About my pencils
Where it all started
Early in 2018, I bought a couple of cheap mechanical pencils with machined metal bodies. Unfortunately, they weren't great, and I started thinking how I could make my own design completely from scratch. I love the look and feel of the classic hexagonal pencil, so I chose to combine it with a variety of different grip designs, ranging from a simple plain taper through to an "interrupted" fine square knurl pattern.
Mechanism
For the internal mechanism, I mainly use the Pentel P200 “sharp” style. This has been around for nearly 50 years and has stood the test of time. It’s robust, simple and reliable. It’s also very easy to swap out if you have several pencils with different lead sizes or grip styles. The self-contained mechanism is ideally suited to incorporation in custom pencil bodies. It also includes a small eraser underneath the end cap - not the most useful of erasers, but it’s enough in an emergency.
I also use the Pentel PG5 and Schmidt DSM2007 mechanisms in some of my other custom designs, but they aren’t currently shown on the site.
Metals
I currently offer five different metals (well, six, if you count the sterling silver pencil, but it’s a special case). Here they are, along with alloy grade (in brackets) and density:
Aluminium (6082) 2.7g/cm3
Brass (CZ121) 8.5g/cm3
Copper (C109) 9.0g/cm3
Stainless (303) 8.0g/cm3
Titanium (6Al4V/Grade 5) 4.4g/cm3
It’s difficult to convey the exact appearance, but here’s a side-by-side comparison of small cylindrical samples of each (click for larger image):
Some notes regarding each -
Aluminium is bare, not anodised. Anodising is unfortunately not something I can do in small quantities. Since aluminium is a soft metal, it will pick up marks through use.
Brass & copper will darken and form a patina over time. However, this is part of their appeal! Through use, the high spots (e.g. grip area, edges of the hex body) will be rubbed bright and will form an attractive contrast with the rest of the body.
Packaging
Each pencil is supplied in a sturdy twist-action plastic storage tube. Both the tip and button are protected with short lengths of nylon tubing to prevent damage.
April 2021 - logo
All of my pencils now have a laser-engraved logo on the body. This is etched into the surface (approximately 0.25mm deep) so is completely permanent and will last forever. Here’s some examples:
