STAEDTLER 2.0mm Mechanical Pencil Silver Series (925 25-20)

I got this pencil a few months back, and I'm finally here to give my review. I use this pencil as an artist, I have many pencils and I absolutely love metal pencils such as the graphgear 1000 series, and I decided to try this one out, more due to the aesthetics. When I received the pencil, I wasn't entirely sold on its packaging, it came in a plastic pencil holder, not like a bag, but just a single pencil holder. That aside the pencil looked amazing! It came with some lead but unfortunately the lead broke during shipping, I did replace the lead with my own and it took it great!First ImpressionsThe pencil was, to my surprise, very light feeling, it was a bit hard for me to personally adjust to its weight as I expected something slightly less heavy than a graphgear, but man, once I got a feel for it it was amazing. The pencil writes very fast, almost like a ballpoint pen, it glides. And I love the lead hardness indicator! The pencil performs well under a light hand and a slightly heavier hand.The Barrel TipThe tip of the pencil is probably the only thing I could find a problem for, and if it wasn't for the poor shipping, it wouldn't be an issue at all. The tip is very elongated which is nice, it is to protect the lead, and also be helpful when using a ruler for straight lines, however, my pencil came with the tip slightly bent, which causes lead to break inside the barrel every so often. It wasn't a big deal, but it did become a bit expensive having to constantly put in lead every hour or so. I have tried to straighten it out but I don't want to put pressure on it as I fear it will break. But I find it easier to just use a single lead and only replace it when it inevitably breaks or is worn enough. But I do appreciate the barrel tip!For Sketching/DrawingThis is honestly my favorite, go to pencil for anything, I write with this pencil, and more importantly (to me) I draw with it! The lightweight of the pencil helps me be mindful of my own pressure I put on it, so making lines has become very easy now, as well as the opacity of them! The feeling of this pencil on paper is top notch, as well as it's look! I can not stress enough how much this pencil makes you feel good about your projects! I have linked photos of art I made with this pencil!The Meh AspectsFinally where I talk about the things I don't really hate but don't like either, and I'll start with the grip. OH. MY. GOD. The grip is nice looking but it feels very uncomfortable. The grip is sticky and feels kinda fuzzy. It is an uncomfortable and unpleasant feeling, and due to the stickiness, it gets dirty really fast, and since the pencil is metal, I wouldn't recommend washing it with water for fear of the metal degrading.The last meh thing for me was that the pencil itself just gets dirty quickly, I keep my pencil in a pouch but lead and other objects continue to constantly dirty the pencil, It is very easy to clean with a cleaning wipe however! That is about itFinal ThoughtsIf you want a pencil that looks nice, and makes you feel like you are very skilled in the project you are working on, this is the one. It's cheaper compared to other pencils such as the graphgear 1000 or the kuru toga advance, but it is very similar in quality! It writes and draws well, and for me, it is my go to pencil for everything. Do not let my negative points deter you from buying this pencil, because while it has its downs, there are so many ups!

