How Fine is "Too Fine"? Comparing Tip Sizes Across Different Pen and Pencil Types

It can be hard to make sense of the different tip sizes in ballpoints, gel pens, and mechanical pencils. Manufacturers tend to denote the tip size in millimeters (or tenths of a millimeter) as opposed to the arguably more descriptive "fine,” "medium,” and “broad” or “bold” typically used in fountain pens and rollerballs. Moreover, the actual corresponding line width isn't always consistent, due to differences between ballpoint and gel ink. For example, a .5mm gel pen might write a wetter line that looks wider than a corresponding .5mm ballpoint.

Since I've spent the past couple of weeks on "day job" projects that have required a lot of travel and non-fountain-pen use, I thought it might be interesting to do a direct comparison of the different widths and test some recent observations.

These days, the only ballpoint pen I use with any regularity is the Uniball Jetstream. And I use ALL the sizes. Even in non-Jetstream pens, I’ve mostly swapped out the original refill for the Parker-style Jetstream SXR-600 (shown at bottom). Shown here are the Jetstream Prime (left) and Jetstream Edge (right).

Ballpoint Example: Uniball Jetstream

It's somewhat difficult to find decent ballpoints that allow you to write a very fine line outside of Uni's Jetstream line. There are exceptions, like the Anterique Mach Ball Pens and the Ohto Refills found in Mark's and Traveler's Company Pens, but these less common Japanese imports are generally limited to the .5mm size, whereas the Jetstream comes in in both .38mm and .28mm line widths.

Since ballpoint refills are typically drier than rollerball or gel pens, you really do get a lot of differentiation between the different line widths. That .28mm can almost be described as a “hairline”, especially with light pressure.

I'm always shocked at how smooth Jetstream refills write, even at the .28mm width. .5mm will always be my personal sweet spot for everyday writing, but it's nice to have the ultra fine options for notetaking and annotation. Currently, I’m only aware of the Jetstream Edge in this ultra-fine .28mm tip, but it’s possible there are others sold in Japan.

The Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto has long been my go-to gel multi pen. Check out my original review from 2016!

Gel Pen Example: Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Multi-Pen

The Pilot Hi-Tec-C remains a favorite gel pen, and the Coleto multi-pen version (in all of its various iterations) is probably my all-time favorite option. With gel pens, I tend to prefer the Hi-Tec-C's needle-tip, and I've found the Coleto Multi-Pen refills to resist the flow issues and clogging that can be endemic to the standard Hi-Tec-C.

I don’t have a .7m Hi-Tec-C (or know whether one even exists), so I subbed in a Pilot G2 for the .7mm writing sample.

Personally, the "sweet spot" for me is the .4mm Hi-Tec-C Coleto refill. I find these ever-so-slightly wider and smoother than most ".38mm" refills. This could be an ink issue as opposed to tip size, but I'm speaking from hands-on experience here, not any sort of technical analysis.

Mechanical Pencil Examples: Uni Kuru Toga and Caran d'Ache 888 Infinite

I've only recently begun experimenting with mechanical pencils narrower than .5mm. During my recent trip to NYC, I picked up a .38mm Uni Kuru Toga at Kinokuniya. I'm surprised at how usable this pencil is, even if you do have to be somewhat careful to avoid lead breakage. Generally speaking, a .7mm mechanical pencil will give you a line width closest to a standard woodcase pencil freshly sharpened in a long-point sharpener. The .5mm is my default “I-want-to-write-small-without-worrying-about-lead-breakage” pencil, and the size I use the most frequently. If you use a higher quality pencil lead, a .5mm mechanical pencil can be nearly as break-resistant as a .7mm pencil.

Shown here: the .7mm Caran d’Ache 888 Infinite (sorry, no longer available but the lead is identical to other Caran d’Ache Mechanical Pencils), and two Uni Kuru-Toga pencils in both .5mm and .38mm. I’m aware that .9mm and 1.1mm mechanical pencil sizes exist as well, though they’re less common and at that width, I will probably use a standard woodcase pencil or a 2mm leadholder.

