Paper Mate PhD Mechanical Pencil - 0.5 mm - Black Body

I love pencils. Pencil is the only writing medium I use other than Fountain Pen. Pencils that have been out of production for 30 years are stockpiled in my office because of qualities I found extraordinary. I have many, many pencils, and I will not part with any of them.

However, the PaperMate PhD 0.5mm is the only pencil I use. It is the only pencil I have used since I first gripped its comfy body. Marvelous. I wrote a few words, and then erased them. I erased them easily, and completely! Whereas the competitor in the arthritis-friendly market has a wee-bitty eraser with a cap that one must set aside or hold while erasing, the PhD eraser is always ready and goes on forever. The PhD eraser never gets dry and scrape-y. I might have to measure in years how much time had passed before I had to refill the eraser.

It comes with perfectly serviceable lead, but I replaced it with AIN 4B refills available elsewhere on this site. The combination is unbeatable. New technology makes even a 4B lead almost smudge-less. A comfortable grip on a fat pencil with .05 lead that requires almost no pressure on the paper makes for an incomparable writing or sketching experience.

I have used this pencil religiously for many years and I am very glad Jetpens carries it now! This pencil is extremely comfortable, and allows me to write for extended periods of time. The grip is solid, and the shape of the pencil is very ergonomic. I prefer a thinner line, and the .5 mm is perfect for this pencil. It is one of my all time favorites, highly recommended!