Nicely-balanced drafting pencil at a bargain price!
594237
I have been wanting to get a whole set of drafting pencils for a while now, but I don't know which one to get. So I've been just buying one or two of different brands here and there, to kind of give them a bit of a "test run" before I decide to go ahead and buy the full set of 5 or 6 pencils of a complete set.

Pros:
I like the rubbery grip, and it's not ridiculously heavy, but not feather-light either. It looks nice in my hand, on my desk, in my backpack, too. I like the 0.7 mm lead size that I chose, it's a nice middle ground between 0.2 and 2.0 mm, plus leads are easy to find.

Cons: The lead feed tube does not retract, so I'm always at danger of stabbing myself if I put it in my pocket, or worse, breaking the tip off, and killing the pencil. The eraser is predictably minuscule, much like most are on drafting pencils. No biggie, I have several separate erasers with me all the time, so this is not an issue.

In all, if you find the clip on the GG 1000 to be too huge to consider using that pencil, give the GraphGear 800 a try. It is a comfortable pencil in the hand, and it's not overly-flashy, and begging to be stolen like the 1009. I had no issues with lead breakage at all, and it writes very nicely. I can easily recommend this pencil.
3982350
I really like this and was not expecting too much for the price tag.  I like the heavier lead and the heft of the pencil is very comfortable - does not feel cheap.  I use this nearly every day and it has held up well.  Lead refills have been easy to find on Amazon so I have no complaints.  The black eraser is replaceable but I haven't needed to.  I have a white clic eraser I use when I need to erase something.  Otherwise, you need to remove the little cap to get to the eraser.  I'd buy this again.
428083
I was jumping back and forth between this pencil, it's newer version and the rOtring 600. If the other two are better than this, than they would deserve 6 stars!

This pencil is fantastic. The weight distribution is almost even, although it feels a tad more heavy towards the clicker (which I have actually come to appreciate). The etched grip is very nice and comfortable even with extended use. Lead movement is consistent and smooth, and there is very little give even with a decent amount of pressure. The differentiator between this and the 600, the retractable tip, is a must -- the additional protection is quite nice for a pencil at this price.
3631212
Mead does it once again. They've created a nice product for a very fair price that is a good starting point for those looking to get into sketching. I won't lie and say I'm an expert, but the graphite seems to be of a high quality and shading works well (even if I'm not very good right now). With this set I'm learning how to properly use graphite pencils and what works best for me. They come in a nice tin already sharpened to a fine point and ready to use, all of them marked. The great thing is that when I wear them down, I can buy more without breaking the bank on more expensive pencils. So if you need some pencils, especially if just starting out, this is a great choice.
1897337
This pencil looks elegant (which is important for my work) and has a great feel to it! I really like it.
3851627
I wanted a mechanical pencil that I could use to write in a calendar booklet, something that would not crack or break easily, a "good" one, not the typical cheap plastic kind. I had been using a 0.5mm Alvin Draftline No. XA05, made in Japan which I have had since I was 17, which recently broke, along with wood case pencils - the kind you have to sharpen, and cheap plastic disposable mechanical pencils also. This pencil was one of the most elegant looking ones I saw online, and I liked the fact that it has a removable cap, so it can be carried around in your pocket without the danger that you will stab your hand when you put your hand into your pocket to take the pencil out. It is interesting that this pen is available in multiple colors - I had considered the green version, because green is usually my favorite color (it is not sold by Amazon but I saw it for sale on another site), but the green version was twice the cost, not including shipping. The red version also looked nice but I went with the the black one, which is still a nice classy color.

Here are my observations now that I have received the pencil and tried it out. The cap is rather difficult to remove; it takes a lot, I think too much, effort for me to remove it, and definitely more effort to uncap than the effort required to uncap my Lamy All Star fountain pen. The cap will stay on the back of the pen without pushing it all of the way into place, but in order to work as the pen is supposed to function, the cap has to be pushed onto the back of the pencil all of the way, and that takes a bit of effort. When pushed all the way into place, the metal part of the cap on the end opposite its opening gets pushed out, turning into the button that when pushed, advances the lead out of the tip of the pencil. But without the cap on, the pencil will still write and there is still a button that can be pushed to advance the lead. I did not see any eraser in this pencil, although I could just carry one with me.

