Modern Fuel bolt action mechanical pencil review
Hello! Since I got my modern fuel bolt action mechanical pencil here - along with a 0.3mm and a 0.7mm mechanism, I guess it's time to see how it works out.
This pencil is a crowdfunding project on both kickstarter and indiegogo. I watched the promotion video, and the guy in that video says "Guaranteed to be satisfied with it.", so I gave it a try (I'll reveal how much it costs at last).
I always do some basic check on overall quality when I got a new mechanical pencil. Here's what I see.
The part that holds the nut. Also got burr on both sides of the threaded hole. Time to deburr.
Inside the knock button parts. Burr.
The other side of the pen clip.
Now, allow me to show you the first page of the manual.........
This is how it goes inside the cone part.
The click button unit can't really hold the mechanism properly.
Here's how a brand-new mechanism looks like.
https://youtube.com/shorts/bCmnnQF2CY8
Here's how it works when I got it.
https://youtube.com/shorts/otj1raX7Q9E?si=qWkvwAIa0e-vI9cE
Also, here's a sample of its clicking sound.
Now, let's get back to the pencil itself.
https://youtube.com/shorts/KiItpA42daY
The tip also wobbles while using.
Although it has a 4mm drafting sleeve, the end of the mechanism also sticks out of the cone part, which is around 1mm, plus, the mechanism gives around 0.65mm of lead per click. I usually click twice before writing. So it'll be 1+4+1.3mm, i.e., 6.3mm exposing from the cone part, wobbly.
If it's only the sleeve that is wobbling, it's fine. But inevitably, there's always some extra tolerance between the lead and the lead sleeve. Which also wobbles.
As a result, there will be 2 differnt places wobbling on the same direction, making the lead easier to snap during writing. It already happened to me for like 3 times within 4 hours of use. There are also 2 times that the lead just snapped inside the mechanism. Right below where the clutch is.
My personal opinion is, this pencil is surprisingly awful considering it is a 160USD tier product. I also bought 2 seperate mechanism for 30USD, so it's 190USD in total.
Modern Fuel says that it's a "minimal" bolt action mechanical pencil, but if the word "minimal" means to omit something that is essential, then it's nothing different from being coarse.
The experience I got from this product is extremely depressing. Probably the worst of all the time. I haven't had anything like this since I started to collect and use mechanical pencils. I even doubt if its designer actually tried them before release.....
Well, this is my review on modern fuel bolt action mechanical pencil. Hope you enjoy it and have a good day my fellow mechanical pencil lovers!