My 5 Favorite Over-Engineered Mechanical Pencils

In this video I take a look at my 5 favorite over-engineered mechanical pencils:
Uni Kuru Toga - favorite 0.7
Zebra Delguard - favorite 0.5
Pentel Orenz Nero - favorite 0.3
TWSBI Precision Pencil - favorite eraser
Pentel Sharp Kerry - favorite pocket pencil
Bonus Rotring 800 - just plain cool!
Created by InShot:inshotapp.page...

[@thenarrowpathoftruth9443]

Great voice. I love the technical jargon: "rubber grippy thing."

[@gadgetstop321]

I like to be precise. 😂

[@starr-starr]

I have been addicted to mechanical pencils since my college days. I still have a teal colored Twist Erase that got me through undergrad and PhD. This thing must be (counts on fingers) 35 years old. I can’t believe the plastic hasn’t completely broken down. I have a ton of Pentel Graph Gear 1000’s, because…colors. And the clip click retraction is so satisfying. I too love the Kuru-toga- I use the Advance model because it has to retract completely to go in my sketching kits or my pocket. I have the Orenz in the 0.5, and like it too. Now that I’ve seen the eraser on the TWSBI, Im jealous. And that Rotring is really nice, hmmmm. Although I prefer a click mechanism to retract rather than a twist. Thanks for sharing your favorites.

[@gadgetstop321]

You're welcome, Star! The mechanical pencils that my daughter buys in bulk are made out of a plastic that's not very resilient, but I've found that most name brand pencils (Pentel, Zebra, Uni...) are pretty durable. It's strange, when I was younger I never felt the compulsion to collect different colors or models of pencils, but I do now. I think once I bought a second pencil, then I had a collection and now anytime I see an interesting pencil I think, "That would be nice to have in my collection!"

[@THEEnfantTerrible]

I happened upon this video bc I’ve been traveling more and as such I’ve been writing and journaling about what I experienced more. I quickly realized some of my pens and pencils were a hassle to use or fatiguing. I bought 4 of the pencils you mentioned here in .5 and .7 to experiment with. Excellent video, great narration, helpful information. Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@gadgetstop321]

You're welcome! I'm glad you found this helpful. Happy travels! 😀

[@jimmysonglaugh8110]

I think you'd like the eraser design for the uni kuru toga roulette. When it's worn down, you just pull out the metal casing which has a slit on either side so you can pluck the eraser out.

[@SigogglinJack]

I have a Kerry and really enjoy it. The rotating lead holders are fascinating. I’ll definitely pick one up. Great video.

[@gadgetstop321]

I subconsciously rotate the pencil in my hand when writing, so when I use a Kuru Toga I have to remind myself not to do that. 😂

[@holeesheet8582]

This is the best review of mechanical pencils I have come so far...... You've got a new subscriber from India. I am a professor of physics and often have to read students' papers, read some journals, and use pencils for that. I recently discovered the realm of over-engineered mechanical pencils and have become a collector of them since then.

[@gadgetstop321]

Thank you! Mechanical Pencils are fun to collect. They're not as expensive as fountain pens (usually) and there's a surprising amount of variety with regard to the designs. By the way, nice username. 😂

[@cb7560]

Very comprehensive video. Thank you.

[@gadgetstop321]

@@cb7560 You're welcome! 😀

[@Calcprof]

The Kerry s also a favorite of mine. Also the Pentel Otenz Nero (in various lead sizes)

[@gadgetstop321]

The Sharp Kerry and Orenz Nero are tied for "favorite pencil" in my collection at the moment. 😀

[@MartinBeerbom]

I do math tutoring, and for writing math I've come to prefer using the Kuru Toga in 0.3 mm, too. I just like the sharper line, and the Kuru Toga just makes it look better.

[@gadgetstop321]

I wish I would have had one of those when I was a student. 😀

[@24karatkiki]

Thank you for your videos! They’re very informative and I always enjoy watching 😊

[@gadgetstop321]

Thanks, Kristina! I enjoy interacting with fellow pen and pencil people. 😀

[@ADE1000SON]

Yes, ma'am, you just got one more subscriber. Greetings from Brazil!!

[@gadgetstop321]

That's great, thank you! 😀

[@mellow-jello]

Thanks, Cathy, for the insight on pencil hand rotations. Since I preferred using pencils as K-13 student, it must have made me habitually rotating my writing instruments, which has now translated to my hand rotations with my fountain pen writing. Hope using my Kuru Toga, and fountain pens will end my hand rotations when writing once and for all.

