Pentech Liquid Graphite Pencil

I have always loved finding new and unique writing instruments, shortly after being introduced to calligraphy in fifth grade art class. I actually have fun going to office supply stores and wandering through the pen and pencil aisle. When I found out about the new Pentech liquid graphite pencil, I was intrigued. By appearances, they look just like the old standard No. 2 pencils we all used in school, with a pink cap eraser on the end. The package (and the pencil itself) say that these pencils never need sharpened.

I've been a fan of mechanical pencils for a long time. I liked the consistent thin line, as well as not having to run to the sharpener every few minutes. The draw back, was the lead being fragile, sometimes breaking before you even get it in the pencil. Other times, you get to the end of a piece of lead, and it keeps going back in the pencil, if you are out of lead to push it forward. So, the idea of a pencil that never needs sharpening is something I like. Pentech also makes a refillable version that has the style of a mechanical pencil.

How does it work? Basically, the inside of the pencil, instead of a stick of graphite lead, it has a tube that holds liquid graphite. The tip looks like a regular pencil, except that it has a tip like a ballpoint pen. To look at it, it looks like a really shiny lead pencil.

How does it write? Overall, I'm very pleased with the performance. The line is extremely fine, which I love. It does "skip" now and then, if the angle gets off a bit, but for the most part, it provides a very nice line. It doesn't smudge, even when I rubbed on it right after writing something. It is the equivalent of a No. 2 pencil, so it is useable on the standardized tests, but has a finer line than a 0.7 mm mechanical pencil.

How does it erase? I used the eraser that comes with the pencil and it did a good job. It does leave a slight shadow, but most pencils do, unless you've written extremely light. I also used a regular pink eraser, and it also did an acceptable job of erasing marks.

What are the drawbacks? The main drawback I noticed is that the line can break a little, if I get the angle of the pencil off a little bit. But, once you get used to that, it really isn't a major problem. Another drawback is not knowing when the pencil may run out of lead. So, it is a good idea to always have a spare or two handy.

Artists might not like the pencil, as it isn't very good for sketching, due to the limitations of the point angles. Unlike a regular lead pencil, you can't write or draw using the side of the tip. Since it doesn't smear, you can't do finger rubbed shadings in the drawings either.

Despite the minor problems, the Pentech Liquid Graphite Pencil is a reliable and convenient writing instrument. It would be a great addition to the school supply list for this fall.