Practical Considerations: Some Parting Thoughts on Choosing a Size

First, the good news: Most ballpoints, gel pens, and mechanical pencils are relatively inexpensive, so the risk of choosing the "wrong line width" is relatively low. You can buy one of each size and write with them for a while before making a larger investment in a broader range of colors or multiple refills.

If you find that you enjoy a certain brand/width combination (for example, a Jetstream in .7mm), you aren’t necessarily limited to buying pens from a single company because you can often find a more universal refill. Shown here is the Jetstream SXR-600, a Parker-style refill that fits ballpoints and rollerballs from many different brands. The Jetstream SXR-200 D1 refill is a great option for most D1 multi pens.

Second, as someone who takes a lot of notes and is a serial annotator - meaning that I obsessively mark up books, articles, and documents as I read them - I tend to find a use case for all of the different sizes. While .5mm is my go-to size for everyday writing, I typically keep a .38mm or .4mm handy, and have been experimenting with the .28mm Jetstream Edge. On the other hand, if you mainly write longhand, such as using your pens and pencils to journal, you may find .7mm the best all around choice. .5mm or wider will give you a smoother writing experience.

Here you can see an overall comparison of the three categories of writing samples above. In general, gel pens write a wider line than their corresponding ballpoint, and mechanical pencils will of course have less “spread” on the page since they don’t use liquid ink. The paper used is the Blackwing “Illegal Pad”, in the ruled format with the classic center dividing line.

Finally, though I'm still working through my thoughts on ultra-fine mechanical pencils, I'm pretty confident that anything finer than .5mm won't make it into my everyday rotation. With a mechanical pencil, you have to worry about lead breakage, and these ultra-fine widths are inescapably more fragile than their .5mm and .7mm counterparts. With a .38mm mechanical pencil, I've found that I have to pay more attention to things like paper texture, which can snag the lead and cause a break.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Certain pens and pencils discussed in this post are available for purchase in our shop, so please consider supporting us if you enjoyed this content!

Mechanical Pencil Review: The Uni Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch

What is this madness? The second Gentleman Stationer mechanical pencil review in a month? It's not so much a "new" focus on mechanical pencils, as I've always used them, but rather part of my recent attempt to fill out my years-long review backlog that includes to-date unreviewed pens such as the Pilot Vanishing Point and mechanical pencils such as the Uni Kuru Toga, which I'll talk about today.

View fullsize

The Uni Kuru Toga needs no introduction to many stationery enthusiasts. It's been around for years, and is one of the most popular mechanical pencils in both Japan and the U.S. When you see a "Kuru Toga" branded mechanical pencil, that refers to the lead advancement mechanism in the pencil, which rotates the lead as the pencil writes and allows you to maintain a sharp point on the lead without rotating the pencil in your hand. Honestly, many believe that Uni perfected the mechanical pencil with the Kuru-Tog a mechanism, and for general-purpose writing, I may have to agree with them.

I sometimes find myself rotating the pencil out of habit, but when I make a conscious effort not to do so, holding the pencil at a constant angle using the clip as a visual reference, I'm always amazed at how well the Kuru-Toga mechanism works. It really does keep a crisp point on the lead. That said, even if you don’t really care about the “Kuru Toga” aspect, this is a great mechanical pencil nonetheless.

What do I look for in a mechanical pencil?

• Balanced Feel. Balance is important in a mechanical pencil. The pencil can be heavy or light, but it needs to be balanced in the sense that it's not overly front- or back-weighted. Especially on a .5mm or .38mm pencil, if the balance is off the lead tends to catch on the paper and will break frequently.

• Protective Sleeve, or Pipe, to Reduce Lead Breakage. While most important in finer .5mm and .38mm (or even .28mm!) mechanical pencils, a metal pipe or sleeve will help to reduce lead breakage. Sometimes this sleeve is retractable, though not on this particular pencil.

