Faber-Castell Lower Price Range Mechanical Pencils

A Comparative Review of Some Faber Castell Low Price Range General Writing Mechanical Pencils

Guest Post by Tom

About half a year ago, I discovered Dave’s mechanical pencils blog. As someone who just got into the hobby of collecting woodcase pencils, the blog opened up a whole new world of mechanical pencils to me. I enjoyed reading through the reviews, so I decided to get in touch and offered to contribute one.

In this review, I will talk primarily about the Faber Castell Grip 1345/1347, which, at the time of writing this, is still missing from the review list. However, I will also compare it to the GripMatic and the TK-Fine Exectutive (which have already been reviewed on the blog), since these are also general writing pencils in a similar price range.

Top to Bottom: GripMatic, Grip 1347, TK-Fine Executive

The Faber-Castell Grip 1345/1347 (the last digit tells the lead diameter) is one of Faber-Castell’s entry level general writing pencils. Depending on where you buy it, you can get this pencil for 3 to 6 € (I don’t know details about prices in the US, but I assume it is a similar amount in $). Although made of plastic, the pencil has a nice finish for its price point. It also has a relatively sturdy metal clip. The writing tip features a conical, retractable lead sleeve, making the pencil fully pocket-safe. On the other end of the pencil, you can find a eraser that comes out if you twist it (which is a common feature of most Faber-Castell mechanical pencils). According to the sticker on the pencil, it is made in Japan (the higher-price Faber-Castell stuff is made in Germany, but “Made in Japan” is also an indicator of quality, at least in my experience with stationery). The pencil is available for 0.5mm and 0.7mm lead and comes in the typical Faber-Castell color range (dark green, burgundy red, dark blue, and black). The name “Grip” comes – presumably – from the rubber grip section at the front of the pencil. Although the grip section is decently made, I personally don’t like it, because I tend to rotate the pencil, which does not work as good with the molded grip indentations (although I have seen that apparently, newer models of the pencil feature a round grip without indentations).

The GripMatic is very similar to the Grip 1345/47, but the price point is one step lower (between 1,50 and 4 €). The overall build quality seems to be a little bit lower. The pencil is made in China, the finish is not as nice and the clip is made of plastic. Interestingly, the Gripmatic features an automatic lead advance mechanism, which the more expensive Grip 1345/-47 does not have. However, the lead advance mechanism does have its problems. In particular, I noticed that sometimes the mechanism tends to advance the lead due to friction when you carry the pencil in your pocket, making the pencil technically non-pocket safe.

Finally, the TK-Fine Executive is one price step above the Grip 1345/47 and can be found between 5 and 8€. From a technical standpoint, the TK-Fine Executive has the same features as the Grip 1345/47 (same mechanism, same eraser, metal pocket clip, also made in Japan). The differences are mainly stylistic. In my opinion, the TK-fine executive looks more elegant and the plastic body has a nicer finish. Also, I like the grip section more. Although it is non-rubberized, it has simple circumferential grooves instead of indentations, which does not impede the rotation in the hand. The only disadvantage compared to the Grip 1345/47 is the metal clip, which is only kept on by friction and could theoretically slide off if you pulled hard enough (although, in fairness, this has never happened to me by accident, only when I tried it deliberately).

Among the three pencils, the Grip 1345/47 clearly strikes the best balance between price and quality. The GripMatic is inferior in terms of quality, and the automatic lead advance has not convinced me. It would definitively be worth it to spend one or two euros more to get the Grip 1345/47. The TK-Fine Executive, on the other hand, is not necessarily worth the higher price point as it is not superior to the Grip 1345/47 in terms of technology or quality. Personally, I prefer the TK-Fine executive and I don’t mind the slightly higher price, but this has merely stylistic reasons.

A Few Fabers

On my desk display this week, a few from Faber-Castell

Ambition

Twice multi pen  (1 x BP, 1 x MP tip)

Basic

TK Fine Vario L

TK Fine Executive

I often think that the TK Fine Executive and Vario L are the "Forgotten Fabers". They have been around for so long and never seem to get the hype, advertising, acknowledgement or attention of their constantly changing array of competitors from Japan and elsewhere.

Sometimes you just have to lay down some ink. Don't hate on me, the G-man makes me do it !

