ORIGINAL POST DATE: July 14, 2006
I have a late arrival for the Love Triangle pencil comparison, the Lyra Osiris 45100. I found these a few days after the original post and find that they are a very nice addition to the triangular pencils I use. They have a nice yellow lacquer finish, similar to the California Republic Golden Bears, but do not have a finished end cap as the Golden Bear does. They are made from good solid wood that appears to be cedar, and are more substantial than the Grip 2001 and the impossible to find Mars Ergosoft. They have a very similar feel to the Golden Bears, but a better graphitei core. The graphite in the Osiris is dry compared to my still favorite Staedtler Noris Ergosoft, but isn't as hard and light as the Golden Bear. For me the Osiris will be a good second to the Noris, for times when I want a slightly tighter line.
One element I didn't cover in the original Love Triangle post was the element of cost. Some of you may want to have pencils of varying price ranges for different uses, such as economy priced pencils for work or school where you are more apt to lose them. To this end here is the estimated price break-down on the triangular pencils I have compared - yours prices may vary:
- Ticonderoga Tri-Write 2/HB with eraser: 18 - 25 cents each.
- California Republic Golden Bear HB: 20 cents each.
- Lyra Osiris 45100: 37 cents each.
- Dixon Tri-Conderoga 2/HB with eraser (large diameter): 35 - 40 cents each.
- Mongol Trio with eraser (large diameter): 42 cents each.
- Staedtler Noris Ergosoft HB 2: 80 cents each.
- Faber-Castell Grip 2001 2=B: 75 - 85 cents each.
- Faber-Castell Jumbo Grip: $1.54 each.
If you want an all-around comfortable pencil that you won't care if you lose it, then the Ticonderoga Tri-Write is a bargain. If you up your budget a little bit you can have a very nice writing pencil with the Osiris for less than twice the price of the Tri-Write, and for double the price of the Osiris you can take a leap in graphite quality with the Staedtler Noris Ergosoft.
What is missing from this selection is a high end triangular pencil. With the news from California Republic that there are no plans to release the Palomino in a triangular version, I am left to invent another dream pencil. My current fancy for the ultimate triangular pencil would be a Tombow Mono Professional in HB or B grade with a sleek black finish. The black lacquer with cream and gold on the Tombow Mono is luxurious, and it has a nice thick end-cap. This would be a beautiful pencil in triangular form as well. Although there is yet to be a high quality addition to the triangular pencil trend, and no indication that there ever will be, I think the Tombow Mono would make a likely candidate for such an innovation.
Original Comment Stream from NWD Blog
The Osiris looks pretty hot. I'll have to add it to the shopping list along with the natural finish Lyra.
I would definitely grab a pack of triangular Tombows if the opportunity ever arose. We need a nice black triangular pencil, right?
Posted by: JAbbott | July 14, 2006 at 02:44 PM
JAbbot -
We definitely need a triangular black pencil, without a doubt! Thanks! - NW
Posted by: Ninth Wave Designs | July 14, 2006 at 03:03 PM
Hmmm, availability could be another angle - you're generally writing here about mail-order only pencils. I've seen only two of these eight pencils locally (the Tri-write and the Grip 2001), though you earlier mentioned getting the Tri-conderoga at Staples.
I'm surprised you don't rate the Grip 2001 a bit higher. With all the design awards and press it has received, I'd speculate that it's the reason the other triangular pencils are even marketed today. I'd go even further - it's such a great and successful pencil that it has helped the entire pencil industry. Anyhow, I like it.
Now the Mono Professional - I ordered a half gross of Tombow Mono 100s from a cartoon supply dealer who sent me this pencil instead. I was very disappointed since they clearly advertised the 100.
In daylight, they appear to me to be intense navy blue rather than black. I also think there is way too much marking on the pencils - three sides are marked, using no less than six fonts, a couple of which are in two sizes.
