i was looking for mechanical pencils-- the only ones i can find is .5mm and hb lead. is there small leads and 2b and so forth. where do you get them.
Lori

http://www.artsuppliesonline.com/catalog.cfm?cata_id=1634 This is the link to a website where I bought some mechanical pencil lead. They have the pencils too.

http://www.artsuppliesonline.com/catalog.cfm?cata_id=10686

Great links BRB, Thanks

yes exactly what i was looking for. thank you. and they are all on sale!!!
Lori

I love writing with mechanical pencil and will refuse to use a regular one but I hate drawing with mechanical pencils. I guess mainly because with regular ones you can use the sides.

Although I have to check out the different mechanical graphite.

I have been working with a full compliment of wooden drawing pencils but I am now interested in using mechanical ones. Can anyone suggest what would be considered a "standard set" of mechanical pencils one would need as far as mm's are concerned.

I noticed the following lead degree availability for each mm pencil :

.3 B-HB-H2-H

.5 6H-5H-4H-3H-2H-H-HB-F-B-2B-3B

.7 4H-3H-2H-H-HB-B-2B

.9 2H-H-HB-B-2B

Since there is some redundancy and overlap in regard to degree for each mm pencil; is it necessary to obtain .3 -.9 ? or can I basically get by with only a .5?

Thank you in advance !!!!!!!

I personally reject the use of mechanical pencils for drawing, most of the time. To tell the truth, they certainly have their own value--they can draw nice, sharp lines on a regular basis, unlike normal pencils that have to be sharpened on a fairly regular basis. But like Aviation said, when you try to shade with the side of a mechanical pencil's lead, it almost inevitably breaks right off (unless you're shading very lightly).

Check out this site. It's fun to look around and if you are as fanatic as the guy who manages the site you'll love it.

I used to use mechanical pencils a lot, and they are excellent with .5 HB lead, but I found .3 to be too fragile with HB.

Going to a softer grade of lead would create too many problems I think.

.7 might stand going soft if you can easily get the leads in soft grades, but I personally doubt it.

My choice right now is graphite stick, sharpened in a handle driven pencil sharpener, the kind you get in schools.

This gives me fine points easily sharpened, no graphite dust, clean clear crisp lines, and broad strokes when I want them.

If I were to recommend any graphite medium it would be this.

regards

Brian

I'm an engineer so I use sketches and drawings a lot throughout the day. I carry a Cross Tech3 religiously...it has a two color ball points and a 0.5mm mechanical pencil in one instrument. I use 2B lead and very much prefer it over HB. It does wear down faster but four leads will last me well over a week of near constant use. The 2B gives me a much greater range of values than HB. It makes it easier to quickly sketch the outline/dimensions of something lightly then go over the primary edges much darker by varying the pressure. I did have to adjust the amount of lead that I advance out of the pencil (one click instead of two) but it didn't take long to get used to it.

Thank you for the information Brian....

Thank you...yes I thought that the .5mm might be the preferred choice.....