The style is nice, the pencil is not too slippery to grip well, it takes 0.5mm lead, which I like more than the 0.7mm pencils that seem more common. To refill the pencil, you take the cap off, and then remove the metal button at the end opposite the writing tip, then put the leads in, then replace the metal knob. Another nice touch is that this pencil came with one lead already engaged and with a bit exposed at the tip, in addition to another 5 leads inside the pencil. And the pencil comes is a plastic box with two halves that totally separate and opens up the long way, with a bit of plastic the pencil snaps into. As for the weight, this pencil definitely feels heavier than any other pencil or pen I have; using a analog scale this pencil weight about the same as my Lamy All Star fountain pen, yet this pencil feels a little heavier. Maybe the center of gravity is just in a different position than I'm used to.

I am giving this pen only 4 stars because because the the cap takes too much effort to remove and too much effort to push into the other end of the pencil, and I would deduct another half a star because of the lack of an eraser.
1214480
The pencil has a nice feel to it with a wide piece of lead so it won't break easily, blends very nicely on every paper I've used it on so far
568788
Very nice, durable, hefty and well balanced pencil.  The lead retraction feature works well.  Less one star due to non-retracting nib (I was aware that it did not retract when I purchased it but it becomes a problem when using shirt pockets with a flap, otherwise excellent).
3294771
What a good deal! This box of 12 mechanical pencils (my box included two each of Purple, Blue, Red, Black and Grey), with 3 (3 1/4")  gray leads in each pencil. It is like getting 36 pencils for this one low price.

This is the perfect choice for everyone! The grip provides more comfort and more control than wooden pencils, (using plastic saves trees), no need to sharpen, the leads write very smoothly with both light and heavy pressure and no skips.

Pros:
1. 12 number 2, 0.7 mm gray leaded pencils, 6 different outside colors with 2 each of Purple, Blue, Red, Black and Grey. Each pencil comes with three (3  inch) gray leads, one in the barrel and 2 extra stored within the pencil.

2. The leads are strong, hold their position, and do not break, even when pushed down quite hard. The lead writes very smoothly, using very light pressure, writing with average pressure like writing your name or pressing down heavily.

3. The pencils have the same circumference as a standard number 2 pencil, with the grip adding just enough more size to the pencils to make it comfortable to write for longer periods of time and to give you and younger children more control. My husband has arthritis, with swollen hands quite often and likes to do the crossword puzzle in the paper each day, he loves these pencils.

4. The lead size is perfect for standardized testing. For art it is the middle of the road pencil which makes it a good choice for children learning to draw.

