I’ve been hearing a lot of good things lately about the Nero Orenz automatic lead advancement and have been wanting to try it. You better believe I’m not going to risk getting a dud mechanism from some b batch buying product reseller elsewhere, I’m ordering from Jetpens where it comes in a nice box having passed QA and guaranteed!
I studied technical drawing at high school in the eighties. Rotring were the top brand. No one would consider you a serious draftsperson without a set of Rotring technical pens & pencils. I still have my set 💪
I only use drafting pencils for my daily writers. I use the Pilot S20 in 0.3 usually with 2H lead. I love very small leads as they're more consistent in how they wear down, compared to that of a 0.7 that gets more and more bold unless you rotate it. I also feel the small lead catches on the paper more and has a little bit of scratch that gives me more control in general. I've been using my S20 for about 8 years now and absolutely love it! I've recently picked up the S30 about 1 year ago and it's been great but the lead just slips all the time and I haven't been able to use it in months. It's a great pencil when it works and I find myself gravitating towards it often, but with these issues with it I just don't use it anymore.
Rotring is really had a long history as drafting mechanical pencils, I used had one, the Tikky (given by my dad) when he bought it from 1993 that very slim with maroon body. Unfortunately I lost it in school (stolen I think) 😭😭 and Tikky is very nice pencil, it's robust, slim, and extremely fine tip making me able to draw in corner of my text book easily.
@@adityasixviandyj7334 I got the rotring tikky set (includes the fine liners and the replacement cartriges and ink) for the entirety of my engineering in university. I was surprised to see that it was working quite well not too long ago when I found it in my parent's basement years after (by this time i've switched to design already). It still works like a charm, not going to lie though their fine liners are tedious to maintain and use, id rather get steadlers felt tip fine liners rather than those.
@@harvardford8752 yes, their fineliner is really weird when i tried... my dad also had the set for his electrical drafting job, and when I tried those fineliner, is really weird. and like you said, Steadlers or Sakura Micron (which easier to find here in Indonesia) is better choices. I not try their current line, maybe there is some changes; but yeah, their fineliner is not go in my book.
@@DatFabric I think people say their mechanical pencil overrate because they do had a status as the very first maker mechanical pencil that specific purpose for mechanical drafting & drawing; and I tried Rotting 500-600-800 few days ago, and those mechanical pencils is feel really nice for drafting & precise drawing, but they are not too comfortable to long session writing or drawing because they are quite heavy, except Rotting 500 as that one made from plastic. But I think, If you just want for writing or drawing non technical stuff, there much more better option out there, like UNI Kurutoga, Zebra Del-Guard, or even Faber Castell Grip Matic is much more better option in my opinion.
During my time in uni (Civil Engineering), we mainly used Rotring 600 and Pentel P205 mechanical pencils. Real workhorses. I later got a Graphgear 1000, Rotring 800 and Uniball Kuru Toga Roulette. I can't recommend the Rotring 800 (not the 800+ !) enough. Not just for writing, drafting and doodling, but also for fidgeting during meetings. Fidgeting durings meetings is very much underestimated and underappreciated.
@@jomimaro1 Absolutely! Both are high quality mechanical pencils that have been serving me well for a while now. The regular Kuru Toga and the Kuru Toga Roulette function equally well, but I find the Roulette to have a more premium feel to it. I have to caution you to be mindful of the Uni Kuru Toga Advance though. I found the Advance to have more play in the lead, be less pleasant to work with and offer a subpar experience.
@@humanthetooth Both the 800 and the 800+ are retractable, but when the 800+ is retracted, the tip becomes a stylus for touch screens. In my opinion you pay more for the 800+ for a function that not only comes off as gimmicky, but also takes away from the clean design of the 800. Perhaps a pet peeve, but it makes me recommend the 800 above the 800+.
I want to point out another common feature of Drafting pencils: ISO Standard color coding/address for lead thickness. For example, ~.3mm is often coded with yellow, while .7mm is blue. This is both for convenience and sight-validation of tools; as the thickness of a line becomes a measuring issue with technical drawing and drafting. Staedtler, around 5:03, for example, features this coding on most of their drafting pencils (the visible brown ring in the video indicates a ~.5mm thickness), while their premium/lifestyle aluminum 925 uses the ISO color in the print stamped on the eraser cap (which is not visible on the video).
I used the rOtring 600 during my entire career in university as an architectural engineer. Currently, I use the Pentel Graph gear 1000 as a professional. I'd recommend rOtring for hand drafting because the weight balance feels better while drawing, and the graph gear for doing hand calculations since it's lighter and has a more comfortable grip. Both are great choices 👍
@@genericfishbowl8528 for drafting I used 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, & 2.0. For hand writing 0.5, sometimes 0.3 when I needed to pack a bunch of stuff in a single page. My favorite is 0.3 but it is very brittle, so if you write rapidly I'd recommend at least a 0.5 size.
@@user-op8fg3ny3j I'd say "remember you are most important." Sleep well and eat well then focus on studying. Also, study with responsible people and party in moderation. The real world requires you to be productive, not to mindlessly work for hours. So, keep thinking about methods to automate processes. The final piece of advice is: aim to learn first, then go after the grade you want.
I have rotring 800 which was my dream pencil for a long time and finally got it when I got my first paycheck🎉 drafting pencils will always have a place in my heart
a very well-balanced drafting pencil gives a certain satisfaction that one just doesn't get in other engineered drawing tools. the weight of the barrel, the feel of the material, the way that the lead feels when you become used to handling a drafting pencil as opposed to regular wooden pencils or very light-weight mechanical pencils. it's just an amazing drawing tool.
