Customer Reviews

This is only an initial review, as I received the pencil today. However, there are a lot of good things to notice right off the bat. One, this all metal construction is spectacular. It isn't anywhere near as heavy as a rotring 600, but it has all if not more of the solid feel from the build quality. The grip size is great. I usually go for smaller grips, but this one isn't too big like lots of pencils can get to be. I really hate reading 2 and 3 star reviews from people disappointed that when they mistreat their pencil (i.e. DROP IT) that it doesn't stand up better. Of course a pencil with a permanantly protruding lead sleeve is going to be damaged. You should recognize this and do your best to prevent it.

Enough of my rambling. This is one awesome pencil, and as far as drafting AND regular mechanical pencils go, I can honestly say this will be in my top 3 for a long time to come.

All business, no retractable guide tube, no shaky shake mechanism, just meat and potatoes. The less fancy stuff, the less that can go wrong over time. Although the clip is not removable it is thinner and closer to the body's shaft than any other pen/pencil I've seen so it doesn't jab into my hand when drawing and turning the pencil around to get the exact edge I want on the lead. Tiny eraser under the cap and I was able to drop in 10 .5mm pencil leads in the tube and use the pencil just fine. I'm guessing it could probably handle 5 more.

The metal feels great and is very smooth. The grip part of the pencil feels good as well with the rounded ridges allowing multiple height/grip placement of your fingers. The tiny copper lead hardness indicator stays out of the way. Just below it are very lightly engraved pencil lead hardness numbers that include 3H 2H H F HB 2B 3B. Unless you switch leads all the time I find this largely pointless but decently implemented and most importantly kept out of the way near a part of the pencil you never touch.

Upon examining the main body of the pencil originally thinking it was one piece I noticed a faint line just above the grip. I turned the pencil and almost crapped myself when it suddenly began to twist off. Twisting and twisting I finally managed to separate the two pieces. The bottom piece of metal which is the entire grip area comes off and holds the entire lead storage tube with the eraser and metal cap on the end. The upper piece is simply an empty shell that holds the clip. I was impressed by how much unscrewing it took to separate the two. They really made it so when it screws back together it becomes very solid and will remain so over time. Even more impressive was actually seeing the thickness of the pencils metal shaft at a full 1mm thick. This was not simply a rolled metal tube but a solid hunk of aluminum that had been milled out. I started to lightly twist the pencils lead reservoir tube to see if it came out as well then thought better of it and immediately screwed the pencil back together.

The pencil is initially cool to the touch but quickly warms in your hand. It's about one and a half times thicker than your typical mechanical pencil tube and smooth and cool. Like a cigarette without the bad side effects. It is also almost 3/4in shorter than your average size mechanical pencil which again I found to be very nice. I never clip anything to my shirt pockets but I am guessing the reduced height would help as the pencil does not have a retractable tip. From where the pencil would clip on a shirt it is 4 3/8in long. Also take into account some sag in the shirt for the weight of the pencil which weighs about 3 times as much as a solid plastic Pentel Mechanical Pencil.
As for the Platinum's weight balance it has slightly more weight towards the front.

My only initial reservation was what seemed to be the very long amount of space past the grip to the tip since I like to hold my pencils as low as possible. For that reason I was considering Lammy but they don't make a .5mm fat pencil. However it turns out the amount of space is no more than what I was using before so it was no big deal. In the end I love the Pro Use, it sketches absolutely fine, my search for the perfect pencil has ended. In no way shape or form am I curious about other pencils, I am now fully satisfied. If the Platinum Pro Use had a sister I'd marry it and promise to never draw freakin unicorns with it. Good weight, incredibly solid build, short, fat (I'm sorry, "voluptuous"), low profile clip doesn't get in the way or gouge your hand like so many others. I really can't think of anything I'd want to change on it. My former Pentel side click mechanism pencils were good, my black Platinum Pro Use with rubber grip was great but this lethal metal weapon is perfect. Based on that I would highly recommend this for sketching/writing unless you store your pencils in your pocket often. In that case I would look for a retractable tip mechanical pencil or extend your shirt pockets!

Sorry for the long review, I like to be thorough especially for those considering the higher cost of such a pencil.

- Rogers -
http://wightzombie.deviantart.com/

I've been experimenting with many drawing instruments purchased from JetPens for eight months now, but this is the first review I've written here--the Pro-Use II has inspired me.

When I found out there was something beyond mechanical pencils--namely drafting pencils--I went about finding out everything I could about them online. I was after one with a thick, solid grip, because I felt that would be easier ergonomically. After much looking around and reading reviews, it became clear that the Platinum Pro-Use II was the only choice.

