Mechanical pencils (propelling pencils) for chartwork

Poignard said:
This one is later.

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Yes,wow.....the nucleus of carisbrooke shipping was a Dutch father and son and a very good shipping agent on the Isle of Wight,they had several called Helena C etc don’t recall but nothing over 500 tons which traded around the Uk and home trade waters,thanks for the photo,the ones I served on especially the Vectis isle were one removed from a sailing ship?
 
thinwater said:
A real classic, simple, drafting pencil that has been around for 40 years, is the the Pentel Sharp.
Pentel Sharp

Any lead size, very simple, bomb-proof durable, easy to take apart and clean. I had one last through 4 years of daily use in college, and I've been using them ever since. Still do, same model. There are reasons it has not changed in 40 years.
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Yes, an excellent pencil, it's called a Pentel 200 in the UK. Only negative thing is the needle point doesn't retract.
 
penberth3 said:
Yes, an excellent pencil, it's called a Pentel 200 in the UK. Only negative thing is the needle point doesn't retract.
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True. You have to push the button, put your thumb on it, and push it back. I guess that is reflex for me.

The advantage, for a sailor, is bomb-proof reliability in a tough environment. After 40 years, it is still my favorite drafting pencil, because it is basic. I always have a full set (0.3mm brown, 0.5mm black, 0.7mm blue, 0.9mm yellow) in my kit. The color code has not changed in 40 years either, so I know which one I have grabbed. 0.5 and 0.7 are most useful.
 
penberth3 said:
I didn't mean the lead, I meant the metal "nib" isn't retractable.
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True... but what's the harm in that? You can get stabbed if you put it a pants pocket. So don't.

As a drafting tool, this extra rigidity is a plus. A retractable nib would not be as precise. This is one of the things about them I really like, so I don't see it as a fault.
 
thinwater said:
True... but what's the harm in that? You can get stabbed if you put it a pants pocket. So don't

As a drafting tool, this extra rigidity is a plus. A retractable nib would not be as precise. This is one of the things about them I really like, so I don't see it as a fault.
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Exactly, so for outdoor/fieldwork away from a desk I'd recommend a retractable point. I've got a few pencils where there's no movement at all in the retractable point. Sometimes I find a bit of cushioning is helpful, e.g. in a moving boat!
 
greeny said:
Come on guys, who's going to post the fiftieth time on the choice of a pencil. :) :) :) :) :)
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#53 - close! I've got several within reach at the moment - the nicest is a Pilot Super Grip 0.5mm. Rubber grip but not too fat - I don't like chunky pencils. Retractable tip and the metal sleeve slides back in use so you can write with the minimum lead projecting. Less than £3

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I put the chart in one of those ridged plastic sleeves and use a China graph pencil, can take it up on deck then and dont get all the rubbing out bits every where at the end of the day
 
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