FP e-motion pearwood dark brown

BP e-motion pearwood dark brown

MP e-motion pearwood black

Back With Triple Sets

I shut this blog down a few years ago and took it offline a while back, but I have recently been trying to get my "pencil-life" better organized. Part of that has been the long overdue decision to reorganize (down size) my collection. Over the years I have ended up with a lot of stuff I don't really want. Things that looked good online but aren't in the hand, duplicates, minor variations, etc, etc, etc.

The review of things to keep or sell got me thinking about triple sets - fountain pen, ballpoint pen and mechanical pencil. Not that they were ever that common 30 - 50 years ago, but I guess they are basically a thing of the past now unless you make up your own one by buying three separates. I do have a couple of triple sets... but not for much longer :)

Conway Stewart

Pilot

Faber-Castell E-Motion - the one I'm keeping, although it is a make up of three separates in a flip top hard case.

So, someone who knows about ink, why isn't the Faber-Castell nib gold?

Faber-Castell Alpha-matic and TK-Matic Mechanical Pencils

The Magnificent Seven - The Final Showdown

Faber-Castell Alpha-matic and TK-matic

by Pencil Paul

Well I have left the best till last, these are my all time favorites. I wanted to show the alpha range, so here we have I feel the finest mechanical pencils available. The sheer quality of manufacture becomes immediately apparent as soon as you handle these pencils.

The silver TK-matic shown was purchased in 1980, the year of inception to the German market and it has worked flawlessly for me throughout all the years of sweated  magazine print deadlines, rattling around in the bottom of a brief case, running for the train in rush hour, bomb threats, 3 day weeks, power outs, being dropped and borrowed! In fact the whole gamut of working life in a busy London studio. It has never missed a beat or fluffed a line, this pencil deserves a medal for outstanding devotion to duty!  It is the only true draughting pencil in The Magnificent Seven, having a lead sleeve for use with rulers etc, and was often used with blue 0.5 lead for print proof marking up, a job that is now of course done on screen. The pencil itself is a solid, reliable heavyweight, that is made from stainless steel with the cunning auto lead advance feature, which is shared by all pencils shown here. As you write/draw the lead advances according to usage, you don't have to worry about leads till fitting a new one, which is just a question of pumping the cap button till one appears at the point. The cap is removable to access the small eraser with cleaning wire which I have never had to use, and the lead store below within the body. The knurled grip is superbly positioned and I feel the whole mass and ample weight of the pencils 26gams improves accuracy and control.

The other pencils shown here have been acquired along the way from various sources. These are all general use mechanical pencils in the alpha-matic range, lacking the drafting sleeve. Again the build quality is top class and they range in finish from the maroon red plastic, to the charmingly named 'Bronce' and to the most expensive 'Titanium' almost black finish. All are equally fine and able pencils. I would recommend anyone wanting the best in an 0.5mm pencil to seek out any one of these superb examples of German excellence. Was it Oscar Wilde who sated that "one never regrets purchasing quality"?

Faber-Castell Alpha-matic and TK-matic Mechanical Pencils

Paul - Thanks very much for showing these fantastic pencils from your collection. Perhaps after some rest at the saloon and bunk house 'The Magnificent Seven' may ride again?
Dave.

Faber-Castell TK4600 Leadholder Review

A while ago Vikram from Illinois got in contact with me and I persuaded him to do an article or a review for this blog. Well, the end result is that he sent in two articles, both on leadholders, because he quite rightly thought they were under-represented on this blog. So, this week is Virkam’s Leadholder Week, with two postings to publish. Here’s the first one.

Faber-Castell TK4600 Leadholder

Firstly, I would like to thank Dave for this great opportunity! I have been interested in pencils for a while, and at 16, I think I am the only one of all my friends to love pencils so much.

Faber-Castell: a name highly regarded in the pencil and writing instruments industry for high quality yet affordable products. As a drafting student, I was eager to try out one of their leadholders, the TK4600.

Faber-Castell TK 4600

This 2mm leadholder is a normal, economy grade pencil. The balance point is almost exactly at the midpoint, making this an ideal drafting instrument. A forest green, hexagonal body, similar to that of their Castell 9000 series of drawing pencils, makes it clear that Faber-Castell associates this leadholder to that high standard. The all plastic body of the TK4600 is very solid, similar to the Pentel P205 - able to withstand abuse and still deliver - a student model, for sure. The foil stamping on the body clearly states “TK4600 Faber-Castell” with “Germany” stamped in small letters on the clip. The metal tip section, (removable?) clip, and pushbutton show that Faber-Castell did not skimp on quality with this one.

