The Very Best Clutch Pencils

[@deborahpurgavie8910]

Dear Michael, I very much enjoy your videos. Koch I Noor are Czech. They have been around since 1748 I believe. I have a few of their ordinary pencils which are excellent and their fat metal clutches, my favourite being the Magic versatil. I haven’t bought a disposable pen or pencil for about 12 years now which is no hardship for me as I much prefer fountain pens having grown up with them. I used to love my Osmiroid 75 piston fillers I had at school, another British company that is no more. I digress. The chunky Versatil leadholders are great for Kaweco’s highlighter chunky leads, but Koh I Noor also make all sorts of leads, chalks and crayons that fit their leadholders. Their 2mm leads are good. I use 4B and 6B. Get yourself a KUM lead sharpener from Cult. It contains the dust until you find a bin and sharpens beautifully, or the long point sharpener(also excellent) also has lead sharpeners. Have a good weekend. The sun is shining in Hove. Best wishes Deborah

[@writerlywitterings]

Hallo, Hove! Thanks for that, Deborah, and you are, of course, quite right. I can only imagine that I was so convinced that the company was Indian was because of the name. However, I really should have checked (I would usually, but I was absolutely convinced!). I haven't tried a Magic Versatil. I will have to look them up. On Osmiroid, I used to have them too! A real shame that they aren't still in business. I have a Kum like you - I love the serious long point sharpening, even if it is a two-stage process! - and the 2mm sharpener is great. I need to have a video on sharpeners before long, I think!

[@joãoAlberto-k9x]

Hello or Hallo?

[@kevinshepherd01]

I like your humour . I too have a rotring 300 and enjoy sketching with it. ✏

[@writerlywitterings]

They are great pencils! Thanks for the comment, Kevin!

[@delta85us2000]

Ha! I did hear the dog at the end. But only when things went quiet and you asked for us to listen for it! Another excellent video.

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@joãoAlberto-k9x]

All the industries that make pencils have interesting names.

[@writerlywitterings]

That is very true!

[@joãoAlberto-k9x]

Where i live now (Brazil) clutch pencil and mechanical pencil has the same name (lapiseira).

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes, it does make it a little easier to differentiate, I think.

[@joãoAlberto-k9x]

Great video! Thank you. 🎉.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thank you, João! Glad you liked it!

[@JBFire97]

I have not seen the E+M before, looks excellent! Lovely to see you had kept the remnants of your daughters watch. Thank you as always.!

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad you enjoyed it! My (not now so) little daughter's watch will be a prized heirloom!

[@0xss]

My favourites: Faber Castell TK 9400 2mm, 3.15mm- which is physically larger than the 2mm version Cretacolor ecologic 5.6mm Kohinoor 5347 and 5340 The 5340 and tk 9400 have an excellent balance and are quite comfortable to hold due to the faceted barrel. Ecologic and 5347 have a non standard grip area but are quite comfortable too!

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Sourabh - I think I used to have Faber Castell version of lead holder when I was at school - they make very good tools. I do find that the Rotring feels better in my hand - although I couldn't say why. It just feels better for no obvious reason! The Koh i noor is a brilliant pencil too. I've never had a problem with it. Thanks for your comments - now I have to look up the Cretacolor!

[@greekveteran2715]

I can't find a 2mm TK 9400, they all are 3.15. Is there any other place than e-baym who sell the 2mm version? Thanks

[@vonkarbel]

@@greekveteran2715 TK9400 upto 3B printed grades use 2mm lead and those with printed grades 4B to 6B use 3.15mm leads.

[@suzieberinger3295]

I am an avid user of clutch holders and own a Rotrig 300 clutch. It works seamlessly and drops my 2mm leads easily. I think your Rotrig is possibly faulty if it is sticking....mine is wonderful! Hope this helps :)

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for that - I think the Rotring isn't a problem because of sticking so much - it's more that when I've taken it out and tried to use it, the blasted thing is so efficient that I keep shooting the entire lead out in one go! I have to relearn using clutch pencils, i think!

