Mechanical Pencils (another nerd topic)

[mk2ja]

Real nerds don't make mistakes; we use pens.

 

[ROLEXrifleman]

Real nerds don't make mistakes; we use pens.

That's what all wanna be nerds say to make themselves feel better about the fact they burn through erasers faster than crack heads go through Bic Lighters.

 

[Woodsman]

Nerds with guns almost sounds a little extreme.

I used to use the .5, but it was just a pain. Sometime ago I made the switch to .7 and have not looked back.

What's the next thread going to be on? Gum erasers & tape?

 

[Benny]

Real nerds don't make mistakes; we use pens.

Then I must be the polar opposite of a nerd...I only use a pen when I absolutely have to.

I really hate scribbling out misspelled words/numbers/etc.

 

[Expat]

Real nerds don't make mistakes; we use pens.

I have to call doggy doo here... what self respecting nerd didn't love to have the excuse to whip out this bad boy

This was official equipment amongst my checker shirted brethren in HS.

 

[mk2ja]

It has been whipped out

I have to call doggy doo here... what self respecting nerd didn't love to have the excuse to whip out this bad boy

This was official equipment amongst my checker shirted brethren in HS.

Hey, thanks for the perfect excuse!

 

[L-W-R-C]

i use them in school because if it breaks there is no awkward silence walking across the room while everyone stares at you to sharpen your pencil. and they last longer too.

 

[RachelMarie]

I keep them in every room for drawing/sketching. They always have a sharp tip on them!
I would freak if I didn't have them.

 

[lovemywoods]

Anyone remember this from drafting class?

"Arrowheads have narrow heads"

 

[downzero]

I use .5 in my 25 year old gold Cross pencil. Old school nerd.

Now, about financial calculators, you can't beat the old school HP 17BII!!!

I like my 10B II.

The business school at the University of Illinois taught everyone to use some sort of TI. I took my business courses at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where I learned to use the HP. When I transferred to Illinois, I opted to just keep and use my HP.

 

[steve666]

When I was a kid, and we weren't drawing on the cave walls, I used a Scripto:

I tried a lot of different ones thru the years, nowadays I use a 0.7mm Pentel Quicker Clicker:

 

[Expat]

Anyone remember this from drafting class?

"Arrowheads have narrow heads"

In my HS only the cool kids took drafting

 

[printcraft]

In my HS only the cool kids took drafting

If you were extra extra cool you took architectural and mechanical drafting like I did.

 

[schafe]

For the record, I have never nor will I ever use a pocket protector!

That's what they all say.....We know the truth.

 

[schafe]

Just in case my nerd flag was not yet flying prominently enough, I hereby commence this discussion about mechanical pencils.

Yes, not only do I use them daily, but I collect them. Specifically, I collect mechanical pencils that use 0.3mm (or 0.35mm) leads.

Anyone else?

Waxing nostalgic, first for old TI calculators, and now mechanical pencils? Perhaps the meds need adjusting, huh?

 

[rhino]

Real nerds don't make mistakes; we use pens.

Think about that for a while . . . even if a nerd doesn't make a mistake, he lacks the confidence in his own abilities to take such a risk!

 

[rhino]

Anyone remember this from drafting class?

"Arrowheads have narrow heads"

Hah! I don't think they even teach much paper and pencil drafting anymore. My high school had two full years available!

 

[Woodsman]

...
This was official equipment amongst my checker shirted brethren in HS.

And all this time I thought it was scotch tape to repair eyeglass frames.

 

[rhino]

When I was a kid, and we weren't drawing on the cave walls, I used a Scripto:

CLASSICS!

They did some clutch-mechanism (like are used today) with fine point leads back in the 1980s as well. Occasionally you can find them on eBay.

When I was an undergrad at good ol' Nerd U (i.e. Rose-Hulman, nee Rose Polytech), my first 0.3 pencil was a Pentel PMG (still available). It was and continues to be a serious instrument! However, #2 and #3 were both Scriptos.

One 0.3mm Scripto had a brown plastic barrel and the other was blue. I kept HB lead in one, and 2H in the other. They got used so much that you can no longer read the labels. Another key feature is that they were among the first if not the first clutch mechanism to also feature a spring-loaded point. If you pressed too hard, the lead would retract into the sleeve so it was less likely to break.

I was able to find a pair (one of each color) on eBay a few years ago, so I have some potential new users and the originals can retire in a place of comfort and safety.