Can You Use Mechanical Pencils on the Psat

The best mechanical pencils for artists and designers in 2022

Included in this guide:

Closeup of hand writing on notepaper with mechanical pencil
(Image credit: CBCK-Christine)

The best mechanical pencils make writing and drawing easier, neater, and more accurate. So whether you're doing sketches, drafting technical diagrams or working on full-blown artwork, you'll go much better results with a mechanical pencil than an ordinary wooden ane.

Also known as automated pencils or propelling pencils, mechanical pencils don't need sharpening, because the graphite (ordinarily referred to as 'atomic number 82') sits in a well within the pencil. As it wears out, yous click to extend it, and then supplant it when it'due south used up.

For this reason, mechanical pencils are e'er abrupt, which makes them smashing for making even, consequent lines. It besides ways the pencil itself stays the same length, compared to wooden pencils which get shorter equally y'all sharpen them. And that makes for a more comfortable holding experience.

Mechanical pencils are popular with artists making sketches and drawings; designers creating mockups and wireframes; architects or engineers drafting plans and diagrams; and anyone wanting to write neatly and conspicuously. While they're more than expensive than ordinary pencils, they save you lot money over time equally they last so long.

Here, we've gathered together the best mechanical pencils available to buy today. We've started out with the best ones for drawing, only it y'all just want a pencil for taking notes, so jump to the best mechanical pencils for writing. For more great art materials, bank check out our guides to the all-time pencils of all kinds, the best pens for artists, and the best watercolour pencils.

Mechanical pencils for cartoon

With the best mechanical pencils, you tin can create measured lines with precision and accuracy. They're suitable for every type of drawing, including quick sketches, technical drafting, mockups, wireframes and expressive artwork.

For nearly drawing purposes, a 0.5mm lead is all-time, although 0.7mm may be ameliorate for shading, sketching and not-detailed piece of work. For detailed marks, withal, yous might want to endeavour a smaller lead, mayhap as minor as 0.3mm.

Below you lot'll discover best mechanical pencils for all types of drawing. Once you lot've bought ane, check out our top pencil drawing techniques to make the nearly of it.

Uni Kurutoga Pipe Slide product shot cb badge

(Paradigm credit: Uni)

01. Uni Kurutoga Pipe Slide

The best mechanical pencil for drawing overall

Specifications

Weight: 18.1g

Dimensions: 19.2 x ten 10 1.6cm

Lead diameter: 0.5mm

Mechanism: Pipe slide

Reasons to buy

+

Cocky-sharpening

+

Special versions for Ghibli fans

Reasons to avoid

-

0.7mm pencil rare outside Japan

-

Protective cap can come loose

With a regular mechanical pencil, the pb wears down on ane side, forming a slanted, wedge-shaped tip. This tin can potentially cause variations in line thickness. The Uni Kurutoga Pipage Slide, however, avoids this through a clever mechanism that continually rotates the pencil atomic number 82 equally you lot write.

A spring-loaded clutch twists the lead a tiny degree every time you lift the pencil from the newspaper, and this allows for a uniform wearing of the lead, and cleaner and more consistent lines as a result.

That makes this the best mechanical pencil for cartoon, bar none. It may not exist the cheapest model on the market, merely you will definitely find the deviation.

Pentel 200 mechanical pencil product shot cb badge

(Prototype credit: Pentel)

02. Pentel 200

The all-time mechanical pencil for value

Specifications

Weight: 10g

Dimensions: 0.89 ten 14 x 0.89cm

Lead bore: 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, 0.9mm

Mechanism: Push-height button

Reasons to buy

+

Value for money

+

Good all-rounder

Reasons to avoid

-

Nothing heady about it

-

Included eraser doesn't concluding long

The best mechanical pencils don't accept to be super-expensive. And the Pentel 200 is a quality pencil that offers exceptional value for money.

