rOtring 800 Retractable Mechanical Pencil, 0.5mm, Silver Metal Barrel - For Drafting, Engineering, Architecture Professionals

I'll start this off by saying that I was skeptical about this pencil, but needed something to replace the pencils that I had gotten previously that all broke rather quickly for one reason or another. I was not disappointed. This pencil is solidly built- the barrel is all metal as stated (brass I believe), and has a good weight and feel in the hand. Most of the internals are metal, although there are some plastic parts, they re not part of the action of the actual pencil. The only plastic component that I can see is the led reservoir tube and eraser holder. The pencil in itself, is just a nice object in general, the lines that create the shape are simple but elegant and very pleasing to the eye, and it has a great and solid weight to it, making it great to write and draw with. It is worth noting- the first one I got did have a problem with breaking lead occasionally (I got a second one because the first- I thought- was stolen, although it turned up later), this was easily fixed by a small piece of tape around the part of the led sleeve that extends from the grip, and this completely solved the problem, and the pencil has not broken a single piece of led since I did this. The second pencil I purchased did not have this problem in the first place and functions perfectly. This pencil writes very well, as mentioned before although not quite as well as the Rotring 600 because the retractable tip inherently makes the system less "stiff" when writing. The Retractable tip though, is in my opinion a huge upside for my purposes, as I like to carry it around, something that is not recommended with the Rotring 600. Overall, I would highly recommend this pencil to anyone looking to get a reliable, aesthetically pleasing pencil that writes very well. It is a bit pricey, in my opinion worth every penny.

I felt obligated to write something about this pencil. This was one of the few times that I didn't read the reviews before ordering what seemed to be the perfect mechanical pencil. Just for the record, I wanted something that was fantastically solid, didn't roll away, and felt precise; I'm not a drafter, an engineer, nor an architect.... My career-life is digital, and I simply wanted something that made me smirk. I'm an avid fountain pen user, and have honestly never given carbon a chance since high school, but to be completely honest, my favorite ink (noodlers baystate blue) didn't work well for quick notes in my Midori passport notebook without inking the opposing back page before drying. I will defend ink to my grave, but for notes..... Yeah, I'm willing to give some slack. So this lead me into the idea of pencils, or rather, mechanical pencils! If you've looked for a high-end mechanical pencil, then you've undoubtedly stumbled across the rotring 600/800/800+ series. I personally don't want something to replace my finger, so I opted out of the 800+ and simple ordered the regular 800; I already mentioned: I'm not an engineer, drafter, nor architect. So for the regular person that is wanting to try a nice mechanical pencil..... How exactly does it feel? Simple! This thing feels better than anything else you've ever touched with a graphite core! I'll assume the readers have filtered themselves through a ton of mixed reviews, but I'll just say that unless you've handled some sort of ultra-simple and ultra-high-end drafting pencil..... The 800 will put a smile on your face. The second it touches the first page, you'll feel an immediate connection, or rather a full-blown obligation to excite your very own tactical page-dump. In a nutshell, you'll wish you owned something like this during your high school days. Does the lead break? No. I swam through over a hundred reviews that boasted the whole lead breaking thing, but I assumed it was because the fittings weren't properly tightened.... I actually feel like I was right. Right out of the mail box it was loose.... Pretty much all of the mechanics were loose in all honesty, but I tightened them before the 'lead' ever hit paper. I haven't had a single break yet. This isn't to say I'll never have one, but while I may not be a technical drawer, nor an engineer, I assume breaks come from wobbly pieces, and these are absolutely stone-solid once you tighten everything. It wobbles: it does, by definition, have a bit of play. With that said, the "play" is significantly less than any other mechanical pencil I've ever used. The guide tubes in every other mechanical pencil I've ever tried has significantly more play than what I'm seeing with the 800. This may move literally (in definition) a hairs-width when it hits the paper, but it is 1,000 times more precise and less playful than any other mechanical pencil I've ever used.... I'm just someone that wanted a fantastic mechanical pencil, not some engineer or drafter. It feels like a marshmallow when you advance the lead. Nope, my specific sample is crazy clicks and has insane advancement feedback. Idk if this has been improved, or if This is simply the mindset of someone that isn't in that type of career, but it isn't spongey like I've read at all. Keep in mind that I did tighten everything, so maybe that's why, but I'm not totally sure. The actual mechanics feel really solid. When you extract the tip, you realize this isn't some sort of cheap Zebra pencil. It is about 1/4th of a turn to manipulate the tip, and it is scary efficient. The second you hit paper with it you'll most definitely smile. In the end, I'm sure that, by definition, the 600 model will be more precise, but as someone that's not in that type of career where I need to draft or design..... This thing really does make you feel like you've been missing out on the world of graphite. Perhaps I received a premium example, I'm not sure, but after feeling the one I received, I am pretty sure I would return/swap this as many times necessary to eventually get a good one.... It's that nice.