I'm not exaggerating:
Font 1 - 2B (grade)
Font 2 - "highest quality" and "hi-precision" - in two different sizes
Font 3 - Barcode number
Font 4 - "Tombow"
Font 5 - "Homo-Graph" and "Made in Japan . For ... Drafting" (again two sizes)
Font 6 - "Mono"
Branding is fine - but it's just a pencil! I think they've gone too far and created a very distracting and unorganized look.
Since you're looking at these types of details, here are two pencil presentation touches I've noticed and liked:
The pencil grade on the tip of the cap. This makes the pencil very findable amidst others of the same general appearance. I've seen this on a pencil that's not otherwise very good (Raffine from China) at a local art supply store, and wondered why the idea hasn't been copied.
Second, make the bar code removable, as with the Caran D'Ache pencils. They have a perforated bit of clear plastic that can be removed.
This might cause a slight bit of waste, but I think it's acceptable in the context that many stores are moving to blister packs and such for selling small items, or they just attach their own sticker, which can also be wasteful and hard to remove. And the pencil winds up having such a nicer look!
Anyhow, that's it for now! :)
Posted by: Stephen | July 17, 2006 at 08:40 AM
Stephen -
I live in a part of the world where I have to mail order practically everything - which is how I acquired all the pencils I reviewed except the Dixons. As an angle, availability is highly subjective based on location, so is something I wouldn't try to add to the mix.
I had heard many wonderful things about the Grip 2001 pencils, and these were the hardest for me to find, but I was very disappointed with them. The light-weight wood they are made from is something I don't like - I prefer a good solid cedar pencil. If the graphitei quality had been better I would overlook that preference, but I found several other pencils to have better graphite. Others will not agree with me, but that's why there are so many different pencils to choose from.
I have never tried the Mono 100, and they are difficult to find since they are no longer being made. The Mono Pro replaces those, but I can't say how they compare. I find the Mono Pros to be excellent quality, and even if they were purple with yellow spots I would still prefer them to most pencils for the quality of the graphite . My Mono Pros are quite black, so I'm not sure what you got from the cartoon supply dealer.
I like to buy pencils by the dozen, in cardboard boxes, so haven't encountered the issue of bar code tags. I would like to see pencils packaged by the dozen in cardboard sleeves again - by the half-gross box - since any pencil worth using is certainly worth having 6 dozen of! - NW
Posted by: Ninth Wave Designs | July 17, 2006 at 09:09 AM
Fair points all. I also would welcome the reappearance of half-gross boxes of pencils! Maybe someone out there is listening?
Posted by: Stephen | July 17, 2006 at 10:08 AM
I'm surprised that no one has gotten clever with a good sharp x-acto knife and some Sculpy in order to hack their own triangular Palominos. I love the way the Palominos travel across a page, but the triangular grip-style is much easier on the hands for long sessions of writing. If I get desperate enough, I might give it a go.
Posted by: Catherine | July 18, 2006 at 11:59 AM
To make "long sessions of writing" easier, you could use one of those triangular rubber grips that slide onto a hexagonal pencil.
I have the paper-and-pens-and-pencils fetish, so I do know that the aftermarket mod is just not the same as having a fabulous triangular pencil in the first place. And the translucent candy colors of the grips are not exactly classy. But when the alternative is hand cramps, well, it may be worth trying.
Posted by: Steff Z | July 28, 2006 at 02:53 PM
Catherine & Steff -
I have tried a bunch of add on grips for hex pencils, and I have to agree with Steff that I prefer the built in comfort of a triangular pencil.
A retro-fit for the Palomino would be necessary though, especially for long writing sessions. Thanks! - NW
Posted by: Ninth Wave Designs | July 30, 2006 at 08:52 AM
Very useful reference for the pencil. Do yo have any thoughts about the sharpening process?
Posted by: Harold | August 04, 2006 at 11:12 AM
Harold -
I have been using a KUM Special Diameter pencil sharpener for all my triangular pencils, and it works great. You can see a picture of one HERE. You can also see mine in the background of the picture on the original "Love Triangle" post (link at end of post above).
