Pentel Twist Erase GT- Artist Reviews Pencils

Hey Artnerds! Today we're talking about the Pentel Twist Eraser GT! We've covered a lot of Pentel products here, and I'm a big fan of their mechanical pencils. As always, this review is from the viewpoint of a traditional media artist with early-onset arthritis who teaches art, so I'm going to talk about how well this pencil handles writing, sketching, how comfortable it is to use, and ease of use.

Pentel Twist-Erase GT

Other Pentel Reviews:
Pentel Sharp:    • Pentel Sharp: Artist Reviews Pencils  
Pentel Quicker Clicker:    • Pentel Quicker Clicker: Artist Reviews Pen...  
Pentel Twist Erase Express:    • Pentel Twist Erase Express: Artist Reviews...  

What's in my Pencilcase 2020 Edition:    • ✏️Whats In My Pencilcase?✏️ 2020 Edition  


Pentel Twist Erase GT:
$9.53 on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Fk4WOz
Also available in .5mm

Both sizes available in a variety of colors
Eraser Refills available

Purchased from Target- target and Walmart often do exclusive packs with various companies, so this may be a Target specific pack.

They were out of .7, so I grabbed a .5

Liked the grip on the Icy, but my Icy is starting to give out, thought it was time to try the Twist-GT.

.5mm lead
Long, twist-up erasers
'Unique Anti-Breaking Lead System'
'Writes more than 3x longer' (than what? other pencils? Their own pencils? Wooden pencils?)
Uses E10 eraser
Latex-free ribbed grip
Special sliding sleeve supposedly allows us to keep writing even if the lead breaks (this could be great with colored leads)

The Packaging:
Blister packed cardboard with a plastic front
Three pencils, a pack of HB lead, and three replacement erasers

The Pencils:

Seems well built- sturdy, heavy plastic
Like a high end Icy
Back advancement back half removes for additional lead, eraser twists up
Clip is very sturdy
Collar is plastic

Like a cross between the QuickerClicker and the Icy. I don't have a QuickerClicker on hand, but I do have an Icy for demonstration.


About the same length as an icy
Both have metal clips
Icy's eraser doesn't twist up
Icy is lighter, feels cheaper
Lead sleeve retracts in the Twist-Erase GT


Writing Test:

No give in the feed
Comfortable to write with, lightweight. Pentel's lead is a favorite of mine. Might have to track this down in a .7, my preferred size. Could definitely see this as a good option for people who have to handwrite all day, like students.

Drawing test:

Bluelines:
Can't front-load this pencil, so I had to remove all the leads and backload a single red .5 lead.

This is more difficult to sketch with, since I don't usually draw with .5 too often, and I feel like there' some control issues. No noticeable snapping yet.

Graphite:

Also can't pull the red lead from the front.

It sketches fine but it seems like it might be best suited for writing. It's definitely not designed for quick lead switches.

The Verdict:

I feel bad saying a pencil is just 'fine'- it's not awful, but it's also not amazing. I hoped to find a successor to my dying Pentel Icy, and maybe the .7 Pentel Twist-Erase GT might be a better fit, but the inability to quickly switch leads is a deal-breaker for me personally. It's a sturdy, well-built pencil that might be a great fit for students and artists who don't need to quickly swap leads on the fly.

Music:
Kevin MacLeod:
Clean Soul
Meditation Impromptu 03
Angevin 70

#PentelTwistEraseGT #mechanicalpencilreview #stationery