The grip of the TK4600 is aided by the ridges toward the front of the pencil, but they do not really help; when drafting, the draftsman generally holds the pencil farther away from the tip-closer to the midpoint. Maybe this was conceived as a multi-use pencil; one for occasional writing and sketching as well as drafting? While writing with the TK4600, it was very clear that it is not a writing tool primarily - after a half page, my hand started to develop a painful cramp. Sketching and drafting is comfortable, and this is plainly the TK4600’s forte. Another, slightly shorter version, the TK9500, has “HB” stamped into the body, making it seem like more of a sketching and writing tool than the TK4600.

Faber-Castell TK 4600 and TK 9500

The TK4600 is a student leadholder, and a good one at that. However, the lack of a built in sharpener, higher price point (about USD $16, $12 for the TK9500) and the small grip section push me toward the Staedtler Mars 780 technico leadholder (USD $3-5) as a general leadholder. However, this one remains highly recommended!

Pros: -solid design and feel, great for drafting and sketching, solid metal clip

Cons: -high price for student leadholder, ridged grip in inconvenient place, no built-in sharpener

Overall: highly recommended, but consider Staedtler as well.

Thanks Vikram. Posting No. 2 coming in a few days.
Dave.

Faber-Castell Propelling Pencil Mechanical Pencil Review Scribolino

Faber-Castell Scribolino Propelling Pencil Mechanical Pencil Review

[Update 2018 - This pencil now named Scribolino on Faber-Castell website]

You may well question the title of this posting. Surely it should just be Faber-Castell Propelling Pencil Review? Maybe, but maybe not. At the time of writing, this particular pencil has me confused, and almost seems nameless. It appears on the Faber-Castell website new products section where it is pictured but not named, simply called the “the innovative Faber-Castell propelling pencil”. It is not shown on the main English language international website, but it is on a German language site where it is called “Der FABER-CASTELL Drehbleistift” which translates as “The Faber-Castell Propelling Pencil”. The German-English bilingual packaging pictured calls it ‘Drehbleistift’ and ‘Mechanical Pencil’. I’ll focus on the positive, and be happy that the product-naming folk at Faber-Castell have not emulated Stabilo. For the purposes of this review then I will call it the Propelling Pencil.
Whatever its name, this pencil is Faber-Castells new entrant into the seemingly fast growing niche of oversize mechanical pencils for learner writers. It is available in four different colour schemes, mine is the orange and red combination. It really is a bright cheery colour scheme, and certainly stands out on a desk covered in papers. There is almost a hint of fluorescence about the orange. The short fat cigar shape also seems to contribute to an attractive little package. I noticed that it caught the eye of most people who came into my office whilst I was using it. Visually then, this pencil is a winner. The branding is subtle – Faber-Castell is moulded into the orange body near the top of the pencil, but you have to go looking to find it. Two sides of the pencil have a large “C” in them down in the grip area, which I presume is some reference to Castell, as well as possibly indicating finger position. It appears the orange is an outer casing overlaid on a yellow coloured body underneath and the “C” is achieved by the orange outer layer not being moulded in that zone. There are three long scallops taken out of the round cigar shaped body to produce a triangular grip zone. The sides of the triangle are 14 – 15mm long in the main part of the grip zone. I know that I have previously found some other such jumbo learner pencils of similar dimensions to be too big for me, but somehow the Faber-Castell seems a much better fit for me. The short length of the Faber-Castell also seemed an asset at times, as many times I found myself holding it with the end cap in the centre of my palm and fingers running along its length. I often held it that sort of almost underhand style when I was crossing things off a list, scribbling things out, etc.The outer rubber casing is one that I have some respect for. It is a reasonably hard compound that doesn’t really move under normal finger pressure, but it is grippy - very grippy - and certainly does improve the grip factor. On the down side, it does seem to show up dirty marks, particularly any graphite smears from your fingers or papers that you may rest the pencil on. They can be cleaned off, but it does make me wonder what it would look like after a short while in a childs pencil case, but then most things look worse for wear after spending a week in a school pencil case.