Been a fan of a particular low cost Skilcraft mechanical pencil for years and though intrigued by drafting pencils, I resisted that move even with my stationery addiction due to their cost. $75 in JetPen gift cards for Xmas changed that tune and a Rotring 600 quickly joined the ranks. As a small printer, I appreciate its weight and firmness, they oddly help with control.
Before I started getting serious hand pain, this applied physicist swore by the Pentel Sharp drafting pencil for everything. Uni Alpha Gel Slims are the best thing I've found so far with a truly ergo grip...
Here's another vote for the Pentel Sharp. Love it. I had been using the same one, almost daily, for 40+ years and it finally broke last week. I find it's a very sturdy and lightweight pencil that I could use for hours and it doesn't cause hand pain afterwards.
Another vote for the Pentel Sharp! I had received one as a small part of a gift when graduating high school. I'm currently finishing up college and it's still kicking, I absolutely love it! I take most of my notes with it.
You forgot to mention one of the most unique aspects of drafting pencils. They are usually available in the full drafting ranger, that is 0.9, 0.7, 0.5 and 0.3, and for some even 0.4 and 2.0mm.
I have been using mechanical drafting pencils for a long, LONG time and I always thought that the wire under the eraser was part of the feed mechanism. Never knew it was a clean-out (or should it be clear-out) rod. I cannot say, though, I have experienced many lead jams or perhaps I just solved that problem by shaking the pencil up and down.
Interesting, it was because I needed to replace a Rotring tip that I first found you, the pencil not surviving an accidental cleaning in the washing machine.
I personally own a Limited Edition STAEDTLER Hexagonal. Not a fan of the rubber Coating that peels off very quickly, but it is quite a lovely Pencil I use on a Daily Basis.
Pentel graphgear 500 series are my go to pencils. I’ve stock piled them just so I can have one on hand at all times. I enjoy the 500 series due to the heavier weight compared to the 300 series. The 300 is also amazing. They also offer eraser refills and various lead colors. My other go to is a lead holder or clutch pencil as some call them. Giving a much larger lead size, similar to a normal school pencil. They can be fun to use for rough sketches and lossen up line work.
I've had inexpensive "stationary" Pentel or Zebra mechanical pencils last well over 10 years and work reliably. Thus you don't have to get fancy with this type of item to get quality. So I guess the premium is for the heavier weight materials? Although having a retractable lead sleeve as a feature might be a nice thing.
got myself a graphgear 500 about 8 months ago, having a nice tool makes learning and practicing a lot easier to me, sure a tool does not make a profissional but it sure helps, amazing video, those rotring look great, love the wood on the pilot s20
Drafting pencils are awesome and I use them exclusively when writing with pencil. I picked one up at a hobby store maybe 10-12 years ago wondering why it was a $20 mechanical pencil. Well, I found out why, and I've never gone back. In fact, I still use that 10-12 year-old pencil to this day! My personal favorite, though, is my cheapest - the Pentel GraphGear 500 in .3mm
My favorite was the Rotring Tikky T type pencil. It was released after the 1979 debut of the basic Tikky series which were light brown. The T series had purple-ish body color and the color codes engineers used for tip width were represented in a small ring. The magnificence of T lied in the sliding sleeve. There are many sliding sleeve pencils in history but the T was especially designed for engineers working with Rotring rulers. The sleeve would not fully retract, a length little more than thickness of Rotring rulers always remained posted. This way the sleeve could adjust to the wear of lead but would never slide back so much that the ruler would touch the conical part so straight lines would remain straight.
After emailing cool suggestions to Rotring and one of their sellers, I got a cool 600 (black) drafting pencil and extra HB Rotring leads :-) (it was originally going to be a Ticky) :-) That Faber-Castell is quite stylish too. God bless.
Pentel once had an amazingly well-balanced pencil Technica-X. It had a wide and heavy lower part and it's been my companion during the years at the architectural university and beyond.
I like a lot of weight to my pencil/ pen. I have no business buying a drafting pen/ pencil as I'm a RN. But, I'm also a part-time writing instrument snob. I definitely love the Rotring 600, 800, and 3-in-1's--they are rugged and reliable. I haven't found anything I like better!
That's true! It can do it all and it provides the best precision/control! A tip to upgrade it, cut a small piece from a sticker,and add it between the feeding tube and the body. It stops the annoying rattling but more an that,it makes the pencil feel WAY more solid and comfortable while using it. I cut a 4mm x 5mm from the stickers we find on the pencils or on any other plastic surface,to be able to hold its glue.
I'm an old draftsman from the Philippines, and have used Rotring and Staedtler pencils and techpens since the early 2000s, and the biggest learning I got here is how to pronounce these brands.
My favorite is graphgear 500. I think it's really cool that the push caps are the same size as .22 caliber bullet shells. Gives me a cool customization option.
I just got a 0.5 pentel graphgear 1000. and i gotta say, its one of the best writing tools i have ever used. as soon as i wrote something down, i immedeatley fell in love with it. i can't reccomend it enough.
I have had my Rotring 600 that retracts for some time now. Maybe it's an older model, I inherited it in 2007, but pretty sure it goes decades back before that.
Ever since I discovered the Pentel Orenz in 0.2mm I haven't used anything else for lead writing. I don't actually make full-blown technical drawings, but I have no issue using it with rulers and protractors on my sketches.
