I take hand-written notes at work with a rOtring 800, and I like it. Nothing much to say about balance, but be prepared for a heavier pencil. Which can feel annoying or satisfying depending on the user.

I only use mechanical pencils for writing or drawing simple shapes for flow charts and stuff, so no precision is required. Aaaand I hate writing with "mechanical pencils made for writing", so I only use drafting pencils. I think the grip is way more important than the balance. If you wanna give it a go without spending a fortune, buy a graphgear 500 and/or a rotring 500, to see if you like the experience. If yes, go for something you actually wanted in the first place.

They're great!

And an additional shout-out for the Uni Kuru Toga Roulette and Metal for writing in an unlinked script. They're a little funky for drafting though.

The Pentel Kerry, I find, is great because it has a cap and its cap can be posted. It is a well-made mechanical pencil.

It is all down to preference. Think about the diameter of the grip section and whether it'll be comfortable to you. All kinds of mechanical pencils including drafting ones, plastic or metal can be used for writing. Just be aware of comfort and build quality.

Some mechanical pencils are ment for drafting only, if you try to write notes or prose they run the risk of exploding in you hand as you write.

are you using a lead thicker than 3mm?

This is art and mechanical pencils by themselves are art.

Yes I would! And I do think it’s art. Would you be interested in selling the graph gear 1000 print?

Nice project and good job capturing the details! I used to do something like this when I was less busy with work. I would draw a pencil freehand using the actual pencil itself and add in a mini review. Kinda like a series of 'MP self portraits' :D

MUJI 'Multi-8'

OHTO Super ProMecha OP-1505P

Pentel Quicker Clicker

Very much art, would buy/10

These are sick dude

I really like the p205 and p207. I like tikky specials as well, I have a 2mm staedtler 925 in black and I love that. I did try out the kuru toga advance which is nice but it's not precise enough for me.

https://preview.redd.it/xldw1u4q5jcd1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c21c524e50da59f1f009173e5750125219e63370

This is the pencil I started using in all my sketches. The triangle shape is just perfect in my hands and I can sharpen the tip in many forms, but I stick with brush-like tips to get thin and fat lines. It weighs about 35g with a new lead in. Koh-i-Noor 5348 in Red, it costed me about 10 bucks from a local KiN shop.

For drawing: I use a set of TK4600 (clip removed) loaded with several TK9071 leads for shading and for any linework, I use 2 Pentel Graphgear 500's 0.5mm loaded with Ain Stein HB/2B. For sketching on the go, I use Koh-I-Noor 5340 loaded with Red Chalk or Dark Sepia.

I draw in a technical drawing fashion (ruler, compass, circle/ellipse guides, etc.) and for that I recently settled with the Staedtler Mars Technico 780, in 2mm. One loaded with a 2H lead, the other with a 2B.

I use my kurutoga 0.5 for blocking out shapes and general sketching. But I love using my graph gear1000 0.3 for full pieces cause it gives cleaner and more controlled lines, with that 0.3 the lines are constant all the way through

I'll draw with anything that can make lines.

But recently I've come across Blackwing Matte pencils and bro... I can never go back. They're so nice and smooth. They've got removable square erasers you can replace. They're so good.

If I didn't have access to those, I'd pick any Ticonderoga or any mechanical pencil though.

Currently use a 2h and an hb lead holder. 1 from staetdler and one from rotring. They hold 2mm leads.

One of those Bic mechanical pencils that comes in packs

Whatever is closest.

I've been using the same "Side FX Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm PD255" for probably around 13 years now - along with a couple click erasers (Pentel ZE22 and Tombow Mono Zero).

For more permanent sketches, a Pilot G2 05 works just fine!

Pental Orenz is a good writing instrument, but if you want a better look, then the new Orenz Nero should be perfect. I think you will also like the Graphgears by Pental as well: they are high precision pencils with retractable sleeves, and feel comfortable.

I'm very preferential to the heaviness of metal pens, but I've been enjoying using my .3 DelGuard lx. Lots of labs this semester, broke lead only a couple of times so far.

Pentel Kerry is a solid choice for a pencil with a cap.

Pentel p205. No bells or whistles, just something that works and works well.

Pentel smash (for writing)

Mono 100 in F is a great call, no doubt. In terms of pure writing awesomeness, my personal all-timers (off the top of my head) are:

* Mitsubishi Mark Sheet
* Blackwing Volume 24
* IBM Electrographic
* Tombow Ki Monogatari in B

Some of those can be hard to get, but dang, when I pick one up and start writing I always find myself stopping to look at the pencil like: Wow.

That's tombow mono 100 F

No such thing as “BEST PENCIL” each to their own! Love BLACKWING to write, there are better options for drawing!

IMO there is no best, just varying degrees of good and bad, all situationally dependent and subject to whimsy. Having said that, u/regpo55555's suggestion of the Mono100-F is a damn good one.

Mitsubishi 9850

rOtring and Pentel

Due to local patriotism ;-) it must be a Nürnberg company for me. I can't decide between Faber-Castell and Staedtler.

Both have extraordinary vintage products, but with actual pencils I prefer Staedtler. On the other hand, FC has nicer buildings:

Old production site "Alte Mine" http://bleistiftschloss.de/Alte_Mine_1.JPG and even a castle https://tourismus.nuernberg.de/fileadmin/_processed_/3/e/csm_Schloss_Faber_Castell_1ba7ed3756.jpg :-)

Pentel and Rotring.

Rotring would be my favorite but their selection is so limited, it’s basically the 600,800,and rapid pro alongside some good multi pens. If they expanded their modern line to include some of those vintage rotring gems you find on EBay for $300-$400 a pop, they would undoubtedly be the best.

However, my all-time favorite has to be Pentel. Amazing quality that lasts generations at an affordable price. They have everything from the orenznero to the graphgear 100 to the multi 8. You really can’t go wrong with any of their products. Also, their vintage stuff is great as well, although I’d say Pilot’s vintage items are the best

Pilot and Pentel.

Am I am easy to please guy? Mine is P200/PG200. So many colors and editions, good balance, easy maintenance, inexpensive, sturdy, lasts forever, etc... I kinda wished it has either a cap or sliding sleeve so it would be pocket safe.

IJ Instruments Model 9. I’ve had a hard time using anything else since I bought this one.

I practice pencil polygamy.

Not going to expand your horizons much with mine, the Kuru Toga Advance Upgrade :)

I don't know that I have a favorite at this point. But if you're just starting out, the pencils I recommend you try are, in no particular order, Pilot s10, Pentel Graphgear 500, Pentel Sharp Kerry, Tombow Zoom 505, and if you feel the temptation to try a Rotring, get the 500 instead of the 600 because the 500 is much better balanced and weighs half as much.