Paper Mate Clearpoint 0.7 mm
Oh yay, this one. I have seen this pencil too often in classrooms and it infuriates me!! Why? Let's see.
The Paper Mate Clearpoint has a plastic clutch with a brass clutch ring. The ten-click test produces about 8 mm of lead, not too precise. As for solidity, given the clutch, there is no real sound nor is there a good click. As for features, and the main reason people like this pencil, there are 4 main features, aside from the side click mechanism: a rubber grip, a retractable tip, a plastic clip and a twist eraser. The rubber grip is fine, but the rest of the features have several issues. The retractable tip, though nice, serves no real use since the pencil has a conical tip, thus making the pencil pocket safe in the first place. The plastic clip and the twist eraser are attached as a separate piece of the pencil, but that is based on a snap-on mechanism. Usually, that does not go well, and it is the same for this pencil. The plastic clip, alone, is flimsy and feels ready to break at a moment's glance. The twist eraser has the worst problems though. Its chamber is connected with two plastic parts which feel worse than the clip, and the snap-on feature blocks the lead chamber!!! If that breaks, then there is nothing protecting the chamber! As for the construction, this is a below average construction with an all plastic body with very little metal in the mechanism. Where from here?
Would I recommend this? Absolutely not! This pencil is overhyped and should be replaced immediately!!!
Note, you can say this was a bit biased against this pencil. I'm fine with that. But, at the same time, since this is, without question, one of the most popular choices for mechanical pencils, I put a much higher standard on it.