Expertly engineered for drawing, drafting or writing, it'due south no surprise this is Pentel's top-selling automatic mechanical pencil. Each pencil comes with Super Hi Polymer HB leads and an eraser, and the set covers a range of lead thicknesses from 0.3mm to 0.9mm.

A good all-rounder, this volition do fine as a main pencil for about people. Withal it's so affordable yous don't take to worry about losing it, or having someone "borrow" it off your desk when you're non looking.

Rotring 800 mechanical pencil product shot cb badge

(Image credit: Rotring )

03. Rotring 800

The best mechanical pencil for sketching

Specifications

Weight: xc.7g

Dimensions: 5.i ten xv.2 x 0.5cm

Lead bore: 0.5mm or 0.7mm

Mechanism: Twist and click

Reasons to buy

+

Loftier-finish engineering

+

Luxury feel

+

Suitable for professionals

Reasons to avoid

-

May be overkill for almost purposes

If you lot're serious about your sketching, cheque out the Rotring 800. This high-quality model offers a precision and a luxury feel that's perfect for daily use in a professional capacity.

With a solid weight of 91g, its metal trunk feels solid in the hand, and the non-sideslip metal grip 'twist and click' retractable mechanism makes it very piece of cake and comfy to use, even for lengthy sessions. The hexagonal shape, meanwhile, makes it less likely to slide off your desk, or even a slanted surface.

In short, if you lot're working on something special, working for long periods, looking for a gift, or just desire a pencil that's nice to employ, the Rotring 800 is well worth the extra cash. Information technology comes in two lead thicknesses, 0.5mm and 0.7mm; opt for the latter and you lot accept the best mechanical pencil for sketching on this list.

Pentel Graphgear 500 Automatic Drafting Pencil product shot

(Image credit: Pentel )

04. Pentel Graphgear 500 Automatic Drafting Pencil

The best mechanical pencil for technical drawing

Specifications

Weight: 22.7g

Dimensions: 0.9 10 14.7 ten 0.9cm

Lead diameter: 0.iii, 0.v, 0.7 or 0.9mm

Mechanism: Push button

Reasons to buy

+

Lightweight but functional

+

Wide range of pb diameters

Reasons to avoid

-

0.3mm pb can be tricky to source

-

Included eraser not the best

If you're an architect or an engineer, working on a lot of diagrams and drawings where accuracy is of import, here's the model for you. In our opinion, the Pentel Graphgear 500 is the best mechanical pencil for technical drawing.

With a 4mm fixed sleeve, metallic-mesh grip and a butt weighted at your fingertips, it'southward designed to help you describe precisely and stay in total control of the line. It works with a multifariousness of lead thicknesses, and there's a congenital-in lead hardness indicator to help you identify your lead type speedily.

The weight feels adept in the hand, and it's light enough to be comfortable over long sessions. In short, this is the best mechanical pencil for drafting and precision piece of work, peculiarly because its affordable cost.

Mechanical pencils for writing

The best mechanical pencils for writing

The all-time mechanical pencils for writing produce clean, consistent lines that make everything look precise and measured. A 0.5mm thickness is mostly a good choice, unless you tend to press hard on the page and often suspension your atomic number 82. In which example, a 0.7mm or even 0.9mm thickness might exist improve.

Lamy 200 mechanical pencil product shot

(Image credit: Lamy)

05. LAMY 2000

The best mechanical pencil for writing overall

Specifications

Weight: 18.1g

Dimensions: one.2 x 1.2 x 13.7cm

Lead bore: 0.5 or 0.7mm

Mechanism: Push button

Reasons to buy

+

Produces smooth, beautiful lines

+

Highly durable

+

Expect it to last years

Reasons to avert

-

May be overkill for some purposes

Our pick as the best mechanical pencil for writing is the LAMY 2000. Based on the well-known fountain pen designed by Gerd A. Müller in 1996, it'due south a true mod classic. At 18.1g, this pencil is lite enough to be flexible, but besides solid plenty to feel undecayed. It's comfortable to hold and apply, and information technology produces polish, consistent handwriting.