i bought two of the rOtring 800 pencils and personally i think that they’re solid writing tools. they are made with solid brass and you can tell the first time you pick it up, especially with the knurling where you’re supposed to hold it. the writing is just like any other mechanical pencil but i like the knurling a lot because of the grip and it’s a little weird writing with at first because of how slender the pencil is compared to normal ones. it’s easy to tell that this is really a tool rather than just a mechanical pencil. for example, pressing the lead advance button or retracting the tip just feels like it is well-made and it’s quite fidgetable if that is something of value to you. now there are cons, albeit one that is just minor design issues. there is a little bit of a “gap” when you press down on the lead advance button, and it’s not really a dealbreaker to me but i feel like that could’ve been improved, and in general how sensitive the tip is but it’s at least retractable (still have to be careful with that). now the biggest con is the very high price, but i find it pays itself off since you wont be using any of those cheap almost disposable mechanical pencils that i myself used to use. and i hear a lot about how some engineering students and such have kept it for years. in short, this is a solid choice for a reliable, tough and nearly unbreakable pen (emphasis on nearly, but the retractability checks itself out) and if you’re willing to get by the high price, i think that this is a good choice for anyone that needs a rugged and reliable mechanical pencil.

As an engineering student I have had many, many mechanical pencils in the past. As I started getting into courses that required fine levels of detail in drawing schematics and also long sessions with a writing utensil in my hand I was on the look out for an end all, be all mechanical pencil. After having the pencil for nearly a year, it has become my most important tool aside from my calculator. This thing is a tank and I abuse it heavily. The construction is superb and extremely robust. The balance is perfect, and nearly exactly at the midpoint of the length of the pencil. The lead advancement is consistent and the clutch has never slipped on me at all. The striking good looks of the machine is just a bonus. Now, there are cons. The tip does wiggle ever so slightly, but I must be clear here, it does not effect precision in the slightest, it is purely a symptom of manufacturing tolerances and the fact that there are so many moving parts within the pencil. The wiggle can make an auditory clinking sound if you really listen but I quite like the noise, it reminds me that I am using a truly mechanical pencil and I like mechanical things... Many people report lead breakage as an issue yet I have never experienced lead breakage, even while using 0.5mm 2B lead (one of the weakest leads). The only major issue I ran into started two weeks ago when I realized that the twist mechanism was experiencing some major friction and it made it very hard for me to extend the head of the pencil. Keep in mind this issue arose a full 9 months after I purchased the pencil and used it heavily every single day. At first it was looking like a was going to have to find a new pencil but then I realized I had some 3-in-1 lubricating oil. I liberally applied oil to the seams of the mechanism and inside the mechanism and let it sit for a while before wiping off the excess oil. It now works better than it did the day I got it. This thing is truly a wonderful writing utensil and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a precise, robust, and dedicated mechanical pencil. As a side note, there is noticeable patina/surface wear from using it so much but I very much like it. It reminds me how long I've had it and how trusty it has been.

I bought 2 Rotring 800, 0.5mm mechanical pencils for drawing and note taking. I use these, as well as a number of the less expensive 500's with multiple colors of leads and keep them at hand in a 3D holder I designed and printed. The retractable barrel is brilliant as you can easily keep it in your pocket without retracting the lead (or poking holes in your shirt). The barrel extends with the lead exactly where you left it, which sounds like a small thing until you do it a few hundred times. The retraction mechanism is also easily managed with your writing hand (one-handed), and spring-loaded. The build quality is excellent, and I imagine that these are made to last a lifetime. The pencil is much heavier than the hybrid metal/plastic models, but I find the weight to be a major advantage for throwing steady lines and arcs, owing to the additional inertia. The "micro" knurling around the grip area is small enough to be comfortable, yet sharp enough to create a positive no-slip hold. The visibility around the point is perfect for precision drawing and also allows for accurate alignment when used with drawing tools (triangles, t-squares, circle and elipse templates, etc.). In terms of finish, I have read some criticism of the durability, and I have a couple of nicks here and there, but I would attribute this to my handling of the instrument and not a failing of the design. To me, it is minor and only adds to the character. If you want to keep this pencil pristine, then you should keep it in a holder and not loose in among other pencils or objects that will chip or mar the finish. That's part of why I designed and printed the holder - so that I could protect the pencil and have it close at hand. If someone knows of a better mechanical pencil. Please post a link to it!

