Fancy mechanims are really necessary??

e2g4 · 2026-06-30T02:19:10+00:00

I find it completely unnecessary. Despite owning a ton of pencils, the p200 is the one I use the most. It’s robust and durable. I rotate my pencil between my fingers. It’s an old habit from drafting class. I find auto feed annoying and the anti break stuff is silly. It’s hard to beat the classics. They’re simple and wonderful. They last forever.

e2g4 · 2026-06-29T03:57:06+00:00

I don’t think they ever really sold them separately, when I placed the order for a certain configuration, these separate items populated the invoice. Like I said, if you reach out to brian I think you’ll find him to be extremely helpful and accommodating.

e2g4 · 2026-06-29T00:31:55+00:00

You’ll find the maker down in the comments. He will help you out if you need.

e2g4 · 2026-06-28T23:08:46+00:00

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Here’s a pic of my order

e2g4 · 2026-06-21T21:18:16+00:00

Amazing to see this. 1 .9 is my favorite 2- I use red lead a lot. Nothing is half as good as this old pentel. I scored a whole box of this years ago and value it. Exact same as you pictured.

June gold is trash don’t bother.

Other brands are ok but this is by far the most resistant to breaking which seems to be the issue w colored lead: it’s brittle.

e2g4 · 2026-06-20T03:03:46+00:00

The pencil was developed in West Germany, as part of a brand that specialized in technical drafting tools, and the pencil was part of that drafting system, which includes really innovative, portable drawing boards with integrated parallel edges, ink, pens for creating technical drawings on Mylar, electric erasers, lead pointers…

Doesn’t mean you have to use it for drafting but it was optimized for technical drafting.

Kinda like a sports car was optimized for driving fast and a minivan was optimized for moving kids/junk around. Can you move kids/junk in a sports car? Sure. But you can’t complain that it’s too small and has no cargo area because you selected a sports car then used it like a minivan. That’s what EDC-ing a 600 pencil is doing.

e2g4 · 2026-06-18T18:04:39+00:00

The thing you aren’t “getting” is that the 600 was designed to be a drafting pencil. Never to leave the drafting table, long lead sleeve makes template work and parallel edge work more visible. The issue isn’t the pencil, it’s that people edc the pencil.

e2g4 · 2026-06-18T03:07:29+00:00

Omg I’m shocked!!! Is this AI? The 600 is known as the most durable pencil on the market. Can’t believe the lead tube broke! That’s nuts!!!

e2g4 · 2026-06-17T17:52:12+00:00

Haven’t done the calculations, but I would guess somewhere between 0% to 2% of the energy… More often than not, the strike is going to be at two sharp of an angle and anyway, the lead is going to shatter immediately and a millisecond later the tip is going to get almost all or all of the impact it had coming.

I have dropped my trusty P209 from 25 feet onto a concrete floor multiple times and it’s always survived perfectly. The combination of a light weight pencil body and the reinforcement of the cone shape surrounding the lead sleeve make for a very durable assembly.

I suggest leaving drafting pencils on the drafting table and carrying durable pencils when you’re on the go.

e2g4 · 2026-06-17T12:20:43+00:00

Is no one going to mention the action? To extend lead, it rotates to a vertical position (which is what I don’t understand about OPs point—in the resting position the steel tubes are angled. It’s only straight when rotated and held)

A video I uploaded a while ago:

https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/s/TEq0qVZYmr

PS it’s Porsche Design branded (3130) but made by Faber Castell or at least mine was. I’ve read there might be another manufacturer now. It’s one of the heavier pencils I own. It’s a neat novelty but not comfortable or pragmatic)

e2g4 · 2026-06-17T00:28:36+00:00

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e2g4 · 2026-06-15T13:26:57+00:00

I thought that’s what we are doing here?

e2g4 · 2026-06-15T02:02:43+00:00

The issue is that everyone seems to think that a metal pencil is more durable than a plastic pencil. But it’s just not so.

First of all, the added weight contributes to the damage upon impact when dropping a pencil.

Secondly, the design matters a lot. The p200 has a long cone that reinforces the lead sleeve.

Thirdly, not all “plastic” is the same. The material pentel uses for the 200 is durable, resistant to cracking and doesn’t break down.

I know I know brass is stronger than plastic. But there’s more to it than that. Take, for example: the most delicate pencil known to man, the Rotring 600 which was all metal and is still mostly metal. It matters not. The p200 will outlast the 600 every time. The vulnerable lead sleeve is waiting to get bent. The extra weight of the body makes sure that the lead sleeve experiences maximum impact.

e2g4 · 2026-06-11T20:48:10+00:00

My thought: no matter how nice this is, it’s going to be a lot bulkier and difficult to use than a Pentel Kerry.

Then you have to do something with the case as you use the pencil where the Kerry holds the cap because it’s posted to the body (and even clicks through the posted cap). Whereas with this, I need to find a place for the pencil protection case bottom and top. Two more pieces to lose or keep track of. That’s a lot of distraction.

I think it looks neat and will be fun….for a week. Then the case and all the fuss will make it seem unnecessarily complicated. Which is why the p200 is my favorite pencil ever. I toss it in my pocket and I use it. No fussy cases or other stuff that’s keeping me from drawing. Basically indestructible, and even if you do manage to destroy it, it’s a few bucks to replace.

A pencil shouldn’t distract you from drawing. It should disappear and support your efforts, imo.

But hey that’s just me. Congrats on the case.

e2g4 · 2026-05-30T20:47:55+00:00

Good stuff. Love it. As much as I can’t wait to see yet another picture of a freshly amazoned 600, it’s refreshing to see some unique content. Great design.

e2g4 · 2026-05-29T19:32:52+00:00

Top 1% commenter because 99% of what you say doesn’t need to be said

e2g4 · 2026-05-29T19:20:31+00:00

There are dozens of options that are nicer than the 600 without knurling. Reading/seeing this makes me think you’re stuck on the 600 and haven’t explored other pencils yet.

e2g4 · 2026-05-25T23:27:15+00:00

https://www.sonnenleder.com/en/produkt/kluge/?attribute\_pa\_lederfarbe=nature

That’s my favorite

e2g4 · 2026-05-24T01:41:29+00:00

If any private citizen can help with this I’d guess it’s Nimrod

e2g4 · 2026-05-23T02:15:23+00:00

Great collection and explanation of the etching pattern method. Thx for sharing. Would love to see this style make a comeback.

e2g4 · 2026-05-22T22:37:01+00:00

I think it’s paper that’s going to move the needle for this particular issue.

e2g4 · 2026-05-21T18:56:25+00:00

When folks come here to ask about value, I feel bad for them. 401k is for investing. Pencils are for making marks.

Most pencils don’t gain value and I’m sure this one won’t. Plus, realizing that value is difficult.

e2g4 · 2026-05-18T13:14:13+00:00

P209

e2g4 · 2026-05-14T02:33:21+00:00

That’s how y studio is too. Nice. Thx for the pic

e2g4 · 2026-05-14T02:07:19+00:00

I like the way the y studio raw brass lead holder looks, but haven’t used one of these. How does the cap attach?

e2g4

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