I'm back (again...) with another review, this time of Pentel's GraphGear line. This includes the GraphGear 300, 500, 800, 1000, and Graph 1000 For Pro. My review will include all but the 300, since that's the only one I am missing. I'll start highest to lowest, which means that the Graph 1000 For Pro is first up! This is decent pencil. In my opinion, this and the base 1000 should be swapped in the lineup, since the "Pro" model drops the metal body and replaces it with plastic all around. Nonetheless, the 1000 For Pro feels good in the hand. It has a nice weight, not too heavy, but not too light. The lead indicator located on the cap is very satisfying with a nice click upon rotation. In addition, it features a full brass clutch, and a metal lead tube. The Graph 1000 For Pro retails for around 10 dollars, so it is well worth the price, given the features. Next up, we have the GraphGear 1000. This is by far one of my all time favorite mechanical pencils. With a...
Today, I finally got the urge to make something with my heaps of wires and Arduino supplies. In a time of endless days and weeks of bleak nothingness, I decided to create something to remind me that, contrary to how it often feels, time does go on! I usually open a tutorial, see how complicated the schematic is, and decide to do something else. But, in a fit of unheard of work ethic, I powered through this project. This is a simple clock that runs off of an Arduino Uno board and displays to an LCD. It tells down to the second, with reasonable accuracy. It was a nice way to spend an hour, and I'll be attempting more projects soon. Feel free to leave some ideas in the comments!
One of my goals this year is to work through the backlog of pens and pencils I have to review, which, as it turns, is around 20. I figured I might as well start from my most recent acquisitions, and here we are. I had been eyeing the Pro Use 171 for several months before getting it, and all I can say is that it did not disappoint. Coming in at just under 25 grams, the 171 strikes a nice balance between using premium materials, while not being too heavy and unwieldy. It comes with pretty standard features; a lead grade indicator, pocket clip, and small eraser, although there are a few features on this pencil that make it different from most others I have reviewed. Starting off with the most useful feature, we have the retractable lead sleeve. It can be extended out to around 4.5mm using a screw mechanism. The one issue I have run into is that if you overtighten it when retracting the sleeve, it can get stuck. To fix this, simply unscrew the grip and the sleeve mechanism should c...
good stuff!
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