Weight on a pencil, adds to control. If the pencil is properly designed and also has the proper balance and weight,that provides more control AND more precision,which translates to more bbeatiful round letters when writing,or to better results when drawing. Once I couldn't draw a shore multi curved line on a drawing. The only pencil,that managed to do the job,was the Pentel Graphgear 500. I also recommend the Kohinoor 5340 for sketching or writing and the Faber Castell TK4600 or TK9400,for drawing! Best pencils Imho. Pentel Kerry for edc/writing,to cover all uses!!
I feel like I will get so much hate for absolutely loving the Pentel P205. Barely a proper drafting pencil though they tick all the boxes for features except the grade indicator... but that's what coloured electrical tape bands are for! I've got some that are pushing two decades old I would guess. Cheap, replaceable if lost or stolen, and absolutely bombproof. Can't fault them. Not as beautiful as the Rotring 800 though.
Back when people actually used pencils for drafting, very few mechanical pencils had grade indicators on them, and the P200 (P203/P205/P207/P209) series was one of the most popular in use in the industry.
I've been using the Schneider Graffix 0.7 for 6 years now, owning 7 of these for different pencil cases and my desk. İts pretty durable compared to many other mechanical pencils I've used. Also, it has a fairly comfortable grip and nice writing characteristics. I've broken only one because I was fidgeting with it a lot in my younger days (it's still usable). Other than that it's my go-to pencil after experimenting with many other pencils.
I adore my Platinum Pro 171, I've bought a few. The first one I imported directly from Japan before y'all started stocking them, and I wouldn't be without them
I have had my Rotring 600 0.3mm drafting pencil for 32 years. It’s still as solid as it ever was! You can’t get a 0.3mm version any more unfortunately.
My favorite mechanical pencil is the Tombow graph, not sure if its a drafting pencil but it has similar features to the pencils in the video, like shake to click lead release and also has a longer than average -and replaceable!- extendable twist eraser, so you never have to worry about using it up.
I've been someone who's used mechanical pencils for the longest time, and what I can tell you as an artist... If you like the feeling of drawing with a graphic tablet stylus + have a light touch Drafting Pencils are DEFINETLY the way to go. Go for something with a light-evenly distributed weight. And a rubberized grip. Those are PERFECT for drawing. I personally reccomend the Staedtler 925-15.
I've got the Rotring with 3 sizes leads with me since I was an Architect student, 25 years ago. Still works fine!! Got two fountain pens from them also with the same age. Both still work fine also, been used everyday since then. So for me Rotring is the best
I haven't bought from y'all directly. But when I got mine from amazon, they came and the tips were wobbly. I used them for everyday use and they were great. The only thing was that it was a bit wobbly. Otherwise great!
Throughout my entire education, I've used Rotring Tikky 0.5. It's the cheapest pen you can find. And I did a couple of hundred technical drawings in middle school, for myself and my lazy peers for money. Yes, the lead breaks. Yes, you may lose it, or someone may steal it. So what? You buy another one, it's cheap. In fact, I do have that exact Faber-Castell pen, a couple of DelGuards, and Uni's Kuru Toga. They are cute. These fancy pens are nice to have but NOT necessary for anything. You can give the most advanced pen to someone who knows nothing about drawing with rulers, and it will not help it at all. Think about the mountain of drawings for skyscrapers, bridges, electrical dams, or any complex machinery in the past 150 years. Did they have these pens? Would those marvels be done faster or better? Would those engineers be less tired? I don't think so. Regarding small erasers. I would suggest buying a quality Staedtler's eraser and just sharpen it with a razor blade. You will get an edge unparallel to any of those small erasers. Regarding grips and weight distribution, I would keep those comments to myself, it's embarrassing to hear complaints like that. Are you that weak? Your body will soon crumble under its own weight if you find pen too heavy. "Better control..." give me a break . It's not a bull, it's a pen for God's sake. The only thing that I would recommend as a really helpful thing is an artistic glove. It prevents smudging and makes the palm glide over the drawing. Yes, the piece of paper between the palm and the drawing can do the same, but it's annoying to move it around.
Hi there! Unfortunately all our stylus pens are ballpoint pens, but some, like the Uni Jetstream Stylus Ballpoint Pen, can take gel refills: www.jetpens.com/Uni-Jetstream-Stylus-Ballpoint-Pens/ct/4690
Don’t overlook the Faber Castell! It’s only about 20 bucks and it has an extendable and refillable eraser with no cap which means you won’t lose it! The eraser also can’t get pushed too far into the pencil like a lot of other models. If you’ve got the muscle memory of flipping the pencil to erase you gotta go for this one.
I've had rotring 600 for a couple of years now and while it's fancy and surely durable I can't speak for the ergonomics. To be fair I use it for drawing instead of some technical stuff. It's quite heavy so you have to grip hard to get precise lines and the metal part is just not very comfortable to grip long times. The center of mass is also towards the middle instead closer to the tip of the pen which I find not too ideal for drawing. So if you're considering getting one of these for your pencil drawings my advice is to save money and get something else. For me a basic plastic pencil gets the work done just as well.
I love my kurig toga. Never had a pencil that rotated the led so u always have a sharp point. Although if u have to keep erasing and drawing over mistakes u can rip the paper
My question is: whats the difference between the Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic 5369 japanese mechanical pencil and a rOtring 600. They both look the exact same and have pretty much the same build
Hi there! The Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic 5369 has a plastic body, while the Rotring 600 has an all-metal body. This adds 8 more grams to its body weight. Additionally, the Rotring 600's grip diameter is 0.1 mm larger, and the body is 0.1 cm longer. The Rotring 600's tip is replaceable, while the Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic's is not.
