Cross ATX Mechanical Pencil

Cross, the legendary American writing instruments producer.

Despite the fact that ATX is one of the low range series of Cross, I feel like it really is a charming one. You can feel the premium quality even at your very first touch to the pencil.

Thanks to its chrome body, oven dried coating and twist turn mechanism it durable and looks elegant.

The Cross ATX mechanical pencil comes in a rigid smart Cross box. Pencil looks slightly chubby and fits in your hand well and never slips. Also its chrome ring, clip and tip provides a really stylish look.

This wonderful pencil never leaves you unless it gets lost thanks to Cross Lifetime Warranty. When you take your Cross to local service a repair or an exchange if defintely being offered.

You can reach the lead fill by tearing to parts apart from the middle. There is a really succesfull eraser at this part as well which I couldn't dare to use yet. One of the best feature of this pencil is that it allows the lead to bend while it pushes to paper which helps to prevent lead to break. It works so good that even at hardest or lowest quality leads, they never ever break. (Unless you push so hard intentionally)

Also you can configure your own Cross ATX by getting your name written down on clip side area. The price is around 55-65 $ which is relatively expensive but really low for a Cross branded pencil.

Pros:

+ Really elegant gift box
+ Lifetime Cross Warranty
+ Top quality materials
+ Wonderful design
+ No lead breaking
+ Configurable

Cons:

- Really there is no negative points about this pencil

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Pentel P203 & P205

What is a mechanical pencil?

Answer: Pentel P200 series.

Strong, stylish, simple and comfortable. This one is a real classic! I am almost about to say this one is the best mechanical pencil in the world.

P200 is a really lightweight pencil. I have P203 with 0.3 mm lead and P205 with 0.5 mm lead. Colors are brown and black. Also you can find P207 in blue and P209 in yellow.

At the back you can find a relatively big eraser with cleaning wire. Metal clip is removable. High quality plastic body and knurls at the grip are sticking the pencil in your hand while the metal nib is allowing a wide view and holding the lead tight.

Price range might be relatively high for a pencil with this kind of material but I can say this pencil deserves more than this. Now, I'm cutting this article short and leaving you with some beautiful pictures of this massive classic.

Regards.

Moleskine Rollerball Pen

Moleskine which is especially known with its luxury pens begin notebook production recently.

We can state this pen as a rectangular prism with its innovative design. But when it comes to quality, this pen fails unexpectedly! It has a simple ink holder like Chinese cheap rollerballs. Also body paint is getting off easily in few weeks of usage.

It is not ergonomic with its retangular shape and also slipping after 15 minutes of usage due to black shining paint. But I must admit that it looks really really stylish. 

Paint at the clip gets off by time as you can see at the picture above.

If you are looking for a good-looking pen and design concerns are above any other, Moleskine rollerball can be an option. But when its about writing, I have large question marks!

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Carl Angel 5 Pencil Sharpener

Here we have a real legend!

Usage of this kind of sharpeners are decreasing. Pencil sharpeners are much more smaller today. Also there are more colorful and technological options like electrical ones as well. 

When it comes to pencil sharpening, Carl Angel 5 is the exact partner!

Japanese production with solid metal frame is really strong. I have a relatively new one, 3 years old but I have some friends still using some Carl's from 1970's. Desk fastening tool is allowing you to use it with one hand to promote multitasking :) 

Carl Angel 5 makes the tip of the pencil really slim and sharp to allow precise writing last longer. When the pencil is sharpened enough it looses the blades to say that its over. When its done you can see the beautiful wood trash below.

Also small tooth traces on holding points are resulting really cool marks on the pencil.

Pros;

+ Life time usage

+ Extremely good performance

+ Cool imprint on pencils

Cons;

- Unmovable

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Pentel GraphGear 1000

I would like to tell my conclusion here at the beggining: FABULOUS

Pentel GraphGear 1000 seems to be a drafting pencil at first sight but it is really successful at writing as well. Metal body provides strength and really good look to this pencil. Knurls and plastic elliptic dots at the grip are doing pretty well enough to prevent slip from your fingers. They are performing amazingly good even at hours of usage.

Japanese technology is showing off at the clip. When its turned on it takes the nib inside the pencil to save your pockets and the sleeve of the pencil. Also you can attached your papers to this clip up to 10-15 pages successfully. Pentel GraphGear 1000 is available with sizes 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 all indicated with branding in different colors. Regarding the price I can say its mid-low which can be considered as a real bargain with its high quality.