When I received it I was surprised by just how short it is, but I have somewhat small hands, and after a few days of adjusting, it now feels almost like a part of me. The biggest adjustment was actually the balance; the short length makes it forward weighted, which was quite different than what I came to realize was the back-weighting of the long, decades-old (and still in great shape!) Pentel PD345 mechanical pencil I'd been using, which was further backweighted by a larger eraser stuck on the end. But I've found that the forward weighting of the Pro-Use II is the way to go--it inclines toward the drawing board and seems to make lines with almost no effort from me! In fact, from the very first drawing I made with it, I noticed an improvement in my drawing over what I'd been doing previously. I'm sure this is mostly a mental thing...but given the drawing improvement I've noticed since getting it, I can't help viewing this pencil as something almost magical.

The construction is cool, lightweight, and as solid as I can imagine is possible, despite the fact that if you want you can unscrew various parts and pare the pencil down to just the tip, grip, and inner lead-holding tube. Aside from that inner tube, which is plastic, the rest of the body seems to be very finely milled aluminum. By unscrewing the end of the pencil, you can remove the pocket clip, although I've left mine on since it prevents the Pro-Use II from rolling away when placed on a flat surface. There is a very tiny eraser under the end cap, which I have not tried using and do not intend to, since I prefer using standalone block erasers.

My favorite part of the Pro-Use II is the grip: nice and thick, initially cool to the touch, and knobbed with those lovely gentle undulating ribs that just seem made for fingertips to grasp with easy security--there's absolutely no slipping, sliding, squishing or grating like you may get with just about any other type of pencil grip. The Pro-Use II grip is a marvelous invention that should go down as a landmark in writing instrument design.

I'm a comic artist and the Pro-Use II has been my primary, daily drawing instrument for the past six weeks, during which time I've only come to like and admire it more and more. I use Pentel Super Hi-Polymer 0.5 mm H leads in it, which are pretty easy to find just about anywhere, and haven't had a single lead break or jam, despite having clumsily struck the tip of the pencil against the lower lip of my drawing table on numerous occasions.

Scans of a few pencil layouts I've done with the Pro-Use II:
http://smbhax.com/stuff/121009e17d102p.jpg (approx 16.5" wide)
http://smbhax.com/stuff/121010e17d104p.jpg

To update the earlier review, I use this thing a lot now. It doesn't grow old and remains very fun - I'd currently rank it quite as highly as the rotring 600, which I thought substantially better previously. Of the pencils I've owned or used and liked, I prefer it to ohto's promecha 1500p and place it just behind my longtime favourites, two pretty ancient faber-castells, the tk-matik and alphamatic. 2c.

I find theses pencils (both the 0.5 and 0.7 sizes) to be excellent, as they combine great functionality with beautiful design. Each "feature", rather than being added on to a "base" pencil, is expressed naturally as an integrated part of it's original design. Things, such as the ribbed grip and rounded pocket clip, are part of the natural flow of the pencil body. In this way, it reminds me somewhat of the MacBook Pro "unibody" design: great functionality is created as a natural result of a unified design, making the device a pleasure to use.

Originally, I thought the thinner Platinum I pencils would suit me better, but I soon found that I actually prefer the Platinum II pencils (I have used both). The larger grip size and more refined design make it easier and more pleasurable (for me) to use. The only thing that I have yet to decide upon is which lead size and hardness I want for daily use. I like the Uni NanoDia leads and now use the 0.7-B (which is dark enough, but has a somewhat thick line). I've just ordered (but haven't yet received) a set of Uni NanoDia 0.5-B to 0.5-4B leads (from JetPens). I'm hoping that one of these will achieve a thinner, yet dark line, without too much smearing (my ultimate lead ;-).

I know it's "just a pencil", but it feels more like a piece of art that you can hold in your hands, making a common-place task, like writing on paper, more enjoyable.

This pencil most closely resembles the Lamy Scribble Drafting Pencil that is available here in Jetpens,such as its curves.At first I wanted to get the scribble but changed my mind because its in 0.7mm,instead i got this.The difference between both decorated mechanical pencils is the fact that this not retractable.

It gives a dignified air of professionalism ( Professional as its name implies ) when one is just looking and using it.To others who purchase this instrument,The clip is detachable therefore it shares a second trait with the scribble.Once you detach the clip its really prone to rolling off your table,Do take caution.

