expert-guides
Why you should use a mechanical pencil
Having a mechanical pencil in your toolkit is great for all sort of artists, illustrators, and designers – but what makes it such a creative essential? We take a look at an underrated stationery hero.
May 03, 2024 / Ginger Valentine
We're all familiar with traditional wooden pencils, having grown up sharpening them over and over, but a mechanical pencil is a more modern approach that aims to maintain all the strengths of old-fashioned pencils, and overcome some of their weaknesses as well.
Rather than a graphite core wrapped in wood, mechanical pencils use thin rods of graphite that are pushed out from the pencil's tip, allowing you to write, sketch, draw and more without needing to sharpen it. If your graphite becomes to soft or rounded through use, you can simply snap off the end of the graphite rod, and you've got a fresh tip to use.
Why you should use a mechanical pencil
- Consistent lines: Mechanical pencils can achieve the type of precision and detail a regular wooden pencil cannot. With lead size ranging from as small as 0.3mm, you can draw very fine lines, perfect for adding detail to any creative project. This is a bonus if you like your handwriting to have the same line width all the way through, making it neater.
- Ergonomic: Similar to a pen, the mechanisms inside the mechanical pencil give it more weight. This makes the pen more ergonomic for those who use pencils for long periods. Unlike the wooden pencil, the mechanical pencil always keeps its length so you never have to deal with a shrinking wooden pencil, which makes them handy for taking notes through long lectures.
- Different designs: From a shiny and cheerful LAMY safari to a chic metal body of Kaweco's Special Mechanical Pencil, mechanical pencils come in a variety of styles to suit any personality or purpose.
- Cost effective & convenient: Mechanical pencils use refillable lead. This means you don't have to deal with sharpening a pencil or disposing of their shavings. Your pencil technically never runs out, so you don't have to buy new wooden pencils ever again.
Mechanical pencils
What's the difference between a clutch pencil and a mechanical pencil?
Clutch pencils, like Kaweco's Classic Clutch Pencil or the hefty Sketch Up Pencil, use a much thicker lead. If you prefer a sharper point on your pencil you'll need to sharpen the lead with a sharpener. The thicker lead makes the clutch pencil excellent for sketching and shading as they work in a similar way to the wooden pencil, except the pencil body never shrinks.
A clutch pencil's mechanism is different to the mechanical pencil. While the mechanical pencil pushes the lead forward with each click, the clutch pencil, also known as a leadholder, releases the clutch that holds the lead in place, letting you decide how much lead you want to work with.
Clutch pencils are also a popular option for builders and drafters who like to mark or draw with a thicker line without the fuss of sharpening a wooden pencil.
Where do I start with mechanical pencils?
We've got plenty of great options, with something to suit every need.
The LAMY safari mechanical pencils are comfortable, affordable and come in a range of colours to suit your mood. The safari is one of LAMY's most popular writing instruments, and it's easy to see why when you hold one in your hand.
The safari uses 0.5mm graphite refills, giving you a very fine, precise line great for drafting, detailing and writing.
For a low-cost intro to mechanical pencils, Penco's Prime Timber Mechanical Pencil sports a classic design that'll be instantly familiar to traditional pencil lovers. With a hexagonal wooden body, the Prime Timber Pencil is warm and inviting, and sports a generous 2mm graphite core that can be sharpened to your liking. The only major difference is that your pencil will always stay the same length, no matter how much you use it.
For a sleek, sophisticated option, Kaweco's Special Mechanical Pencil is an elegant yet affordable mechanical pencil with a solid metal body that feels magnificent in your hand, with a comforting heft and an easy, natural balance. The Special uses 0.5mm graphite refills for supreme accuracy and detail.
There's also the Special Mini, for a stylish option that's more pocket-friendly.
If you're after the best of the best, LAMY's 2000 Mechanical Pencil is the perfect gift, with a stunning design that continues to stand the test of time decades after its birth. Based on the design that made LAMY famous, the 2000 Mechanical Pencil is available in the original black Makrolon finish, or the sleek, modern Stainless Steel finish.
If you're still looking for the perfect pencil, check out the rest of our mechanical pencil range and you're sure to find the one for you.