[@gadgetstop321]

That's interesting! I don't rotate my fountain pens but when I first started using my kurutoga I had to fight the urge to rotate it. 😀

[@incognitoedc]

Great video! I'm a mechanical pencil snob. Started 40 years ago when I did technical drawings before the days of CAD. In those days I always used the Panel brand. Fast forward to now. After being disappointed with the Panel Graph gear premium, went with Rotoring 600. I loved the weight and didn't have funds for 800. I agree the knurling is great, but skin from fingers builds up after several years and I had to clean mine...I initially thought the color was wearing off. Then I discovered the KuruToga. Wow!!! I have teeny writing and the mechanics mean I don't have to constantly rotate the pencil in my hand, which I do unconsciously. I use a .5 exclusively and found the model with the metal knurled grip the best. The engine mechanism shows more clearly as well. Its much better than the plastic model, but still lightweight and surprisingly has surpassed the Retiring as my most used. I rarely write with mine, but use it more for art work, sketching, and marking music. Try the model with the metal knurled grip! I think you'll like it. Thanks for introducing me to several new brands which I may try in the future!

[@gadgetstop321]

You're welcome! If I had to pick between the Rotring 600 and 800, I would probably go with the 600 because I usually prefer a fixed sleeve. It's just that the mechanism on the 800 is so satisfying. And I know what you mean about the knurling on black pencils getting gross. It makes it tempting to go for the silver models, but the black models are so nice looking. 😀

[@Jwace15]

I personally prefer the standard kuru toga. I use a 0.3 kuru toga for writing, and I can tell that the lead is being chiseled down when using a non self sharpening mechanical pencil. Perhaps I'm just being picky since I'm an education major and I constantly need to take notes, but I still have other mechanical pencils ready if ever I need a different one. You have a good line-up of mechanical pencils btw.

[@latmask00]

While not over engineered I love my Graphgear 1000. Second is probably the Orenz Nero, and after that any of the Uni Kuru Togas.

[@martinstewart4290]

O dear, nowI have to look at Rotring 800!

[@gadgetstop321]

Sorry, Martin! 😂 The 800 is a nice pencil, though.

[@user-gl5ld9vm7i]

Hi Cathy. Thank you for the mechanical pencil reviews. I haven't used a mechanical pencil since grade school and junior high. I remember using Pentel brands. Recently, I had picked up a Lamy 2000 ballpoint, rollerball, and pencil set on ebay. The mechanical pencil is particularly nice!

[@gadgetstop321]

You're welcome, R! I don't use mechanical pencils as much since I started using fountain pens. Wow, a whole set of Lamy 2000s, that sounds classy! 😀

[@russelljohnjavier]

great detailed review

[@gadgetstop321]

Thanks, Russell! I love mechanical pencils, so this was a fun video to make. 😀

[@TheresaRobertsonLROL]

I don't like silver or chrome nose cones either. And, I too made an exception for the Pentel Sharp Kerry. It's one of my favorite pencils. And the other you pencils you reviewed--all my favorites too.

[@gadgetstop321]

Hi, Theresa! I always thought the Sharp Kerry was an interesting pencil, but it wasn't until I got it in my hand that I understood the hype. The Sharp Kerry and Orenz Nero for "favorite pencil" at the moment.

[@TheresaRobertsonLROL]

@@gadgetstop321 I love the Orenz. I use the .3 for bookkeeping. Works great. I too had reservations about the Sharp Kerry until I tried it.

[@anguswhite8233]

so glad you like the same pencils I do!:); my current favourite is my Pentel p203: it doesn’t have the kuru-toga mechanism but because the lead size is o.3mm, you don’t notice when it chisels!:)

[@gadgetstop321]

I agree, Angus! The Pentel p203 is a nice looking pencil. Isn't that the model that comes in a ton of different colors and materials?

[@anguswhite8233]

@@gadgetstop321 it may well, unfortunately mine came in brown which is not the most aesthetically pleasing colour on earth but when it writes this well I’m not bothered!:)

[@gentlerain3245]

Whats been your favorite pencil with Twist-up eraser if you've tried any? So far, loving the TUL MP 0.7mm

[@joãoAlberto-k9x]

Thank you very much. 🎉.

