Mechanical pencils are commonly used by professionals involved in technical drafting, such as engineers and architects. Many artists also prefer mechanical pencils, even for more expressive and imaginative work, because the size and weight of the lead remains consistent, whereas a wood pencil gets finer the more you sharpen it. Mechanical pencils are also favoured by anyone wishing to produce neat and elegant handwriting.If you're going to use a mechanical pencil for sketching, you might want to consider investing in one of the best sketchbooks. Is a 0.5 or 0.7 pencil better? The comfort of a mechanical pencil isn’t something only drafters, architects, or professional artists have to think about. People who have arthritis, smaller hands, or who suffer from hand fatigue should also consider how comfortable a pencil is before buying it. The best pencil will be lightweight, fit well in the hand, and have a rubberized or coarse grip. In the table below, we list the advantages and disadvantages to using mechanical pencils instead of wooden pencils or pens: Advantages of Mechanical Pencils versus Wooden Pencils

With a normal pencil, once the graphite tip (commonly referred to as 'lead') has blunted, you need to sharpen it using a pencil sharpener. A mechanical pencil, in contrast, usesan internal spring to push the lead upwards into the barrel, when you press the button at the other end. When the lead has been fully used, you then simply insert a new replacement. Why are mechanical pencils better than wooden pencils? Undeniably, a quality EDC mechanical pencil will last you a long time. That's why it's essential to choose the right mechanical pencil, and in this guide, I'll go over some of my favorites and explain why they deserve a place in your everyday carry.Meanwhile, to further build up your artist toolkit, don't miss our guides to the best pencils of all kinds, the best pens for artists, and for expressive work and special effects, the best watercolour pencils. The best mechanical pencils for drawing The main benefit of mechanical pencils is they don't need sharpening.This saves you a lot of hassle and mess. More importantly, it means mechanical pencils provide more consistent lines, enabling you to create more precise and accurate drawings, and neater handwriting. The fine lines also tend to be easier to erase.And of course, you don't have to carry a sharpener with you all the time. Why are mechanical pencils more expensive? A pencil for drawing is a highly personal tool and each artist has different preferences for weight, balance, size and shape of the barrel and size of the lead. Some artists prefer a light or heavy pencil, some prefer the balance towards the tip or towards the centre, some like a smooth barrel and some like a knurled grip-zone so they can slowly rotate it as they draw to keep the tip even more precisely sharp. A Staedtler Mars was one of my first quality everyday carry mechanical pencils. It's a lead holder, which means, unlike a standard design with a bunch of thin-diameter graphite shafts, the Staedtler Mars comes with a 2mm lead with an integrated lead sharpener that functions with the pushdown mechanism. It comes with HB hardness lead, and you can rotate the metal clip to the correct indicator point for the particular lead you place into it to remind you of what you have loaded. The lead holder design makes it closer to a traditional pencil in concept, built sturdier and significant for all-around everyday carry. It's affordable, too, but don't mistake being cheap for poor quality.

Tactile Turn makes this quality EDC mechanical pencil in the United States in Texas, and you can get it in titanium, copper, bronze, and zirconium. You can upgrade the clip and the bolt with titanium treated with a Damascus finish. You can even have them engrave the pen to personalize it further. The attention to detail, beautiful design, and immense customizability of the Tactile Turn Pencil make it one of the best first-step upgrades when starting in the world of EDC mechanical pencils.

5. Alvin MC5 Pro-Matic Metal Lead Holder

Lead hardness on the average mechanical pencil comes in three different hardness levels, explained below. Some mechanical pencils even have an integrated lead sharpener in the cap. No matter the lead hardness, be sure to retract the entire lead before putting it away to avoid lead breakage. The barrel is robust, well-balanced and feels solid, comfortable to hold. Lovely weight and balance. Lightly ribbed plastic finger-grip zone, hexagonal barrel. Rhodia 9340C: The Rhodia 9340C has a distinctive hexagonal metal shape that works as a roll stop on a slanted desk. It also has a refillable 3-in-1 multi-pen and mechanical pencil mechanism.