Sharpening My Lettering Game

Meet the latest additions to my lettering toolkit

Sometimes it’s tough to part ways with the tools that have been your go-to for years. But recently, I found two new mechanical pencils that have seriously stepped up my drawing game.

For the past couple of decades, my trusty Pentel GraphGear 500 has been my ride-or-die. It’s always delivered, but I’ve had one gripe—the etched metal grip has left my fingertips callused from regular use.

The file-like grip of the Pentel GraphGear 500

That all changed during a recent trip to Kinokuniya (one of my favorite Japanese bookstores in NYC). I came across Pentel’s Graph 1000 For Pro—a sleek upgrade to my old favorite. With a soft rubber grip (goodbye, calluses!) and a dial on the eraser cap to keep track of graphite hardness, it’s everything I didn’t know I needed.

The latest additions to my lettering quiver

And then, there’s the Staedtler 925-15 Drafting Pencil. It’s got a similar design but with an even easier-to-use graphite dial right in the center of the sleeve. Both are around $10, making them solid choices whichever way you go.

I’m sharing all my must-have analog and digital tools in my upcoming Foundations of Lettering workshop on Saturday, Nov. 2. Registration is now open!

Happy lettering!
Ken
Type & Lettering