The design of the sharpener is such that there isn't the little bit of extra movement that happens with the triangular pencils in regular sharpeners - which can often lead to breaking points while sharpening. The blades are replaceable and you can use it on both large and regular size triangular pencils. It has a very clever design - as do all the KUM sharpeners I have tried. - NW
Posted by: Ninth Wave Designs | August 04, 2006 at 11:38 AM
Well, I think that TOMBOW MONO 100 in the HB grade is the ultimate pencil.
I'm in the search for the perfect pencil since 1989 (palomino included) and on a trip around Japan I founded many kinds, like Mitsubishi and other.
I tryed "professional" and "general writing" pencil and I can say that, TO ME, the TOMBO 100 is the heaven.
I suggest this pencil.
A pencil is not "just a pencil", it's an instrument and it must be like your Stradivari.
It must give you the right "vibration", the right "sound" while it's running through your sheet.
At least, it's the only thing between your mind and the reality.
Cheers to everybody.
Alessandro
Posted by: aseptic404 | September 28, 2006 at 07:26 AM
Alessandro -
Tombow Mono Professionals, the pencil made to replace the Mono 100, are top of my list. They offer a variety of grades, so depending on your writing style you can find the perfect fit among them. I haven't had a chance to compare the early Mono 100 with the Mono Pros to see if they are identical, but it is difficult to imagine a better quality pencil than the ones I have. Thanks for the comment - NW
Posted by: Ninth Wave | September 28, 2006 at 07:53 AM
Hey guys. I'd like to chime in on this, although I'm a few months late. I have about 7 boxes of mono 100's (all black, white stripe) and about twice that in the mono pro. I can tell you although the difference is slight, a difference does exist, at least in my experience.
The mono 100 draws a smoother, more consistant line,and the graphite feels really 'even'. I don't know else to describe it. They're by far the best pencil I've drawn with.
Posted by: j | October 19, 2006 at 11:57 PM
J -
I will continue to keep my eye out for some Mono 100s so I can try one myself. Trying to describe the writing experience of a pencil isn't the easiest thing to do, but when you find the right one it just feels right. Thanks! - NW
Posted by: Ninth Wave | October 20, 2006 at 02:34 PM
I never knew bic made a triangle pencil
http://www.bicworld.com/inter_en/bdd/product_writing.asp?product_id=124
btw faber-castell makes the design pencils which is a black tri pencil and you forgot the ferby
Posted by: spilt_milk | March 17, 2007 at 07:35 AM
Spilt_Milk - It looks like the Bic you mention is only available in Europe, so that isn't anything I will likely ever come across here in the US. Likewise, I haven't ever seen Lyra Ferbys anywhere in my travels, although there is a brief review on Paper and Pencil. Thanks for your suggestions. - NW
Posted by: Ninth Wave | March 17, 2007 at 10:19 AM
Pencil
Where to purhase Lyra Osiris 45100
Where to purhase Lyra Osiris 45100?
You could try PencilThings.com but they may be out of them right now. Also Bundoki.com but you'll have to use a translator program like Yahoo's Babbelfish. Hope this helps.
I'm surprised you don't
I'm surprised you don't rate the Grip 2001 a bit higher. With all the design awards and press it has received, I'd speculate that it's the reason the other triangular pencils are even marketed today. I'd go even further - it's such a great and successful pencil that it has helped the entire pencil industry.
Triangular Pencils could be Cheaper for More Global Sales
I have been using triangular pencils made of solid wood and graphitei core for quite some time now. I would recommend the manufacturers of these pencils to make them more lighter and cost effective to use. This would tremendously enhance their mass appeal internationally which would eventually lead to more global sales.
This is very nice pencil
This is very nice pencil that I have ever seen. I have a great collection of all type of pencil in market since my childhood. so This will be a new addition to my collection if I will get it in my local store . Thank you very much for share----------------