How to Fix a Mechanical Pencil Lead Jam

[@Musfee_]

I always bought new pencils whenever this happened. Today I thought I should maybe watch a tutorial about it? I'm so glad I came through this video. It definitely changed my life

[@unsharpen]

Amazing! best of luck with fixing your pencils

[@boip0362]

Another thing that can happen is that the narrow tip gets bent “ever so slightly” which breaks the lead as it goes into it. It can be straightened however…

[@viyandedhia7594]

How can we straight it

[@Butter_mybiscuitandlickmypecan]

THANK U SO MUCH, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS COMMENT HELPED ME, I WAS STRUGGLING FOR 2 STRAIGHT HOURS

[@pictureofneuroqis]

Please tell me how to straighten it

[@Honda_Kiku]

@@Butter_mybiscuitandlickmypecanCan you tell us how to straighten it?

[@Butter_mybiscuitandlickmypecan]

@@Honda_Kiku I don't know if this will work for everyone but i just pressed it in the wall firmly until it was straight, but please be careful because i won't know if your mechanical pencil would break but it worked for me

[@BeylaKaythin]

I got a nice old mechanical pencil from my dad. Older than me. Able to survive a war. And dumb old me stuffs a too big lead in there. I swear I thought it was a definite goner & started watching with incredible scepticism... But about halfway through the video, it came out! Thank you! :D thank you for helping me save my pencil!

[@prudentobserver3435]

THANK YOU!!! I know that you posted this video about 3 years ago according to the KZbin post and may never see this but I just wanted to sincerely thank you for this video. I have been trying to load lead into my Pentel Orenz 0.2 pencils which both jammed. I found about six or seven videos before yours which were of no real help. None of them explained what the little "metal thing" stuck into the eraser was but yours and I needed it to unclog my pencil. This was a great video. Thank you so much for taking the time to make it.

[@unsharpen]

Glad it helped!!

[@TheNewbieWoodworker]

Thank you! I was getting ready to chuck the damn pencil. 😄

[@unsharpen]

Glad to hear it helped!

[@TheNewbieWoodworker]

@@unsharpen It really did help. And as a fellow KZbinr, I'm always flabbergasted that people would give a video like yours a thumbs down. Some people just don't get it. 🤬😄I mean, I'm sure you've learned that it's just par for the course, but still... Anyway, thanks again.

[@1vy-t0wn38]

@@unsharpen hey,my pencil clicks thing that you click to get the lead out is just going down and not back out,how do I fix this?

[@revasparks8486]

Have bought 4....they ALL jam. Have tried to clear them. Nope. Poor design!

[@Andrea-sh9sn]

Me too🥹

[@daytonagreg8765]

Hey THATS MY PENCIL!!! Well dude, you spent time you DID NOT have to, to educate me on what’s wrong. Excellent job & I’m back in business. GREAT VIDEO.

[@unsharpen]

Right on!

[@asankawith]

My 10-year-old Rotring clutch pencil gave me trouble for the first time, and it almost broke my heart! It’s been with me like a close friend through countless exams. Thanks to your video, I was able to fix it and bring my old Rotring back to life. Thank you so much!

[@unsharpen]

Love hearing that.

[@pogoshinysearch1239]

Thank you for the great tutorial. I had a Pentel Twist Erase mechanical pencil that jammed. I almost gave up and the bottom half was literally in the trash can before I watched your video. The jammed bottom half was retrieved and I found out the bottom piece could be unscrewed to reveal the clutch. That was cleared out and my pencil was revived. Many thanks!

[@zenith1203]

I bought a Kurutoga Mechanical pencil and it jammed on me during class. Got home and watched this and found out that there was a problem with the clutch. Awesome stuff saved me and my pencil o7

[@numbersix8919]

Thanks man, I once had a pencil with a cleaning rod but never used it and had forgotten they even exist!

[@unsharpen]

Glad I could help!