Only negative point of the pen is; lead indicator is really really tight. You must loosen the tip a bit to rotate the lead indicator and tighten it back again to fasten. It is not that kind of a big trouble for me as I do not use the indicator a lot but those who were in need of it might be looking for a bit easier ones to adjust.

Pros;
+ Great metal body and gorgeous design
+ Strong clip can be used as a paper clip
+ Pocket safe clip mechanism
+ Really really succesful grip design
+ Wide lead thickness range

Cons;
- Slightly high price – I think it worths
- Hard to adjust lead indicator

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Lamy Safari

Lamy is one of the best writing instruments producers in the world. Affordable prices and really good designs made this brand well-known all around the globe.

Safari is the bestselling model ever of Lamy. Wide color range, variety of types and affordable prices are taking role at this record obviously.

Lamy Safari was designed in 1980 by Wolfgang Fabian. Body is made of a polyester called ABS. I can say that this is the simple Lego material. Safari can be found as rollerball, ballpoint pen, foundtain pen and propelling pencil with size 0.5 mm. There are seven different colors available always in production with a different single special edition color each year. Below, you can see the 2013 special edition color Neon Yellow I have. Other one is umber, which is always available in the market.

Hiding metal sleeve provides a durable pocket-safe pencil. Shining colors causing a slippery body but mat black umbra is sticking your hand with its rough surface. Triangular design at the grip also helps for a tight hold.

Logo at the back which is applied by the mould looks really really stylish and provides a strong look to the pencil. Metal clip is both helping for a tight pocket hold and a stylish look. Below the cap there is a tiny successful eraser stabbed by sleeve cleaner metal.

Only negative point is that this pencil is coming with a smart cardboard box. More elegant box might be expected for a pencil which is a good choice as a gift. But it is still ok for a good looking, strong and affordable pencil.

As a conclusion Lamy Safari is a good-looking, strong and suitable pencil for daily usage. Affordable price makes it a really good choice for a gift as well. Also, collectors should not miss its special edition colors provided each year!

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Platinum Pro Use

Platinum began its journey in 1919 by producing fountain pens. Best known with its wonderful fountain pens currently. Both production and material qualities are representing the name of the company well.

Price of Platinum can be considered low compared to Platinum price range and mid-low compared to all mechanical pencils in the market. It comes in a really stylish box with a cushion at the bottom.

Pencil is completely aluminium. There is a size indicator at the lid which is placed to prevent placing wrong leads. Brand and model logos at the side are grey and looking really elegant. Layered grip section provides an aesthetic look and prevents slip from hands. Platinum Pro Use has a fixed sleeve which leaves this pen helpless for the drops like many other drafting pencils. There is also a lead indicator here in different colors for different lead types.

Actuall there is no need to talk about this pen too long. It is a wonderful selection for both writing and drafting. Chubby body makes this pencil fill your hand easily and knurled grip and aluminium body creates harmony with your hand. Length, diameter and weigth are just like as they should be. I have been using this pen for a short while but I can honestly say that this is one of the best pencils I have ever seen in my life.

To summarize, Platinum Pro Use can be considered before any other pencil for writing and drafting. No-slip, no-exhaust, no-breakdown pencil. Affordable price also makes this pencil reachable. I really really love this pencil a lot.

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Parafernalia Revolution

Probably the most interesting and charming pencil in my collection: Parafernalia Revolution

This handsome notebook at the background will be inspected soon.

This handmade beauty of Italy, was designed by Sergio Carpani in 1978. Gifted Italian pen makers are assembling 31 different aluminium and plastic parts to create this wonderful pencil.

This gorgeous French rooted Italian is one of the pens to be shown in Museum of Modern Art in New York.

In 1971 one of the most famous architecture studios of Italy, Alchimia asked Parafernalia to create unique pen. Designer Carpani decided to create a pencil which is beyond dreams of anybody. Also it should carry aesthetic concerns, fully optimised for architecture and should be source of inspiration of architect using the pencil. Centre Georges Pompidou at the Beauborg area of Paris has became the source of inspiration of this unique pencil. Center Pompidou, which is made by two Italian and one British architect for cultural and leisure activities representing postmodern design with highest technology.

Centre Georges Pompidou

When it comes to the usage dynamics and mechanism of the pencil,

It is an equilateral triangle with dimensions 12 x 12 mm and 113 mm long. This masterpiece of succesful blend of aluminum and plastic comes with 12 shining colors; yellow, aluminium, black, red, titanium, violet, blue, turquoise, bronze, lime green, orange and green.