Reliable and durable, this is definitely a pen you wait to final for years. Which means that while it might cost a bit more, you do get excellent value.

Uni Kurutoga Roulette pencil

(Image credit: Uni)

06. Uni Kurutoga Roulette

The best value mechanical pencil for writing

Specifications

Weight: 13.6g

Dimensions: 0.99 x 14.62 x one.29cm

Lead diameter: 0.5mm

Mechanism: Button

Reasons to buy

+

Self-sharpening

+

Great value

Reasons to avert

-

Included eraser is not great

-

Lighter than the LAMY 2000

You obviously want quality when it comes to buying a pencil. But for most of us, there'south a price beyond which we won't become. If that'due south you, then bank check out the Uni Kurutoga Roulette, as it actually does offer excellent value.

Perfect for writing, this pencil is comfy to hold, with a nicely balanced weight and a knurled metal fingerplate for better grip. Its sophisticated blueprint, matching that of the Uni Kurutoga Pipe Slide (our number one mechanical pencil for drawing, above), means that it sharpens the lead consistently equally y'all write. That gives yous an even stroke width that keeps your handwriting effortlessly neat and polished.

Pentel Sharp Kerry Mechanical Pencil product shot

(Epitome credit: Pentel )

07. Pentel Abrupt Kerry Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm

The best mechanical pencil for professional writing

Specifications

Weight: 9.07g

Dimensions: 1.9 10 3.ii x 15.2cm

Lead diameter: 0.5mm

Mechanism: Push button

Reasons to purchase

+

Precision engineering

+

Pb rarely breaks

+

Suitable for professionals

Reasons to avert

-

Pencil cap doesn't fit perfectly

The Pentel Sharp Kerry Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm is handcrafted using watchmakers' tools for precision, beauty and accuracy. That ways, in short, this is a high-stop mechanical pencil with a luxury feel.

Specifically, information technology has a solid tip that means you'll very rarely, if ever, break the lead. Plus the removable cap makes information technology super-portable. If yous want a mechanical pencil for professional writing, it's our top recommendation. This pencil would besides make a great souvenir for someone you respect and admire.

How do mechanical pencils piece of work?

With a normal pencil, once the graphite tip (commonly referred to equally 'lead') has blunted, you need to sharpen it using a pencil sharpener. A mechanical pencil, in contrast, uses an internal spring to push the pb upwards into the barrel, when you press the button at the other terminate. When the lead has been fully used, you so simply insert a new replacement.

Why are mechanical pencils better than wooden pencils?

The principal benefit of mechanical pencils is they don't demand sharpening. This saves you lot a lot of hassle and mess. More importantly, it means mechanical pencils provide more consistent lines, enabling you lot to create more than precise and accurate drawings, and neater handwriting. The fine lines also tend to be easier to erase. And of class, you don't have to carry a sharpener with you all the time.

Why are mechanical pencils more expensive?

Mechanical pencils are generally more expensive than wooden ones, but conduct in heed that the latter won't last very long. Every bit long every bit you lot're happy to keep refilling the atomic number 82 in a mechanical pencil, which doesn't toll very much at all, then it should last for years. And so if you lot take the initial cost of a mechanical pencil, and split up that by the number of wooden pencils you'd probably go through over a like time period, it starts to look similar very practiced value indeed.

What are mechanical pencils used for?

Mechanical pencils are normally used by professionals involved in technical drafting, such equally engineers and architects. Many artists as well adopt mechanical pencils, even for more expressive and imaginative work, because the size and weight of the lead remains consistent, whereas a wood pencil gets finer the more than you acuminate it. Mechanical pencils are also favoured by anyone wishing to produce smashing and elegant handwriting.

Which mechanical pencil is best for drawing?