[@Lauraisabelgonzalezart]

Thank You so much. You're the ONLY one who goes into details about cleaning it. I have the Grapher 500 and you helped me!

[@unsharpen]

Great to hear!

[@thecorynorhinus]

Thanks for the video ! It worked for my pentel graphgear 1000

[@marinedalek]

Thanks for this! Also, anyone who is or who knows a guitarist will have access to the spare lengths of guitar string which get snipped off when changing them. The top three strings can be used as makeshift tip cleaners of varying sizes, depending on the gauge of the string set. I just rescued my 0.3mm Graphgear 1000 using the B string of an Ernie Ball Super Slinky set.

[@prudentobserver3435]

Ha ha ha...that is an awesome suggestion. My son is a guitarist and has plenty of strings for me to use to fix my pencils. Great idea.

[@barbaramayhewflanagan793]

I just purchased a graphgear 1000 .3 and was struggling with it because the lead wasn’t advancing properly. I watched your video, exposed the clutch which I simply wiped clean and voila! As soon as I engaged the clutch again the lead magically appeared! I put it all back together, and the problem is gone (until next time.) Thank you for your clear instructions. I feel confident that if it happens again I’ll know how to fix it. I am the master of my mechanical pencil!

[@JollyOl]

Super informative and simple video. Thank you!! I was able to unjam my Pentel Graphgear 1000 (.5) after finding out that the problem was in the unscrewable portion. I don't have a cleaning rod; Instead, I used some very thin jewelry wire and it fit and fixed the problem like a charm.

[@DROMVS]

*I love how you have the exact one that i do. Thank you for this perfect coincidence of a video!*

[@mertyaman808]

What is the pencil called

[@robloxnoob1462]

@@mertyaman808 Pentecostal graph gear 1000 and 500, pilot s10 sorry if it’s too late

[@rinlumi]

but my tip is the one that's blocked and i did everything to remove it but it's not going :((( Why are there no youtube videos for this

[@zdravdan]

Have this same problem no tutorials

[@introgauge]

I tried sowing needles....sowing needles are the exact size of the tip so it didnt work, of which im guessing is like a .4mm or .3.555mm. If youre using a .3mm mech pencil. They want you to buy extra stuff.

[@pocketnunu]

@@introgauge Sewing pins come in thicknesses too. Pins for silk are less thick, perfect for .5 size lead hole. These would be pins not for actual hand sewing, but the kind that just hold cloth together, so there is NO EYE for the thread. Instead of an eye, there will be like a tiny head or a tiny round plastic ball at one end. So dig through your mom's, your sister's, or your own sewing kit.

[@magiciankid4962]

Same issue here

[@bry6998]

same case here

[@Pw8_Art]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I had a really nice graph gear 1000 0.5 led pencil that I used everyday for drawing. It was the main one I used and I’ve had it for a while. Today randomly while drawing, I ran out of led but when I tried to put more in, there was a weird click and whenever I pushed led through it wouldn’t stay and the clicking sound it normally makes wouldn’t go. I searched so many KZbin videos and none of them helped. Then I saw your channel and after about 10 mins I was able to fix the jam. Thank you so much🙏

[@bbrew100]

You are such a blessing, my precious mechanical pencil is now saved. Definitely will have to do it again but at least now I can actually fix it

[@kismeteors]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Turns out I just had to shake the pencil and it started working again! Thanks a ton!

[@marsharamsdell]

Me too!

[@eshraqdalia]

I dropped my pencil at school and I thought it broke but then I decided to watch a tutorial and I fixed it! Thank you!!!

[@unsharpen]

Glad the video helped!

[@anthony-mor]

I thought I may need a new one but this totally fixed it! Thank you!!

[@unsharpen]

Great to hear!

[@Nancy-pf6ft]

Thank you for this! I couldn’t get the lead to advance in a Muji .3, and followed your steps. When I opened that collet/clutch, some tiny pieces of lead came tumbling out, and it cleared the whole thing.

