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The new 'Advance' version of this revolutionary mechanical pencil
Superior, heavyweight, tactile pens
rotring Tikky 3 Pencil Black Barrel
From
£3.75
Latest version of the Tikky mechanical pencil
Pocket-safe double-knock retractable pencil
Pentel Twist-Erase Pencil
From
£6.25
Popular pencil with big twist eraser and rubber grip
New easy-grip mechanical pencil for kids
Pentel P200 Series Pencil
From
£7.50
Classic professional drafting pencil in 4 ISO sizes
Pentel Twist-Erase GT Mechanical Pencil
From
£3.20
New version of the popular pencil with the big twist eraser and rubber grip
All-steel version of the classic mechanical pencil, with chrome trim
Ultra compact mechanical pencil - perfect for notebooks!
Faber-Castell Grip Plus Pencil 0.7mm
From
£7.50
Classic 0.7mm pencil with large triangular rubber grip
Pilot Supergrip Pencil H185SL
From
£2.90
Brilliant economy mechanical pencil with rubber grip
BIC Criterium Mechanical Pencil
From
£3.70
BIC's mechanical pencil
Wonderful 2mm mechanical pencil in wooden pencil barrel
Solid metal drafting pencil in matt black
Designer-style auto-feed pencil at an amazing price
Pentel Sharplet Pencil
From
£3.20
Simple value drafting pencil
The original tool pencil
Classic burgundy version of the popular Tikky 3
Self-sharpening pencil with protective sleeve
Heavyweight mechanical pencil with retracting tip
Premium version of the excellent self-sharpening pencil
Pentel 120 Automatic Pencil (A300 Series)
From
£5.25
Popular pencil range suitable for all uses
OHTO Sharp Pencil APS-280E
From
£4.60
Retro design mechanical pencil
Solid drafting pencil with a host of professional features - a best-seller
Nice triangular-barrel pencil with excellent twist-eraser
Staedtler Graphite 777 Mechanical Pencil
From
£1.60
Affordable mechanical pencil with extra-large eraser
Pentel GraphGear 500 Pencil
From
£12.00
Professional pencil with excellent knurled-metal grip
0.2mm fine-lead mechanical pencil
Premium metal pencil in 0.5, 0.7 and 2mm. Matt black edition
Rare, high-quality pencil with variable response setting
Pentel Fiesta Pencil 0.5mm
From
£1.50
Value auto pencil for everyday writing
OHTO Promecha OP-1000P
£12.50
Mid-range solid metal drafting pencil
Staedtler Mars Micro 775 Pencil
From
£6.50
Solid professional pencil with understated look and quality feel
Sakura SumoGrip Pencil 0.5mm
From
£5.50
Easy to grip pencil
0.5mm mechanical pencil with rubber grip
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Mechanical Pencils FAQ
Why should I use a mechanical pencil?
Wooden pencils have plenty of advantages, so we're certainly not opposed to using them, but there are some advantages to mechanical pencils that make them so popular.
- Unchanging balance. Wooden pencils change their balance as they're sharpened, and spend some of their time too short to use comfortably, but with enough use in them that you don't want to throw them away. A mechanical pencil stays the same all the time.
- Long lasting. A good mechanical pencil can last many years, maybe even a lifetime. Even cheap ones are usually good for a lot of use.
- Predictable line width. Especially when held upright, a mechanical pencil will always write or draw in the same width, where wooden pencils change with use.
Do I need to buy lead of the same brand as my pencil?
No, any lead of the same size should work just fine. It does have to be the right size - a 0.5mm pencil won’t work with 0.7mm lead, for example.
Which lead width should I use?
If you already have the pencil, you need the right size for it, which should be marked on it.
If you’re trying to choose a pencil, and you’re not sure what width to go for, it depends on your use. 0.5mm is the most popular for most things, but it does break fairly easily, especially if you’re a bit heavy-handed. 0.7mm is very popular for writing, because it’s a bit stronger. 0.9mm or wider can be good too, if you’re less concerned with a fine line, and want it to be a bit stronger.
Very fine leads like 0.3mm usually need a bit of care in use - such thin leads can snap easily if you’re not gentle with them. They’re great for fine drawing or small writing, though, and many people love them. There are even 0.2mm leads now, but they’re usually only available for specially designed pencils that can protect the lead in use, like the Pentel Orenz and Orenznero.
How do I clear a lead jam?
The little eraser is used up, can I replace it?
Usually, yes. Find your pencil, then see the ‘Refills & Spares’ section under it. Most of the big brands offer spare erasers, it’s just that most shops don’t sell them - but we’re not most shops!