Pentel is a big name in the industry but not so common over here, so I am exited to test one of their drafting mechanical pencils. I picked the middle of the range, the Graphgear 500 in 0.5 mm thickness. It is an utilitarian design, with knurled grip and plastic body, with the color of the body being color coded to the thickness of the lead. It feels like a very serious pencil ready to do some drafting.
The Pentel Graphgear 500 is the quintessential classic designer's best friend, with a fixed 4 mm sleeve for accurate lines, knurled grip for great feel in the hand and the body color coded in the side of the led, so you can pick the correct tool from the arsenal.
The Pentel Graphgear 500 is made in Japan.
The pencil sits well in the hand. The weight feels good, even if the pen is a little bit tip heavy. The balance point of the pencil is just at the end of the grip section. The knurling is fine, grips well without being uncomfortable for longer writing sessions. Due to it's fixed sleeve and long tip the pencil is perfect for precision work, lines with rulers but it can be just as good for writing with it.
The body is made out of plastic with hexagonal shape, while the clip is friction fitted to it. It is a very simple and unrefined clip, rather short and unappealing, but strong and robust offering you the confidence that you will not lose it while clipped.
On the side of the clip it stamped Japan and Pentel. It is a nice touch that sometimes it is missing from more expensive pencils.
One of the facets of the body is written in white paint Graphgear 500 PG525 0.5 2h.
The cap has a unique look, with it's top part being extruded offering a flat top with a bevel around it. It feels a lot opportunity to use the space available to display with text or in color code the thickness of the pencil. A feature that is very useful for drafting especially when you have several lead sizes.
With the cap removed the small eraser encased is a metal holder is revealed .
Because it's a drafting pencil it doesn't have a retractable sleeve making it more difficult to carry it around without a case. The long expose sleeve might get damaged in a pocket. Also be careful when handling it, the pen is tip heavy due to the metal grip and the plastic body. I managed drop it on the first week of ownership on it's tip. I was lucky that the band wasn't severe and I could restore it to its original state more or less. I mean the pencil is functional and working just fine, even if there might be a slight bend to the tip.
The mechanism is robust, with the jaws made from bronze or some alloy from what I can tell. The clicks are very satisfying and precise.
10 click will advance the lead almost 6 mm (something like 5.7 - 5.8 mm). The pencil has a length of 14 cm, and a 9,6 mm grip width, with a weight of 15 grams. The sleeve is a very standard 4 mm in leangth.