[@shewhomustnotbename]

Thank you for showing on how to fix a mechanical pencil! I couldn't figure out what was wrong with my pencil. Will buy a cleaning rod tomorrow.

[@nubaidtazwar1966]

Thanks bro you made my day.I literally thought I was hopeless,but I thought I can do a try then it literally just fixed.I am a beginner and that became a history of my first mechanical pencil

[@trinabrunk]

Oooh this makes me so happy. I thought I was going to have to get a new pencil but by midway through this video I had it fixed. Thank you!!

[@bigmac22ify]

thanks, i had a "broken" 1000 graph gear for over 7 years but I was too stubborn to throw it out, you got it working again.

[@unsharpen]

Great to hear!

[@KerishaMoore]

Thank you...there was blockage and the point was bent...all fixed now...thanks a million.

[@inartemmangga1764]

omg you're amazing, i was about to cry cause i couldnt fix it but i saw your video now i can draw again.

[@MellowElysium]

I was at a gaming convention and my favorite mechanic pencil jammed! This Video saved it from being throwing away 😅 TY

[@zazan8242]

Your instructions helped me so much Thank you ❤❤

[@dorothyg2997]

Thanks. Had a jam and fixed it with a needle.

[@izizzlefuhRizzle]

How do you clean out the graphgear 500? I cannot see light through the tip, but I also have nothing small enough to fit through the hole to unplug it.

[@evetruscott5584]

Finally I got the right word choice on U-tube and having found your video I have got my Pilot to work again. Only hope that sometime, someone will be in that dilemma and I can help them, as you helped me. THANKS

[@jiggilyjello0657]

I dont even have a jammed but I just like watching your videos.

[@unsharpen]

Ha thanks!

[@silverycc7416]

Thanks a lot. I just bought new rotring 0.35 online and when it came i was si frustrated because i couldn't get the lead out. Now that i found your video, it works again. You've saved my new pencil!

[@rikib3652]

Dude, thank you so much. I have the pentel GRAPHGEAR 1000 and I was not looking forward to buying a new one. This video allowed me to fix it and save $16. It helped that that was one of the ones you were working on lol

[@unsharpen]

Amazing. Love to hear that

[@tasmaryshawlin5816]

Thanks a lot Man, I've just Fixed my 11 years old lead pencil which was disabled for about 3 years.... Now it's working absolutely fine. 💜

[@taliaram4399]

Wow thank you so so much! I was just about to throw out my favourite clutch pencil because I thought it was broken, turns out there was a piece of lead stuck in it! You’re a life saver!🥹

[@loganpie3964]

Hi thank you i was in art class this morning and i got really sad when this pencil stopped working, but after watching your video ive fixed the jam, if you dont have a pencil cleaner you could use, cheap earrings, and a safety pin

[@CJ-fg6ws]

fixed my pencil in the first 10 seconds on the video. thank u for this!

[@Kira-1418]

Thank you, your video helped me clear out the jam of an old mechanical blue lead pencil!

[@user-cs8ns9dh1f]

Hi unsharpen!! This video helped me a lot to my problem. I was able to unclogged my graphgear 500 which have been my daily driver from drawings, so it affected me a lot whenever i reach out for this when I'm sketching. Thank you very much for this video! More blessings to you! ❤

[@unsharpen]

Great to hear. Glad your pencil is fixed.

[@LongXi1988]

Saved me hours probably. Glad I found this! Thanks

[@xchalibur77]

This is the best review of Pentel graph 1000, although it was done for other proposes.

[@Yona-125]

Thank you you just saved me from the heart attacks I was having I don’t ever do this but I liked 👍

[@AidanThomasArt]

thanks a bunch, just got myself my first set of nice mechanical pencils and immediately jammed the .05 before i finished my first drawing, this was super helpful

[@ambersinclair13]

Thank you! My Mum's old Parker pencil means so much to me now she's gone and I can use it again!!

[@k2dac898]

Sounds like you would enjoy the lyrics of Tina Turner's 'Something Beautiful Remains' it was a favorite of mine when my mom passed away.

[@SONYSIKE]

mine got jammed somehow by this black thing, it looks like a minecraft hopper, i still have it just in case if it's part of the pencil, it feels like rubber and is very small, do you know what it is?

[@sopheasofea]

R yours graph gear 500?

[@SONYSIKE]

@@sopheasofea tombow mono graph 0.3mm

[@sopheasofea]

@@SONYSIKE i think that's one of the part that hold the lead (to avoid breaking) / English is not my first language

[@SONYSIKE]

@@sopheasofea you might be right, thanks

[@zer5236]

Not only did help me fix my pencil but showed me what the eraser needle is for THANKS

[@VinceSolo-g9l]

Thanks Bro. Helped me to solve the puzzle with my Mont Blanc mechanical pencil. No idea regarding the use of the cleaning rod before this video. That one did the trick.

[@kapilnilagiri615]

so i watched ur video and it was great just have a question tho so my grapghgear 1000 has lead stuck but it is in the tip of the pencil after the clutch. So how would I fix that would I just stick the cleaning rod in there and push it out or what?

[@adasqweds3756]

Thank you so much! I havent used it for months cuz i thought it really was unfixable, so glad i watch this vid 🔥

[@unsharpen]

Glad to hear it!

[@طالبالعلم-ت6ص]

Excellent Video. Mine had a tiny piece that was stopping the pencil from functioning. Didn't have a cleaning rod per say but used a hair pin and it did the trick. Thanks again

[@thebatman8967]

if the clutch is jam how do I fix it ?

[@Coccolinodc]

Thanks, I have a Rotring 500 0,7 mm which became jammed and your video helped me sort it out!

[@maryelizabethcalais9180]

Tks for all your efforts making this video!. I have the Pentel 500 Mech Pencil. It appears that the Pentel 1000 is more advanced than the 500. I purchased the 500 at Hobby Lobby in store a couple of years ago. Yesterday I took it apart following your video and still cannot get the lead to come thru. I'm becoming a little frustrated cause I'm sketching a picture of my latest Grandchild and I need my Pentel to work. My usual good solid patience is wearing down; I have a deadline for this project and at this time cannot afford to make more purchases.I wish we could send photos to youtubers' my problem is probably something simple that I'm leaving out. Tomorrow's another day and my mind will be fresh again at dawn. And maybe you can advise something else. Many Blessings to you and your helping others :)

[@NeighbourTom]

Thanks for the guide, pencil is now good as gold 👍

[@fuutao6979]

first yt vid ive seen that actually helped me w something broken

[@cytarea]

thanks for making a video about this ordinary common trouble, cuz it actually happens a lot. I had bought a expensive mechanical pencil which was pretty and i really enjoyed it, but since i always used 0,7 mm pencils, i mistook that new pen (0,5mm) as 0,7 and had probably got things stuck. it was yesterday, but after i had a good nap after school, i tried to repair it again and it worked! Just telling my story in case someone is also having trouble. You will fix it! mechanical pencils dont break that easily, it will get alright

[@blueviolet314]

Who would have thought I was gonna going this video so helpful. My pentel works now

[@MichelleHerrera-e9c]

I've thrown away so many mechanical pencils because of a clutch jam due to a piece of lead! Thanks for this video! My mechanical pencil has been saved!

[@unsharpen]

Glad it helped!

[@zhuweiwong9377]

Thanks for the help! Spent sooo long trying to figure out what went wrong

[@unsharpen]

Glad it worked!

[@loveice-cream4392]

thank you soooo much!!! i was getting really hopeless and then i came across this video and it honestly helped a lot!!!! the trick you did with the clutch helped get out more pieces of lead than i imagined would have been there and then the part about clearing the top piece helped me see a piece of lead that i had overlooked by mistake and was quite wierdly placed , that i am now wondering how it even got like this

[@unsharpen]

Glad it helped!

