quote:

Originally posted by Lisa:

Not a fan of mechanical pencils, though others in my family swear by them. I find the lead is both too sharp (I rip/scratch up the paper) and too fragile (I break the lead). Maybe I just write weird.

All of this!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Miller:

quote:

Originally posted by big al: I like the Koh-i-Noor Rapidomatic pencil with the metal lead tip and grip. My heavy fist breaks plastic-tipped pencils in no time.

Big Al

I'm so old I learned to draft using a leadholder and one of those table mounted sharpeners you swirl the pencil around in to sharpen the lead.

That’s what I used in drafting class, too!

quote:

Over-engineered mechanical pencils

Oh yeah!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Axtremus:
Over-engineered mechanical pencils:

https://youtu.be/PESa3Du3udY (5.5 min.)

https://youtu.be/wGU9cyIyeFw (6.5 min.)

Even if you don’t need them, they are quite fascinating.

Those are cool!

Japan makes some sought-after beautiful non-mechanical pencils as well.

i'm a huge fan of ticonderoga #2 but lately i've fallen in love with a staedtler jumbo e-pencil. it feels like writing on silk on my SuperNote.

I dont write on paper any more.

Composers I know are obsessed with so-called Blackwings as some kind of ultimate. Not every Blackwing, as the company got sold and resold, just those of a certain period.

The only topic that got more interest than pencils was toilet paper.

Who knew?

quote:

Originally posted by dolmansaxlil:

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Miller:

quote:

Originally posted by big al: I like the Koh-i-Noor Rapidomatic pencil with the metal lead tip and grip. My heavy fist breaks plastic-tipped pencils in no time.

Big Al

I'm so old I learned to draft using a leadholder and one of those table mounted sharpeners you swirl the pencil around in to sharpen the lead.

That’s what I used in drafting class, too!

My drafting class was a bit less structured.

I’d been laid off as a facilities manager and took a job back in maintenance as a way to pay the
bills. It was essentially a plating shop and one of the worst jobs I’ve ever had. I quit it three times but came back to make the house payment.

A position became open in facilities management and I jumped on it. I was fully qualified except one thing - I didn’t know anything about drafting. I was honest about it and when told the position required drafting I told them I would figure it out. They hired me, God knows why.

First day on the job I discovered that there was a high school intern on staff who didn’t know sh!t but he knew drafting. I told him I’d buy his lunch every day if he would show me how to do it. I knew what the drawings were supposed to look like and he taught me how to make them. Benny -bless him - saved me from foreclosure. I was a quick study but I’m still terrible at it. I will say that Benny ate very well for about a month.

I went on to design three buildings, mostly by modifying existing drawings. Got a bonus and everything. I still have the drafting supplies he told me to buy.

Good times!

Pencils?
When I worked at Keystone the place was flooded with cheap ballpoints with Keystone printed on them.
They were almost too carpy to steal, but I still have some.
My penmanship has been heavily criticized since the second grade. I took a drafting class in high school and believe I did not fail because no one could fail that class.
Computers make it possible for me to communicate when speaking is not practicable.