 There is no substitute for quality. Might be no greater pain than pouring your heart soul and life’s breathe into a work of art and your tools (not your execution) failing! Every visual artist needs a quality mechanical pencil, a high performance tool. While there are a ton of options, wading through all the options to find the best for your process, can at times be a challenge. But if you’d like to just jump to the front of the line, check out our drawing mechanical pencil to see if it’s a good fit for you and your art projects!
Contents
What are the Best Mechanical Pencils?
Well… Ours of course!!
But sure you want to do some research.
If you search for “mechanical pencils” while online shopping you will quickly get hits showing 1000 cheap plastic pencils for a few bucks. But as an artist you know you want better. Not a pencil for making your grocery list or taking class notes, but really better quality, better performance, better longevity.
Mechanical pencils, have various characteristics, but in general, most artists are looking for smooth action, good balance and a comfortable grip.Â
They’ve been called several names: from clutch pencils to pump pencils, automatic pencils, technical pencils, propelling pencil, lead holder etc. But all refer to a basic reusable device to extend a disposable lead. ie: save the trees! No more wood encased graphite when you can reuse the mechanical pencil device.
While originally used in the eighteenth century, it was not until the nineteenth and twentieth century that mechanical pencils were patented and really took off.
Over the years, mechanical pencils have evolved — the goal always being to offer artists (like you) and perhaps architects, students and other intrepid doodlers an effortless amazing tool.
How to Use Mechanical Pencils
I know, mostly self explanatory but worth a few words…
As mentioned earlier, drawing pencils have evolved over the years. Most of the common designs have changed to meet the current needs of artists all over the world.
The 2mm, which is a favorite among artists, is usually one of two styles: lead holder or hold click and manually set lead length, then release. Or the other style, which is what the drawing set feature here uses, is the click to extend the lead. This is very similar to the 0.5mm automatic lead pencil mechanism that most are familiar with.
The influx of various mechanical pencil manufacturers has offered artists a wide array of drawing options to choose from. With varying features, these mechanical pencils come with various grips and mechanisms.
How to Retract the Lead
In some cases, you may have to retract the lead – to store it or because you have extended too much.
If you’re retracting lead for a push button or lead holder mechanism, both types of pencils are the same process, you have to hold the push button then push the extended lead back into the tip, usually by pressing on what ever surface your drawing on or by using your fingers.
The Best Drawing Mechanical Pencil
Well, sure, this is mostly a personal question based on your drawing habits, style and subject. But we sure like ours… We are artists, and certainly use our own product, which is why we launched this set. Quality metal mechanical pencils in a nice convenient case.Â
Over the years, you, like many artists before you, have noticed certain friction points and triggers in you pursuit of the visual arts – right? Draw every day? Well sure, but more often than not it’s a head ache getting all your kit together. Stage right – our drawing mechanical pencil set. A nice little set preloaded with light lead (4H), general use (HB), and dark charcoal like highlights (5B). Having everything together ready to go makes it much easier to form the habit of drawing everyday.
I know it’s a simple fix. But like most habits, a small, easy habit can lead to extraordinary change. Drawing every day is that kind of change! Cultivating in your daily life the eyes of an artists will have profound effects on your quality of life, of finding joy in those little details that everyone else overlooks.
Oh, and did I mention leather?! We have a canvas kit too, even has a little more room for your favorite tools not already supplied in the kit. But the leather! There is something about the smell of leather that is a positive trigger in my creative experience… Something almost meditative in the artistic foreplay of prepping you art materials… unzipping your leather case… pulling out a smooth solid metal mechanical pencil… and then that first stroke of graphite…
Yes, you guessed it, I’m a true believer. Draw every day!. This kit or the next one you google or any ole stub of a pencil you pull out of your junk drawer or under your couch cushion, start drawing every day. Seeing the world with the eyes of an artist really is the best way to see and explore the world around you!
So back to our set 😉 Here are the basics:
Features
- Real Leather Pencil Case 4″x7″x.75″
- Three 2mm metal pencils in gray scaleÂ
- 3 Sets of 2mm Refill in broad value range (4H/HB/5B)
- Kneaded Eraser
- Emery Board
Our gray scale metal pencils have a knurled grip and a gray barrels. Light gray (4H graphite), medium gray (HB graphite), and dark gray (5B graphite).
Besides that, we don’t leave you hanging for lead refills. Pre-supplied with the kit are three sets of 2mm mechanical lead refills. More leads than even the most prolific artist will use in a year.  2mm 4H lead refill – hardest and lightest in value, perfect for subtle details and pursuit of the secret art of shading;). HB lead refills – the general use, one size fits all lead, and 5B lead refills – fragile, specialty use leads. Rarely made as 2mm leads because they break so easily, but are worth the challenge because of the rich darks they offer and the charcoal esque texture when applied flat.Â
And then we have our amazing drawing pencil case to go with our MstrSktch drawing set. Well-designed and beautiful (or at least my mom thinks so:) drawing pencil case, made from real leather. The inside of this case is fitted with premium suede leather while the outer part is covered with traditional brown leather.
Best Drawing Mechanical Pencil Wrap-up
There’s currently no drawing set as well designed and as convenient as the MstrSktch’s Best Drawing Mechanical Pencil set.
Designed with artists in mind, our sketching kit offers you high-performance mechanical pencils that are way beyond anything you’ve likely used. These drawing mechanical pencils are made with quality materials that will last a lifetime.
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Check out our Drawing Mechanical Pencil set!