Let me start by saying, I have been on the hunt for the perfect feel for quite a while. I'm picky. Very picky. So when i find what i like, I'm loyal to it. Sometimes to a fault. but in this comparison I believe I'm being fair and honest. Lert's not mince words.. Rotring is the Rolls Royce of functional mechanical pencils. There are of course much more expensive luxury pencils on the market and I've tried a lot of them. I have not purchased the more expensive luxury versions but I have friends that indulge, so I have borrowed some (they're insane letting me borrow a $4000.00 pencil) for a day just to test. FYI That pencil was actually a set. so that dollar amount bought 4 instruments. it was the Graf von Faber-Castell Elemento Limited Edition set. Now, the luxury pencils need to be eliminated from this review because they are simply not a viable option for 99% of the planet. I think I'd opt for something much different for that price. but not only that, those instruments are built for style and class, not necessarily function. In fact, I prefer the items I'm listing below to any of the expensive items I've tried. I narrowed down my search to a handful. The Pentel Graph Gear 500. The Pentel Graph Gear 1000, the Rotring 600 and the Rotring 800. The Pentel's are nice pencils, and they work great. But frankly they are not in the same class as the Rotrings and that is fairly represented in the price. They don't have the weight and balance. My primary goal was the feel of the pencil. We know they will all work, and honestly i don't care how they work, as long as they do. the mechanism for making them work while great from an engineering standpoint is largely irrelevant from a usability standpoint. My requirement? when I mash the button at the top does lead advance? does it do this consistently? if so, that's all I care about, with one minor difference which I will point out.. The jewel of the Rotring in my eyes is the weighting. These pencils are made of metal. not Plastic (although some of the internal parts are plastic). They are weighted just as I would hope. They feel like a solid instrument and I really like that. in fact, that is the main reason I prefer the Rotring. The differences between the 600 and the 800 are mainly that the 600 lacks the ability to retract the tip into the sleeve, protecting you from shirt pokes and leg stabs. Personally this is not a big issue for me, as I work from home now and i don't carry them around. But even when I did, I didn't find that to be that big of an issue. There is one other difference which is just silly to me. The 600 has a dial indicator you set to note which lead you have in it. HB, 2B, etc. The 800 unbelievably doesn't have this option. I can only assume it's because of the additional movement required for the retracting tip. But to me this is almost a deal breaker. Why? because I have several of the same pencil. The only difference is which lead is in it. So I use the dial. With the 800 the only way I could do this without using silly stickers, would be to only use two. a black and a silver. then just remember which has which. I cannot believe they didn't' work this into the 800. but that alone is almost good enough to choose the 600. The one thing I will say about the retracting tip, the 800 does it right. The Pentel 1000 has this feature too, but it's applied with the clip. You press the top fo the clip and the whole thing pops back based on tension. With the 800 you twist the top of the pencil and it pulls the tip back manually. I don't know why, but I prefer the method of the 800. Neither cumbersome so I don't really know why, other than I tend to be OCD and I found myself clicking the Pentel back and forth like a nervous tick. There are other differences between the 800 and the 600 but I'm not going to get into those that refer to the internal mechanism because again, if it works, it works. BUT, there is one key feature to me that makes one stand above the other. Feel. The Rotring 600 has the perfect balance, period. It feels right. I purchased the 600 before the 800, so I knew I was already a fan, but I was disappointed in the 800. I can't really explain it, but the 600 just has a better balance for me. They appear to be the exact same length. The tips are slightly different and I am guessing the retracting mechanism in the 800 is what throws off the balance. The tips appear slightly different, but not much, though i will admit, I love the gold color of the 800 tip. The 600 does not have this option. I think the knurling on the grip is a little different between the two, but without a magnifying glass I can't see the difference. i think the 800 might have a tighter knurl. Both work fine for me. So in my eyes, if these two pencils were priced exactly the same? i would pick the 600. Now factor in the price difference of almost 50% more for the 800 and it's a no brainer. I like to keep 4 or 5 pencils handy with difference lead hardness. So I will have several of the same pencil with different hardness of leads. What I don't understand is the Rotrings used to have an indicator on the top of the eraser cap for the lead. That is no longer the case. Now they are hollow and you can just see the eraser inside. Then again, I could be mistaken and this could be a feature of the clutch versions that have this cap indicator. I don't think that's the case, but I wish they had this on the 800 so there was some way to distinguish what lead is in it. It's still unbelievable to me that they'd remove the lead indicator dial, but the final difference, and this is pretty small, but something that did bother me. the 600 has a well pronounced click when you advance the lead. The 800 has a more soft click. It almost feels like it's not working. I don't know why, but that bothered me. For me, there is no question. I will buy the 600, especially when I can get two of them versus one 800, and have the lead indicator on them. 800? great pencil. Too expensive. 600? perfect weight, perfect functionality, and perfect price.

