need relief from tired hands' pain. The pencil has an excellent grip designed to ensure soft handling.
Detailed Reviews on the 7 Best Mechanical Pencils
Pentel GraphGear 1000 Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm
The Pentel GraphGear 1000 is a cost-efficient mechanical pencil that fits all your writing needs. This exceptional pencil can meet demanding standards with its versatility and superior looks.
Product Highlights
This best mechanical pencil is especially useful for people who draw diagrams and precision lines more often than writing. It comes with a solid, heavy metal feel perfect for those who prefer a traditional drafting pencil but with mechanical features. Its durable and sturdy design has a seamless clipping and clicking mechanism, and the knurled metal certainly adds to its high-end look.
The Good
This product comes with a dual-action retractor flexible enough to advance and retract the pencil tip as you write. The retractor tip also flexes with variable pressure, ensuring the lead tip does not break when writing. The pencil's grip is made of chiseled metal and trimmed with soft pads for maximum comfort and a stronghold.
The Bad
Pentel GraphGear 1000 is a durable option perfect for all your writing needs. However, the pocket clip isn't durable enough and gets caught easily, among other things. The metal design also feels a bit heavier for some users who prefer a lightweight pen.
PROs
CONs
rOtring 600 0.5mm Black Barrel Mechanical Pencil
The Rotring 600 with a knurled grip is perfect for those who need a highly suitable pen for sketching. Its hexagon shape makes it easy to hold for sketching & drawing purposes.
Product Highlights
The Rotring 600 is equipped with an ergonomic design that reduces fatigue on the fingers and wrist. The lightweight body, paired with a crafted barrel, ensures comfortable use. The precision lead advancement technology guarantees precise drawing and prevents the breakage of the lead. This best mechanical pencil fits perfectly in hand for writing for prolonged periods.
The Good
This mechanical pencil uses high-polymer and flexible leads that are available in various sizes. It is also integrated with a lead hardness indicator to help you identify what grade of lead you are working with to limit wastage of time. If you make a mistake, don’t worry, since this pencil comes with a collection of spare erasers that are strong, durable, and dust-free.
The Bad
The Rotring 600 is an ergonomic pen perfect for all your sketching needs. However, this pen does not have a retractable tip nor built-in erasers. But it comes with Rapid B Erasers, which you can easily fit on it.
PROs
CONs
Uni Core Keeps Sharp Mechanical Pencil, Gun Metallic
The Uni Core mechanical pencil comes with a retractable tip to prevent any accidental injury when keeping it in your pocket. It is also a bit heavier than a regular graphing pencil for people who prefer the cold, heavy metal feel of a mechanical pencil while working.
Product Highlights
Using a conventional pencil can sometimes be troublesome, especially when the pencil's lead gets worn out. The Uni Core Keeps Sharp guarantees continued usage thanks to its integrated ratchet mechanism that rotates the lead inside the pencil every time it is lifted off the page. Hence, you will always have a sharp and consistent lead point.
The Good
This technology makes this pencil one of the most innovative to ever be introduced in the industry. It allows lesser interruptions when working and lets the user write for extended periods without stopping for sharpening, as is required with regular pencils. For a professional, waving off those unwanted breaks may be the most critical feature of this pencil.
The Bad
The Uni Core mechanical pencil is a great tool if you want continuous work. However, do note that the lead can be tricky to find since this is a unique model. The eraser is also small and gets worn out easily.
PROs
CONs
Pentel Sharp Kerry Automatic Pencil, 0.5mm Lead Size
The Pentel brand is the best mechanical pencil in terms of versatility and durability. These automatic pencils are popular for their unique design and innovative technology.
Product Highlights
The product is designed with efficiency and care and is handcrafted using a watchmaker’s tools. Innovation was the focus and priority when designing this product since it comes with a cap – one of the few pencils in the world to have this feature. The cap prevents lead breakage when kept in a pocket or purse. Besides, it also provides the right balance to the product when it is being used.