Background:I am a university student pursuing a major in computer science. I am no draftsman, and certainly not an artist. However, while taking an scantron exam in a macroeconomics course, I suffered the breakage of not one, not two, but three writing implements. My go-to pencil, a simple Papermate mechanical, had developed hairline cracks in the barrel over its three-month career, and finally give way under my grip, shattering into small pieces with an audible "crunch". Producing my fallback, a wooden pencil of the same brand, I continued. That one decided to snap in half after a few minutes of intense bubble filling. Finally, I resorted to a grimy, unbranded pencil missing its eraser holder which I immediately broke the tip off of. When I rose to repoint it, the torque exerted upon the body by the mechanical sharpener literally sheared the pencil in half lengthwise. Severely disappointed in my tools, I finished the test with the stub of the second pencil.My resolution: NEVER AGAIN.I set out in search of a graphite-holdy stick thing of higher quality. A friend of mine (an art student) had recently purchased a Uni Kuru Toga Roulette and recommended it to me, but, despite the admittedly solid construction, I decided that its metal grip assembly was NOT ENOUGH. I needed something MORE SOLID. I needed something made ENTIRELY OUT OF METAL. I turned to Amazon, and entered "metal mechanical pencil" into the search box. The Pentel GraphGear 1000 seemed a good choice, but reports that the retractable tip was prone to developing a wobble turned me away. The Rotring 600 was a bit out of my price range. However, the minimalistic, elegant design of this pencil coupled with its reasonable price tag (some $13.00 U.S. at the time of purchase) caught my eye from the "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" section of the page, and I bit. I recognized the Staedtler brand from a Mars Lumograph wooden pencil I had once borrowed and found quite impressive. After scouring the available reviews, I pulled the trigger on the 0.9mm model. I'm glad I did. As it turns out, this is one serious pencil. Despite some prominent drawbacks, the Staedtler 925 25 is a glorious tool truly worthy of a five-star rating.The Good:+ The pencil is constructed almost entirely from aluminum alloy, with the only exceptions being the chromed steel tip, lead hardness indicator collar, and removable clip, the plastic lead chamber, and the entirely brass clutch assembly.+ The grip is well-suited to my tastes. The flat-point knurling, while it provides ample friction to prevent slippage, doesn't feel in any way sharp or uncomfortably abrasive when held. On the contrary, it is actually quite pleasant to the touch, and remains comfortable even after extended periods of writing. I would compare the texture to 2500 grit sandpaper.+ Balance and weight are spot-on. This almost entirely aluminum pencil has a bit more heft to it than a run-of-the-mill plastic mechanical, but is not at all cumbersome. The center of gravity is about 10mm forward of the tool's midpoint. This works well for me as I tend to grip pencils higher up the barrel than most. However, it might feel unpleasant to others.+ This pencil is manufactured in Japan, and it shows. It sports tight tolerances, and all its pieces are joined together well with no flex, wobble, or rattles to speak of. The threads are well-cut. All parts save the lead chamber, clip, and hardness indicator collar appear to have been CNC machined. Advancing the lead produces a sharp, tactile, and very satisfying "click". It looks and feels like much like a surgical instrument, although, given the plastic lead chamber, it might not be a wise idea to throw it in an autoclave. In terms of feel and build quality, this is to a Papermate what a Cherry MX mechanical keyboard is to one that comes bundled with a Hewlett-Packard purchased at Best Buy.+ I've owned this pencil for approximately two months, and I have NEVER ONCE broken the lead while writing. This may also have much to do with the 0.9mm lead diameter and the Pentel Super Hi-Polymer graphite I choose to feed it with, but is nonetheless a very impressive feat.+ Does not snap in half during examsThe Not-So-Good:- As with most all drafting pencils, the Staedtler 925 25 series is furnished with a frustratingly small eraser which is intended only for use in a pinch. It will be consumed alarmingly quickly with even occasional use, and replacements are very expensive. This pencil is clearly meant to be used in conjunction with a standalone eraser, which customers intending to use this implement for general writing rather than drafting or drawing will probably dislike.- I find that the shiny chrome accents, while ultimately tasteful, detract from the aesthetic appeal of the pencil and make it appear less professional. I would have preferred those parts to have been fashioned instead from the same grey anodized aluminum as the end cap and grip. It would still provide some contrast with the pearlescent barrel, but look much less flashy and distracting.- As others have noted, the knurling on the grip tends to dirty quickly and is very difficult to clean. This does not impair the function of the tool or the ability of the grip to be gripped, but does present a minor annoyance.- While less expensive than many other drafting mechanicals and reasonably priced given what you get in return, the Staedtler 925 25 is a bit of an investment for a pencil. For roughly the same cost of one of these, a dozen Pilot G2 pencils may be had. Then again, it's only a third of the price of a Rotring 800.- Like any other piece of overengineered equipment, extensive use of the Staedtler 925 25 may lead to uncontrollable bouts of egotism and overconfidence. It can take me some effort to remind myself that one's value is determined by content of their character, not the pencil they wield.