[@gadgetstop321]

You're welcome! 😀

[@essaalansari9508]

Hi, I came across your channel by chance and it's lovely how you put so much attention to details, my wife loves to write and scruple all the time, so I decided to buy her a very premium mechanical pencil with all the functions, possible like a retractable mechanism and replaceable eraser, any recommendations? Thanks again

[@gadgetstop321]

@@essaalansari9508 Thank you! All of the pencils featured in this video have interesting features, but I really like the Pentel Sharp Kerry. It feels well made, it has a snap cap to protect the tip and it comes in lots of colors. 😀

[@Rnder72]

Nice reviews Kathy, I have the same thoughts on the DelGuard 0.5I agree, the accuracy is there but it has a nice soft feel without any flex or sponginess. It is a nice counter to to fixed sleeve drafting pencils.

[@gadgetstop321]

Thank you! I wish I could have had a Delguard when I was a student. 😀

[@clarenxie5235]

Thanks for a good review. Also because you like a big eraser on mechanical pencil, I think you should have Tombow Mono Graph, it's a shaker mechanical pencil and has a big eraser, also you can buy the eraser refill.

[@gadgetstop321]

I think I've used one of those before. Back when I was still a teacher a student left a blue/white/black striped pencil in class so I used it until he came back the next day. It was the first time I'd ever used a shaker pencil. That was probably 6 years ago and I still remember it. It was a nice pencil. 😀

[@blame7121]

I really wanna get an orenz nero. I wsnt to try it out, though, because some people praise it, while others heavily criticize it. And it is very valid criticism, but I doesn't seem to aoply to everyone? It would be alright if it were cheap to get and try out, but it's not. For me it costs around €30 + shipping to get one, so it makes me pretty hesitant to get one and face the things that people have had complaints about.

[@davidmantooth1285]

I like to use the chose long effect to my advantage because I can use the flat edge for the horizontals and turn the pencil using the pointed part and straight edge for the verticals. This gives the writing character. Also I prefer to draw a line through mistakes rather than use th eraser. Sometimes an eraser just makes more of a mess.

[@gadgetstop321]

That's a good idea! I've gotten more comfortable drawing a line through mistakes since I started using fountain pens. I do the same with pencils if I don't have access to a good eraser. 😀

[@gravities]

because of you i started looking into pentel orenz in 0.2 mm just so i can have a collection of extra fine over-engineered mechanical pencils i only use 0.5mm (I have a kuru toga, tombow, delguard) but i found a 0.3 kuru toga in a rilakkuma design and its being shipped right now (bought it purely bc of how cute it was lol), i got curious about how the extra-fine lead is like which led me to this video just like you im drawn to the limited edition styles of stationery! I love it when my stuff is cute to look at and makes me enjoy using them more

[@gadgetstop321]

I agree, the Delguard and Kuru Toga limited editions are so cute and they both feel so nice to write with. I could have made an entire hobby out of collecting just them. 😄

[@anferFFmax]

My favorite over-engineered mech pencil is the Kuru Toga Roulette. It's super cool to use. I also have an Ohto Promecha, which is ridiculously over-engineered, but I don't like that one too much.

[@gadgetstop321]

When I'm using a Kuru Toga it's my favorite pencil. I had never heard of the Promecha so I looked it up. I prefer pencils and pens that are evenly balanced but the Promecha looks like it would be weighed more toward the front. I know some people prefer that, but I don't think I would like it either.

[@anferFFmax]

@@gadgetstop321 You completely right. The Promecha is very front-heavy, so you wouldn't like it given your preferences. I have used front-heavy pencils all my life so I don't really have any issues with that. However, the overall feel of the pencil is not on par with the Roulette. The pencil that's competing toe with toe with the Promecha is not the Kuru Toga tough. It's the Pentel Graphgear 1000. I think the Pentel is way better. This of course is just my opinion.

[@gcvrsa]

That Retro 51 looks to be a close copy of the original Koh-I-Noor Rapid-O-Matic drafting pencils from the 1990s (which was also the basis for the Rotring 600 series). I theoretically have a complete set of 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, and 0.9 mm, but right now, I actually only know where the 0.7 mm (in the pen cup at my office across town) and 0.9 mm (in my travel sketching kit) versions are. The 0.3 mm might actually be lost. There was also a matching Select-O-Matic 2 mm drafting lead holder, and I used to have two of them, but I can't find them, anywhere.

