Pentel Graphgear 1000 0.3 mm
This pencil was a gift given to me by a few classmates of mine. Lauren, Gracyn, Karsen, Vince, or Jason, if you are reading this, thank you and sorry for making you guys spend so much. :{
Anyways, let's get started with a small note. The Graphgear 1000 is always a pencil that most pencil reviewers will recommend. If you do not see my point, go to this link from The Wirecutter. Anyways, let's get started.
Starting off, taking apart the pencil individually would cause either more lead breakage or loss of parts to the pencil, but just trust me in which this has a metal clutch in the mechanism. 10-clicks from the button on top will extend about 3.9 mm of pencil lead, which is good for me. The mechanism also has a solid click, so things are smooth sailing from here. The Graphgear 1000 is a magnet for features, with 4 features listed: a knurled grip with silicone padding, a lead hardness indicator, a retractable tip, and a spring loaded clip. This is a bad grip though, making the pencil feel a bit slippery in the hand. My friend Jason did comment it was slick, with the intent to make it a compliment. While that's fine, I want something I can hold on too. So, sorry Jason, I have to disagree on that note. As for everything else, the lead hardness indicator is another style, in which you unscrew the grip slightly to adjust what lead grade you want displayed. It does its purpose well. The retractable tip is also great in which there is NO LEAD WOBBLE (I see rOtring 800 fans agreeing with this statement now). But, contrary to popular opinion, the main thing that caught my attention was the spring loaded clip. When the lead sleeve is retracted, the spring loaded clip is much stronger than a traditional metal clip and will have a lesser chance of breaking. As for the construction, this is a tank (not as heavy as the rOtring Rapid Pro, which I will not get) with an all metal outer body. How does this translate into the scale?
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Overall, this is a fantastic drafting pencil for its features despite the grip, especially since this is relatively cheap if you can find it online.
Is this on my personal list? Yes, in fifth place, despite the grip.