The best mechanical pencil for drawing today is the Uni Kurutoga Pipage Slide. That'due south because it has a clever mechanism that continually rotates the pencil lead as you write. This allows for a uniform wearing of the atomic number 82, and cleaner and more than consistent lines. The lead is difficult to break, too, saving you stress and reducing the chances that your drawing will exist smudged with graphic dust.

Which mechanical pencil is best for writing?

The best mechanical pencil for writing today is the LAMY 2000. Based on the well-known fountain pen of the same proper noun, it's a low-cal enough to exist flexible, simply solid plenty to feel dependable, and durable enough to last for several years at the very least. And it provides beautifully shine and precise lines, perfect for anyone whose handwriting needs to be neat and legible.

Is a 0.five or 0.7 pencil improve?

If you lot wish to depict very fine lines, you'll want to go for a 0.3mm atomic number 82. For writing and near cartoon, you lot'll probably prefer a 0.5mm atomic number 82. A thicker, 0.7mm lead, meanwhile, may be better for sketching and non-detailed cartoon. Other sizes are also available for specialist uses.

Information technology's not just about size, though: besides consider the hardness of the lead. A soft lead volition be darker and more decumbent to smudging, while a hard pb is better for leaving lite, fine lines. Softness is represented by a number followed past 'B'; the higher the number, the softer the lead. Hardness is represented by a number followed by 'H'; the college the number, the harder the lead. Finally, 'F' and 'HB' leads prevarication in the center..

Why are mechanical pencils banned on SATs?

While mechanical pencils take numerous practiced qualities, the one disadvantage is that they are ofttimes banned for standardised tests. In particular, you lot must not use a mechanical pencil on the Deed or SAT tests in the United states of america.

This is largely because the machines that automatically read these tests are believed to have difficulty picking up the marks made by mechanical pencils. Whether this is really true or not (either now or in the past) is irrelevant: the ban stands, and so it's best not to put your score at gamble. With any other paper-based tests, it'southward ever best to check before the day of the exam to make sure you lot don't fall foul of a like ban.

Which mechanical pencil is best for sketching?

The all-time mechanical pencil for sketching is the Rotring 800. With its high-quality engineering, this model offers a precise musical instrument and a luxury feel that befits daily utilise in a professional person capacity. The non-slip metal grip 'twist and click' retractable mechanism makes it very easy and comfortable to use, fifty-fifty for lengthy sessions. And the hexagonal shape makes information technology less likely to slide off your desk, or even a slanted surface.

How do y'all refill a mechanical pencil?

Mechanical pencils generally have quite unlike designs, and so it's not always obvious how to refill them with lead. Most of the time, it's just a thing of screwing the barrel at the terminate to remove it, inserting a new refill inside and and then reassembling the pencil.

However, if your mechanical pencil has an eraser on the terminate, just may have to remove the eraser and the refill chamber will be underneath it. Don't automatically assume this is the instance, though! The eraser may be glued to the barrel, in which instance y'all would use the first method.

Thirdly, other mechanical pencil designs may have a cap at the end which you but pull to remove and the refill chamber will be underneath it. Finally, a quaternary type of mechanical pencil is split into two, then you slide the unabridged dorsum half out before refilling the atomic number 82.

If you're not sure which type of blueprint your mechanical pencil has, then tug just at the cap/eraser/rear half gently at first to run across if it comes out. If it doesn't, then see if annihilation unscrews with a gentle turning move. Either way, don't forcefulness it, or you chance breaking your pencil!

Read more than:

  • Pencil shading techniques: Expert tips
  • The best sketchbooks to make you a meliorate artist
  • Best tablets with a stylus pen for drawing and note-taking: Get digital

Tom May is an honor-winning journalist and editor specialising in pattern, photography and technology. He is author of Bang-up TED Talks: Creativity, published by Pavilion Books. He was previously editor of Professional Photography mag, associate editor at Artistic Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine.

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Source: https://www.creativebloq.com/buying-guides/the-best-mechanical-pencils-for-artists-and-designers

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