Pentel Arts GraphGear 1000 Mechanical Pencil Premium Gift Set with Refill Leads & Erasers (PG1000BXSET)

Great gift for artists needing more pencils or starting with mechanical pencils vs. wooden pencils. Or anyone who likes different size lead options. Pentel got this one right!!1. They color code some of their styles including this one... brown .3mm, black/gray .5mm, blue .7mm, and yellow .9mm. This style also available in a .4mm in green (not included in the set). This helps visually for those who use multiple pencils at a time.2. These offer a retractable lead sleeve at the tip activated by the clip. Prevents this sleeve from bending or breaking in a pocket, art box/case, etc. A bent or broken sleeve is no good! Also prevents the sleeve from poking holes in shirt pockets or stabbing if clipped onto a paper pad, etc. (They are small, metal, and a bit "pokey"... can't be helped, but they are. )3. Artists often hold pencils in other ways than the writing position....clips can get in the way and pinch/poke. Pentel made the clip so the clip is flush with the barrel when the tip sleeve is extended. Brilliant!!The clip looks bulky at first glance. But the design allows for the tip to be flush as mentioned above while also opening wide enough to actually "clip" (not just slide) into a shirt pocket, art case pocket, or on an art pad or board with some thickness.4. The grip isn't too grippy (like some silicone or rubber grips) allowing artists to rotate the pencil in hand, but isn't all knurled metal like some that can make fingers sore if too rough. This one is perfect... with a smooth transition from grip to barrel (when not smooth, not comfy in hand.)5. The lead size (.5, .7mm, etc) is printed on the barrel and on the end...if you keep your pencil set in a cup-style holder you can see the size. The end is color coded also for easy ID. The band above the grip is also color coded.6. These feature a lead hardness indicator (whoever came up with this idea deserves a medal!) These are a little more involved in changing the indicator as lead is changed than some other styles, but not difficult. The tip of the pen needs to be loosened/removed to rotate the grip so the window reveals the hardness of the lead in the pencil....vs. simply rotating a band. The hardnesses offered in the indicator are: H, HB, B, 2B (not enough for artists). However, a fine point Gelly Roll pen in white can be used to add other hardnesses if needed <wink> There is enough room to add 7 more between the preprinted options and show thru the window.7. Comes with a set of 4 lead sizes in HB (#2). The caps for the lead cases are also color coded to size. Plus replacement erasers.Con: Only one I find, which isn't necessarily bad, is the threads for the tip (which you have to remove to change the lead hardness indicator) are plastic. If these were machined metal, these pencils would be unbeatable...albeit more expensive. If this style featured auto-reeling like the Pentel Orenz pencil, it would be the bomb-diggity! (That's right...Bomb. Diggity.)Pentel should color code ALL their styles... but they didn't ask me. (Adding in case Pentel is watching.)If you are looking for a nice, mechanical pencil set with some really nice features... this is it! Slap a bow on that gift box and make an artist (or non-artist) happy!They are also sold individually by the way. I didn't price shop, so I don't know if this set can be found cheaper elsewhere, but I did notice it was more expensive at one online art store.

Perfect retracts with a click Great Pencils !

Very nice!

I draw daily and these Pentel pencils to me are simply the best !! I have many many other brands and NOTHING tops these NOTHING !!!

The Pentel Arts GraphGear 1000 Mechanical Pencil set is a great collection of different lead sizes. I really appreciate the color-coded design, which makes it easy to identify the lead thickness at a glance. Well-built, comfortable to use, and perfect for precision work!

Very nice quality product from Pentel.

These are great pencils. 5 stars there. Just note that each pencil comes with an annoying little sticker attached that does not easily come off and leaves a residue. If you're buying this as a gift, you might want to peel those off as a favor to the giftee.

The pentel graph-gear 1000 is such amazing pencils to write with and to sketch great idea with the mechanical pencil is made with great quality that is so smooth to the hand once you grip it you get a nice smooth finish touch and the weight on it feels just perfect its design really appealing I always get a lot of comments in school about this mechanical pencil it's such a attraction to the eye the writing speed helps do quick notes and the durability on the pencil is just amazing I dropped it a couple of times and it still functions like a champ this is a great mechanical pencil to buy pentel is amazing brand and they make well build and well quality designs products. They also come with spare refilled led for all the types of led I personally enjoyed writing with a 0.7 it's just about right writing with it and also comes with extra eraser's.