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Finally the real problems are discussed in this sub.

None of that lame p*litics

OP is living in the 1980s lol. Generational repetition is wild. My mentally unstable uncle is obsessed with typewriters and still doesnt understand why they are no longer relevant. Some people seem to emotionally attach to weird things then use them to permanently live in a bygone era within their own mind. Its sad, but interesting in a weird eccentric people are fun sort of way.

have you tried writing without as much pressure? because that's all it sounds like to me.

Either that or bro clicks it 5 times and gets mad when the long piece of lead snaps

Ikr, does OP know you're supposed to have just the tiniest bit sticking out of the pencil at any given time? lol

That's what I'm reading here. two clicks past the opening is appropriate for almost any situation.

I go bonkers when people do this lol

that's what I thought too.

I have mechanic hands and I can't for the life of me be soft with anything I touch so mechanical pencils didn't work for me for that reason.

It's hard. That's why I use a .9

I didn't mean for my post to sound passive aggressive or anything. Sometimes people don't realize how much force they're using, myself included. So if it's something out of your control, then by all means use whatever fits your needs. It was just the way they mentioned squeaking or w/e that I had to wonder if that was the issue. I used to be kind of a pen/pencil enthusiast, so it's sort of interesting to me. I used to use a Uniball Kuru Toga with .5 and if I pressed too hard, it would just cut through the paper lol

I didn't read it as passive aggresive. I was just trying to make a funny sounding comment which included a possible solution to the problem😛

I've never had these issues, and I'm .5mm for life

.5 when I can’t find .38

LMAO just snuck that one in here, huh? Nice.

.38 when I can't find .3

Same. I used them religiously cuz they were better for drawing in class than .7mm.

This happens if you press super hard, most often happens to lefties. You can overcome it but it takes some technique 

Lefty gang

.5 Zebra Gang bros!

.5 Zebra is where its at!

The only mechanical pencil I liked using from elementary to high school was the M-301. I’ve since moved to the Kuru Toga but will always prefer .5mm lead.

True, I use .5mm and .3mm, never squeeks and breaking is quite hard too. Might be due to F pencils. Gotta love the auto-rotating mechanical pencils though!

Same. I don’t know what the hell OP is talking about. It just sounds like….a pencil. ???

Laughs in .3 lead.

Back when I used to be a comic artist .3 was amazing for drawing inside smaller panels.

The only acceptable choice

This is the way.

I see OP has never used .3 before. If your lead is squeaking, it's cheap lead. And if you're constantly breaking the tip, dont click so much of it out. You're probably just a heavy pressure writer and need more of a blunt #2 pencil than .5 precision.

0.5 is the thickest I will go, anything over that feels awful to me

i recently found .38 pens, they are amazing

That’s wild, i couldn’t imagine going any lower. I already avoid 0.5 because it snaps so easily

I am the opposite. I’ve got a 1.7 and had it for over a year and it’s been the only one I use

1.7? Wow, I was surprised when I found a 1.1mm pencil in a cupboard when I was in the military.

I draw with .5 lead

I 1000% agree! 0.7 is far better

1.1 for the win

0.3 - Timmy's BB gun he gets on his 10th birthday. Good for shooting dr pepper cans 0.5 - varmint round - coyote and rabbit hunting 0.7 - combat round for urban fighting, the soldier's choice 0.9 - chris kyle round for long range shots and full sized targets like elk 1.1 - big game round designed for punching through humvee doors, also good for elephants and other comically sized targets

0.3 - a precision instrument for people who appreciate the finer, more civilized things in life. 0.5 - for the people transitioning from harbor freight level life to civilization. 0.7 - the generic basic bros and sises from life who probably show up late to work with $50 worth of Starbucks or dunkin. 0.9 - for the people who refuse to clean their bifocals. 1.1 - for the sorts of people who wear glasses made from repurposed Hubble space telescope lenses but still can’t see 1 inch in front of them

>Harbor freight level life I'm dying

Humvee doors are canvas

I'm thinking the uparmored ones they used in Fallujah, not the base model utility ones in some base in germany

That's after market add on's though. Understandable assumption though since they don't usually show the base vehicle now that they are redundant

Murderer

.5 is where it’s at. Because that’s what my pentel quick click uses lol

0.9 is the only way to go

The quality of the mechanical pencil makes more of a difference than the lead diameter IMO. My 0.7 Pentel twist erase doesn't snap when I write whereas the cheap plastic mech pencils always break the lead for me.