Here we are in 2023 and still no company out there can replicate what JetPens does overall. Jetpens could teach business classes and the business world would be better for it. The best in genuine product overviews and philosophy in approach. Even if some company were to try to copy them visually, they couldn’t replicate that overall genuineness JetPens brings with it’s genuine style and personal touch. They seem to happily marry the old style helpfulness of old shops like Mr Selfridge and new school open friendly invitation to all. It probably helps that this company is out of San Jose, California and is Japanese inspired. A really nice coupling.
I agree. Their videos are so informative and thoughtful, it's clear that they pride themselves on a geniune passion for stationery. It's the best kind of advertising for me-I've been religiously buying from JetPens because of how committed they are, from their videos to helping people out with recommendations in comments.
I think its more the type of leads you put in it. On occasion ive gotten lead that writes so smooth and fluffy like the graphite was porus and easily embedded in the paper. In contrast to some mixed with polymer which were harder to make marks with.
Rotring 500 is better than the 600 or 800 in my opinion. The body is made of plastic, making it lighter and better balanced making it less tiring and better suited for long sessions. Head is still metal, unlike all plastic 300, which I wouldn't recommend. Unless you absolutely need durability of metal frame, for pocket carry for example, or just prefer heavier pencils, I'd get the 500 because it is just so good value.
Even for the cheaper mechanical pencils, I never bought one without at least a fixed guide pipe. That is key to make the lead not break when I write, even if I'm very light-handed compared to the average mechpen user. If you extend the lead beyond the pipe only about as long as the graphite is wide, it won't break unless you stab stuff with it.
@@JetPens thank you so much! Watch every video you post because even if I'm not into the particular subject I know I'll always see something else that I need 😁👍
Have you ever tried a drafting pencil? Let us know which one you would get from our video in the comments!
I reviewed some of the pencils I have received from here could you guys check it out?
I’ve been hearing a lot of good things lately about the Nero Orenz automatic lead advancement and have been wanting to try it. You better believe I’m not going to risk getting a dud mechanism from some b batch buying product reseller elsewhere, I’m ordering from Jetpens where it comes in a nice box having passed QA and guaranteed!
I studied technical drawing at high school in the eighties. Rotring were the top brand. No one would consider you a serious draftsperson without a set of Rotring technical pens & pencils. I still have my set 💪
rotring 500, and the graphgear 1000 are very good pencils
I only use drafting pencils for my daily writers. I use the Pilot S20 in 0.3 usually with 2H lead. I love very small leads as they're more consistent in how they wear down, compared to that of a 0.7 that gets more and more bold unless you rotate it. I also feel the small lead catches on the paper more and has a little bit of scratch that gives me more control in general. I've been using my S20 for about 8 years now and absolutely love it!
I've recently picked up the S30 about 1 year ago and it's been great but the lead just slips all the time and I haven't been able to use it in months. It's a great pencil when it works and I find myself gravitating towards it often, but with these issues with it I just don't use it anymore.
Definitely the Rotring 600. My mom used their liners professionally for decades. Top company for technical drawing.
Rotring is really had a long history as drafting mechanical pencils, I used had one, the Tikky (given by my dad) when he bought it from 1993 that very slim with maroon body. Unfortunately I lost it in school (stolen I think) 😭😭 and Tikky is very nice pencil, it's robust, slim, and extremely fine tip making me able to draw in corner of my text book easily.
@@adityasixviandyj7334 I got the rotring tikky set (includes the fine liners and the replacement cartriges and ink) for the entirety of my engineering in university. I was surprised to see that it was working quite well not too long ago when I found it in my parent's basement years after (by this time i've switched to design already). It still works like a charm, not going to lie though their fine liners are tedious to maintain and use, id rather get steadlers felt tip fine liners rather than those.
I was considering one but so many online say they’re overrated
@@harvardford8752 yes, their fineliner is really weird when i tried... my dad also had the set for his electrical drafting job, and when I tried those fineliner, is really weird.
and like you said, Steadlers or Sakura Micron (which easier to find here in Indonesia) is better choices. I not try their current line, maybe there is some changes; but yeah, their fineliner is not go in my book.
@@DatFabric I think people say their mechanical pencil overrate because they do had a status as the very first maker mechanical pencil that specific purpose for mechanical drafting & drawing; and I tried Rotting 500-600-800 few days ago, and those mechanical pencils is feel really nice for drafting & precise drawing, but they are not too comfortable to long session writing or drawing because they are quite heavy, except Rotting 500 as that one made from plastic.
But I think, If you just want for writing or drawing non technical stuff, there much more better option out there, like UNI Kurutoga, Zebra Del-Guard, or even Faber Castell Grip Matic is much more better option in my opinion.
During my time in uni (Civil Engineering), we mainly used Rotring 600 and Pentel P205 mechanical pencils. Real workhorses. I later got a Graphgear 1000, Rotring 800 and Uniball Kuru Toga Roulette. I can't recommend the Rotring 800 (not the 800+ !) enough. Not just for writing, drafting and doodling, but also for fidgeting during meetings. Fidgeting durings meetings is very much underestimated and underappreciated.
Hi!. And how about the Graphgear 1000 and Uniball Kuru Toga? Do you recommend those? Thanks :)
@@jomimaro1 Absolutely! Both are high quality mechanical pencils that have been serving me well for a while now. The regular Kuru Toga and the Kuru Toga Roulette function equally well, but I find the Roulette to have a more premium feel to it.