• Comfortable Grip Section. Many people favor mechanical pencils as precision tools for drafting or annotating rather than longer writing sessions. Often, you’ll find them with a knurled metal grip that’s hard to use for more than short bursts of writing. Other mechanical pencils have a non-textured plastic or metal grip, which some find slippery. Here, you have a gel pad, which is somewhat unique and extremely comfortable.

For my second Alpha Gel Switch, I picked up this neutral version. It’s less eye-catching but also less likely to be “borrowed” than the bright yellow one. ;)

The Uni Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch ticks all three of these boxes. It's balanced and also extremely lightweight, making it an ideal choice for a pencil you'd want to use for writing. Combined with the accessible $14 price point, this pencil would shoot to the top of the list of recommendations for office or school use. The gel grip is insanely comfortable, as I mentioned above. The section is slightly firmer than a Pilot Dr. Grip, and the gel strikes a good balance between adequately conforming to your hand without becoming squishy or distorted over time. So far, it’s not developed that "sticky" feeling, or collected a ton of dust and debris. (If you've used one of the older Sensa pens, you'll know exactly what I'm referencing here.)

Ok, so what does the "Switch" refer to?

The "switchability" of this pencil is not a huge selling point to me personally, but some might find it useful. The "Switch" in the name refers to the ability to turn the Kuru Toga rotation mechanism on or off by rotating the clip. In "hold" mode, the lead won't rotate, which some people supposedly prefer for longer writing sessions? Honestly, I can't tell that much of a difference, and prefer the feel of the sharper lead so I leave the Kuru Toga mechanism engaged.

Uni provides a directional arrow showing you how to put the pencil into "hold" mode. Here I’ve rotated the clip on the yellow model.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Takeaways and Where to Buy

It's hard to go wrong with the Alpha Gel Switch for an everyday mechanical pencil. When you combine Uni's rotating mechanism with a comfortable grip and a gorgeous range of colors (including both muted options as well as brighter color combinations such as yellow and black), you have a quality workhorse mechanical pencil priced at less than $15 that you can take anywhere because it’s both reliable and inexpensive to replace if you lose it or it “walks off your desk” at work. I have two in my personal rotation, and used these nearly exclusively at the professional conference I attended last week.

We currently have seven different colors of the Kuru-Toga Alpha Gel Switch available for purchase in our recently expanded pencil section of the shop, along with at least one other version of the Kuru-Toga: the "Elite" or "Roulette" model which features a more traditional, technical-style knurled grip for those who prefer that finish. Both pencils are priced at $14.50. While we carry the .5mm lead size (which I've found to be the most popular), .38mm and even .28mm sizes are also available. The larger diameter .7mm is less common in a Japanese mechanical pencil. Our shop also carries the full range of Uni mechanical pencil refills, including both the basic “smudge-proof” formulation and the higher-end “Hi-Uni” leads.

View fullsize

You don’t see many comparisons of mechanical pencil lead sizes. For me, .5mm is the “sweet spot”, as .7mm tends to be too “dull” of a point, while .38mm requires lighter pressure or else you end up with lead breakage, especially on rougher paper. I’ve never been brave enough to try a .28mm mechanical pencil.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you enjoyed this content, please consider supporting us and keeping T.G.S. going!

Pencil Review: Tombow Mono Graph "Shaker" Mechanical Pencil

It’s not often that I find an entire line of products that I’ve never actually used. Sure, there are things out there I’ve never reviewed, but the Tombow Mono Graph mechanical pencil was so new to me that for a brief minute I couldn’t initially figure out how the “shaker” lead advancement and “lead lock” mechanisms worked. Fortunately, it’s not complex at all, and this little pencil has turned out to be a fantastic discovery.

View fullsize

This simple, contoured plastic section is quite comfortable to use. You can see the metal shaker mechanism just above the grip.

