Uni-ball Lead Holder - 2 mm - H

Historically I have been using two different models of Staedtler Lead holders but when I upped the number of different leads I was using I decided to give a Uni-ball holder a try. As an old school draftsmen/illustrator it works just as well as the Staedtlers. There might be some criticism to be had by writers or some complaint about the clip or grip but it is not a $30 holder. There is not reason to compare it to one. It’s a sturdy professional lead holder.

While researching for sketching supplies I noticed a lack of reviews everywhere I went. So hopefully this helps someone! Review your purchases people!

I keep three 2mm lead holders, a mechanical pencil, three brush pens, five micron pens, three HI-TEC-C pens, leads, erasers, and a sharpener in my Lihit Lab Teffa Pen Case. This case and a sketchbook are with me at all the times. I am always prepared for a good sketch.

I bought this lead holder to help differentiate my leads:

Blue Lead: Uni-ball Lead Holder - 2 mm - H (Has a blue cap)
Red Lead: Uni-ball Lead Holder - 2 mm - B (Has a red cap)
Black Lead: Staedtler 925-35 Lead Holder - 2 mm

Pros: Minimalist design. Hexagonal shape prevents holder from rolling. Decent knurled grip for the price. The colored cap and lead grade indicator are convenient. Inexpensive.

Personal Cons: This lead holder is light (I like my pens and pencils heavy!). It is plastic with a few light metal parts. The lead is controlled with a drop system... pressing the cap in allows the lead to slide freely (some enjoy this method... I prefer the clutch system). Knurled grip could be bolder. Metallic gold text on vintage maroon plastic looks cheap.

TL;DR - This lead holder is an excellent VALUE for someone on a budget but if you have the $$ and plan on using this tool a lot, then go for a more professional model.

The best 2mm holder for the money; Only thing I would change is have the full pencil in hexagonal shape plastic without abrasive metal grip, place a lead sharpener in the cap and you have a beauty. Perfect color with gold letter. I have the 0.5mm with gold letter from the late 80's (it's a beauty) and is fully plastic with no annoying metal grip.

Hopefully Uni will make this 2mm pencil in full plastic one day as described above, same burgundy/brown color with a 0.5mm pencil to have a nice matching set.

I don't use this as a drafting pencil, rather as a sketching implement, and I really love it! The lead holder is nicely balanced, and the construction is solid. Besides that, the price is definitely right for those on a budget. Highly recommended!

Having continued to use this leadholder for longer drawing sessions, I'd recommend covering the rather abrasive knurled metal finger grip section with a plastic pencil grip or tennis wrap to avoid sore fingers. Especially if you tend to grip your pencils tightly, that knurled grip can really leave your fingers hurting the following day. Posted a close up picture of my grip solutions on my Dec 11th blog entry http://robotninjamonsters.blogspot.com/