[@76veb]

I love my E+M, got it in the summer at Write Here in Shrewsbury. For general writing my absolute favourite pencil is a mechanical pencil- Kuru Toga. It rotates as you write which keeps the lead sharp and negates the need to sharpen.

[@writerlywitterings]

I used to have a Kuru Toga - great pencils, and I used to like watching the nib rotate as I pressed the top ... it was so nice, my daughter pinched it!

[@sadmanislam5111]

Great review. I believe the Kohi Noor also has a pointer you have to unscrew the clicker to reveal it. Clutch pencils are great I use a Rotring mostly and love the sharpener. I use the Kum long point sharpener with a 2mm sharpener to sharpen the graphite mostly.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks, Sadman. I use the same long point sharpener with 2mm pointer. They are very handy devices, aren't they?

[@lukeshepherd9529]

Can't get over how crispy this video is at the start! DAMN!

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad you liked it!

[@EastLancashireJohn]

I'm no expert, but I think that watch is beyond repair. Great video Michael, as always. The pencil I use everyday is the Lamy 2000 pencil I keep with the matching fountain pen.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for sharing! Ah, you're the second Lamy 2000 user on this video. I'll have to have a look. Are you sure about the watch? I don't want to set my little girl's bottom lip wobbling again ...

[@jehovahuponyou]

THE CLUTCH WENT OUT IN MY 1967 VW BUS - THIS VIDEO DID NOT HELP A BIT - HOWEVER MY DEAR FRIEND JERRIBALD IS A WATCH-REPAIR-PERSON, THIS VIDEO WAS VERY HELPFUL TO HIM - LMAO!!! BTW, IT WAS A GRAND VIDEO ABOUT PENCILS - THANK!!!!!!!

[@writerlywitterings]

Sorry it was no good for the VW - it would have been perfect for a 1970 bus! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jehovahuponyou]

@@writerlywitterings LOL!!! YOU HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR - BRAVO!!! WE ENJOYED YOUR VIDEO, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK - LORD BLESS!!!!!!!

[@jehovahuponyou]

:^)

[@csikomas8910]

Hello! Until this moment, I did not realize my Kaweco Sketchup 5.6 Steel Clutch pencil had a pencil sharpener! Now that adds value. It's been languishing among other items I don't use too much, now I can actually bring it to the forefront and sketch with it. LOL and thanks. BTW my favourite pencil has to be the Pentel GraphGear 1000. I just love it. I haven't sketched with it but I sure do a lot of journal entries with it. It has the, to me, perfect weight and balance that I most enjoy. I do have a collection of the Black Wings but I never seem to actually use them. What kind of on the go sketch book do you use? You don't seem like a man-purse kind of fellow, but how do you carry your stuff around? I am always intrigued by how folks have their EDCs set up, what they carry and what they actually achieve by bringing all their favourites with them. Thanks for the fun vid. I have to look into that pencil extender. :)

[@writerlywitterings]

Many thanks for that. My usual sketchbooks tend to be the Seawhite A5 and A6 travellers types. Very good paper, ideal for sketching with pencil or watercolour, and they do handy A4 ring-bound pads too. However, if you look at my current video, which went out Thursday 27th (yesterday) and is headed Coppertist Bookmark and Cult Pens Cahier, you'll see that I'm currently using the Cult Pens notebook for sketching too. Only 40 pages, but ideal for lightweight work when out walking. Hope that's interesting!

[@dutch_blades]

I was expecting you to own a Kaweco one, but that Rotring is a nice alternative! The only Rotring product I've ever owned was a red Rotring Esprit Mini (which got stolen at school years ago), but I might have to take a look at their pencils :) Currently using a Montblanc Noblesse and a Lamy Logo (neither of which are clutch pencils).

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for the info! The other clutch pencil I didn't mention, but which I also use a lot, is the Worther. They are lovely little pencils!

[@dutch_blades]

@@writerlywitterings Just checked them out and I have to say their hexagonal model in plum wood looks lovely!

[@joãoAlberto-k9x]

Yes.