Tombow is a Japanese stationery company whose excellent office-style products can be overlooked, especially here in the U.S. where the company is often better known for art supplies such as colored pencils. I previously reviewed the (also excellent) Zoom L104 Multi Pen - a slim 2+1 ballpoint/mechanical pencil that impressed me. I came away from that review intending to dive a bit deeper into the Tombow lineup, but there are only so many hours in the day that it’s taken me a few years!

When I received a huge box of select Japanese mechanical pencils from one of my distributors a couple of weeks ago, these pastel-colored Mono Graph pencils caught my eye. Tombow typically nails the price-value proposition, and at less than $8, these pencils intrigued me. I also noticed the “Shaker” description - what does that mean? Pretty much exactly what you would think.

For any Tombow mechanical pencil that uses the descriptor “shaker”, you can advance the lead by, well, giving the pencil a shake. The barrel contains a sliding weight inside that trips the mechanism and advances more graphite. This comes in handy when you’re writing. As you find yourself wearing down the point of the pencil, simply flick your wrist to extend the lead. This can be a lot more convenient than changing your grip to click a physical button mid-sentence. You can slide the clip up to activate a “lead lock” mechanism, which prevents you from accidentally “shaking” too much lead out of the pencil. Of course, you can also press down on the clip to extend the lead like a traditional knock.

The clip slides up and down to either lock the shaker mechanism in place, or to work like a traditional knock and manually advance the lead.

The second thing I love about Tombow mechanical pencils are their integrated erasers. Tombow’s white “Mono” erasers are among my favorite on the market - they last a long time, erase cleanly, and don’t leave much, if any, residue on the page. The Mono Graph mechanical pencil features this same eraser, which extends from the end of the pencil using a twist mechanism.

The Mono eraser - a longtime favorite!

Takeaways and Where to Buy

As I always say, the stationery world is so broad and wide-ranging that it never gets boring. You can always find new rabbit-holes to dive into, and lately for me that’s included mechanical pencils. The Tombow Mono Graph pencils are inexpensive, comfortable to use, and feature one of the best erasers on the market. As someone who uses their mechanical pencils for writing and notetaking, as opposed to art or technical work, I’m sold on Tombow’s “Shaker” mechanism as much more than a gimmick.

The Shaker mechanical pencil comes in a range of fun colors, including the five pastel options shown here. The one I’m reviewing is the Mint (far right), and the pastel blue is ever-so-slightly lighter though it’s difficult to see in most photos.

The Tombow Mono Graph Shaker mechanical pencil is priced at $7.59 for either the standard black/blue/tricolor models or the pastel version, making it an attractive value proposition. All pencils take .5mm-sized leads. The T.G.S. Curated Shop now carries a selection of Tombow mechanical and woodcase pencils, including the Mono Graphs, as well as Tombow erasers and select pens! We’ve significantly expanded our pencil selection in recent months, and just received a large restock on most brands, so please be sure to check it out.

View fullsize

Three classics: blue, Tombow “tricolor”, and black.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Completing the Set: Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil

Due to the combination of timeless design, ergonomics, and quality, the Lamy 2000 series tops my list of personal favorite writing instruments. I started with the Fountain Pen, next acquired the Ballpoint and Multi Pen, and then the Rollerball. But what about the Mechanical Pencil? Lamy offers both .5mm and .7mm mechanical pencil versions of the Lamy 2000 in the same brushed black Makrolon finish as the rest of the line, and I decided it’s long-past time to check it out.

From top, the Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint / Multi Pen, the .5mm Mechanical Pencil, and the Ballpoint pen. You can also see different degrees of wear on the Makrolon as these pens/pencils are used and age. The Ballpoint dates to the 1980s, and is worn smooth. The multi pen is about 5-6 years old and starting to show signs of “break-in,” and the pencil is still brand new and therefore matte. I love the look of aged Makrolon!

