Does a pencil kit need an eraser?

[Phil Dart]

Do you think that a mechanical pencil kit should have an eraser with it?

The Beaufort Mistral pencil is on the drawing board, and I just wondered what all your thoughts are

Is it a selling point, is it expected, is it a nice touch but doesn't really matter, is it a pain in the aarse which is bound to get lost or wear out for which you can't get spares anyway, is it completely unimportant.

I'd be interested to know what you think

Phil

 

[Dalboy]

All the pencil kits I have made which is not a lot the eraser is a load of rubbish so not worth the effort also once it wears down can replacements be brought without having to send off to someone to get them. All pens and pencils i make I like to be able to tell the purchaser that they can go to somewhere like smiths and get them.

 

[Grump]

I tell customers to go elsewhere to get a pencil.

Apart from stopping the leads from spilling out I don't think I have ever seen one being used.
Most drawings are done on confuser these days but we still had Drawing boards in the drawing office and occasionally they got used and when they did an eraser was a separate item in the tray with a rule init?
I don't think they are a requirement in a kit but I have only made a few too.

 

[TK woodman]

I think a good pencil mechanism that works is more important than an eraser. I believe that a Sierra pencil kit has an eraser, but you have to pull it apart to find it and unless you were told, you wouldn't know it was there. So, unless you are doing the Times crossword, an eraser would not be a priority in a pencil kit.........although a sign of confidence is doing the Times crossword in ink!!!

 

[Walter]

I would say that it matters not one way or the other although my personal preference would be for no eraser so no potential spares/returns problems.

 

[Davideccroft]

I made my first propelling pencil yesterday. I made a posting on this earlier today. It was a basic kit. It has an eraser but it's tiny and if anyone tries to use it, it would wear out quickly meaning the leads stored inside would not be so secure or it might snap mak My it hard to add more leads. Unless there was a way to put a rubber on top and have a way to easily replace them, like with stylus pen tops a waste of time.

 

[Woody]

No Eraser they are a wast of time they break when used and the few that dont break go rock hard in time and dont work so if you have them on the shelf for a long time your buggered before you start better of without then me thinks

 

[yorkshireman]

No eraser for me.

 

[Bob Ellis]

While I agree that erasers are usually poor quality and difficult to access, whenever I sell a pencil, one of the first questions customers ask is, "Where is the eraser?" So, it seems to matter to customers.

I'd better source some spares because, while nobody has yet come back to me asking for spare erasers, it will happen one day.

 

[AllenN]

I would say no eraser. Most people I know who use pencils use a separate eraser of far better quality than the rubbish that gets attached to pencils. One could always supply a pencil in a box with a proper eraser fitted as well.

 

[wm460]

All the pencils I have used the rubber is a piece of poo, too hard to get too, gone hard.

May be have it so you can add rubbers as option , and tell the customers where you can buy them from.

 

[Penpal]

No eraser good mechanism and not too fine a lead.

Peter.

 

[silver]

No it doesn't need one

But should be supplied with one so the customer has the option to use it or not..

Only my opinion..

I know the ones supplied are really poor, so do the customers. But it's just one of those security things that they like. Just in case they forgot the pencil case init..(the one with the rubber in init..)

I know someone who bins the pen and kit once the first lead and rubber is worn out..

I have now managed to get his secretary to return them for a refurb. New rubber and re fit with new lead for a fraction of the price.

As for 0.5 or 0.7. It's all down to what they prefer. Mine have always been 0.5.

 

[wm460]

No it doesn't need one

But should be supplied with one so the customer has the option to use it or not..

Only my opinion..

I know the ones supplied are really poor, so do the customers. But it's just one of those security things that they like. Just in case they forgot the pencil case init..(the one with the rubber in init..)

Well said Eamonn.

 

[Phil Dart]

Thanks everyone for taking the trouble to post.

I've never been a great fan of kit erasers, and the overwhelming message here is that it's not that important, which to be honest, surprises me a little. - which just proves its worth asking the question.

To include an eraser means lots of negatives, without even considering whether the eraser itself is any good. It means a longer pen for a start, and there has to be a method to conceal/expose the eraser which means extra components, which are either going to add to the weight or are going to be flimsy so that weight is not an issue. Ultimately too, it means higher costs, not just for the eraser but for all the extra bits, which in the main, most people are saying, is a pointless annoyance we can all do without. It also introduces an element of contention - its all very well telling customers where to buy a pen refill, its another telling them where to buy a replacement eraser. If it's not there in the first place, there is no discussion necessary.

Thanks for your input - its really appreciated. It's members of this forum who but the kits at the end of the day, so your say in the design process is always welcome.

Phil

 

[Winemaker]

I don't do mistakes so why would i need a rubber