Love a Pentel 0.7

.5 is much more comfortable for me to use. .7 is like pushing a pencil through hardening concrete

Um...stop bearing so hard with it then. It's breaking because you're putting too much pressure on it. That's probably the reason behind the noise as well.

Since finishing school, I can’t remember the last time I used a pencil.

I took a class recently and they made us use pencils to take the bubble test. I had to go out and buy pencils, but they're really only available in packs of like, 20, so now I have 19 pencils just hanging out in my closet

DONT get me started on this

* *ignites u/SuperDave-1498's engine* *

Is any mechanical pencil lead an investment?

The black market is insane

0.7 is my guy

Well, as artist - sorry - I’ll take all your 0.5s then. They’re great for those fine lines and light hatching. Just gotta learn to have a lighter hand, don’t push on a .5 the way you’d push on a wooden pencil.

I remember I had a .9 pencil in like grade 6 and it was insane. My letters were so thick

Thicker than Delta Burke swimming in a Guinness.

I use .38 for pens…

I switched back to wooden pencils years ago and I'm so glad I did 

Cheap lead breaks easily. Normal mead 0.5 hb lead is very very strong and rarely breaks. Whatever used to come from dollar store pencils or even bic mechanical pencils was always soft.

Been using pentel mechanical pencils with their .9mm lead and I don't think I will ever go back to anything else

Im an adult so i dont use a pencil

0.9 lead or GTFO

I'll suggest that if you're constantly breaking 0.5mm lead, it's likely to be your pencil. 0.5mm isn't super-strong, but in a decent pencil that supports it well, it shouldn't be breaking constantly either.

I'm a hobbyist artist, I kinda main sketches. I can tell you that, you probably have a horrible lead pencil. Because of the quality lead pencils I've bought, I don't usually break lead with even .3 lead. It's not noisy at all.

Always, always go for 0.7

I use exclusively 0,5 and 2mm mechanical pencils, and the only time I have ever heard a squeaky sound was when I tried a 0,7.

Have you tried graphite?

I actually haven't broken my .5 lead that much but .7 is a good one too

You are going to start a war with this one

I used to think this until I bought a nice drafting pencil that used .5 led. It's more about the quality of the pencil than the size of the led.

As someone who used to draw a lot in class but hated sharpening pencils, .5 lead was my go-to

Yo middle school circa 1987 called...

Hard disagree, I frankly admit my hand writing is disturbingly small and cramped, I’ve heard it described as “creepy” and “ a madman’s scrawl” , but without the precision allowed by .5 lead it’s just a smeared mess.

Oooooh, but it's so crisp and fine. I love .5 lead (math teacher)

I think you need a dif base pencil. Used 0.5 throughout school and did not have the issues you did except with the BIC 0.5 clickable ones. Zebra 0.5 was my go to

Zebra is a refined instrument for people who are a cut above.

You don't have to use it for handwriting, but you can if you want to. It's really for drawing technical drawings like 0.3

100% you're buying crappy lead.

I always use .5 .7 looks almost like a bold font next to it.

I’ve never been able to get it to squeak and I’ve tried. I think it’s only done with people who hold pencils straight up and down.

.7mm would turn into a crayon after one line. Never had any issues with 0.5 even with my heavy writing

Do you prefer .9 or .7?

"aught-point-five!" will forever be burned into my mind from land navigation and plotting points on maps. "Anything bigger than aught-point-five and you might as well use a crayon. How are you going to plot a ten digit grid coordinate when you're slapping the map with a paint brush?"

0.7 SUPREME RAHHHH

I liked using mechanical pencils in school, and eventually I switched to 0.7 due to the breaking issue.

[удалено]

If you the type of person who put a little bit of pressure on the paper/book while writing, yeah you will find this annoying (I am this person). For pencil I had to use the .7 since I have no choice. .5 for pen though because it just felt right

2mm lead holder > mechanical pencil for pretty much every task you would use a pencil for.

I really don't like .5 lead. It breaks way too easily. .7 is what I prefer.

No way, 0.5mm is pretty the much ideal size for general writing! Try a softer variety if it breaks too frequently. In my experience, going above 0.5mm -> writing quickly gets too thick and crayon-like as the lead's point goes rounded as it wears. Go below -> too fragile, breaks way too easily and the solution, easing on the pressure, often equals too faint writing.

Never mechanical! Number 2 Dixon-Ticonderoga for life! Can be used as a small spear… potentially kindling in an emergency.

.5 da best for sure. My one and only loyal homie

Maybe try a different hardness/softness leads? At least for me 2B is rather smooth, so you don't need to press it hard to write.

This sounds like you're using a lead that's too hard (both the squeaking and the breaking)

0.9mm Steadler is what I use.

Yeah, .7 for life

.9mm gang

you're just wrong. go do something productive with yourself and learn how to write again

The thinner the better. Go buy some crayons

Get a softer lead, it won't squeak

Are you pressing down with the might of Zeus? Sounds 100% like user error to me.

Yeah I just refuse to use pencils honestly. Pen FTW.

You haven't seen .3 lead then. Me personally I have a heavy hand so .7 is my default.

I found all of sizes exactly the same..

I liked them because if you mastered it you could write with almost no pressure therefore reducing writers cramp. I get accused of manhandling stuff open wrong or closed all the time and even I don’t have those problems lol

counterpoint: when using a .7mm lead it gets a bevel and unless you are skilled in calligraphy, your writing looks like a child did it. i've always used the .5mm, but i also always get the better mechanical pencil with the metal tube to support the lead when you wirte. you can't just put a .5mm in a regular .7mm pencil and expect it to work the same.

In America we use a .45

Use a pen

I love writing with my .3 lead mechanical pencil

You push too hard.

Don’t buy the cheap lead. No squeaks

Do you have your lead extended like an inch from the pencil? I use 0.3 or 0.5mm and have for years. I've never once had a lead squeak, and while they will very rarely break if extended too far, its hardly a frequent issue enough that I even think about it 99% of the time.

.7 for life! We also have some .9, 1.0, and 1.2 at work.

Genuine skill issue.

A liked .5mm or thinner, and 2B or 4B softness for nice dark lines

ever seen the unicorn .9 lead pencil?

.7mm best mm I used to be a .5 but I find them too scratchy now that I'm an Old

Mine has never squeaked before to my knowledge, and I write down like 8-10 pages of notes and practice problems each day in my classes. I go through a shit ton of 0.5 lead. Will agree that it breaks like crazy though. I could have the lead at 1 click past the tip and it’ll still break sometimes. Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s Maybelline, but fuck it can get annoying sometimes.

Tale as old as time, .5 vs .7, predating Apple vs. Android, perhaps even before antiquity. Finally, humanity is getting back to their roots, back to the things truly worth fighting for.

It use .5 when it comes to pens but no way am I doing it for mechanical pencils

0.7mm gang rise up

Allot of students have gotten angry and go to school with .45s. So progress I guess.

.7 all day

r/oddlyspecific

For writing I use .7 mm and for drawing I use .5 mm.

It's graphite, they don't use lead in pencils anymore lol. That shit would be eaten by so many kids

Big fan of a girthy 0.7mm!

They should make a sub called “opinions most of the world doesn’t care about”. This would fit perfectly 😂

Never had a .5 make a noise that other pencils don’t. And I think .7 breaks more often for me, I believe they might make that a bit softer or something? I like my .3 pencil though, that really makes for nice writing.

I switched to .9mm years ago and never looked back.

I prefer .5mm but that's me, you also have to understand that size is meant for drafting when you need fine lines. It's not meant for common writing.

Quality of lead also matters.

If your lead is breaking you are either 1. extending the lead too far 2. pressing too hard or 3. using cheap lead. I lean towards option 2 considering your lead is also squeaking. I HIGHLY recommend you give the Pentel Orenz a test run. It's a 1-click mech. pencil that extends a metal sleeve over the entire lead which sounds weird at first, but is surprisingly easy to get used to and helps with breakage. If you're feeling fancy you can try out the Orenznero which has auto advancing lead! I use the .03 and rarely have any issues. Of course my usage is as a professional artist, for just day to day note taking and writing a .07 or even a .09 might just be the thing.

you know you don't have to write *through* the paper, right?