To some reviewers.There no such thing as an indestructible pencil even given the price range,even a many times more expensive car can be dented,But with care,it will aid you in your work for a long time.Given.Its an amazing experience drawing with this pencil,its an even greater experience owning it.All Aluminium.Precise.Detachable.Balance.Comfort - A 5/5 stars is the Platinum Pro-Use II Drafting Pencil.

This is a very solid, drafting style pencil. My Teacher dropped it today and the cap became very loose. However i was able to pinch it tight and now its fine. The grip is a lot larger than any other pencil i have held and personally, as i have big hands (i can palm a basketball), I really like it. It is not my favorite though, as it is just a little to short for my large hands. Out of my collection of well tested pencils, i'd say that this is 2nd after the Staedtler 925 25 05, although the quality of both is the same. If the tip is taking care of i could see this lasting me a lifetime.

Really solid pencil. 5 stars for the precision and quality.

Fantastic!! Love the fit and feel of this bad boy. I got big hands so i personally like how chubby it is. Super solid, great weight, functions flawlessly (loved it so much I bought 2). The Pentel Smash is the only one that can compete with this pencil mainly because its less expensive, but I absolutely Love both. Worth the money, if you can't get past its chubby feel, then get the Smash.

I was looking for a good drafting pencil, and I think this is my favorite. For years I've used cheap Pentels, but I decided to pick up a few pencils from JetPens to find a more permanent pencil. I bought a Kuru Toga High Grade, a Staedtler REG, a Pentel GraphGear 1000, a Ohto Super Promecha, and one of these. This is the best of the bunch. Very sturdy, no rattling, and it writes very smoothly. I actually don't really like the design, but it's very comfortable to use, so I can ignore that.

it reminds me of a G-2 form factor, but about 1/2" shorter.
If it were just a tad longer and had a retractable tip, it would be perfect!

OR if there were a G-2 aluminum pencil, that would be great as well.

It is very comfortable after a bit of getting used to.
Balance point is just about midway. not top or bottom heavy.

Great pencil.

got the pencil today, it is a bit shorter than regular pencil like other people said. It is medium light and seems more well balance than my rotring pen. Writting is nice and smooth. Got it in 3 days. Thanks :D.

Excellent! I think the lead grade indicator is extremely professional and classy while retaining a unique technical look. This pencil is comfortable and solid. As usual shipping from JetPens is outstanding.

I was looking for a more sturdy pencil and this is it! The weight is wonderful - the pencil almost marks the paper by itself. At first I was nervous about trying such a chunky pencil, but I have to say it was very comfortable. The grip area really fits your fingers, and the point is highly visible.

The other reviews really covered the rest. This is a well-made very comfortable pencil and it was worth every penny!

I recently received this pencil and am quite pleased, very comfortable and well built.

Just wanted to add that the clip is indeed removable. Just grab the body below the clip with the right hand and the section above the clip with the left hand and unscrew counter-clockwise and voila!

... BUT 5 stars for JetPens.com!!!

In Dec 2010, I purchased a Platinum Pro-Use II Mechanical Pencil - 0.5. While I've been pleased with both the pencil's aesthetics and utility, the durability has been disappointing. I expect that a $20 mechanic pencil should handle the rigors of everyday life (similar to other writing instruments that I've purchased from JetPens.com).

Last weekend, my daughter accidentally knocked my Platinum Pro-Use pencil from its perch on my desk causing it to roll off the desktop. After recovering the pencil, the stem at the tip of the pencil was bent and the eraser cover would no longer stay in-place (coincidentally, the two components hi-lited in the pictures above). Unfortunately, this wasn't the only incident. Several weeks earlier, I had been sitting on a couch when the pencil rolled off the seat cushion landing on the floor (2' fall) also causing the stem to bend. I was able to bend the stem back but hoped that it was only caused by the perfect fall. Apparently not.

When in a pristine state, the pencil is GREAT. However, special care must be given to this writing instrument to ensure that it stays in working condition.

While disappointed that I have a broken $20 pencil, the experience has bolstered my enthusiasm for JetPens.com. Within 48 hours of detailing my experience, JetPens.com graciously offered to replace the pencil with a new one. Now that I know the potential points of failure, I will take the precautions necessary to keep it the 5 star I thought I purchased.

Too short for my taste. Prefer the Staedtler 925-25-05 over this one.
Also a little overpriced as the Staedtler 925-25 series is only 18 and the pental smash is only 15 which i would recommend purchasing over this one. That is my opinion.