Lead: Lamy 0.5 HB

As it is a metal pencil without grips and knurls it shows and intension to slip from hand but triangular shape with spaces prevents slipping. Plastic material usage might create question marks about quality of this pencil but extraordinary design makes you forget everything negative about it. Slim clip with rubber tiny ball holds your pocket tight.

To summarize, its not a pencil to use for hours. But it is a great pleasure to carry this pencil.You can be sure to catch eyes at school and work with this one.

Parafernalia supplies this pen with wooden display most of the time but it arrived me with a regular orange cardbox. As I paid a really low price it didn't hurt me that much but of course I would prefer the wooden display below.

As a conclusion, Revolution is an exciting, attention grabbing and unique pencil. In hand it could not satisfy me completely. But it is suitable for short notes or sketches. Especially it is a must have for collectors.

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Uni Kuru Toga

It is an inevitable truth that Japan are pioneering the technology. Even in the pencils!

That's the reason why is not a big surprise to see innovations on a pencil which is an item not related to technology.

Uni Kuru Toga: A mechanical pencil keeps lead sharp all the time.

If you would like to keep enjoying newly shapened pencil all the time on a mechanical pencil this one is just for you.

There are also two other types of Kuru Toga called 'High Grade' (Metal Body) and 'Roulette' (Metal body and knurls at the holding part) are available.

Material quality of regular Kuru Toga is not satisfying enough but its wonderful lead rotation technology worths trying.

Well, how does the lead stays sharp all the time?

Kuru Toga Engine Lead Rotation Mechanism

As you can see clearly from transparent section each touch of lead to the paper rotates the lead by small angle and this rotation changes the contact point of lead resulting a triangular shape at the top and keeps it sharp all the time.
So, this technology prevents breaks and you can use the same lead for much longer time.

Only negative points about this pen are unsatisfying material quality and its intention to slip from hands after a short period of usage even there is a wave shape at the grip.

Pros:

+ Always sharp lead
+ Able to write with same lead much longer

Cons:

- Low material quality
- Intension to slip from hand

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Uni Posca

Really successful pen from the rooted Japanese pen brand Uni.

Posca is designed for graffiti artists especially as it is able to write almost on everything. I really mean everything. There is no limit for your imagination with this wonderful pen.

We can give this artist as an example who is painting his shoes with Posca.

Posca has a huge variety in tip sizes and shapes beginning from 1 mm up to 15 mm. I bought the white one to write on my black notebook but I was not satisfied with the performace. The other way around its a real joy to write the headlines with yellow one which did a great job on black notebook.

Pros:

+ Wide color and thickness avaliability
+ It can write on any kind of surface

Cons:

- High price
- Splashes tiny dots on paper

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Faber Castell Textliner 1148

Really interesting product from Faber Castell Grip family.

Textliner 1148 is an highlighter, but an extraordinary one.

Actually it not doing something else than other highlighters but this one looks like a colored pencil.

This one, grabbing attention with its triangular shape and small dots at holding area is especially good at print outs and rolling ball pens and never scatters the ink on the paper. Besides its not doing well with pencils but not as bad as the regular ink based highlighters. (who needs a highlighter on pencil writing though?)

In order to sharpen this beauty you can either use a knife or a pencil sharpener with a giant opening.

This one is a real bargain as it is only a simple triangular giant pencil which is doing great work.

Features:

• 5 different color options (orange, blue, yellow, red(actually pink) and green.) I have the yellow one only.
• You can use with any kind of paper.
• Broad and soft touch
• Ergonomic triangular design with grip dots preventing slip

Pros:

+ Cheap and everywhere

+ Really ergonomic design

+ Great painting capabilities without scattering the writing

Cons:

- Hard to use until it gets broad after sharpening

- Really long item. Does not fit all pencil cases.

Result : 7 out of 10

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Welcome

This was a journey from years ago.

First, I begin collecting pens, pencils and some other stationary stuff. As years passed they ran over my pencil cases and splashed on to words at my blogs Turkish version: oncekalem.blogspot.com

Recently I decided to begin rewriting about my favourites again after a long long break of 3 years.
I haven't post anything new yet but tidied up around a bit and added this brand new frosty English version.

Hope I would make most of myself and be able to write simultaneously in both languages.

Hoping to seeing you soon around my pens and pencils.

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