In terms of design, the Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil offers no surprises - the form factor is more or less the same as the Lamy 2000 Ballpoint in terms of both look and dimensions. The differences are what you would expect: the standard metal knock is replaced by a Makrolon knock/eraser-cover engraved with a “5” or “7” on top to denote the lead width (a thoughtful detail, actually), and the tip of the pencil reveals a bit of the lead protector sleeve.

View fullsize

As with most mechanical pencils, the knock on the Lamy 2000 can be removed to expose an eraser and to refill the lead.

In the hand, the Makrolon (fiberglass-blend) pencil is of course both lightweight, balanced, and tactile. With a mechanical pencil, you need to pay attention to balance in particular, as an excessively front-weighted or back-weighted pencil can place pressure on the graphite and lead to frequent breakage. I had no such issue here, especially since I use the durable Uni Kuru-Toga or Pentel graphite in most of my mechanical pencils. (The stock Lamy graphite is also very good.)

View fullsize

In hand, this is a very lightweight mechanical pencil, which feels very much on par with both Lamy 2000 ballpoints (standard and multi pen).

While I have long adored Lamy’s 4-Color Ballpoint (the multi pen), the one knock on it (pun intended) is that it doesn’t include a mechanical pencil option like the Sailor Imperial Black. In my opinion, the next best thing is to have a matching mechanical pencil (or, as in my case, a full matching set ;)).

View fullsize

All the Lamy 2000 pens! (Well, most of them. I have more.)

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’ve been a fan of the Lamy 2000 in all its iterations for well over a decade. The Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil is no exception, and if you’re a fan of either the overall Lamy 2000 design aesthetic or simply good quality mechanical pencils in general, this one deserves your consideration. As with other models of the Lamy 2000, we stock them directly in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, in both the .5mm and .7mm variations. The pricing on the Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil is around $55, which is the lowest price point of any pen or pencil in the Lamy 2000 range, making it a nice entry point if you would like to try the shape and feel before committing to a more expensive item.

View fullsize

The mechanical pencil is conveniently labeled “5” or “7”, depending on whether it’s the .5mm or .7mm version.

Further Reading on the Lamy 2000

With the mechanical pencil, I’ve now completed my review series on the standard black Makrolon Lamy 2000 models. If you’d like to read up on the other pens in the Lamy 2000 collection, as well as more backstory regarding the history and story behind this Bauhaus-inspired pen design, check out our reviews of the Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Workhorse Pens Series), Ballpoint, Rollerball, and 4 Color Ballpoint - Multi pen.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain third-party affiliate links or paid advertising.

Technical Pens and Pencils: The TWSBI Precision Ballpoint and Mechanical Pencil

So-called “drafting” pens and pencils are sometimes considered a category unto themselves, or as a subset of the slightly broader “technical” pen and pencil category. Long-dominated by the beloved (and excellent) Rotring 600 and 800, many companies have shied away from introducing their own version of this classic piece of stationery kit, despite it’s enduring popularity. Not TWSBI, who over the years has introduced four different mechanical pencils, two ballpoint pens, and a technical-style fountain pen through their “Precision” line of products. Today I’ll take a look at the Precision mechanical pencil and ballpoint.

View fullsize

The Precision Mechanical Pencil comes in both fixed and retractable-pipe versions.

So What Distinguishes the TWSBI Precision Line of Pens?

If you (like me) already own multiple Rotring 600 and Rotring 800 pens and mechanical pencils, what differentiates the TWSBI Precision to the point that you might want to give this particular pen and/or pencil a shot? Here are my main points to consider:

• Different Knurling on the Grip. The primary difference I would highlight is the knurling (or grip texture), because this aspect will likely affect your everyday writing the most. Rotring uses a rougher, almost sandpaper-like texture that people either love or dislike depending on whether it hurts their fingers. Personally, I’m a big fan of the Rotring grip, which I think gives the pen a tactile writing experience that’s not duplicated elsewhere, but I also enjoy TWSBI’s approach. The Precision grip appears to be molded into the barrel as opposed to machined, so the knurling is slightly more raised and can have a softer feel. It all comes down to personal preference.