I was given (after suggesting the possibility...) one of these as a present recently. It has the designer appeal of a great sports car or designer watch and I see it lying appealingly on my desk, waiting for me to stir out great prose, or to derive a couple of heretofore unknown nonlinear partial differential equations. Then I pick it up and think, where did I put the Rotring and what am I going to do with this thing? Like a beautiful woman, one can't help staring at its curves, angles, design and lusting for more. But alas, it is more than one can take when the flesh does not quite match, the finish is aloof and the interaction is not really one to one. Farewell sweet one, I'm afraid it's my fault.

This is the coolest looking drafting pencil in my arsenal of 13.
the only negative thing about this hot piece of pencil is it is lacking the percussive click in the lead advance dept. (like a rotring 600 or staedtler 925). Its more of a quiet metal against metal *shik*. If you like to draw and rock head turning gear...buy it nerd!

The body of this pencil is metal, it's lightweight but not too light. It's comfortable in the hand and makes a satisfying CLICK when the top is pressed. It comfortable to write with and seems sturdy. The lead hardness indicator actually stays on the selected hardness. I might purchase another in a different lead size. Very pleased

Wow! I have used dozens of so=called top pencils and I think I have found the best one so far. I always look for better pencils, pens etc....its an on going thing :) and I gotto tell you that this pencil just feels so good in my hand ...it has these grooves that make a perfect grip, and the pencil is not too long which is perfect. I was skeptical at first to buy a pencil that is thicker than most of my pencils but now I'm very glad I did as it fits perfectly in my hand. I use this pencil for drawing and will but more of them to use with other color eno pencil refills sold on this site also.

Generally I prefer retractable pencils but since this is 0.7 mm the tip is very sturdy and does not feel like it would stick me if I have it in my shirt pocket.

I recommend using no less than 0.7 mm color refills as anything less than than and the refill easily cracks as it is not true graphite.

I may also get me a 0.3 mm pencil to use for writing, especially small tiny notes for my pocket book.

5/5 stars; hily rekmndd pencil!

This is a superb pencil. It has a great finish and width, but is compact at less than 5 1/8 inches long. The construction is solid and with great attention to not making it so heavy that it is fatiguing to use. The grip is very good with its ribbing and choice of material finishing that is not slippery. If there is one thing about the design it is that it is so round that even with its clip it is prone to rolling. Be sure that it doesn't roll off your desk. Overall a great value and a great pencil. Thanks JetPens.

Bought this pen in Japan and used it on a daily basis for years without trouble. Light but sturdy and very comfortable. I only need to replace it due to it falling to rigors no pen should endure.

A while back I bought a bunch of drafting pencils from Jet Pens. I bought a Steadtler, an Ohto and this Platinum. I only wanted top-of-the-line pencils and I must say after much use I like this one the best. The Platinum has an excellent combination of design, materials and weight that put it way ahead of the other pencils I bought. The grip area has a nice ribbing on it and is large in diameter compared to most pencils I have tried. The large grip suits my hands well. The mechanism works smoothly and the lead capacity is good. This is the pencil I take everywhere with me and is constantly in use for sketching and note taking. I would highly recommend this pencil!

I don't think the description is too far off for this pencil. very well balance and smooth clean finish. the grip sports grooves cut into it to prevent slipping. my only complaint is that the grip itself could be a bit longer to support several finger positions, and perhaps a small color indicator to let you know what size pencil your using at a glance. the band above the grip serves as the size indicator, but the difference between them is very subtle. overall great and well constructed and balanced pencil with a very nice finish.

I find theses pencils (both the 0.5 and 0.7 sizes) to be excellent, as they combine great functionality with beautiful design. Each "feature", rather than being added on to a "base" pencil, is expressed naturally as an integrated part of it's original design. Things, such as the ribbed grip and rounded pocket clip, are part of the natural flow of the pencil body. In this way, it reminds me somewhat of the MacBook Pro "unibody" design: great functionality is created as a natural result of a unified design, making the device a pleasure to use.

Originally, I thought the thinner Platinum I pencils would suit me better, but I soon found that I actually prefer the Platinum II pencils (I have used both). The larger grip size and more refined design make it easier and more pleasurable (for me) to use. The only thing that I have yet to decide upon is which lead size and hardness I want for daily use. I like the Uni NanoDia leads and now use the 0.7-B (which is dark enough, but has a somewhat thick line). I've just ordered (but haven't yet received) a set of Uni NanoDia 0.5-B to 0.5-4B leads (from JetPens). I'm hoping that one of these will achieve a thinner, yet dark line, without too much smearing (my ultimate lead ;-).

I know it's "just a pencil", but it feels more like a piece of art that you can hold in your hands, making a common-place task, like writing on paper, more enjoyable.