Colorful and Clicky: My Take on the rOtring Visuclick Mechanical Pencil

Rotring Visuclick is one of the cheaper mechanical pencils rOtring is offering. It comes in 4 different colors for the moment (green, blue, pink, orange) and in 2 different lead sizes (0.5 and 0.7 mm). The pencil has a lively look with intense colors and transparent barrel. 

Is this budget conscious pencil for rOtring a decent contender for EDC?

The pencil, made in China, comes with the classic rOtring red ring just above the basic plastic grip, and the barrel is marked with white paint with the rOtring logo the name of the pen and the lead thickness. The grip is triangular in shape, which might not be everyone's cup of tea. To me it seams comfortable enough, even though you won't be able to turn it as freely as you would like sometimes.

It has a retractable tip so it can be easily carried around. The clip is simple, no thrills, bent springy metal but looks and feels sturdy.

The top cap hides a small eraser and the plastic lead reservoir.

The rOtring Visuclick mechanical pencil comes in 4 different colors at this moment. Maybe if it will get enough attention rOtring might create more options, but for now, this is the only ones available.

 This is how rOtring is presenting the pencil on their site

The rOtring Visuclick is a quick click action mechanical pencil ideal for dynamic writing and sketching. Designed with a metal mechanism with retractable lead feed. The triangular grip provides a more relaxed feel when held. Loaded with high polymer leads. 

• Comfort and Durability. Designed with a metal mechanism with retractable lead feed. The triangular grip provides a more relaxed feel when held
• Colorful and Precise. For those who enjoy the satisfying precision of all rOtring products with a wider range of colors

I do not know how durable the pencil will be. The budget mechanical pencil from rOtring looks quite ok. Definitely if you pay attention to details you will see some corners which were cut to save on the cost of production (I payed 2.4 $ or 2.2 eur for this model).

The plastic feels cheaper, more brittle. It is a vague term cheaper plastic but I can feel a difference to the touch and how it looks if I compare it to the Tikky.

For example the pencil comes with only two leads inside, instead of the more standard 3.

One thing that I have to mention is that the lead advancement mechanism is made out of brass, which is a good thing. Plastic doesn't hold very well over time. This on the other hand should offer many years of precise writing.

I was mentioning some corners that were cut in order to make a budget pencil that also is appealing. The retractable tip isn't the smoothest, and the thread on the top cone that threads in the plastic of the barrel is not very precisely done. It feels very cheap and not reliable. But taking into account that I almost never get lead jams in rOtrings or in modern decent mechanical pencils, it means you will probably not need to remove it that often.

With 10 clicks the Visuclick mechanical pencil will advance 7 mm of lead.

In the end even though is not the most sophisticated pencil it will do the job and will look nice as well.

Seen on scree, Parker Jotter in 3 movies and one tv show. Guardians of the Galaxy, Prisoners, Holdovers, True Detective

 A very recognizable pen, maybe the most recognizable one the Parker Jotter is no stranger of the big screen. It appeared in countless movies. Some of them are already posted here, some are still waiting to be revealed.

For this time I combined 4 distinct appearances of the famous pen

 

Guardians of the Galaxy

Very interesting combination, the scene portrays a hologram of Rocket along side the old pen and paper, in this case the Parker Jotter in burgundy red.

 

Prisoners

A classic movie released over a decade ago with Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. Doing detective work I guess needs a trusted method of keeping track of information, and what better way than using a workhorse of a pen that keeps writing each time without skipping a beat.

 

Holdovers

A recent drama/comedy movie, that is worth seeing. The action takes place at Barton Academy, the perfect place to spot a lot of writing instruments. This time it was the Parker's turn to shine in the spotlight.

 

True Detective

The last spotting for this list of a Parker Jotter is in the tv series True Detective first season. One of the greatest detective/crime shows out there, especially the first season. Woody Harrelson is sppoted holding the Jotter for a short period of time.

 

rOtring Tikky Retro (2023) Mechanical Pencil Review: Back to the Roots

rOtring has released in 2023 a new version of the iconic Tikky mechanical pencil. They are going back to the roots with the Tikky Retro.

So far the pencil is available with two led sizes 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm both versions coming in 3 colors: blue metallic, red metallic and grey metallic. The pencil is delivered with 3 2b rOtring leads.

Price of rOtring Tikky Retro is around 3 $/€

Dimensions:

length: 143.00mm and 139 with the tip retracted
diameter: 9.00mm
weight: 12.00g

10 clicks reveals 8 mm of lead

Construction

Tikky retro is an all plastic body with the classic curbed grip section, without the partial rubber coating with which we got used in the previous iteration of the model. The tip is metal with a retractable sleeve that makes it the perfect companion when you are on the go. The barrel has the waved grip similar to the Tikky II and a completely circular body. The clip is inspired or copied from the firs Tikky model. The end cap is the standard Tikky one with a hole in the back, and hides a eraser.

The clip is very strong and has embossed the rOtring logo

The mechanism is a combination of plastic with brass jaws that seem to do what they were designed for. Far from the all metal mechanism of the first generation in terms of robustness but it should do all right for most people.

The lead advance feels a bit scratchy and "hollow" for a lack of a better term to describe the feeling more on the 0.5 mm version. I do not know if the particular one I have is a bad example or this is how all 0.5 mm feel like.

Design

The Rotring Tikky retro is a reinterpretation of the first two generations of the rotring Tikky, borrowing desing elements from both of them. The pencil manages to capture the design that made the Tikky the cult pencil it is today.

For the moment the pencil comes in few colors, all metallic, but I suspect others will be introduced if the pencil is a success. The colors have a satin feel and look., especially the red one is translucent in the right light.

Pentel Graphgear 500 review

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.