I have to caution you to be mindful of the Uni Kuru Toga Advance though. I found the Advance to have more play in the lead, be less pleasant to work with and offer a subpar experience.
@@Shenkie987 I'm so grateful for such an elaborate reply. I think I will stick to the Roulette's version of the Kuru Toga :)
Why the rotring 800 but not the 800+, what's the difference??
@@humanthetooth Both the 800 and the 800+ are retractable, but when the 800+ is retracted, the tip becomes a stylus for touch screens. In my opinion you pay more for the 800+ for a function that not only comes off as gimmicky, but also takes away from the clean design of the 800. Perhaps a pet peeve, but it makes me recommend the 800 above the 800+.
I want to point out another common feature of Drafting pencils: ISO Standard color coding/address for lead thickness. For example, ~.3mm is often coded with yellow, while .7mm is blue. This is both for convenience and sight-validation of tools; as the thickness of a line becomes a measuring issue with technical drawing and drafting. Staedtler, around 5:03, for example, features this coding on most of their drafting pencils (the visible brown ring in the video indicates a ~.5mm thickness), while their premium/lifestyle aluminum 925 uses the ISO color in the print stamped on the eraser cap (which is not visible on the video).
I’ve recently learned how important it is to consider ISO standards and labeling when order Rapidographs.
.3 was red … .9 was yellow
@@UJB123 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_pen#:~:text=Technical%20information,-Rotring%20Rapidographs%20in&text=However%2C%20the%20International%20Organization%20for,and%20the%20ISO%20paper%20sizes.
hoping those lines recovered from their sickness
@@itainteasy I've even been back to this comment to update it before and I've missed it 😩
I used the rOtring 600 during my entire career in university as an architectural engineer. Currently, I use the Pentel Graph gear 1000 as a professional. I'd recommend rOtring for hand drafting because the weight balance feels better while drawing, and the graph gear for doing hand calculations since it's lighter and has a more comfortable grip. Both are great choices 👍
Just out of curiosity, what thickness led do you prefer?
@@genericfishbowl8528 for drafting I used 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, & 2.0.
For hand writing 0.5, sometimes 0.3 when I needed to pack a bunch of stuff in a single page.
My favorite is 0.3 but it is very brittle, so if you write rapidly I'd recommend at least a 0.5 size.
The Alvin Draft/Matic DM05 are great drafting pencils too. Well balanced.
I'm about to study architectural engineering. Do you have any tips?
@@user-op8fg3ny3j
I'd say "remember you are most important."
Sleep well and eat well then focus on studying. Also, study with responsible people and party in moderation.
The real world requires you to be productive, not to mindlessly work for hours. So, keep thinking about methods to automate processes.
The final piece of advice is: aim to learn first, then go after the grade you want.
I have rotring 800 which was my dream pencil for a long time and finally got it when I got my first paycheck🎉
drafting pencils will always have a place in my heart
My 0.3mm Graphgear 1000 is definitely my favorite pencil that I've ever used, suiting my hyper-tiny handwriting while remaining comfortable.
I only found out about 0.3 graphite this month, and already I'm in love with it. I'll most likely get a GraphGear 500 in it eventually.
a very well-balanced drafting pencil gives a certain satisfaction that one just doesn't get in other engineered drawing tools. the weight of the barrel, the feel of the material, the way that the lead feels when you become used to handling a drafting pencil as opposed to regular wooden pencils or very light-weight mechanical pencils. it's just an amazing drawing tool.
Been a fan of a particular low cost Skilcraft mechanical pencil for years and though intrigued by drafting pencils, I resisted that move even with my stationery addiction due to their cost. $75 in JetPen gift cards for Xmas changed that tune and a Rotring 600 quickly joined the ranks. As a small printer, I appreciate its weight and firmness, they oddly help with control.
Hows it still treating you ?
@@WhatWillYouFind Treating me nicely. I like it, especially like the hexagonal shape and textured grip, it helps when my hands get sweaty.
A coworker purchased a Graphi-gear 1000 for me. It's a very, very nice pencil!
We will always suppprt this channel. They're one of the best.
JetPens is informative and entertaining even if you aren't a client of their store. Love this channel.
Rotring 600 is highly recommended, because of how the grip matches so well with the pencil and the lead is light work
I’ve had a complete set of Alvin Draftmatic pencils for 25 years. They were great pencils back in the day.
Before I started getting serious hand pain, this applied physicist swore by the Pentel Sharp drafting pencil for everything. Uni Alpha Gel Slims are the best thing I've found so far with a truly ergo grip...
Here's another vote for the Pentel Sharp. Love it. I had been using the same one, almost daily, for 40+ years and it finally broke last week. I find it's a very sturdy and lightweight pencil that I could use for hours and it doesn't cause hand pain afterwards.
Another vote for the Pentel Sharp! I had received one as a small part of a gift when graduating high school. I'm currently finishing up college and it's still kicking, I absolutely love it! I take most of my notes with it.
You forgot to mention one of the most unique aspects of drafting pencils. They are usually available in the full drafting ranger, that is 0.9, 0.7, 0.5 and 0.3, and for some even 0.4 and 2.0mm.
A very select few even come in 0.2mm.
I have been using mechanical drafting pencils for a long, LONG time and I always thought that the wire under the eraser was part of the feed mechanism. Never knew it was a clean-out (or should it be clear-out) rod. I cannot say, though, I have experienced many lead jams or perhaps I just solved that problem by shaking the pencil up and down.
Interesting, it was because I needed to replace a Rotring tip that I first found you, the pencil not surviving an accidental cleaning in the washing machine.
I´ve had the Rotring 600 since more than 20 years ago. It´s still looks like new and to me it´s the best ever made
I never new before that I needed a drafting pencil. Thank you.
I personally own a Limited Edition STAEDTLER Hexagonal. Not a fan of the rubber Coating that peels off very quickly, but it is quite a lovely Pencil I use on a Daily Basis.
The coating peels off? That’s bad
Could you share some photos here (imgur link)
@@0xssSorry for late reply, let me set up link.
@@0xssfiles.catbox.moe/hohyy5.jpg
Pentel graphgear 500 series are my go to pencils. I’ve stock piled them just so I can have one on hand at all times. I enjoy the 500 series due to the heavier weight compared to the 300 series. The 300 is also amazing. They also offer eraser refills and various lead colors.
My other go to is a lead holder or clutch pencil as some call them. Giving a much larger lead size, similar to a normal school pencil. They can be fun to use for rough sketches and lossen up line work.
My choice is the rOtring 600. I love the slenderness and knurling grip. The weight of the brass also appeals to me.
I've had inexpensive "stationary" Pentel or Zebra mechanical pencils last well over 10 years and work reliably. Thus you don't have to get fancy with this type of item to get quality. So I guess the premium is for the heavier weight materials? Although having a retractable lead sleeve as a feature might be a nice thing.
I really love my Pentel Orenz Nero 0.2. The mechanism is great, the lead doesn't break, and it feels good for me.
got myself a graphgear 500 about 8 months ago, having a nice tool makes learning and practicing a lot easier to me, sure a tool does not make a profissional but it sure helps, amazing video, those rotring look great, love the wood on the pilot s20
Similar video on clutch pencils would be nice too
I have a Staedtler 925 for drawing. It give me such precision...
Drafting pencils are awesome and I use them exclusively when writing with pencil. I picked one up at a hobby store maybe 10-12 years ago wondering why it was a $20 mechanical pencil. Well, I found out why, and I've never gone back. In fact, I still use that 10-12 year-old pencil to this day! My personal favorite, though, is my cheapest - the Pentel GraphGear 500 in .3mm
Love mechanical pencils drafting or other types. This video satisfied my knowledge.
The Rotring 600 was my gateway writing instrument, it opened my eyes and started me down this twisted path
I'm using graphgear 1000. This is one of the finest drafting pencil I've ever have. The weight feels right in my palm making writing enjoyable.
My favorite was the Rotring Tikky T type pencil. It was released after the 1979 debut of the basic Tikky series which were light brown. The T series had purple-ish body color and the color codes engineers used for tip width were represented in a small ring. The magnificence of T lied in the sliding sleeve. There are many sliding sleeve pencils in history but the T was especially designed for engineers working with Rotring rulers. The sleeve would not fully retract, a length little more than thickness of Rotring rulers always remained posted. This way the sleeve could adjust to the wear of lead but would never slide back so much that the ruler would touch the conical part so straight lines would remain straight.
After emailing cool suggestions to Rotring and one of their sellers, I got a cool 600 (black) drafting pencil and extra HB Rotring leads :-) (it was originally going to be a Ticky) :-)
That Faber-Castell is quite stylish too.
God bless.
I use all 5 graphgear 1000 at home and carry Rotring Rapid Pro pen/pencil set for on the go
Pentel once had an amazingly well-balanced pencil Technica-X. It had a wide and heavy lower part and it's been my companion during the years at the architectural university and beyond.
I like a lot of weight to my pencil/ pen. I have no business buying a drafting pen/ pencil as I'm a RN. But, I'm also a part-time writing instrument snob. I definitely love the Rotring 600, 800, and 3-in-1's--they are rugged and reliable. I haven't found anything I like better!
I purchased a Rotring 800+ and was amazed with the weight and balance.
Pentel Graphgear 500 - there is no need for others, although there are some interesting choices.
That's true! It can do it all and it provides the best precision/control! A tip to upgrade it, cut a small piece from a sticker,and add it between the feeding tube and the body. It stops the annoying rattling but more an that,it makes the pencil feel WAY more solid and comfortable while using it. I cut a 4mm x 5mm from the stickers we find on the pencils or on any other plastic surface,to be able to hold its glue.
The tip I suggested,also improves the eraser,making it more pleasant but also more precise in use.
@@greekveteran2715 interesting, I'm gonna try it. Although said rattling doesn't bother me at all.
My favorite is the Graphgear 1000. I just like mechanical pencils honestly. The grip is amazing and the clip retract is an excellent fidget tool
I'm an old draftsman from the Philippines, and have used Rotring and Staedtler pencils and techpens since the early 2000s, and the biggest learning I got here is how to pronounce these brands.
My favorite is graphgear 500. I think it's really cool that the push caps are the same size as .22 caliber bullet shells. Gives me a cool customization option.
I have the Rotring 300, 500, 600 and 800. The 600 and 800 are stellar!
Loved the background music. Made the whole video awesome. Thanks
Nothing beats an old fashioned 2mm lead holder with a proper sharpener
I don't need any of these, but ooooooh, I want them!
I got a GraphGear 500 today. I haven't done drafting since high school, but dang is it nice to have it 😍 Feels great for writing.
I just got a 0.5 pentel graphgear 1000. and i gotta say, its one of the best writing tools i have ever used. as soon as i wrote something down, i immedeatley fell in love with it. i can't reccomend it enough.
