Thanks for the comment. You bring up a couple of good points that might partially explain the decline in the use of leadholders these days. Constant sharpening would indeed result in greater waste of graphite material compared to thinner leads. From my collection, the 5.6 mm leadholders get the least amount of use. I tend to use 2 mm and 3.15 clutch pencils more frequently. The few instances when I reach for a 5.6 mm clutch pencil range from classroom demonstrations to live caricature drawing
I love 5.6mm lead holders, can't go without them. I have a soft spot for these chunky boys, started using them more and more after my grip strength increasing from calisthenics to the point that they are more comfortable than 2mm or even 3.15mm lead holders, they feel like sticks.
i got my first 5.6mm leadholder last week..it has 4B and im using it anywhere..so so nice to hold..the grip is right, my hand is relaxed..i tend to grip tightly with smaller bodied pens
Being heavy handed when sketching quickly on larger formats on easels, I tend to snap and break thinner leads from regular mechanical pencils. The second reason to use the 5.6 mm lead size, would be if you use a blunt tip or the broad side of the tip for shading larger swatches. Of course a more economical choice would be to go with a Lyra Graphite Crayon with its 13 mm diameter of solid graphite. Thus 5.6 mm clutch pencils are more of a collector's indulgence as you surmise in your comment..
Thanks! For Cretacolor holders and drawing leads you could check online stores like Blick's and Jerry's Artarama. For fancier Woerther leadholders (Compact and Profil), I would recommend the Ipenstore
The main reasons to use clutch pencils or leadholders that use lead diameters larger than 0.9 mm would be the constant length, balance, and consistent comfortable feel of a drawing tool that does not get gradually shorter after each sharpening and greater resistance to breakage.
Are you saying that the size of all the lead sticks in all of those holders is the same, at 5.6 mm? (except for the last one, which is obviously softer). What is the number on the last one that is darker? Is the last one you used a softer lead because they included lead when you bought the leadholder and that's just what it had in it? If all the other leads are all identical, why would they look any differently on paper? The holder would only affect the comfort level with your hand, not the drawings. Please explain.
Thanks for your questions. The lead diameter of all the leads in this video is 5.6 mm. Clearly they were each loaded with different types of leads of different hardness as well. The apparently softer lead in the Art Alternatives Pocket Clutch pencil is whatever came packed in its tin set which seems to have the darkness of a 2B lead but the scratchiness of a HB lead. Now the reason why the Cretacolor drawing leads might look different on the paper, is that some are graphite while others are Nero charcoal leads with oil fixative (which are available in 5 different hardness from extra soft through extra hard). The reddish lead in the ergonomic holder is an oil-based sanguine.
Pretty sure it's an E+M clutch pencil from Germany.similr to this one www.amazon.com/CREATIVE-ART-MATERIALS-Zebrano-1500-55/dp/B003UMBJGO/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_1/138-3649796-6304744?pd_rd_w=CrqjF&content-id=amzn1.sym.116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_p=116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_r=SATXK5V7S4WBXPX7Q3EF&pd_rd_wg=9niwI&pd_rd_r=8ab07e09-d604-439d-b88d-f27a8a55a440&pd_rd_i=B003UMBJGO&psc=1
I believe that was the soft graphite lead included with the "Creative Mark" leadholder sold at Jerry's Artarama. "Creative Mark" would be their store brand, If you are seeking the darkest stroke, you could alternatively shop for Cretacolor Nero lead if more readily available.
Kaweco Sketch Up Clutch Lead Holder best lead holder full metal body but its really expensive but if you are a profesinal artist then this might be worth the money
Yes, it was a KUM dome sharpener designed for 5.6 mm leads. Though I seemed to have misplaced it. Thus lately I am using KUM 1870 Mini canister sharpeners to point my 5.5 and 5.6 mm leads on the clutch pencils on my drawing desk.
5.6 clutch pencils are growing scarce in the USA as well. I can barely find a couple of Chinese value versions in some art supplies and hobby stores. The high-quality German lead holders and clutch pencils are pretty much found in some high-end stores and some online retailers.
