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What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:40 am
by Dr. Dre
I'm currently using
Dixon's Ticonderoga #2 Black pencil. It's pretty soft when I write and has good grip.
I want to know if there is a better #2 pencil I could use. If such a pencil exists, please post it here. If you say to use those Staples pencils, I will assume you're trolling.
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ETA:
Here are some testimonials of people who were helped by this thread;
CR2012 wrote:My only regret during my LSAT prep was that I didn't take the time to purchase quality pencils for my first take. I only realized this after receiving my second score and putting two and two together.
Sorry for the testimonial, I just really appreciate the work that is being done ITT for future test takers.
deputydog wrote:
After taking my first LSAT with TTT pencils, I disappointedly scored in the low 160s. After switching to Ticonderogas for my second administration, I pleasantly saw a large jump. Going into my third take, I know that my advanced knowledge of pencils and pencil accoutrement will provide me with the confidence and know how to push past that 170+ barrier. I don't think there is anything as vital or controllable in LSAT prep than proper pencil equipment. The question isn't why should you do it, but rather, why wouldn't you do it?
-deputydog
Black Mirado Warriors, Dixon Ticonderogas, Helix Eraser Caps, Dixon Triconderogas.
ZGr88n wrote:
This is probably the most important thread ever posted on any TLS forum.
ManoftheHour wrote:This thread revealed the world of the Black Ticons and the Mirado Warriors to me. Both of which are superior to the TTT pencils that I used on my previous two LSATs.
SteelPenguin wrote:
Dre opened my eyes to a whole new world of pencils and LSAT prep.
mlansky wrote:Once I went Ticon black, I didn't go back.
Skill Game wrote:What an amazing thread
ZGr88n wrote:This thread motivated me into buying a new set of pencils, real talk.
haus wrote:When I sat down to try a initial diagnostic practice test, I had just read that wooden pencils were required for a the exam. I did not have any wooden pencils as I had not used one for years (probably 15 to 20 years since I regularly used them).
I stopped by a convience store and grabbed what they had on hand and a throw away plastic sharpener. The first signs of things being less than ideal was the discomfort I felt sharpening three of the pencils. Things went downhill from there, I found the marks made by pencils were unexpectedly light and inconsistent. I attempt to adjust by pressing harder, this lead to broken points (and more time with the crummy sharpener). I also discovered that the erasers on these pencils did a better job of smearing the lead marks than erasing them, when I used more elbow grease to force the issue, I ended up tearing holes in the paper I used as my scoring sheet. When I made it through the practice test, my hand was sore.
I realized that this was not the performance I wanted to repeat on the actual rest day. Hence I read some reviews on pencils, sharpeners, and erasers. I orderd a few or each that sounded promising. I set aside the fat barrel pens I used at the office to take notes, and started using wooden pencils for all of my daily writing task. This allowed me to find the combination of tools that I am most comfortable with.
No, I do not expect that this will lead to a dramatic diffrence in my score, but I do want to make an effort to reduce things that could be distractions. This may be more important to me than many others due to some nagging injuries I have with my writing hand left over from days when my work was more physically demanding than my current geek work.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:43 am
by ManOfTheMinute
Those are the ones I use...
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:44 am
by haus
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:44 am
by Dr. Dre
ManOfTheMinute wrote:Those are the ones I use...
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:46 am
by Dr. Dre
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:51 am
by haus
Dr. Dre wrote:
Those aren't #2 tho
HB is equivalent to #2
ETA:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil#section_3
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 12:53 am
by Dr. Dre
I did not know that....but they are really expensive for pencils.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:01 am
by haus
Dr. Dre wrote:I did not know that....but they are really expensive for pencils.
Yeah, they are not cheep, and admitedly they are not dramatically better that the premium Ticonderoga pencils, but in my experience they seem a bit smoother, and hold a point better. The combination is strangely addictive.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:04 am
by CardozoLaw09
I use these right now but might switch to Dixon Ticonderoga soon. I feel like I have to resharpen these more than I need to be. They're environmentally friendly though so if you're keen on preserving the environment then these might be for you. Also, they write pretty well.