My favorite drafting pencil is Pentel graphgear 500
I have had my Rotring 600 that retracts for some time now. Maybe it's an older model, I inherited it in 2007, but pretty sure it goes decades back before that.
Ever since I discovered the Pentel Orenz in 0.2mm I haven't used anything else for lead writing. I don't actually make full-blown technical drawings, but I have no issue using it with rulers and protractors on my sketches.
I like metal mechanical pencils. I've got a Rotring 600 and a few others. I like the weight when I'm drawing.
Weight on a pencil, adds to control. If the pencil is properly designed and also has the proper balance and weight,that provides more control AND more precision,which translates to more bbeatiful round letters when writing,or to better results when drawing. Once I couldn't draw a shore multi curved line on a drawing. The only pencil,that managed to do the job,was the Pentel Graphgear 500. I also recommend the Kohinoor 5340 for sketching or writing and the Faber Castell TK4600 or TK9400,for drawing! Best pencils Imho. Pentel Kerry for edc/writing,to cover all uses!!
Finally! A JetPen's video BEFORE I make an order 😂
I feel like I will get so much hate for absolutely loving the Pentel P205. Barely a proper drafting pencil though they tick all the boxes for features except the grade indicator... but that's what coloured electrical tape bands are for! I've got some that are pushing two decades old I would guess. Cheap, replaceable if lost or stolen, and absolutely bombproof. Can't fault them.
Not as beautiful as the Rotring 800 though.
Pentel GP-5AD is gorgeous.
Back when people actually used pencils for drafting, very few mechanical pencils had grade indicators on them, and the P200 (P203/P205/P207/P209) series was one of the most popular in use in the industry.
I've been using the Schneider Graffix 0.7 for 6 years now, owning 7 of these for different pencil cases and my desk. İts pretty durable compared to many other mechanical pencils I've used. Also, it has a fairly comfortable grip and nice writing characteristics. I've broken only one because I was fidgeting with it a lot in my younger days (it's still usable). Other than that it's my go-to pencil after experimenting with many other pencils.
I love my Rotring 600. It *feels* like quality.
The Pentel GraphGear 1000 0.5 just is amazing for me
I adore my Platinum Pro 171, I've bought a few. The first one I imported directly from Japan before y'all started stocking them, and I wouldn't be without them
Does the tip on the 171 have any wonble please? How does it compare to the Pemtel Graphgear 500? Is it a better more precise pencil?
I have had my Rotring 600 0.3mm drafting pencil for 32 years. It’s still as solid as it ever was! You can’t get a 0.3mm version any more unfortunately.
I love my drafting pencils. I also have Staedtler Mars Technico. I'm not a professional artist yet, but I absolutely swear by my drafting pencils.
My favorite mechanical pencil is the Tombow graph, not sure if its a drafting pencil but it has similar features to the pencils in the video, like shake to click lead release and also has a longer than average -and replaceable!- extendable twist eraser, so you never have to worry about using it up.
I just wanted to say, I'm charmed that you pronounced Rotring and Steadler impeccably as a German would. Wunerbar!
I'm amused that you point out their German pronunciation but then can't properly spell the meant-to-be-German-but-isn't word in your comment.
Ironic
Mitsubishi uni 0.7, Been using that one for about 7 years.
I’m looking to buy a graph gear 1000
Is it worth it?
Staedtler has always been my go to. Still using one from my college years. Still works fine!
600 Rotring
Fan of their pens. The comfort and balance.
I've been someone who's used mechanical pencils for the longest time, and what I can tell you as an artist...
If you like the feeling of drawing with a graphic tablet stylus + have a light touch
Drafting Pencils are DEFINETLY the way to go. Go for something with a light-evenly distributed weight. And a rubberized grip. Those are PERFECT for drawing.
I personally reccomend the Staedtler 925-15.
As an artist thank you for your input . Are there any prices for these different pencils?
This channel is my new ASMR.
By the way, brazilian GraphGear 300 has sliding sleeve... you should try to sell those there, they're WAY better. imho.
I've got the Rotring with 3 sizes leads with me since I was an Architect student, 25 years ago. Still works fine!! Got two fountain pens from them also with the same age. Both still work fine also, been used everyday since then. So for me Rotring is the best
They should have a cap IMO, to protect the lead sleeve
I haven't bought from y'all directly. But when I got mine from amazon, they came and the tips were wobbly. I used them for everyday use and they were great. The only thing was that it was a bit wobbly. Otherwise great!
Throughout my entire education, I've used Rotring Tikky 0.5. It's the cheapest pen you can find. And I did a couple of hundred technical drawings in middle school, for myself and my lazy peers for money. Yes, the lead breaks. Yes, you may lose it, or someone may steal it. So what? You buy another one, it's cheap.
In fact, I do have that exact Faber-Castell pen, a couple of DelGuards, and Uni's Kuru Toga. They are cute. These fancy pens are nice to have but NOT necessary for anything. You can give the most advanced pen to someone who knows nothing about drawing with rulers, and it will not help it at all. Think about the mountain of drawings for skyscrapers, bridges, electrical dams, or any complex machinery in the past 150 years. Did they have these pens? Would those marvels be done faster or better? Would those engineers be less tired? I don't think so.
Regarding small erasers. I would suggest buying a quality Staedtler's eraser and just sharpen it with a razor blade. You will get an edge unparallel to any of those small erasers.
Regarding grips and weight distribution, I would keep those comments to myself, it's embarrassing to hear complaints like that. Are you that weak? Your body will soon crumble under its own weight if you find pen too heavy. "Better control..." give me a break . It's not a bull, it's a pen for God's sake.
