Rotring800 Retractable Metal Mechanical Pencil, 0.5mm, Black Barrel, Perfect for Drafting, Engineering, Architecture Professionals

The rOtring 800 isn’t just a mechanical pencil—it’s an investment. Built like a tank with a full-metal body, it has the perfect weight and balance for precision work, making it a favorite for architects, engineers, and serious artists. The retractable tip is a game-changer, protecting the lead and keeping it pocket-safe. Yes, it’s pricey, but the buttery-smooth writing, rock-solid grip, and durability make it worth every penny. If you want a mechanical pencil that feels as premium as the work you put into it, this is the one.

As an engineering student I have had many, many mechanical pencils in the past. As I started getting into courses that required fine levels of detail in drawing schematics and also long sessions with a writing utensil in my hand I was on the look out for an end all, be all mechanical pencil. After having the pencil for nearly a year, it has become my most important tool aside from my calculator. This thing is a tank and I abuse it heavily. The construction is superb and extremely robust. The balance is perfect, and nearly exactly at the midpoint of the length of the pencil. The lead advancement is consistent and the clutch has never slipped on me at all. The striking good looks of the machine is just a bonus.Now, there are cons. The tip does wiggle ever so slightly, but I must be clear here, it does not effect precision in the slightest, it is purely a symptom of manufacturing tolerances and the fact that there are so many moving parts within the pencil. The wiggle can make an auditory clinking sound if you really listen but I quite like the noise, it reminds me that I am using a truly mechanical pencil and I like mechanical things... Many people report lead breakage as an issue yet I have never experienced lead breakage, even while using 0.5mm 2B lead (one of the weakest leads). The only major issue I ran into started two weeks ago when I realized that the twist mechanism was experiencing some major friction and it made it very hard for me to extend the head of the pencil. Keep in mind this issue arose a full 9 months after I purchased the pencil and used it heavily every single day. At first it was looking like a was going to have to find a new pencil but then I realized I had some 3-in-1 lubricating oil. I liberally applied oil to the seams of the mechanism and inside the mechanism and let it sit for a while before wiping off the excess oil. It now works better than it did the day I got it. This thing is truly a wonderful writing utensil and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a precise, robust, and dedicated mechanical pencil.As a side note, there is noticeable patina/surface wear from using it so much but I very much like it. It reminds me how long I've had it and how trusty it has been.

I bought 2 Rotring 800, 0.5mm mechanical pencils for drawing and note taking. I use these, as well as a number of the less expensive 500's with multiple colors of leads and keep them at hand in a 3D holder I designed and printed.The retractable barrel is brilliant as you can easily keep it in your pocket without retracting the lead (or poking holes in your shirt). The barrel extends with the lead exactly where you left it, which sounds like a small thing until you do it a few hundred times. The retraction mechanism is also easily managed with your writing hand (one-handed), and spring-loaded.The build quality is excellent, and I imagine that these are made to last a lifetime. The pencil is much heavier than the hybrid metal/plastic models, but I find the weight to be a major advantage for throwing steady lines and arcs, owing to the additional inertia.The "micro" knurling around the grip area is small enough to be comfortable, yet sharp enough to create a positive no-slip hold.The visibility around the point is perfect for precision drawing and also allows for accurate alignment when used with drawing tools (triangles, t-squares, circle and elipse templates, etc.).In terms of finish, I have read some criticism of the durability, and I have a couple of nicks here and there, but I would attribute this to my handling of the instrument and not a failing of the design. To me, it is minor and only adds to the character. If you want to keep this pencil pristine, then you should keep it in a holder and not loose in among other pencils or objects that will chip or mar the finish. That's part of why I designed and printed the holder - so that I could protect the pencil and have it close at hand.If someone knows of a better mechanical pencil. Please post a link to it!

I love the Pentel Sharp P205/P207/P209 and often keep one with me, but they poke through many shirt pockets. Nerdy, I know. But anyway, I wanted something with a similar feel and ran into the Rotring 600. The 600 is a great pencil that feels a lot like the P200 series, but with a heavier metal body and a great knurled grip. However it is pretty much just as pokey, and if you bend the tip on the Rotring 600, you are out a whole lot more money.The Rotring 800 solves most of the issues. It’s not QUITE as solid feeling as the Pentel Sharps or the Rotring 600 because of the retracting tip, but it gets most of the way there with a huge design benefit with the ability to carry it in a shirt pocket and not worry as much about the tip getting broken.

It's a rotring instrument and of the highest quality you can get. Granted it better be very high quality for the price. The retraction mechanism is nice and crisp, very fidgety. The mechanism for the lead is also very good. The cap over the eraser is a nice touch and comes off easily but does not fall off on its own. The black coating on the pencil is very robust and has not gotten a single scratch despite the pencil living in my bag with no protection. All things said, this is one of the best mechanical pencils money can buy, but that's to be expected from a rotring.