Could you use a standard pencil sharpener for the 5.6 mm lead, I just ordered one but is comes with the built-in sharpener. I own a 2 mm lead holder but have a 2 mm lead pointer. Thanks
The 2 mm leadpointer won;t help with the 5.6 mm lead. A regular pencil sharpener could be used in a pinch, but it is bound to yield a fairly short taper point. There are several 5.6 mm lead pointers if you look around. Some by E*M and another by KUM. Check JetPens.com
While mine is not branded, I believe it to be a E+M Germany 5.5 mm Scribbler Pocket Clutch Pencil, Pear www.ipenstore.com/e-m-germany-5-5-mm-scribbler-pocket-clutch-pencil-pear/
You are welcome. I got it from Jerry's when they carried it online. Its source is Germany from this website www.em-holzprodukte.de/fallminenstifte.html?&L=1
I don't have them all handy right now to test them, but they are all pretty light since they are often made of plastic or wood. The Cretacolor .430 01 feels quite solid in the hand featuring a plastic barrel and metal clutch mechanism without being too heavy.
I'm a professional artist and I've been using a .9 mm lead holder for years. Whats the benefit of using these 5 mm? They seem more like a novelty thing you can show off in your pencil case than anything else. They don't look practical. To keep it sharp you'd have to waste a staggering amount of material, you'd go through the lead just as fast as a 9m. Not to mention you have to special order expensive lead from the company. You're basically wasting 4 out of 5 mm of expensive shipped lead.
Using the side of it. Using tip shape variation. With a 0.9mm you're pretty not able to utilise either of these functions. Larger leads are usually employed by artists who aren't dealing exclusively in line-work. With my 5.6mm, I'm still using the original stick after years of use. I wouldn't catastrophise about the amount of perceived wastage. The lead is inexpensive and only made of clay and pigment (what gave you the impression it's expensive?). Many artists use this type of lead for many years, as they have with 0.9mm. Either is viable as long as it gets the job done.
Damn, this was ten years ago
Indeed, time flies when you are having fun.
Thanks for the comment. You bring up a couple of good points that might partially explain the decline in the use of leadholders these days. Constant sharpening would indeed result in greater waste of graphite material compared to thinner leads. From my collection, the 5.6 mm leadholders get the least amount of use. I tend to use 2 mm and 3.15 clutch pencils more frequently. The few instances when I reach for a 5.6 mm clutch pencil range from classroom demonstrations to live caricature drawing
I love 5.6mm lead holders, can't go without them. I have a soft spot for these chunky boys, started using them more and more after my grip strength increasing from calisthenics to the point that they are more comfortable than 2mm or even 3.15mm lead holders, they feel like sticks.
Wrapping tennis wrap around the barrels of thin leadholders could easily widen their grip should you wish to write or draw with your thinner leads
Where to buy those pens????
i got my first 5.6mm leadholder last week..it has 4B and im using it anywhere..so so nice to hold..the grip is right, my hand is relaxed..i tend to grip tightly with smaller bodied pens
Whats it called?
Thanks for sharing
Just bought my first from a local shop, made by a local artist. Lignum Vitae wood, it's great.
Being heavy handed when sketching quickly on larger formats on easels, I tend to snap and break thinner leads from regular mechanical pencils. The second reason to use the 5.6 mm lead size, would be if you use a blunt tip or the broad side of the tip for shading larger swatches. Of course a more economical choice would be to go with a Lyra Graphite Crayon with its 13 mm diameter of solid graphite. Thus 5.6 mm clutch pencils are more of a collector's indulgence as you surmise in your comment..
Thanks! For Cretacolor holders and drawing leads you could check online stores like Blick's and Jerry's Artarama. For fancier Woerther leadholders (Compact and Profil), I would recommend the Ipenstore
The main reasons to use clutch pencils or leadholders that use lead diameters larger than 0.9 mm would be the constant length, balance, and consistent comfortable feel of a drawing tool that does not get gradually shorter after each sharpening and greater resistance to breakage.
wow very nice quick sketches🤩
Thank you so much 😀
Sounds fancy. Enjoy your new clutch pencil!
Almost forgot the mid-priced E+M Workman Long Clutch Lead Holders - 5.5 mm and refills available through Jet Pens
Are you saying that the size of all the lead sticks in all of those holders is the same, at 5.6 mm? (except for the last one, which is obviously softer). What is the number on the last one that is darker? Is the last one you used a softer lead because they included lead when you bought the leadholder and that's just what it had in it? If all the other leads are all identical, why would they look any differently on paper? The holder would only affect the comfort level with your hand, not the drawings. Please explain.