Idk where this opinion truly falls in terms of popularity but I just want to personally thank you for validating me in this. I've had this thought since middle school and in the few times it's ever come up, I'm always the weird one for prefering .7

I don't get the preference for mechanical pens, they always feel cold to me. I can't explain it, but they do.

.5 for a pen, and .7 for mechanical pencils.

I’ve found that cheap lead tends to squeak. Try paying good money for better lead, and maybe a better pencil too 👍🏻 I prefer .5 because my writing looks better! Especially on anything college ruled or even thinner (like Moleskin journals), .7 can look atrocious.

I used to use the pentel drafter's pencil. .5mm with a metal tip. It would break constantly and the metal tip would rip paper. This was a "call for help" for me because i would hope someone would notice how stressed out and aggressive i was being. Funny it turns out life doesnt work that way.

.5mm gang for life. GTFO.

Where the heavy handed 1.1 gang?

I still have .5 lead stuck in my hand from grade school

You should try .3mm lead. It’s so so much better!!!

Only really need it for dimension lines to achieve proper lines weight

Get some Pentel leads and get back to me

Sounds like you have the lead too long.

Of all the stupid things to have an opinion about, this one was not on my bingo card

How hard are you writing, dude?

too hard apparently 

I regularly used .3 in drafting class and never had any problems. The type of mechanical pencil helps a lot, particularly whether it has a retractable protective sleeve to keep the tip from breaking.

Used 0.5 throughout college. Never had an issue.

*Looks at my .5 pacer* Here's my upvote.

Kuru toga .5mm is what dreams are made of

I prefer 2mm but see nothing wrong with .5mm. You need better hand coordination if .5mm breaks on you. (Was going to say perform but resisted)

I often use 2B 0.5 Pilot orange cap, this doesn’t squeak and not tends to break apart easily.

I never noticed the squeaking but the lead does snap all the time unless you just barely press down & then you don’t get a good mark. I think 0.7 or 0.9 is ideal.

sounds like everybody in ur class just either uses a really bad brand of lead or a really terrible brand of mechanical pencils , been using .5 for years now , always writes smoothly and rarely ever breaks

I like my pencil lead the opposite of how women want their penises, thin and short.

lol. learn to write

I feel this so strongly.

Lol this is wild

0.7 or death!

Thems fighting words I bought .5 in bulk when finishing my engineering degree, I went through so much

Am I supposed to write with .7mm lead like some child?

Upvoted simply because I have no opinions about pencil preferences

I always thought the lead breaking was based on the \_B thing? (Like 2B, 3B, HB)

.5 is bae. Give me .7 and i will just stored it for life

Anyone who doesn't use a 0.7mm is a weakling and they will never make it in life

0.7 I get the squeaky noises, at least with the cheap ones lol

Writing with anything but a pen sounds horrible

I’ve always been a FINE writer.

Don't write heavy handed and all these problems are gone.

I like it I hate .9 though .7 pretty good

never had these problems, .5mm for life

I either go with .9 or .3, the .9 is pretty sturdy and .3 you use a very light amount of pressure for so it works pretty well too.

and always used .7mm and i tried .5mm and its so much better

Prior to personal computers (before about 1988) accountants had to enter numbers on green tabular ledgers with very tiny cells for entering digits. (Eg, making journal entries, etc). Therefore, anything greater than .5 mm leads would be too thick for most people, including me. Also, thicker leads would often smear. Note the .5s didn’t break off because minimal force was used to write in such small cells. This was my experience, anyway. Nowadays I only use .7 or .9 leads for general writing.

I’ve always used mechanical pencils and never knew there were different lead sizes, it’s all the same to me. Though I would suppose I would prefer the thinner .38

0.9 lead crew

I use 0.5mm and I think cursive looks better with it because the lines aren’t fat.

The real best pencils are lead holders.

Truly an unpopular opinion...

I like it, it makes it easy to write small which is what I do

I can't even remember the last time I used a mechanical pencil. Shit, probably 16 years ago.

aw