--LinkRemoved--
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:11 am
by haus
I really liked the feel of several of the Staedtler pencils, but I seemed to wear down the lead much faster on these pencils compared to most of the others I tried.
I went out of my way to get a nicer pencil sharpener to see if I having a better sharpener would either make the point last longer, or bother me less that I needed to use it so often, but I decided to go find other options.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:13 am
by Dr. Dre
If they need to be sharpened ever so often, I would stay away from them. I am environmentally conscientious but the LSAT matters to me more. My favorite pencil of all time was Dixon's Oriole. OMG was that pencil amazing. But I can't seem to find it in stores anymore.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:19 am
by haus
Something like these?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000X0TW6 ... 1?pi=SY115
Although I have heard from pencil geeks that some manufactures have brought back some popular pencil models with inferior assembly, most likely in attempt to cash in on a good name. Although I am not familiar with this model so I do not know if that would be at play here.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:23 am
by elterrible78
Dr. Dre wrote:I'm currently using
Dixon's Ticonderoga #2 Black pencil. It's pretty soft when I write and has good grip.
I want to know if there is a better #2 pencil I could use. If such a pencil exists, please post it here. If you say to use those Staples pencils, I will assume you're trolling.
I kind of switched back and forth between those ones and Mirado Black Warriors. I really liked the rich lead of the Black Warriors, but the eraser sucked. That gray eraser on the Ticonderogas is like a dream. I brought a few of both on test day, but I think I just used the Ticonderogas.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:24 am
by Dr. Dre
Yeah those! Hopefully they'll be legit.
Have not used one since the 3rd grade and my god, they were amazing to do arithmetic with!
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:26 am
by Midas Whale
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:32 am
by haus
The Pilot Foam Eraser is a really nice stand alone eraser. Another eraser that is popular at my office is the Steadler Mars Plastic Eraser.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 1:44 am
by haus
Dr. Dre wrote:Yeah those! Hopefully they'll be legit.
Have not used one since the 3rd grade and my god, they were amazing to do arithmetic with!
If you do order the Oriole's let us know if the live up to your recollection of them.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 2:01 am
by Dr. Dre
Indeed I will!
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 2:35 am
by Balthy
Good thread on this topic:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =6&t=26495
My thoughts:
The original Mirado Black Warrior was an excellent pencil. After switching production location to Mexico, the quality fell; it is only a shell of its former self. If you get the originals from Amazon, you won't be disappointed.
The Eberhard Faber Mongol 482 is also a fine pencil (and the first pencil found in the now-ubiquitous standard yellow) but it is tough to find in the US. You'll have to make a journey to South America, but it may be worth it.
Finally, the Palomino Blackwing 602, a revival of the fabled Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602, is a true master's pencil. Palomino earned plaudits for reviving the pencil, listening to the concerns and criticisms of pencil enthusiasts, and redesigning it yet again to even more closely resemble the original Blackwing design. True devotion to pencil craftsmanship.
Edit, some links:
http://www.amazon.com/EF-Eberhard-Faber ... B003GR2B1U
http://www.pencils.com/all-brands/blackwing
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 2:41 am
by warandpeace
I use those yellow ones
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 2:46 am
by Dr. Dre
I like the smell of the Ticonderoga Black. Especially after I sharpen that baby after a Practice Test.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 2:55 am
by jrsbaseball5
This thread makes me feel like there is a whole new level of pencil quality I never knew about.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:07 am
by Dr. Dre
Would you guys recommend putting one of those eraser thingys on a pencil? Or just use the original eraser?
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:24 am
by Trajectory
Dammit! now you guys got me into looking into this world of pencils I never knew existed! I feel behind with my yellow Dixon No. 2. This will now soon change.
Re: What #2 Pencil Should I use?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:26 am
by mephistopheles
haus wrote:pencil geeks
man, what have i been doing with my time