Uniball Kuru Toga High Grade Mechanical Pencil

Pencils — 11 June 2010

Uniball Kuru Toga High Grade

I think I’ve stated my hatred for writing with a pencil on this blog before, which is why I thought it was pretty funny when I found myself writing down notes the other day with my Uniball Kuru Toga High Grade (via JetPens) that I picked up a while ago. The interesting thing about this was that I didn’t even remember making a conscious decision to pick up the pencil, that I’ve been carrying in my pencil case ever since I bought it. In the past I claimed that the standard Kuru Toga is the best mechanical pencil ever, (for the old review) but having used the high grade version now I may have to change that claim.

Uniball Kuru Toga Hig Grade and Standard Comparison

High Grade (bottom) and Standard (top) Comparison

Above you will see a side by side shot of the standard Kuru Toga, and the High Grade versions, and other than the high grade being slightly longer, the big difference is that the high grade is made of aluminum instead of plastic. To me the aluminum body with its little bit of extra weight makes it so much more enjoyable to write with. I wouldn’t consider this to be a heavy pencil, however there is a noticeable difference between the two, and since I tend to like heavier writing implements I am really a big fan of the aluminum body.

Uniball Kuru Toga High Grade Eraser and Cap

When you get down to the nuts and bolts of the high grade version of the Kuru Toga mechanical pencil, you will notice that the eraser is a bit different. Instead of just sliding into a plastic hole, there is an aluminum sleeve that holds the eraser, so you can actually continue to slide it up a bit higher as you use it and it wears down.

Uniball Kuru Toga Eraser and Metal Clamp

The Eraser and Metal Clamp

The next photo shows the eraser and component completely broken down so you can see how the aluminum eraser holder actually splits apart. Below is a quick writing sample done in my Whitelines notebook with black cover, but even further below that is a better example of what the Kuru Toga is really capable of.

Uniball Kuru Toga High Grade Writing Sample

If you enlarge the first photo below, you will see a crossword puzzle from my previous Kuru Toga review where I filled it out with a regular pencil from start to end. Working from left to right and from top to bottom, you can see that as you get to the bottom right, the width of the line that the pencil puts down gets wider and the letters look more sloppy. And just for the record, yes I did cheat on the crossword puzzle so I could make sure to get all the answers correct without skipping anything from left to right and working my way down.

A crossword puzzle done with an ordinary mechanical pencil.

Now the last photo here shows the same crossword puzzle filled out using the Kuru Toga. If you click on the photo to see the larger version you can see that using the Kuru Toga results in a consistently sized sharp and crisp line from start to end, and it takes no extra thought or effort yourself to rotate the pencil as you write with it since its automatic clutch system just does it for you.

The same crossword puzzle done with the Uniball Kuru Toga mechanical pencil.

Bottom line is that I think that as good as the standard Kuru Toga is, the simple act of making the body partially out of aluminum gives it such a better feel, but honestly, you cant go wrong with either version of mechanical pencil from Uniball if you like to always be writing with a nice sharp pencil point. I may be a bit biased, who who knows, maybe Im missing out on some other fantastic pencil out there, but I just cant imagine making a conscious decision to write with any pencil besides this one.

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About Author

OfficeSupplyGeek

http://regardingwolf.com ryan

Right there with you, in agreement on this one. I really like the weight and feel of this pencil. The rotating mechanism is especially awesome because I popped the lead out and replaced it with 4B [really soft]. The only thing I would change is the lead sleeve – I wish it retracted to make the pencil more pocket-friendly.
Lei

I really like my Kuru Toga pencil, but I realized when I started using it that I rotate my pencil without even thinking about it, and rotating a self-rotating pencil results in a LOT of lead breakage. So this might not be the right pencil for someone who already rotates without thinking about (or being annoyed by) doing it!
http://www.sygyzy.com David Vo

I don’t know how I feel about pen and pencil manufacturers making two versions of their instruments – one cheap version and one luxe version. In some ways, I wish they just made one or the other but just have lines separate the quality. For example, I would not want a cheaper Audi. I could get one though – it’s called a Volkswagon. I also would not want a Volkswagon with “high-grade” trim that costs as much and looks like an Audi but wait, it’s not.
http://www.tomoddo.com Tom

Popped my JetPens cherry and bought a high-grade one in blue! Shhh… don’t tell my boss.
http://www.officesupplygeek.com OfficeSupplyGeek

@ryan – Great point, I don’t usually store them in my pocket, so I never even thought of that.

@Lei – Its funny that you mention that because I do that with pens quite often, but since I so rarely use pencils, I guess I never picked up that habit, although I can totally see where it might be a problem. Too bad Uniball cant make one that lets you adjust the direction in which the lead rotates, if you were turning against the direction the lead was turning it would probably work out.

@David Vo – I can understand where you are coming from with that, and technically this high grade version is not part of the Uniball line in the US. Also, Ill just go out there and say this…and it comes from personal (horrible) experience…there is NEVER a good reason to EVER buy a VW, and anyone currently thinking that might be a good idea, please feel free to shoot me an email because I’m pretty sure I can convince you otherwise.

@Tom – My lips are sealed. Sorry you are now going to be addicted to JetPens though.
Eric

I liked the low priced KuruToga so I ordered the high grade too, then I realized one day that I didn’t like having to click for lead, not that it was hard or anything but I had a Zebra frisha automatic from Staples clearance, which is a shaker style. It spoiled me and felt so good in my hand that rotating it was easier than clicking the Kuru Toga. The Zebra is now my daily writer and shakers are my favorites.
http://www.officesupplygeek.com OfficeSupplyGeek

@Eric – I’ve heard quite a few happy users with the shaker type mechanical pencils, I have yet to try one though, but I am reluctant since it will probably not keep a sharp point like the Kuru Toga
http://lifeasacynic.blogspot.com synical

I got the first Kuru Toga and I didn’t like that my writing came out too light for my taste, and the lead I use can be pretty dark.

So I got the High Grade one and I really prefer it over the previous incarnation probably due to the slight heft you mentioned and now it’s my favourite of the two.

And I bought both pencils from the same seller on eBay since (I think) JetPens doesn’t ship to my part of the world or the shipping is too much for me, can’t remember which.
http://www.officesupplygeek.com OfficeSupplyGeek

@synical – I’m with you, the high grade is so much better, and I think its the extra heft. On the issue of the Jetpens shipping, I dont think I’ve ever paid it because I always find a good excuse to hit the $25 limit that kicks in the free shipping.