Re:How Blackwing Pencils are Made [video]
by dylan604 on Monday August 10, 2026 @10:18AM
(#49244047)
In my experience, mechanical pencil tips broke too easily. I've had cheap wooden pencils where it felt that the let was shattered inside which meant the sharpened tip kept falling out. That's how I felt about pretty much every mechanical pencil.
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The main thing that helps with lead breakage is a mechanical pencils with a sliding nose cone/tip. Even finer lead becomes fairly reliable as long as it is protected against sideways pressure. My personal favorite is the Kuru Toga Advance 0.3mm. though a larger lead size and a model purpose-built for break-resistance would be better if tip breakage is the main concern.
About a decade ago I bought a metal mechanical pencil (rotring 800, 0.5mm). Best pencil I’ve ever owned. It will last so long I’ll leave it to my children.
Was it actually $60?
Re:How Blackwing Pencils are Made [video]
by ziofill on Tuesday August 11, 2026 @11:29AM
(#49259888)
Yes something like that (around 50€)
Try the Zebra DelGuard mechanical pencil - they have a sophisticated system protection the lead, with springs and whatnot - even in 0.3 mm version, it is actually quite hard to break the tip of the lead, even intentionally.