[@gadgetstop321]

I'm not familiar with Koh-I-Nor. I'll have to investigate that brand. Other than having to rotate the Hex-o-matic in my hand, it's a nice pencil. I like the look and feel of it in my hand. 😀

[@anguswhite8233]

also love my Pentel Kerry: mine’s blue - the only pencil that feels better in my hand is my lovely Rotring 600 0.5mm in black - this is mp perfection imho!:)

[@gadgetstop321]

The Rotring 600 was my second premium mechanical pencil - I have the same model as you - and it's a fantastic pencil. 😀

[@dermond]

I just ordered the Kuru Toga, I'm so excited! Next stop could be Tombow Mono graph Shaker. Have you used it?

[@gadgetstop321]

I used a Monograph Shaker many years ago when a student left one in my classroom but I had to give it back to him the next day. It was a nice pencil and another KZbinr recently told me I need to get one for myself.

[@KcSwinson]

Hey weird question you wouldn’t of happened to work for Forest Hill lanes Elementary school? Or Aberdeen middle school around the early 2000.

[@KcSwinson]

In New Jersey

[@michaelbaker5070]

Pilot S20 and S30 are very nice too little expensive but they are great.

[@gadgetstop321]

I agree. 😀

[@gregs.2679]

Hi, Cathy. As I've written mainly with fountain pens starting in the sixth grade or so, I don't bear down as much as people who are used to ballpoints, and much like yourself, I don't have a whole lot of trouble with lead breakage. Bizarrely enough, though, the ones that I can use for hours without a single broken lead are my Kerry pencils in both 0.5 and 0.7 mm. I have at times wondered if it has something to do with the build quality. I paid $11 for both of mine but find that they offer the solidity of $100+ engineering pencils, holding the lead as firmly and motionless as anything else out there. Although it hasn't happened enough to be a nuisance, I have had some lead breakage with my 0.5 Kura Toga, which was unexpected considering that the sliding tube mechanism was engineered specifically to prevent that. It is a moving part, however, as is the rotating mechanism inside, so maybe it can't do as good a job as the Kerry of preventing microscopic lateral motions either. Anyway, I have the Advance model that rotates the lead twice as fast as the regular Kuru Toga, which perhaps makes it less stable? I've not tried a Del Guard yet and am curious how that will perform for me with 0.3 mm leads. If you like the long erasers in the TWSBI pencils, you should check out some pencils with so-called "dial up" erasers such as the Staedtler Remedy, the Pentel Twist Erase, or the Zebra Z-Grip Plus. Even Parker made one that was among the last models produced in their now closed factory in England and that was a lot more substantial to hold onto than the skinny Jotters, but I can't remember what it was called. The concept of using some sort of mechanical contraption to advance lead bit by bit as needed has been around since Sampson Mordan invented the first true mechanical pencil in 1823. It's amazing that no one thought of incorporating a device that advances the eraser in the same way until the 1990s.

[@gadgetstop321]

Happy Holidays, Greg. On Doug Rathbun's channel, he describes how he used a single Pentel Sharp Kerry throughout his career as a set designer, so I knew it was a resilient little pencil. However, when I finally got one in my own hands I was still blown away by the build quality, especially, like you mentioned, considering the price. My Kuru Togas have quite a bit of play in the tip. I don't think that design is intended to minimize breakage but it does decrease the need to manually rotate your pencil to keep a sharp edge. The mechanism in the Zebra Delguard does do a great job of reducing tip breakage and I love the way it feels on paper. I'll have to check out the pencils you've mentioned.

[@gregs.2679]

Haha, funny that you mention Mr. Rathbun’s video, as my current obsession with Kerry pencils is all Doug’s fault! Just kidding, I only have three of them, one current production model in black in 0.5, a navy blue one in 0.7, and a historical model with the “5” logo on the cap instead of the “KERRY” imprint. But when these came out when I was in grade school and I would see them on hang cards on my way to the Parker ballpoint cartridges and Sheaffer fountain pen cartridges, I thought the Kerry pencils were pretty ugly. I had no idea they had caps or lead support tubes that were far more stable than the ones that retract into the pen in some capless designs. Doug opened my mind enough to give them a second look literally half a century later. :-)

[@rahulshah1408]

Greetings from Texas.