Thanks for your questions. The lead diameter of all the leads in this video is 5.6 mm. Clearly they were each loaded with different types of leads of different hardness as well. The apparently softer lead in the Art Alternatives Pocket Clutch pencil is whatever came packed in its tin set which seems to have the darkness of a 2B lead but the scratchiness of a HB lead. Now the reason why the Cretacolor drawing leads might look different on the paper, is that some are graphite while others are Nero charcoal leads with oil fixative (which are available in 5 different hardness from extra soft through extra hard). The reddish lead in the ergonomic holder is an oil-based sanguine.
Did you ever figure out which brand the small chubby one is from?
Pretty sure it's an E+M clutch pencil from Germany.similr to this one www.amazon.com/CREATIVE-ART-MATERIALS-Zebrano-1500-55/dp/B003UMBJGO/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_1/138-3649796-6304744?pd_rd_w=CrqjF&content-id=amzn1.sym.116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_p=116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_r=SATXK5V7S4WBXPX7Q3EF&pd_rd_wg=9niwI&pd_rd_r=8ab07e09-d604-439d-b88d-f27a8a55a440&pd_rd_i=B003UMBJGO&psc=1
what is your favorite holder for 5.6 lead? I am looking into buying one.
I like the dark stroke of the last one. May I ask the brand of lead?
I believe that was the soft graphite lead included with the "Creative Mark" leadholder sold at Jerry's Artarama. "Creative Mark" would be their store brand, If you are seeking the darkest stroke, you could alternatively shop for Cretacolor Nero lead if more readily available.
@@Betolung Thank you very much for the information.
Kaweco Sketch Up Clutch Lead Holder best lead holder full metal body but its really expensive but if you are a profesinal artist then this might be worth the money
Do you remember the pencil sharpener you used to sharpen the led?
Yes, it was a KUM dome sharpener designed for 5.6 mm leads. Though I seemed to have misplaced it. Thus lately I am using KUM 1870 Mini canister sharpeners to point my 5.5 and 5.6 mm leads on the clutch pencils on my drawing desk.
Meu sonho de uma portaminas com vários grafites mas aqui no Brasil é extremamente caras
5.6 clutch pencils are growing scarce in the USA as well. I can barely find a couple of Chinese value versions in some art supplies and hobby stores. The high-quality German lead holders and clutch pencils are pretty much found in some high-end stores and some online retailers.
Could you use a standard pencil sharpener for the 5.6 mm lead, I just ordered one but is comes with the built-in sharpener. I own a 2 mm lead holder but have a 2 mm lead pointer. Thanks
The 2 mm leadpointer won;t help with the 5.6 mm lead. A regular pencil sharpener could be used in a pinch, but it is bound to yield a fairly short taper point. There are several 5.6 mm lead pointers if you look around. Some by E*M and another by KUM. Check JetPens.com
Do you still not remember the name of the little wood one? Looks nice.
While mine is not branded, I believe it to be a E+M Germany 5.5 mm Scribbler Pocket Clutch Pencil, Pear
www.ipenstore.com/e-m-germany-5-5-mm-scribbler-pocket-clutch-pencil-pear/
Alberto Lung oh okay, Thank you.
You are welcome. I got it from Jerry's when they carried it online. Its source is Germany from this website
www.em-holzprodukte.de/fallminenstifte.html?&L=1
Hello, which one is the heaviest in the hand among all the cretacolor lead holders you have?
I don't have them all handy right now to test them, but they are all pretty light since they are often made of plastic or wood. The Cretacolor .430 01 feels quite solid in the hand featuring a plastic barrel and metal clutch mechanism without being too heavy.
Just curious question, if you still have to sharpen it, why not use a regular pencil?
Amp it usually has sharpner fixed at the end
I'm a professional artist and I've been using a .9 mm lead holder for years. Whats the benefit of using these 5 mm? They seem more like a novelty thing you can show off in your pencil case than anything else. They don't look practical. To keep it sharp you'd have to waste a staggering amount of material, you'd go through the lead just as fast as a 9m. Not to mention you have to special order expensive lead from the company. You're basically wasting 4 out of 5 mm of expensive shipped lead.
Using the side of it. Using tip shape variation. With a 0.9mm you're pretty not able to utilise either of these functions. Larger leads are usually employed by artists who aren't dealing exclusively in line-work. With my 5.6mm, I'm still using the original stick after years of use. I wouldn't catastrophise about the amount of perceived wastage. The lead is inexpensive and only made of clay and pigment (what gave you the impression it's expensive?). Many artists use this type of lead for many years, as they have with 0.9mm. Either is viable as long as it gets the job done.
How it is a white graphite gioconda?
I don't have any Gioconda leads on hand, but the white drawing leads are usually either chalk or a white crayon type material