As you advance in your chosen field, it’s important to work with the best tools of the trade.
Rather surprisingly, there’s one particular tool that builders, designers and fine artists have in common – the humble clutch pencil. A precision pencil that advances your practice in more ways than one, we’ve broken down the benefits of the traditional leadholder below.
What is a clutch pencil and how does it work?
A clutch pencil is a tool used for technical drawing, though many fine artists also tend to use them. They are a type of mechanical pencil that has a hollow body and a ‘clutch’ mechanism at the front of the pencil which holds the lead in place. When you click the top of your clutch pencil, aka leadholders or drafting pencils, it releases the clutch – allowing you to decide exactly how much lead you’d like to advance.
What is the difference between mechanical and clutch pencils?
When you click a mechanical pencil, a predetermined amount of lead is automatically advanced. However, a clutch pencil offers manual lead advancement, allowing you to have full control over the amount of lead used while drawing.
Clutch pencils also typically hold 2mm lead, which is relatively thick and less fragile. This allows artists and technical drawers to shade with more precision, since they can hold the lead almost parallel to the paper without it snapping.
What are the benefits of using a clutch pencil?
We’ve curated a selection of the best clutch pencils for all your drawing sketching needs below.
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Nicpro 2mm Mechanical Pencil Set
Get all the gear in one value-for-money purchase with the help of Nicpro’s 2mm clutch pencil set. Complete with an impressive six boxes of pre-sharpened lead refill, an eraser and a sharpener – you’ll never go without a pencil full o’ lead again. Each graphite lead refill is 120mm long and break resistant.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
Staedtler Mars Technico Leadholder Clutch Pencil 2mm 780C
Sleek, stylish and comfortable to hold, may we present the Staedtler Mars Technico Leadholder. Though suitable for various types of lead and equipped with an identifying clip, Staedtler includes one piece of the recommended HB, 2mm thick lead with your purchase.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
Koh-I-Noor Versatil 5201 2mm Clutch Pencil
Versatile by name and nature, Koh-I-Noor’s clutch pencil is a classic economy option for those not looking to spend a fortune on a new manual leadholder. It’s equipped with an 8mm thick hexagonal barrel for comfort and precision, and also comes with an integrated sharpener.
Buy now £6.00, Cult Pens
Koh-I-Noor Versatil 5217 Clutch Pencils Set of 6
A rather pricey option by Koh-I-Noor, but more than worth the investment. This set of six clutch pencils features innovative colourful lead for technical sketching, with the barrel colour of each pencil denoting the colour of lead inside. They’re housed in a chic vintage-style tin, come with a small L&C Hardtmuth eraser and are compatible with 2mm refillable lead.
Buy now £41.00, Cult Pens
Kaweco Skyline Classic Sport Clutch Pencil 3.2 Macchiato
Value line thickness above all else? Look no further than the iconic Skyline clutch by Kaweco. Though not as ubiquitous as the German brand’s mechanical chubby pencils, it’s a must-have for any technical draughtsmen thanks to the uber-thick 3.2mm lead. Despite its larger size, it’s incredibly lightweight and easily refillable.
Buy now £19.00, Cult Pens
e+m Clickman Clutch Pencil
By far the most attractive clutch pencil we’ve come across, we love that the wooden barrel design is equipped with a carrying loop which can be clipped to your toolkit, keys or pencil case. The pencil is crafted with FSC-certified beech wood in a natural finish, features a solid push-button clutch mechanism and extremely thick 5.6mm graphite lead.
Buy now £16.50, Cult Pens
Uni Holder MH-500 Mechanical Pencil 2mm
Available in a range of lead grades, this vintage-style 2mm clutch pencil is realised in a lovely burgundy barrel. It has a comfortable knurled metal grip section and a removable pocket clip for ease. Uniquely, the lead supplied with the Uni Holder has a small ring at the base which prevents the lead from falling out entirely when the clutch is released.
Buy now £7.00, Cult Pens
Hightide Timber & Brass Pencil
Crafted by Japanese brand Hightide, these timber and brass pencils are a delicate and stylish option for the note-taker who prefers a pencil packed with lead. Despite the sleek and balanced American cedar wood casing, the lead is 2mm thick, making it a strong and robust tool no matter the writing task at hand.
Buy now £18.00, Cult Pens