Cons:
The white eraser at the end of the pencil doesn't completely erase the lead from the paper. I did find that the Papermate pink pearl erasers (sold on Amazon) erase this lead better from paper, so I keep these on hand for my Grandchildren who use these pencils to draw.
3137140
The pencil is a little lighter than I'd prefer, but it has a really good feel in the hand and works well. Overall, it's a very nice pencil for the price.
2371068
This is a wonderful "professional" pencil.  It also comes in a very fine point 0.5 lead.
3423207
This is a fantastic mechanical pencil, to which most of the reviews here will attest. What's so great about it? It's extremely well built, and feels solid, with good weighting. The mechanism for deploying and retracting the lead is exceptionally well implemented, with sure-footed "clickiness" that makes you want to depress and release it over and over again. The pocket grabber is slightly serrated and strong enough to reliably hold the pencil in place. And the slightly depressed gel points within the serrated holding area serve their purpose well without making it feel like you are grabbing a gel stick. The fact that you can full retract the lead with a single click is a real plus. And, too boot, the pencil is manufactured in Japan (and it feels like it, too). It's a great pencil with a great price, and if you combine it with the&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Strength-Deep-Smooth-Uni-ball-Extra-Fine-Diamond-Infused-Pencil-Leads-0-5-mm-2B-Nano-Dia-40-Leads-x-3-Pack-Total-120-Leads/dp/B00F9MTILQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Strength & Deep & Smooth -Uni-ball Extra Fine Diamond Infused Pencil Leads, 0.5 mm-2B-Nano Dia 40 Leads x 3 Pack/Total 120 Leads/</a>, you can't beat it. It comes in four sizes, from 0.3mm to 0.9mm (here, the 0.5mm version is reviewed). Five stars.
3471198
Less expensive than the "Ultra", which I was considering (and which I'm sure is a fine pencil) but the pencil is a pretty good value for the money.  It has the eraser inside, and be warned, it's a bit thin, so caution might be in order when erasing.  In any case the body is "beefy", the grip is comfortable, and the style is pretty sweet.  That is, classic.  Can't go wrong with black and silver.  See also the review for the pen, which I bought with this.
224239
This is a wonderful pencil...I would definitely recommend it to a friend. The pencil is well balanced and fits into the hand like a writing pen. It does not come with an eraser, but that is fine by me. I appreciate its design. What makes this mechanical pencil so nice is its cover that comes off and neatly snaps on to the end of the pencil when in use. When not using the pencil, the cover snaps onto the top of the pencil to protect the point/lead and your clothing.

My congratulations to Pentel...another well designed writing instrument.

FYI...If you need an eraser with your mechanical pencil, Pental makes a much cheaper model (the Click) with a nice long eraser on the end. It also is comfortable to hold and usually comes in packages of 6 for around $9-$12.
3923668
I bought this pencil along with several other drafting pencils and this is the pencil I pick up and use the most. It writes very smoothly and the steel/plastic body creates a good balanced weight (unlike the pentel graphgear500, which I find too top heavy and the pentel graphgear 1000 which is made out of all steel and makes my hand easily fatigued, though it writes smoother than this roulette) The lead doesn't turn as quickly as the regular kuru toga (which the reg kuru toga writes more scratch-y due to that), but the smooth lines are great for sketching and even mathematics. I use 2B super hipolymer lead with this pencil and everything about it has been a pleasure so far. I highly recommend getting this pencil, it will make you want to use a pencil more than a pen. haha.
2934848
I didn't know mechanical pencils could be this nice. Writing or drafting with this tool is a joy. I've never broken a pencil lead with it. The control it offers is insane  no wobble at all in the lead. The back stores at least a dozen replacement leads, and it will auto-load them when the first one runs out, in my experience (gravity tends to guide one of the others in there into the channel). There is a hardness indicator that you can set, to remember what kind of lead you put into it (I have two, one holding 2B and the other holding HB). The clicker on the end comes off to reveal an eraser. As the eraser runs low, you can shift it up, and when it runs out completely, you can buy replacement erasers. The textured grip at the front doesn't irritate my fingers. It's just grippy enough. The only thing I worry about is the clip, which also acts as the locking mechanism for the retractable tip. There's a bit of wobble in it. I worry that if it breaks, the pencil will be useless. Hasn't happened, but it might be something to consider if you're planning to use this clip as a clip. The visual design of this thing is fantastic. I sometimes just pick it up and marvel at it. Appreciate its weight and its industrial design.
3106325
These pencils are thicker than average color pencils, but I have yet to pop a "lead" in one while coloring. They are a lovely selection of skin tones, which allows me to illustrate more ethnicities than "pale flesh" and "mahogany" lol. I'm a homeschooler, so accuracy is important to me. The colors that can be used for the peoples of ancient Greece are not the same as the colors needed for ancient China. This set gives us plenty of variety, and as I mentioned, is very durable. I can easily recommend this set both for the quality of the physical construction and for the quality of the color mix included.