The only thing that I would recommend as a really helpful thing is an artistic glove. It prevents smudging and makes the palm glide over the drawing. Yes, the piece of paper between the palm and the drawing can do the same, but it's annoying to move it around.
My favorite pencil I’ve used so far is the kuru toga elite.
I love my graph gear 1000 HB .9. I use it every day in my wood working.
Rotring for ever! The bests!
As a budget friendly drafting pencil i will also recommend graph gear 600 btw love your videosss♥️…..
I am looking for a tractable gel pin with stylus for every day use that wont break the bank could you show me the links to your suggestions.
Hi there! Unfortunately all our stylus pens are ballpoint pens, but some, like the Uni Jetstream Stylus Ballpoint Pen, can take gel refills: www.jetpens.com/Uni-Jetstream-Stylus-Ballpoint-Pens/ct/4690
Don’t overlook the Faber Castell! It’s only about 20 bucks and it has an extendable and refillable eraser with no cap which means you won’t lose it! The eraser also can’t get pushed too far into the pencil like a lot of other models. If you’ve got the muscle memory of flipping the pencil to erase you gotta go for this one.
The rotring is a beauty!!
The older Alvin Draft Matic pencils are nice too.
"Are they glorified mechanical pencils?"
So basically, the answer is yes... but they are high quality glorified mechanical pencils...
My design and technology teacher has the Muji Low Center of Gravity Mechanical Pencil.
I've had rotring 600 for a couple of years now and while it's fancy and surely durable I can't speak for the ergonomics. To be fair I use it for drawing instead of some technical stuff. It's quite heavy so you have to grip hard to get precise lines and the metal part is just not very comfortable to grip long times. The center of mass is also towards the middle instead closer to the tip of the pen which I find not too ideal for drawing. So if you're considering getting one of these for your pencil drawings my advice is to save money and get something else. For me a basic plastic pencil gets the work done just as well.
I've never bought one because they look so heavy.
I love my kurig toga. Never had a pencil that rotated the led so u always have a sharp point. Although if u have to keep erasing and drawing over mistakes u can rip the paper
Mines the graph gear 500 the full metal body it’s the best alternative to the 1000 model
My question is: whats the difference between the Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic 5369 japanese mechanical pencil and a rOtring 600. They both look the exact same and have pretty much the same build
Hi there! The Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic 5369 has a plastic body, while the Rotring 600 has an all-metal body. This adds 8 more grams to its body weight. Additionally, the Rotring 600's grip diameter is 0.1 mm larger, and the body is 0.1 cm longer. The Rotring 600's tip is replaceable, while the Koh-I-Noor Rapidomatic's is not.
@@JetPens still feels pretty much the same
I have a Rotring 0.5 black all metal mechanical pencil. Well worth every cent.
Here we are in 2023 and still no company out there can replicate what JetPens does overall. Jetpens could teach business classes and the business world would be better for it. The best in genuine product overviews and philosophy in approach. Even if some company were to try to copy them visually, they couldn’t replicate that overall genuineness JetPens brings with it’s genuine style and personal touch. They seem to happily marry the old style helpfulness of old shops like Mr Selfridge and new school open friendly invitation to all. It probably helps that this company is out of San Jose, California and is Japanese inspired. A really nice coupling.
I agree. Their videos are so informative and thoughtful, it's clear that they pride themselves on a geniune passion for stationery. It's the best kind of advertising for me-I've been religiously buying from JetPens because of how committed they are, from their videos to helping people out with recommendations in comments.
Thank you for the kind words! We appreciate it 😊
I think its more the type of leads you put in it. On occasion ive gotten lead that writes so smooth and fluffy like the graphite was porus and easily embedded in the paper. In contrast to some mixed with polymer which were harder to make marks with.
My favorite all around is the Graph Gear 1000. I think the coolest pencil is the Pentel Oren’s.
Back in my day we used lead holders and they still needed sharpened.
Rotring 500 is better than the 600 or 800 in my opinion. The body is made of plastic, making it lighter and better balanced making it less tiring and better suited for long sessions. Head is still metal, unlike all plastic 300, which I wouldn't recommend. Unless you absolutely need durability of metal frame, for pocket carry for example, or just prefer heavier pencils, I'd get the 500 because it is just so good value.
Top pick: Pentel Orenz Nero
The best of all.
Huh .. i used to use a staedler Mars 780. I didn't have to buy multiple pencils, just the lead.
Today, I learned what the stem on the eraser was. Wow, that is clever.😅
Thanks also for this JetPens friend: I now know how to pronounce Rotring and Staedler properly :-)
I think I still have my old Faber-Castell with the 3 most used sizes/diameters: 0,3mmm; 0,5mm; 0,7mm.
ive been using my rotring 800 as my daily driver pencil for over 7 years now and i couldnt ask for a better experience
Even for the cheaper mechanical pencils, I never bought one without at least a fixed guide pipe. That is key to make the lead not break when I write, even if I'm very light-handed compared to the average mechpen user. If you extend the lead beyond the pipe only about as long as the graphite is wide, it won't break unless you stab stuff with it.
Kool pencils! Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍
Golden GraphGear 1000 is my fav. Given to me as a gift it's as good as the day I got it
Is the pen roll available for sale on the site?
Hi there! Yes, you can find it here: www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Ballistic-Zest-Pen-Cases/ct/5938
@@JetPens thank you so much! Watch every video you post because even if I'm not into the particular subject I know I'll always see something else that I need 😁👍