[@danielowens2601]

I just bought (after much research) a staedtler 900 25 Pencil Holder from Cult Pens. As a fountain pen lover, I wanted something nice to use as a pencil (I find i'm less likely to misplace a nicer pencil!). I also liked how it thickened the pencil slightly, as I find it hard to grip thin/small pencils hence why I didn't go with the perfect pencil. Would highly recommend it, worth taking a look! Thanks for the video!

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks, Daniel. I know Staedtler are a great company, and they produce really good quality, reliable pens and pencils. I'll probably have to have a look at them too!

[@leothefirst]

My favorite clutch pencil is the humble Uni MH-500. I've used other and still like this one better.

[@writerlywitterings]

I have to admit I still prefer the Rotring, but it does have one MASSIVE irritation, which is the clutch is so effective, that three times now I have gone to use it, only to discover that there's no lead in it. I can only assume that while pressing the button to allow the lead to slip back inside, I have accidentally kept the button pressed and lost the entire lead!

[@williamcrane1]

Interesting inasmuch as I used to call them lead holders. However, my latest read - A Moorland Hanging - holds my attention to a higher degree.

[@writerlywitterings]

Very glad to hear it, William! A book from my far distant past!

[@Yesica1993]

I have never heard of either those pencil holders (wish I had them growing up) or clutch pencils. What I really would love to find is a mechanical pencil with (fine point) lead that doesn't break after a few words. I don't think I write THAT hard.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hmm. It's not easy, but if you use a softer lead (B, 2B etc) in something like an OHTO Promecha, I think the lead bends a little more, whereas the harder leads (H, 2H) will snap because they're more brittle. But that's a bit of a guess. I tend to use softer leads and never have a problem, but when I tried coloured leads (red, mostly), I found they snapped off every couple of words.

[@retardno002]

Try the Faber Castell TK Fine Vario L, the grip section can be turned which makes the pin holding the lead either rigid (for drawing) or cushioned (for writing).

[@mishaerementchouk]

If you are constantly breaking the lead, you are pressing too hard or you have a faulty batch of leads. You may want to check out Zebra DelGuard pencils that have these safety features to prevent lead snapping.

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

Ha the Parker stainless steel vector propelling pencil, had mine for years

[@writerlywitterings]

They are great pencils. I always loved silver propelling pencils, the 1920s styles were gorgeous.

[@weemaggiejiggs8832]

What was the make of sharpener you used for the 5.6 lead...? Thank you in advance xx

[@writerlywitterings]

The ones I tend to use are the Dux www.cultpens.com/i/q/DX42796/dux-56mm-lead-pointer-tub and an e&m (which I can't find now). For general use, I love the Kum range especially www.cultpens.com/i/q/KM08490/kum-automatic-long-point-sharpener-with-lead-pointer-as2m because it has two pointers as well as a long-point sharpener (but doesn't go up to 5.5mm, sadly). Hope that helps.

[@sishomot2548]

The Koo-i-noor has a sharpner too. Its cap unskrews

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks, yes, of course. I think I ought to do an update on this video!

[@adamburges4807]

What did you mean by finding the parallel sided E+M pencil feeling better? They both look round barrelled compared to a flat sided version they also do...was slightly confused. I presume by the timing on the video what the lighter wood version is the one you prefer. Thanks for any input, just trying to figure out which 5.6mm clutch is best for my pencil case!

[@writerlywitterings]

The straight-sided E+M feels better to me than the other one. The Zebrano model swells in the middle and tapers at top and bottom. I loved the look of it, and invested in it feeling certain I'd prefer it - and actually I've hardly ever used it. I much prefer my older one! Strange how looks can sometimes be deceptive!

[@adamburges4807]

Ahh I see what you're saying now, it's still cylindrical and I thought you were referencing a version they do with actual straight cut outs they do. You prefer your version that doesn't bulge as much. Thanks

[@pigsydney]

The E an M pencils are very nice,my favorite mechanical pencil is the Lamy 2000 pencil.It feels quite nice in ones hand.

[@kookatsoonjan]

yep...Koh-i-noor...definitely made in the Czech republic...awe-some brand!

[@writerlywitterings]

I do love the "Workman" e+m, which just feels perfect in my hand. I haven't tried the Lamy 2000, so that's another one to test! Thanks for the comment!

