The Tombow Mono Graph Shaker Mechanical Pencil is supposed to advance the lead when you shake it, and it has a twist-up eraser. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the lead to advance no matter how ...

Crossword-solving elites don’t use any old pencil to fill out a grid. Here’s why the Pentel Twist-Erase III mechanical pencil is a go-to for scores of solvers.

The premium mechanical pencil is suitable for technical drawing and drafting, and comes with six Pentel ‘Super Hi-Polymer’ HB leads included, plus one eraser which can be replaced.

Get some 0.5mm solder and a .5mm mechanical pencil and you're most of the way there. Remove the eraser, empty all the graphite out of the pencil, and carefully thread the solder into the pencil.