Pentel 120 A3 DX drafting pencils
A recent trip to a local university provided a chance to visit their engineering supply store, where I picked up some Pentel 120 A3 DX drafting pencils. They were one of two brands sold, along with the competitor Staedtler Mars micro.
The pencils come in four versions, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 mm. While I have various 0.5 and 0.7 mm mechanical pencils, the thin 0.3 mm and thick 0.9 mm varieties aren’t familiar to me, and seemed like they would be fun to play around with.
The pencils have a metal tip, rubber grip, plastic body and cap, and metal clip. The lead is advanced by clicking the cap. The cap also lifts off to reveal a very tiny eraser.
The internal mechanisms have some variations - the length of lead dispensed by a click corresponds to the diameter of the lead, with a click of the 0.9 mm pencil dispensing the most lead, and the 0.3 mm pencil the least.
The grip looked like a seasonally appropriate winter tire to me, and I liked it. It was comfortable and grippable.
After a few days of trying them out, I think they are a nice set, and a reasonable and inexpensive introduction to the category.
January 17th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
“…the length of lead dispensed by a click corresponds to the diameter of the lead, with a click of the 0.9mm pencil dispensing the most lead, and the 0.3mm pencil the least.” Which (I guess) stands to reason as the larger the diameter of the mechanical pencil, the softer the lead available. For instance, it is possible to acquire 4B lead refills for 0.5mm mechanical pencils, but good luck on finding anything softer than 2B in 0.3mm. These look like decent MP’s, how inexpensive are they?
January 17th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Hi Barrel, thanks for the comment They were about $4.50 each.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
They feel really good, I picked up a 0.5mm last weekend and feels great. I paid much less than $4.50, probably $2.50 max, these drafting-type pencils tend to be cheap here (I paid close to that for a Staedtler 925, while in the USA they retail for like $8 each). Curiously, where I got it, they were all grey instead of black. I’ll probably grab a few more this weekend.
March 1st, 2008 at 6:26 am
As far as I know the A315 with the grey barrel has been discontinued in the US; in Germany it is still available.
March 1st, 2008 at 10:35 am
I have no idea about our sourcer of pencils, but I’ll definitely grab some grey ones.
Was grey changed for black? or did both exist simultaneously?
March 1st, 2008 at 10:36 am
Btw, Pentel Japan is going to make a limited edition of the Graph1000
http://www.pentel.co.jp/newproduct/graph1000/
March 1st, 2008 at 11:55 am
Felipe, thanks for your comments, and for that interesting link. Does their graphic say that this will be a limited edition of ten million, or is it more indicating that Pentel has already sold ten million “Graph” pencils?
March 1st, 2008 at 1:07 pm
No idea, I don’t speak japanese, but next week I’ll see if I can get a japanese guy in my school to tell me what it says.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Btw, I paid $2.35 for mine, and $2.90 for the P205.
March 19th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I love this pencil and have been trying to find a replacement for years. Any leads on them in the USA?
March 28th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Decent quality, entry level drafting pencil. While comparing them to the p200 series is like comparing apples and oranges, both are a solid value at the lower end of the spectrum in drafting pencil technology.
I can also say, I don’t like rubber grips of any kind. The one on these is not a hinderance in any way.
What about the Limited edition Graph? Anybody know where to get them?
June 10th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
The Graph1000’s can be found at jetpens.com. They also carry 0.4mm leads.