[@writerlywitterings]

Kookatsoonjan - Eek - you are absolutely right, and they are a Czech company! For some reason, probably because of the diamond, I was convinced that the company was Indian. How embarrassing! I'll have to confess to that in the next video! Thanks for letting me know!

[@stevenvarner9806]

Koh-i-noor has branches in several countries, and the 2 mm clutch pencils made in Italy seem superior to the Czech models, which can tend to let the graphite slip. Alvin seems to have a similar situation. The excellent metal Alvin Pro-matic MC5 holder is made in Italy, whereas other models come from China.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for the info!

[@pavelperina7629]

Hard to say. I bought a few from nostalgia. 5900 is fine, except clip is too low, but they are sold clipless as well. And clip is attached very tight and maybe even pressed into a paint a bit. Maybe it's a problem when tip is forced to rotate inside sharpener. I think that graphite slip is not a problem, I may apply maybe quite a lot of pressure and it won't move. Well, minor issue is that when you screw some part, other part may start unscrewing - threads are too lose or something. Then there's a nice little 5608 which is awesome as long as you dont try sharpening it. You basically need to disassemble it, because inner part spins inside outer part and when you unscrew the button, only inner part that sticks out is a lead. Then I didn't like plastic models from 80s that I used at school, plastics was either brittle or became brittle over the time. But I don't think they were meant to have high quality, rather being affordable and good enough.

[@sharon888b]

What grade is the Tombow 100 you use in your Perfect Pencil?

[@writerlywitterings]

I tend to go for the B usually. Very dark colour, and wonderful to use for sketching or writing.

[@joshuaroberts4501]

Great video! Thank you

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad you liked it!

[@KGatLC]

The rOtring 300 is made in Japan.

[@writerlywitterings]

I've asked Rotring whether that is correct, but they haven't got back to me. As far as I'm aware, they make their products still mostly in Germany, although they have a manufacturing plant, I believe in the US - but I'm not aware of a Japanese plant?

[@joãoAlberto-k9x]

It is very "hot".

[@archivist17]

My favourite pencils are my Kaweco Special S 2.0 (though I wish it had an eraser), and my Kaweco Ice Sport 3.2mm. I also have a Faber-Castell, which is reliable but uninspiring.

[@writerlywitterings]

Ah, but it's like my car - I was reliable over uninspiring! Knowing it'll start in the morning is a big plus for me!

[@greekveteran2715]

Have you tried the Faber Castell TK 9400 or 4600 ??

[@ybach64]

The KOH-I-NOOR does have a sharpener as you say but I agree the Rotring is better, but I also love the Rotring 600 mechanical pencils in 0.5 and 0.7. As a type and graphic designer they're great. Not so good for sketching.

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes, I have 0.5 and 0.7 pencils, which are great, but not as good for sketching. All these things have their place, don't they!

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

I have a Rotring 600 and a 500 in 0.3 and 0.5 and I think they're great for drawing, I love this pencil shape iconic design

[@davidmathews2124]

The thing about the watch. Nope. Not interesting. Was most interested in the pencil you were holding up in your title photo. Then it wasn’t mentioned. Hmmmm. Otherwise, nice presentation.

[@writerlywitterings]

In the title photo I was holding up two e+m large clutch pencils, a Koh-i-Noor and a Rotring - they were all reviewed in the video! Which one did you want to see more of?

[@davidmathews2124]

@@writerlywitterings My bad. In the photo that shows on the KZbin grid it looks like you’re holding up a sort of hand full of mechanical pencils...that appeared to be the Kitaboshi 2.0 clutch pencil. Caran d’Ache also has one that’s about a hundred times more expensive....the Luminance. Anyway, with their plain wood body they looked to me to be like what you had. My sincere apologies.

[@ramongibbs8692]

Very boring, the watch was more interesting. Thanks

[@writerlywitterings]

Fair enough!

[@Kelsmith2]

Don’t watch it then. I found this video very interesting.

[@joãoAlberto-k9x]

Envy kills. Don't worry. Be a gay hater. 🎉.