The Propelling Pencil uses 1.4mm lead which Faber-Castell seem to be preferring over the more common 1.3mm lead. I still feel that this is nothing more than an attempt to guarantee sales of refills by having an exclusive lead size, but fair enough I suppose. The lead supplied lays down a good smooth line. It’s not any sort of economy lead for children. The lead sleeve is a short metal pipe and is retractable for transport. The lead also has some spring cushioning, which might be superfluous on a strong thick lead like 1.4mm, but then this pencil is for children so it might come in handy. The red end cap can be pulled off for access to the lead refill magazine. There is no eraser.The end cap has three quite large slots in it as airholes just in case some youngster swallows the cap. They are sized so that the leads will not fit through and children can’t use them as some sort of lead shaker. The lead advance is a twist action ratchet. The red end cap twists clockwise through about 150 degrees to advance the lead, and then springs back. 10 activations will get you about 11mm of lead. I am slightly dubious about the choice of twist action over push top for a learner pencil, but then it might cut down on youngsters playing around with the pencil. The really unusual aspect of the mechanism though is its lock and retract feature. Twisting clockwise advances the lead, but if you twist it anti-clockwise then there is a loud click and the end cap stays fixed in that position. The lead and the lead sleeve can then be easily pushed back up into the body. You don’t have to do any of the ‘push and hold to retract’ action that is common with most mechanical pencils. This is quite an interesting feature, and probably of some advantage to younger folk.

I have concentrated on the Propelling Pencil in relation to learner writers, but unlike some other recent learner pencils, I really liked using this pencil myself and would recommend it to both adults and children alike.

• Best Points – Bright cheery colours. Interesting locking mechanism.
• Not So Good Points – 1.4mm is just a fraction too large for many users. Now if they also offered a 0.9mm version…! The rubber grip seems a little prone to showing dirty marks.
• Price Range – Low.
• Does this pencil make it into the Top 5? – Tempting, but no.

Dimensions – Length 113mm, diameter 17mm at widest part. Balance point about 60mm up from the tip.

Return Of The Clones

[This posting is a first for DMP. At great effort and expense to the management, the photos in this posting should all be clickable for higher resolution originals.]

Back in November 2007 in my posting The Mysterious Kotobuki I mentioned the similarity between the Staedtler Elite 9705 and Faber-Castell Grip 1335 mechanical pencils.

In August 2008 the Attack of the Clones posting pointed out the variant and copy relationship of three mechanical pencils. Just recently I reviewed the Staedtler Integrity 9505 and I noticed the twist out eraser cartridge looked very familiar, which started some cogs ticking over in my mind. So, now it is time to take that whole line of clone-thoughts a little further.

Let’s take four pencils. The Faber-Castell TK-Fine Executive, Faber-Castell Grip 1347, Staedtler Elite 9705 and Staedtler Integrity 9505, as pictured below. At first glance they seem to be four fairly normal pencils, but let’s delve a little deeper.
Right, what have these four pencils got in common? Well, despite being German brands, all of these mechanical pencils are made in Japan. I mentioned above that the twist our eraser cartridge of the Staedtler Integrity looked familiar and got me thinking. Well, three of our four pencils have a twist out eraser – Staedtler Integrity, FC TK-Fine Executive and FC Grip, as shown below.If we extend the eraser cores out to their fullest extent we can see that they are the same diameter and length, and that they all have little red plastic fingers to hold the eraser core to the cartridge. Nothing surprising about the two Faber-Castell cartridges being the same, but the Staedtler one too? Here’s the three eraser cartridges pulled out from their pencils. Apart from the differing metal cap bands they are remarkably similar.“Remarkably similar?”. Get out your micrometer, look at the design, the mould markings, the little twist instruction arrows moulded into them. Remember the red plastic fingers? These cartridges are not similar, they are the same. Play a game of mix and match. All three of them fit into and work perfectly well in any of the three pencils. So, I would strongly suggest that these three twist out eraser cartridges are made by the same manufacturer, and they have just put some different metal cap bands on them to give some difference in appearance. Classic variants of a base model.

How about the pocket clips? Three of them look rather similar – the Staedtler Integrity 9505, Staedtler Elite 9705 and Faber-Castell Grip 1347. Side on, note how the tip section is folded under exactly the same. The only difference is the mounting method of the Integrity 9505. The Staedtler Elite 9705 and Faber-Castell Grip 1347 pocket clips are identical. Face on, they are impossible to tell apart.So, I say the Staedtler Elite 9705 and the Faber-Castell Grip 1347 pocket clips are the same clip and the Staedtler Integrity 9505 clip is a variant from the same manufacturer.

