Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Background: I am a university student pursuing a major in computer science. I am no draftsman, and certainly not an artist. However, while taking an scantron exam in a macroeconomics course, I suffered the breakage of not one, not two, but three writing implements. My go-to pencil, a simple Papermate mechanical, had developed hairline cracks in the barrel over its three-month career, and finally give way under my grip, shattering into small pieces with an audible "crunch". Producing my fallback, a wooden pencil of the same brand, I continued. That one decided to snap in half after a few minutes of intense bubble filling. Finally, I resorted to a grimy, unbranded pencil missing its eraser holder which I immediately broke the tip off of. When I rose to repoint it, the torque exerted upon the body by the mechanical sharpener literally sheared the pencil in half lengthwise. Severely disappointed in my tools, I finished the test with the stub of the second pencil. My resolution: NEVER AGAIN. I set out in search of a graphite-holdy stick thing of higher quality. A friend of mine (an art student) had recently purchased a Uni Kuru Toga Roulette and recommended it to me, but, despite the admittedly solid construction, I decided that its metal grip assembly was NOT ENOUGH. I needed something MORE SOLID. I needed something made ENTIRELY OUT OF METAL. I turned to Amazon, and entered "metal mechanical pencil" into the search box. The Pentel GraphGear 1000 seemed a good choice, but reports that the retractable tip was prone to developing a wobble turned me away. The Rotring 600 was a bit out of my price range. However, the minimalistic, elegant design of this pencil coupled with its reasonable price tag (some $13.00 U.S. at the time of purchase) caught my eye from the "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" section of the page, and I bit. I recognized the Staedtler brand from a Mars Lumograph wooden pencil I had once borrowed and found quite impressive. After scouring the available reviews, I pulled the trigger on the 0.9mm model. I'm glad I did. As it turns out, this is one serious pencil. Despite some prominent drawbacks, the Staedtler 925 25 is a glorious tool truly worthy of a five-star rating. The Good: + The pencil is constructed almost entirely from aluminum alloy, with the only exceptions being the chromed steel tip, lead hardness indicator collar, and removable clip, the plastic lead chamber, and the entirely brass clutch assembly. + The grip is well-suited to my tastes. The flat-point knurling, while it provides ample friction to prevent slippage, doesn't feel in any way sharp or uncomfortably abrasive when held. On the contrary, it is actually quite pleasant to the touch, and remains comfortable even after extended periods of writing. I would compare the texture to 2500 grit sandpaper. + Balance and weight are spot-on. This almost entirely aluminum pencil has a bit more heft to it than a run-of-the-mill plastic mechanical, but is not at all cumbersome. The center of gravity is about 10mm forward of the tool's midpoint. This works well for me as I tend to grip pencils higher up the barrel than most. However, it might feel unpleasant to others. + This pencil is manufactured in Japan, and it shows. It sports tight tolerances, and all its pieces are joined together well with no flex, wobble, or rattles to speak of. The threads are well-cut. All parts save the lead chamber, clip, and hardness indicator collar appear to have been CNC machined. Advancing the lead produces a sharp, tactile, and very satisfying "click". It looks and feels like much like a surgical instrument, although, given the plastic lead chamber, it might not be a wise idea to throw it in an autoclave. In terms of feel and build quality, this is to a Papermate what a Cherry MX mechanical keyboard is to one that comes bundled with a Hewlett-Packard purchased at Best Buy. + I've owned this pencil for approximately two months, and I have NEVER ONCE broken the lead while writing. This may also have much to do with the 0.9mm lead diameter and the Pentel Super Hi-Polymer graphite I choose to feed it with, but is nonetheless a very impressive feat. + Does not snap in half during exams The Not-So-Good: - As with most all drafting pencils, the Staedtler 925 25 series is furnished with a frustratingly small eraser which is intended only for use in a pinch. It will be consumed alarmingly quickly with even occasional use, and replacements are very expensive. This pencil is clearly meant to be used in conjunction with a standalone eraser, which customers intending to use this implement for general writing rather than drafting or drawing will probably dislike. - I find that the shiny chrome accents, while ultimately tasteful, detract from the aesthetic appeal of the pencil and make it appear less professional. I would have preferred those parts to have been fashioned instead from the same grey anodized aluminum as the end cap and grip. It would still provide some contrast with the pearlescent barrel, but look much less flashy and distracting. - As others have noted, the knurling on the grip tends to dirty quickly and is very difficult to clean. This does not impair the function of the tool or the ability of the grip to be gripped, but does present a minor annoyance. - While less expensive than many other drafting mechanicals and reasonably priced given what you get in return, the Staedtler 925 25 is a bit of an investment for a pencil. For roughly the same cost of one of these, a dozen Pilot G2 pencils may be had. Then again, it's only a third of the price of a Rotring 800. - Like any other piece of overengineered equipment, extensive use of the Staedtler 925 25 may lead to uncontrollable bouts of egotism and overconfidence. It can take me some effort to remind myself that one's value is determined by content of their character, not the pencil they wield.