The Good
The pencil is designed to fit perfectly in pockets and purses, thanks to its right weight and balance for prolonged usage. The looks of this pencil define luxury and making it one of the most sought-after pens by professionals around the globe.
The Bad
The Pentel brand is widely used because of its reliability. However, it’s one of the most expensive on our list. The cap can also be easy to lose, so you need to always be careful not to.
PROs
CONs
Zebra M-701 Stainless Steel Mechanical Pencil
This pencil is the perfect blend of style, durability, and comfort when drawing, especially on wood. It offers a premium experience with its precise design and stable grip.
Product Highlights
The Zebra M-701 Stainless Steel is a sturdy and firm pencil that is exceptional in its own way. The brand is known for producing fine quality writing instruments that offer an upgrade from regular pens. They are made of tough and durable steel, which can stand the test of time when it comes to longevity and looks sleek at the same time.
The Good
Zebra mechanical pencils meet stringent standards set up in the industry and are among the most long-lasting products you will ever use. It is made of stainless steel intended to thrive even in extremely rough conditions, making it ideal for outdoor use. This pencil is designed to speak for itself when used and embodies a sense of character and style.
The Bad
The Zebra M-701 Stainless Steel is an elegant mechanical pen that delivers great results. Do note, though, that this pen has no retractable tip. It also has one lead size available only. It does not have a lead hardness indicator as well, which is a no-go for some users.
PROs
CONs
Uni Mechanical Pencil Kurutoga Pipe Slide Model 0.5mm
The Uni Kurutoga Pipe Slide mechanical pencil has an innovative and unique cross rotation mechanism and pipe slide system that enables the lead inside to rotate inside the pencil every time you lift it off from the page.
Product Highlights
Instead of getting a wedge-shaped tip that produces uneven writing, this best mechanical pencil gives a sharp tip throughout use. Everything you write or draw will always come out looking crystal clear and precise, instead of looking broader and faded.
The Good
Writing with Kuru Toga allows crisp and consistent results and looks much better than regular pencils or other mechanical pencils. With its technology, the consistency of your writing and drawings produced will be unparalleled and unmatchable. This pencil also comes with a retractable tip and a unique pipe slide mechanism making it extremely safe for pockets and purses.
The Bad
The Uni Kurutoga Pipe Slide mechanical pencil comes with an eraser for easy correction. However, it is not durable and a bit squishy. Its unique design makes replacement leads hard to find. Also, more clicks are required to get the same amount of lead as compared to other mechanical pencils.
PROs
CONs
PILOT Dr. Grip Limited Mechanical Pencil
The Pilot Dr. Grip Pencil was manufactured, especially for people who have arthritis or those who work long hours and need relief from tired hands' pain. The pencil has an excellent grip designed to ensure soft handling.
Product Highlights
The weight of the pencil is evenly distributed to allow the lightest pressure on the hands as possible. This pencil also has a shaker mechanism that releases the lead from it. It is practically helpful for people who have arthritis since they do not need to adjust their grip to press the button to release the lead. Shaking the pencil once or twice gently also advances the lead.
The Good
The pencil's grip utilizes a double layer design: the solid outer layer and the soft inner one. The surface is effortless to hold and maintain a firm grasp on the pencil. The pencil's weight balance, paired with this feature, makes it ideal for older people. It also comes in a wide choice of colors and barrel styles for most lead sizes.
The Bad
The Pilot Dr. Grip Pencil is a lightweight option for those who write for long periods. However, do note that the tip is not retractable. The plastic casing also feels a bit flimsy and shows signs of wear and tear after just a few months of use.
PROs
CONs
Conclusion
Finding the best mechanical pencil for your woodwork does not need to be challenging. That is why we present this list of the seven best mechanical pencils available in the market today. These products provide excellent performance, which you can trust and buy without any hesitation. So, take your pick and let the best mechanical pencil handle your next projects smoothly. Find out more about drawing tools.