[@gadgetstop321]

Thanks for watching! 😀

[@meepcheep314]

I don't recommend the rotring 800 and I own one. There is a considerable amount of noise from the shaft play when writing on one side. the lead advancement is vague and isn't clicky + in my opinion too much lead advances after one depress. the shaft advancement's smoothness varies on different models. Mine isn't that smooth, but on my brother's, it's smoother. The knurling becomes extremely discolored and gunky for me much quicker than my old graphgear 1000's knurling, but the knurling is very grippy. Don't drop it; even from desk height onto tile, the tip will bend and forever be weaker than it used to be. The build quality is absolutely incredible, and the metal is the best in its class. The brass accents look very nice, and the weight balance is incredible as well. I think that the rotring 600 is the better pencil because of the tip stiffness, but I'm using a kuru toga advance right now and I like it. I wish I could get rotring to add some thin damping foam between the shaft and the inside of the grip because metal hitting metal sounds horrible every time you press down on the paper

[@gadgetstop321]

Did the metal hitting metal sound when you write get worse over time or was it bad from the beginning?

[@Feynman.R]

Idk, but I hate using Kuru toga, this rotating mechanism... I feel like I'm writing not on paper, but on something soft. I don't like it.

[@jarltheawesome2959]

The mushiness has been the greatest criticism of the kuru toga, try the KS model, it has been updated so that its more stable and less mushy

[@mixeddrinks8100]

Am I the only one who misses those side click mechanical pencils?

[@gadgetstop321]

Those were a game changer back in the day. 🤯

[@Shanghai_Knife_Dude]

Try Tombow Monograph, best eraser in current market.

[@gadgetstop321]

You're right, it's been a long time since I've used a Tombow Monograph. I've never owned one, but a kid left one in my classroom one time and I used it until he came back and got it. By the way, I'm enjoying your channel. I especially liked the scooter video. 😀

[@Shanghai_Knife_Dude]

@@gadgetstop321 LOL, the china e-scooter is another hidden gem, until an imposed import tax of 200% was now in US market. Try Tombow Monograph Fine and Zebra Delguard RX, both feature "gravity eraser".

[@sameeralazawee7524]

Thank you

[@gadgetstop321]

You're welcome! 😀

[@gcvrsa]

The Pentel Sharp Kerry is so wonderful. Somehow, I lost my 0.7 mm model, but I still have a 0.5 mm. But other than the Kerry, my other favorite over-engineered mechanical pencil is definitely my vintage Pilot H1005 Vanishing Point. Mine is from the 1990s, and they were discontinued a long time ago, but they are amazing pencils.

[@gadgetstop321]

I've heard people talking about the H1005, but I've never seen one. I'm a fan of Pilot stuff, so I'll have to look it up and see what they look like. 😀

[@chayanchaurasia6875]

kuru toga advance has faster rotating

[@gadgetstop321]

That's good to know. Thanks for the info. 😀

[@ichirofakename]

I broke my lead a lot till I upgraded to a 9mm.

[@gadgetstop321]

My daughter doesn't use a pencil much anymore, but when she does she uses a 0.9. My husband got me a 0.9 mechanical pencil as a gift many years ago but the lead rattled around in the tip terribly, so I never really used it. Do you rotate your pencil as you write?

[@ichirofakename]

@@gadgetstop321 I only use it for drawing, but, thanks to my highschool drafting teacher, I automatically rotate it constantly. 9mm lead comes in softer grades, which I prefer for their erasability.

[@Crazytesseract]

Nice collection, but... the Rotring 800 is a waste of money. Sorry for being so direct, but that's just my opinion.

[@gadgetstop321]

That's a fair opinion. I don't use the 800 as much since I got a Pentel Sharp Kerry. When I got the 800 I planned on carrying it in my pocket, but the Sharp Kerry works much better for me in that situation. 😀

[@Crazytesseract]

@@gadgetstop321 I find that I use the Faber Castell TK-fine 9717 more than others, as it has a retractable sleeve. The Pentel P205 comes next. And the other 6 don't get any usage time. I have only 8 of them.

[@DonnyKanone]

Sorry for being direct too, but your comment is not an opinion, its a statement. Now, when you apologise for writing something, dont write it until you find a way to write where you dont feel the need to apologize. Thst requires effort though, and wanting to say something and not just trying to fuel ones unwarranted need for attention. That wasnt an opinion either. What a small and sad thing to do what you did.

[@GeneAuyeung]

What's wrong with the 800? Are you referring to the tip wiggle? That could be fixed with some scotch tape I heard

[@bigpoop3073]

@@GeneAuyeungI have a couple of 800s and honestly I don’t feel any wiggle while writing