Pencils accompany us from the first day of school into our careers. Children starting school learn to write with them, professionals fill many pages with sketches and notes, and recreational artists use them to turn their fantasies into reality. Lamy's high-quality mechanical pencils are for those who value the best quality and a perfect design. Fine lines, shading, sketching and drawing - tasks for which Lamy pencils are made.

Timeless mechanical pencils for all circumstances

OUR MODELS AT A GLANCE

The sophisticated 



Various lead sizes, eraser tips, erasers: In our accessories you will find everything you need besides the actual mechanical pencil to enjoy writing and drawing for a long time.

Accessories: Everything around your
mechanical pencil



For technical drawings, it is best to use a pencil with hardness 9H - 3H, which is at the harder end of the lead spectrum. A hardness of HB and B is suitable for normal writing. Anything between 2B and 9B is very soft and is therefore popular for drawings or sketches, as the drawing can be easily blended and beautiful shading can be created.

Whether you like it colorful or timelessly simple: In our range, you will find many different surface and color variants in a variety of colors or in classic black or gray tones.

But just as important as the look of your pencil is the lead which is used. Which one is right for you always depends on what the pencil will be used for. 

Fine line, wide range 

What degree of hardness does my pencil need?

Whether in an architect's office, in technical drawing, in everyday graphic design or when preparing lessons and workshops: It is impossible to imagine the professional world without the mechanical pencil. Writing, sketching, drawing - its tasks are multifarious. Everyone has different requirements and demands on their tools. We have the right equipment ready for all these wishes.

Find the mechanical pencil or mechanical pencil that suits you best

What is the difference between graphite and lead?


Nowadays, lead is no longer used in leads for writing instruments, as the heavy metal poses a health hazard. Instead, graphite has been used for many decades. This is a naturally occurring form of the chemical element carbon. The mineral is absolutely harmless to humans. Therefore, you can use your Lamy pencil without hesitation and there is no risk for children either.

What is a mechanical pencil?


Unlike a conventional pencil with a wooden sheath, a lead pencil does not require regular sharpening because the lead is housed in a reusable plastic or metal sheath. When the tip of the refill is nearing the end, you can simply push it forward again a few millimeters with a pressure mechanism. Furthermore, they do not become blunt and write with constant width.



CHANGING THE PENCIL LEAD – HOW IT’S DONE


In our video tutorial, we will show you how to change the lead in a pencil in any case.

Frequently asked questions​

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The LAMY safari and the LAMY AL-star are specialists in the field of sketching and drawing. The mechanical pencils are equipped with the LAMY M41 fine-tip refill, which enables particularly precise work. Thanks to its ergonomic shape, both models fit comfortably in your hand, and you can write and draw without fatigue for a long time.

A pencil lead is mainly composed of two components: Graphite and clay. The "lead" in the name is just a relic from earlier times. Nowadays, the toxic substance is no longer used, and the graphite-clay mixture is absolutely harmless to human health. The two ingredients are crushed, mixed together and mixed with water to form a paste, which is then fired at 1200°C - the mixing ratio determines the degree of hardness.
The body of a pencil can be made of many different materials, such as wood or metal. At Lamy, we rely on high quality fabrics to create extra durable products for you. The mechanism in a mechanical pencil is usually made of metal. 

The LAMY abc learn-to-write pencil is the ideal companion for a successful start to school. Thanks to its child-friendly, educational and ergonomic design, this mechanical pencil is perfect for learning to write systematically and with ease. Once they have made a start, children can continue their journey with the LAMY abc learn-to-write fountain pen.

Pencil leads are divided into different degrees of hardness. HB means that this pencil lead has a hardness grade HB (half black), i.e. it is medium hard. This hardness level is particularly suitable for writing and drawing.

Mechanical pencils and twist pencils have different mechanisms for advancing the lead. With mechanical pencils, you have to press the pusher at the back of the barrel, similar to a ballpoint pen. With a twist pencil, the twist mechanism that transports the lead comes forward when you turn the grip. You have the choice: The two techniques differ only in handling, not in quality. Therefore, what you like better, you can decide quite freely.

Unlike other writing instruments, the graphite that a pencil emits does not form

a strong bond with the paper. The drawing is merely superficial. So everything can always be removed afterwards with an eraser. Furthermore, the quality of the paper can also have an impact on the lifespan of your drawing or notes. If you want to record your thoughts for many years, we recommend our ballpoint pens and fountain pens with document-proof ink (e.g. LAMY T53 in Benitoite color) as well as our notebooks made of acid-free paper.

There are a total of 20 different degrees of hardness for pencil leads. These range from very soft to extremely hard. Also, the following applies: The softer the lead, the richer the black.


9B - 4B: very soft (sketching, artistic work) 


3B - B: soft (writing, drawing) 


HB, F: medium (writing, drawing) 


H, 2H: hard (technical drawing, writing). 


3H – 5H: very hard (technical drawing, graphical representations) 


6H – 9H: extremely hard (lithography, cartography) ​