[@em444]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I WAS SO WORRIED ID HAD TO GET A NEW ONE BUT NOW ITS FIXED!!!!

[@Mikeshawtoday]

Thanks, that did the trick. I did notice in my GraphGear 1000 that there is actually a little rubber tip in the 2nd layer front metal piece. This tiny rubber piece allows a little friction so leads don't just fall out each time you press the back to advance the lead. This was miss-aligned, and I gently pulled it out by the lead that was halfway through it, and dropped it straight in so the lead popped through the front. Then I followed the other steps you outlined and reassembled the pencil. Works fine now. Thanks!

[@darleneselboza3539]

can i ask how did you do it? I also saw a small rubber here on the tip, now when I push the rubber comes off. I put it on over and over again but I don't know how to stick it

[@Mikeshawtoday]

@@darleneselboza3539 Hi Darlene - I've had a lot of practice since that last post about a year ago. First - know that when the lead gets too short - either near the end or broken - the pencil stops working in terms of pushing lead holding firm out the tip. So, at that moment, you need to remove the metal housing, and remove the old lead which is stuck halfway out the rubber insert. You can use the wire rod made for this purpose found in the eraser. Next step, with the metal tips all off, is to carefully release a new lead from the barrel about two inches - without breaking it. Very tricky. You have to push down on the top button to release, and at the same time, your other hand pushes back the collar (sleeve around the clutch in this video) at the exposed jaw tip. The lead will slide down. Now with two inches exposed- you super-carefully insert it through the rubber tip and out the front end of the inner metal insert. Then screw that back on, not breaking the new lead. Re-assemble the outer sheaths. A lot of words here, I hope it helps a little. I'll have to do my own video on this, I think. Get used to this process and it's not too hard. It's the price you pay for the .3mm pencil fine-ness.

[@LetsDoitForJohnnyMan]

This worked amazingly! Thanks so much!

[@angel_and_chris3493]

Thank u so so much man I appreciate it u got my pencil to work again! U just earned yourself a subscriber!

[@unsharpen]

Glad I could help

[@jennifergreenfield6996]

Thank you, my pencil is fixed thanks to your video.

[@forest1560]

Thank you so much for making this video! Helped me so much, I bought this mechanical pencil yesterday and then it suddenly stopped working and I figured it was jammed so thanks

[@judithcorona1711]

Thanks you so much my new art pencil broke I was so scared I had to buy a new but this video helped a lot it works now

[@k2dac898]

Many thanks. May your day have, "exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." Psalm 37:11

[@S0NIC43]

After doing all this, my pencil didnt work, somehow after i threw it on the floor, it magically started working again. Also well done video, great.

[@unsharpen]

Thanks!

[@iasamillano6056]

Thank you so much!!!!! My pilot mech pencil is finally fixed!!!!

[@xvasaks936]

Thank You so much, this helped me out alot, i was thinking that it was broken and i needed to get a new!

[@Andrea_404]

Thank you! A soon as you mentioned I can push back part of the clutch my problem was solved. Damn thing decided it wants to keep the previous piece of lead.

[@apieceofblueglassmoon]

I have a pencil graphgear 500 and a lead got stuck, and i tried to get it out by using toothpicks, other pencil leads but it wont work What do i do?

[@AKIRAA_ss]

This might be a stupid thing to ask but I have a graphic gear 500 pencil and the metal part I can’t take it out it’s like I can’t because my hands are so sweaty and stuff can you show me a tutorial on tips to open the tip easier.????

[@re-lmayer2546]

Very useful video, it saves my pencil !

[@kimfrsca_9544]

OMG!How from this video works in my pencil. Now my pencil can be reused ,thank you so much🙏🏻

[@unsharpen]

Great 👍

[@angeliqalien.]