• Slightly Softer Edges on the Hexagonal Barrel. I’ve never noticed it until this direct comparison, but the edges on the Rotring pens are pretty sharp. The TWSBI Precision is more rounded, akin to the Caran d’Ache 849, though I would place the Precision “in the middle” between the other two.

• Different Aesthetics. Rotring famously adheres to a black/silver + red color scheme, and though they’ve moved away from that in recent years with a few new base colors, the overall aesthetic remains consistent. I would characterize the finish on the TWSBI Precision as more “satin” as opposed to Rotring’s true “matte”, and the TWSBI’s chrome clip, knock, and tip look nice on either the black or silver pen/pencil.

• Different Mechanism on the Retractable Pipe Mechanical Pencil. I previously reviewed the Rotring 800, and I love how that pen features a twist mechanism on the knock that allows you to retract the sleeve / “pipe” for pocket carry. The TWSBI Precision has a similar feature, though you need to depress the knock and press down gently to get the pipe to retract. It’s less convenient, but it’s also a less expensive pencil.

View fullsize

The knurling on the TWSBI Precision (top) and the Rotring 600 (bottom) is very different. One is not better than the other - they just have a completely different feel. Note that the tip on the TWSBI Precision ballpoint extends slightly farther than on the Rotring 600. Personally, I like this because I enjoy more needle-tip pens that feel as though they provide more control over my writing. Others prefer how the Rotring looks.

See the gallery below for a comparison between the Rotring 800 retractable mechanical pencil and the TWSBI precision mechanical pencil, both retracted (right) and extended (left).

View fullsize

View fullsize

General Functionality and Writing Experience

Overall, the Precision provides a very nice writing experience for the price point. The Precision pens and pencils are approximately the same weight and length as the Rotring 600, and slightly shorter/slimmer than the Rotring 800. Due to the different texture, the feel in the hand is more akin to the Caran d’Ache 849, and those who appreciate the 849 line of writing instruments but find themselves wanting a more textured grip section and slightly longer barrel should consider the TWSBI Precision.

View fullsize

While the pens discussed here all share certain design elements, they have their own unique feel in hand and will appeal to different users in terms of both aesthetics and functionality.

Though not a game changer, I wanted to point out that TWSBI adds value by including a pack of leads and replacement erasers with the Precision mechanical pencil, and a second Parker-style ballpoint cartridge with the ballpoint pen. The erasers are a cool touch - they’re super long, do their job well, and should last you for a while. The TWSBI-branded ballpoint refill is quite nice, but if you prefer something else it’s Parker-style so you can swap in your choice of the endless Parker-style ballpoint/gel/capless roller refills out there.

I love the long eraser on the TWSBI Precision. Plus you get three of them, likely enough to last you years unless you really enjoy your mechanical pencil erasers.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

To be perfectly honest, now that I’ve been using my own Precision ballpoint and Precision .5mm retractable mechanical pencil for a couple of months now, I’m kicking myself for having waited this long. In my opinion, TWSBI doesn’t do a great job of promoting their non-fountain pen product line, and even though many people have commented about how nice their mechanical pencils are, it’s one of those products that I put off trying and reviewing for years. I’m now wondering whether it’s time to pick up a Precision fountain pen.

Three different pens/pencils, three great options: the Rotring 600 (top), the TWSBI Precision (center), and the Caran d’Ache 849.

We recently added the TWSBI Precision line to the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and currently stock both the Precision Ballpoint and Precision Mechanical Pencil in all colors and subtypes. As noted above, the mechanical pencil is available with both .5mm and .7mm lead sizes, with a fixed or retractable pipe. Both Precision Ballpoint Pens and Mechanical Pencils are priced at $25, which I personally consider a very fair value.

Disclaimer: The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI products, including the Precision pens featured in this review. This post does not contain third-party advertising and affiliate links, and we are supported entirely by shop purchases and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.