Let’s now move onto the sharp ends of the Faber-Castell Grip and Staedtler Elite. Here they are below.Just ignore the eraser cartridge for a moment. Don’t they look similar?

Here’s an enlarged view focusing on the rubber grip and metal tip section..So similar I cannot detect any differences.

Now unscrew the metal tips.Still looking exactly the same.

Pull the rubber grips off.Still looking exactly the same. Note how both have the same positioning flange at the base of the shaft for the rubber grip to seat back up against.

Yes, the Faber-Castell metal tip section happily screws onto and fits the Staedtler body.Now of course it only stands to reason that the mechanical pencil manufacturers purchase a lot of finished components from outside sources – pocket clips from X, metal tips from Y, erasers from Z, etc and that many of them could buy the same component from the same source. This could easily explain the similarity in twist out eraser cartridges, pocket clips, etc. But the Staedtler Elite and Faber-Castell Grip are a step too far. Same metal tip section, same rubber grip and innards, same main body, same pocket clip, etc. Same, same, same. Either Faber-Castell and Staedtler independently came up with incredibly similar mechanical pencils, or they are just variants of the same base model being made in the same factory in Japan - with only the slightest of cosmetic differences. I’ll leave you to decide which possibility you prefer to believe in, and the answer to the question, “True or False? Staedtler Elite = Faber-Castell Grip.”

From Brazil

Olá.

Brazil….steamy jungles, boa constrictors, capybaras, jaguars, Rio! Fantástico!

I'm back and kicking-off 2009 with something a little exotic. Well, exotic for me, anyway.

Way up the Amazon, in the city of Manaus, is an outpost of Germany - a Faber-Castell mega-factory to be specific. Whilst not really a centre of mechanical pencil production, they do make a couple of MP items, namely leads and some economy pencils.

My thanks to Adriano of Cool Pencils of Brazil for sending me some of these Germans from Brazil. He tells me that Manaus, in the Amazonas state, is a traditional manufacturing area where the taxes were very low to encourage manufacturing companies to set up their plants and thus help “develop” the region. Apparently there are a lot of electronics factories, motorcycle plants (Honda) and so on producing for the Brazilian and wider (South) American export market. In the words of Adriano, “…besides Samba, Cachaça and Futebol, we make some lead”. Well the ol’ Futebol isn’t that big down here in Rugby-land, but we know the Samba-Kings are the team to beat when it comes to that funny game with the round ball where you can’t use your hands. Some of us also remember that singular moment of glory when our team actually made it to the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and Oh!, how happy we were on 23 June 1982 when we pulled one out of the hat and managed to just plain old lose, rather than be annihilated by Brazil.

So firstly, the Faber-Castell “Poly” mechanical pencil, sold in a vacuum shrink-wrap sort of hang-sell package. Its obviously an economy or low price range pencil, but the interesting thing about it is that it comes with a selection of interchangeable components. It is assembled with black components, but the package contains silver and bronze replacement tips, pocket clips and eraser covers so that you can mix and match and make up your own colour scheme. Two replacement erasers and a container of B leads is also included.

On the back we have
"Produzido no polo industrial de Manaus" = Produced in the industrial centre of Manaus, and

"Fabricado por A.W. Faber..." = manufactured by A.W. Faber...

Adriano says he has also rung the 0800 number and confirmed this pencil and the leads are really manufactured in Manaus, not just assembled or re-packed there.

The selection of leads consists of two hang-sell packs, and some loose containers.. For the hang-sell packs, one contains 2 tubes if 12 x 0.5mm HB leads, and the other contains 2 tubes of 24 x 0.7mm B leads. So, you get twice as many 0.7mm as 0.5mm leads. Also, whilst both are “grafites para lapiseriras” (leads for mechanical pencils), the 0.5mm are also “uso tecnico”. Both 0.5mm and 0.7mm leads are available in HB, B and 2B grades. The “Tampa Flip Top” of the lead containers is also obviously a feature.
The box of 12 containers also notes the existence of 0.9mm leads in HB, B and 2B. Whilst the 0.7mm leads in the hang sell pack are 24 leads in a red container, loose containers are 12 x 0.7mm leads in a green container just like the hang-sell 0.5mm leads.

One thing that does confuse me though is the word "cerâmica" on the lead refill box. Surely I should be reading "polímero" rather than "cerâmica"?