I began as a draftsman & illustrator in the 1980s and have always been drawn (sorry) to writing instruments, primarily pens (ball point & fountain) & mechanical pencils, and have been collecting/accumulating and using them for many years. I've reviewed the Rotring 600, Rapid Pro, Faber Castell TK Fine Vario, Alvin Draft-Matic, Pentels and many others, but just realized I hadn't written one for what has turned out to be my "absolute" favorite, the Rotring 800 Retractable 0.5mm, that I purchased in 2019. Reviewing a mechanical pencil differs from reviewing other products because every pencil will draw. As with other writing instruments, it really comes down to the buyer's preference for how an instrument feels in their hand and the value they attach to the experience. Though I'm pleased with a number of brands, every Rotring I own works perfectly, feels the most substantial and has impecable build quality. If I could only choose one instrument it would easily be a Rotring and specifically be the Model 800 retractable. I love the retactable feature because it protects the tip, not to mention my skin, clothes, etc. and functions just as solidly as all my Rotrings. I hate to think of how many times I've accidentally "stabbed" something with the needle-like tip of a non-retractable 0.5mm. Everyone has their own preference for how an instrument feels in their hand, but I think most would find Rotring to be the "ultimate". Due to the build quality and quality control it's no surprise to me that every Rotring I've ever purchased or used has worked flawlessly. I feel very comfortable in recommending any Rotring model and expect the vast majority of users would be very pleased with their feel and function. For anyone not interested in owning and using a premium instrument then I'd recommend they purchase any of the many inexpensive mechanical pencils available.

I recently got tired of fighting my assortment of cheap plastic mechanical pencils and decided to throw them away and buy a new good-quality one. After considerable thought, I selected the ROtring 800 in 0.5mm. I haven't been disappointed. The ROtring's all-metal construction looks as though it'll stand up a long time. The slim body has a comforting weight and solidity to it and a firm, positive non-slip grip. The retraction mechanism is simple, smooth and positive — just twist the knurled section at the top — and leaves nothing vulnerable to damage exposed when retracted. There is an eraser under the black pushbutton, but let's face it, who uses the bad erasers on mechanical pencils? Do like the professionals do, buy a Staedtler-Mars refiller stick eraser and call it done. Most ROtring pencils come in 0.3mm, 0.5mm, and 0.7mm. You probably don't need the 0.3mm unless you're doing something like fine-detail drafting, and 0.3mm leads are terribly fragile in any case, but either the 0.5mm or the 0.7mm is a good choice for general-purpose use. I prefer the 0.5mm because I like a fine line, but for a bolder line you might prefer the 0.7mm. Don't cheap out on refill leads; the more expensive polymer leads are worth it many times over for the reduced lead breakage. What else is there to say? Its a ROtring. If that isn't enough, maybe you should buy one to find out why that name is so highly respected.

Tak jak w tytule, kupiony na prezent, obdarowany miał nie tęgą minę, dostał przedmiot używany, w środku pudełko oceniłbym tak 3/5. Jeden rysik prawie wypisany (1 z 3), do tego na ołówku widać rdzę! Serio? Niezły "nowy" ołówek, pogadam z obdarowanym czy nie będzie chciał go zwrócić, bo to są jakieś nie zdrowe żarty. Żałuje tylko że zdjęcia nie zrobiłem. Najadłem się wstydu tylko, nieźle amazon.

Original excelente escrita.

Costs more for a reason. Ranks very high for appearance and look and feel. Functional high end item

Min favoritstiftpenna. Ett givet val om man gillar ett stadigt grepp och är ok med en något tyngre penna. Dessutom kan man få in hela spetsen så man inte råkar spetsa sig själv.

Ik heb een Amazon bestelling geplaatst voor een Rotring 800 pen. Toen het pakket bij mij aankwam, was de doos leeg. Dit is pure oplichting