My fabercastell stopped working at school, i even opened it. Nothing worked Until i watched this. Thanks

[@unsharpen]

Glad it helped!

[@KaniTurk]

Sir, I've a problem with my rOtring tikky 1.0, and the problem is I can't unscrew the nib, it's stuck there.

[@KaniTurk]

I solved the problem guys, just hold your pencil nib onto hot water's steam, and after 3-4 min, try unscrew the nib "it'd be better with an cloth to unscrew"

[@kathleendostal2119]

Thank you! Fixed it. Sure it's a million years old...like me...but I still like it! Clogged clutch!

[@michaelb2910]

Thanks for the tip! It worked. Although only I needed about 30 seconds of the video to do it. Not sure why it needs to be 10 mins long.

[@unsharpen]

Thanks for the feedback. I’ll make a short perhaps

[@fish66637]

Probably because he showed different ways to do it which is why it took longer than you expected.

[@Autoxeiria]

Thank you wo much. I just had to clean the clutch. I was close to cutting my guitar strings to use as a cleaning rod.

[@晏寜]

TYSM I HAVE THE SAME PENCIL AND IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE I WAS GONNA CRY

[@MikeParsonsOutdoorGearCoach]

After following your excellent instructions on 3 mech pencils for an hour. I had no success. It was in all 3 cases the nozzle that was blocked but no amount of attempts to unblock with the device provided in one of them. As these have been in my pencil tray unused and unusable for years they are now in the trash.

[@krispdelta]

never realized you could unscrew the whole front bit on the graph gear 500. thx :)

[@twilightsparkle4838]

Thank you, you saved my sanity!

[@Gnome-kc7pr]

Pentel p207 using .7 HB #2 BIC lead. 1cm long piece of led was wedged a bit diagonally at the top of the clutch. I straightened out a paper clip to be as even as I could get it, removed the tip and held the button down, stuffed the straightened paper clip down the clutch and the lead came out. Not sure about every pencil but that worked for mine

[@amrojas99]

Thank you so much!!!!!! you saved my mechanical pencil

[@ChocolateApricots]

I’m not sure yet what my mech pen’s issue is, but this was great info. Thank you for posting. 🌹 EDITED: Now it’s 2 years later- Nov 2024. I don’t think I followed through, or I didn’t understand, but I found this youtube again, and tonight I got out all the mechanical pencils I purchased and took them apart. I now have 7 new working inexpensive mechanical pencils! I see I have a bunch of Pentax Super HI Polymer “LEAD” 30 pieces. Since everything is graphite now, is it safe to use these? (I see no date, just - Made in Japan and Assembled in Mexico. Thanks again for this youtube video! 🌹

[@saila_shama]

omg i dont often comment but i cant help it this works! i use the rod in my pencil and clean the top lead and it is fixed!

[@aimsanimations2905]

Can you help. I have one of them and my led whenever I put some in, It breaks the led and I can’t use it

[@waynegreen7634]

The new Parker jotter xl monochrome black looks bad ass

[@DawnBreaker-d9n]

Hello, I’m planing to get a .3 needle for graphicGear 500. I would like to know what brand did you get for removing jam lead for mechanical pencil “GraphicGear 500”

[@albertkoscielniak7075]

Me : okay I'm absolutley sure that my pencil is jamed. Also me : checks one last time if the pencil is broken while watching this tutorial. OMG IT SOMEHOW WORKS

[@lifechez2253]

You saved me money. I almost threw my mechanical pencil out and buy another one. It turns out my clutch was jammed with small pieces of lead. I took a pin and poked it through the clutch. It spat out little pieces of lead. You got me out of a jam! (Pun intended. LoL!)

[@virginiasenophdrn5921]

Thanks! So frustrating...you helped, solved the problem.

[@lilychen2590]

Found this video after the ONE mechanical pencil I use (Zebra Airfit) got jammed. Thanks a lot!