I guess this is a bit of a public service announcement. Quite a few people end up at this blog after searching on terms like
How to clear a lead jam.
Lead jammed in mechanical pencil.
How to fix a jammed mechanical pencil.
Mechanical pencil lead stopped advancing.
Fix jammed pencil mechanism.
Of course the pencil mechanism might be broken, but the first thing to try with many pencils is to unscrew the tip and check there isn’t a piece of broken lead jamming the tip itself.
After that, the next thing to check is for a small piece of lead jamming the mechanism and you might clear it out by sticking a rod up the through the tip. Some mechanical pencils come with a clean out rod (usually it’s a thin metal rod attached to the eraser holder) but with a little care you can generally use anything that will fit up through the tip – another stick of lead, a pin, a straightened out paper-clip, etc. Push the button or whatever you do to advance the lead but then don’t release it, hold the button down so the mechanism stays open and put the rod up through to try and clear any jams. Do it a couple of times operating the mechanism in-between and keep your fingers crossed.
For more detailed instructions and pretty pictures and other things to try, check these links.
From Pentel - Clearing Jammed Automatic Pencils
From Associated Content – How to Clear a Lead Jam (From an Automatic Drafting Pencil)
From Pens and Pencils blog – use the “Clean out Rods” label to bring up plenty of good stuff, particularly on how to deal with jammed Ohto Super Promecha’s.
Friday, June 12, 2009
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21 comments:
Re BIC pencil leads sliding back into the pencil. It's probably because the bit of lead is too short...so just pull it out and click a new lead into place. Hoo Roo
I used a staple to unblock my Parker Jotter pencil.
Do you know how to clear jammed leads from the spare lead holder in a yard o led pencil. I have recently purchased a second hand one, it works fine other than this.
Here's hoping.
Hello Pete. I haven't had that problem, but the first thing that springs to mind is that lead isn't that tough and its easily replaced. So I would be tempted just to try and crumble/smash/dig/drill it out with something long thin and pointy - a sewing needle perhaps?
Also, metal expands with heat more than pencil lead. I'm not talking cooking it in the oven, but maybe warming the pencil slowly to something like 30 - 40 deg C (electric blanket, two warm hot-water bottles?) might be enough to free the lead?
Cheers Kiwi-d. Glad to break new ground on the pencil problem front. I'll give what you suggest a go and see if that solves the issue.
I had a Pentel Twist Erase pencil that was stubbornly jammed with lead. I put the tip in the flame of a butane lighter. The hi-polymer lead did not melt, but it did eventually release and clear. A tiny plastic busing that guides the lead fell out and had to be re-inserted. My pencil works.
But...
I have blisters on my index finger and thumb,
I have scorch marks on my desk blotter,
And the tip of my pencil is heat-treat black.
I would do anything to keep my Pentel pencil working.
Regards to all,
Ken
I'm sure Pentel appreciate the loyalty.
Bad form not to respond, so apologies. Your suggestion of a sewing needle worked a treat plus a pair of tweezers to remove the leads.
Many thanks.
Hi Pete - glad to hear it all worked out OK
All that work to keep your Pentel pencil?
This blog is ridiculous, but that's what I love about it :). It converted me from the Fountain Pen Network to crazy pencil sites like this one, but especially this one.
I've since enjoyed using pencil more often, even in evil classes like math.
Thanks for all the reviews!
DavidS - Welcome. All converts that escape the Ink Lords are welcome here :-)
hopeing to fix my papermate, the kind with the clicker on the side and the really long twist eraser... i made the stupid mistake if putting like 10-15 pieces of lead in it and jammed it hopefully a paperclip will work
-zayne kinkade
hi, have a caran d'ache pencil, it will not hold the lead in place, put in one end straight out the other, is it now a throw away or is there a simple remedy
Thanks for the staple tip. Cleared a jam in a Waterman with .5 lead.
I couldn't fix my mechanical pencil. (Lead jammed)
Thanks domeheid for the staple trick, rescued my beloved Pentel !!
Thank you! I followed your instructions and my pencil works perfectly again! When I think of all the mechanical pencils I've thrown away because I didn't know how to fix them... well, I feel a little bit sad. But that won't happen again.
Heat from a match did it the lead moved and I could pull it out with fine tweezers
THANKYOU so much, this has just saved me from a very annoying trip to the art store :D
I have a Pentel P205 that has been jammed for years. Too lazy to do anything about it, and didn't want to throw it away since it's such a great pen. Finally came across this site -- thank you!
Surprisingly, what (finally) worked for me was completely dismantling the entire pen, then taking the main pen mechanism and pushing down so that the 'jaws' were engaged in the open position.
Then, banging/rapping the open 'jaws' down on the desk a few times. A tiny piece of lead fell out! Sheesh.
The pen is now working fine. It only took me years to figure this out. :-) Thanks again for your site, it was nice/inspiring to see so many others with the same problem.
Would your advice be any different for my Montblanc Meisterstuck pencil that is jammed? I tried most of what you recommended but no luck so far. thanks
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