The Kuru Toga is the King of Mechanical Pencils! "Kuru" (クル) is an onomatopoeia for something turning or rotating, and "toga" (トガ) is taken from the verb "togaru" (とがる), meaning to taper to a point or become sharp. The name conjures up an image of something constantly spinning to a precise point, which is exactly what the Kuru Toga does. The knurled grip of the Roulette is unique to this model, allowing you to have a secure hold on the pencil. between words). This is the perfect choice for those who want a little extra comfort in their pencil grip. Ive been eyeing the uni kurutoga recently and I'm impressed with the features and the overall look of the pencil. The Uni Kuru Toga Pipe Slide has a secret weapon that no other pencil can match: It automatically rotates the lead inside the pencil every time you lift the tip from the page, keeping the … We like the convenience of having everything you need in one package. This allows the lead to be worn down uniformly, resulting in a consistently pointed tip. Conclusion. This is mainly because it keeps the lead so sharp, more so than I typically do by rotating my pencils at the end of every line. It contains a mechanism that rotates the lead as the pen is lifted between letters/words. On the knurled grip there’s a small window where you can see the rotation “effect”. Originally founded as the Masaki Pencil Manufacturing Company, Uni has been around, in one form or another, since 1887. It really works! The finish is smooth and slippery, but the holes in the grip section let you have a firm hold on the pencil. This keeps the lead super sharp and lets you write or draw consistently precise lines every time. 2. This lets you write with the "Sharp" side of the lead at all times. I have heard that the Kuru Toga jumps for some people; it's scratchier than other pencils when used with the same lead. The drawing tool geek in me started researching other mechanical pencils, and that’s when I came across the Uni Kuru Toga. Exclusive diamond-infused lead creates dark, crisp lines allowing for more intricate writing while reducing lead breakage. during printing words, etc. Plus, the Roulette just looked cool. There’s a bit of a “spring” in the lead shaft—perhaps .5mm— when you put it to paper, but in actual use it’s nothing I’ve ever noticed. With regular mechanical pencils, the lead gets worn down on one side while you're writing, resulting in a slanted edge. It’s easy to rotate the pencil by hand, although this gets tedious and it is difficult to maintain a consistent point. The updated engine of the Pipe Slide is ideal for such scripts because it rotates the lead faster without requiring you to lift your pencil as often. Holding the pencil as very low angles (ie. The Roulette also has a small circular window at the grip to demonstrate the rotation mechanism. It isn’t so much that it keeps the lead tip sharp, but that it rotates it to keep it uniformly worn. Japanese Stationery: What's the Big Deal. The Kuru Toga, on the other hand, has a core rotation mechanism that continually rotates the pencil lead as you write. Rank No. Since you don't lift your pencil for cursive, there's no real gain with the kuru toga. At first glance, the Zebra DelGuard looks like the popular Uni Kuru Toga and offers a similar lead-break-reducing feature (though without the point protection). Subscribe to our newsletter for giveaways and new products! CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON. This was not present when we tested the other two sizes. 30 degrees) to the surface won’t activate the mechanism. Say goodbye to dull and frequent lead breakage with the engineered design of the uni-ball KuruToga Mechanical Pencil. A little knob takes the place of the clip to add to the sleek look of the pencil. It is available in two different lead grades: HB, and B, but only in 0.5 mm. Like the Pipe Slide and Advance, it has a sliding lead sleeve to protect the lead. What lead grade you choose depends on your preference or application. 0.5mm pencil approximately 140mm long,10mm diameter and 14g in weight. This is standard among most refillable mechanical pencils, but if you've never refilled a pencil before, this isn't obvious, so here it is: 1. It’s not really a practical function, so I imagine the engineers put it there to prove this thing actually works. When the lead gets to this point (no pun intended) it can sometimes break. That worked fine as it was mostly note-taking and thumbnails when I was doing graphic design. The set comes in two tip sizes: 0.5 and 0.7 mm. Pull off the cap. This is a demonstration of the sliding sleeve in the Pipe Slide Kuru Toga. The pencil was comfortable, and the rotating mechanism wasn’t just hype. The Advance lets you retract the lead sleeve when not in use. https://www.jetpens.com/blog/kuru-toga-a-comprehensive-guide/pt/706 This mechanical pencil features an exclusive rotating lead mechanism that resists lead breakage and maintains a continuous sharp point. Uni solves this problem by creating the Kuru Toga engine. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the starter set. In practice, the starter performed flawlessly. The Roulette weighs in at 15g, 5g heavier than the Starter. Formally labeled as the “W Speed Engine,” the fast engine in the Advance is indicated by two left-pointing arrows underneath the Kuru Toga logo in its grip section. Inside, though, is what appears to be a… Kuru Toga only works if you write in print, oriental characters and if you are going to calculations. We've been using early samples from Japan on a daily basis since the end of 2008 and they really do work. How does it work? Uni Alpha-Gel Mechanical Pencil 0.5mm, Royal Blue (M5807GG1P.40) Lead Size : 0.5mm; And because it uses shock-absorbing gel material, the "alpha gel" the grip portion, can be written in the comfort and ease grip and exceptional fit. For awhile, I used an old Staedtler 0.5mm mechanical pencil. While there were more upscale models, I wanted to start with something basic to see how it worked out. The clear plastic section is molded with a similar grip and the body is black-ish and slightly thicker than the average mechanical pencil. It doesn't really provide the sharp pointy tip like it advertises but it does prevent the obnoxious thicker lines produced with regular mechanical pencils as the lead wears out. Can someone who's used it for a long time tell me if the mechanism actually makes a noticeable difference? All the pencils I’m reviewing here were ordered though Jet Pens in the US, as they had the largest selection. It's a great choice if you're looking for an upgrade to the regular Advance model. Either way, this is where you put lead in. The Kuru Toga eliminates this problem with the use of an ingenious lead rotation mechanism that continually rotates the pencil lead as you write. It features a design from the film My Neighbor Totoro and Uni's innovative Kuru Toga lead rotation mechanism. The metallic finish on the pencil gives it a luxurious and high-tech feel, making it appropriate for a workplace environment like the High Grade model. Enter Uni's Kuru Toga—the mechanical pencil that is about to change every last conception you ever had about mechanical pencils. This works together with the pencil's rotation mechanism to ensure a sharp point at all times. “Toga” (トガ): Taper to a point or become sharp. For the reasonable cost, I think these are excellent drawing tools to have at your disposal. My starter set went to my niece, so it has a good home. on November 6th, 2018. The standard Kuru Toga is ideal for writing complex characters with many strokes because of its higher stroke count per rotation. It's quite hefty and weighted towards the tip, so you aren't working as hard as you write. It's the same pencil we know and love, but it's dressed up a … In engineering terms, this type of clutch mechanism is called a “chuck.” If your pencil has this kind of clutch mechanism, hold down the pencil’s push button and use a fingernail to slide the ring back from the tips of the … You get the sharpest line with the 0.3 mm; however, the lead is more likely to break (especially if you are heavy-handed) due to its delicate size. Inside the Uni Kuru Toga's mechanism are there gears; the middle gear rotates the pencil lead approximately 18 degrees when it is touched to paper. The design of the Kuru Toga across the different models is relatively similar. With this updated mechanism, simpler scripts remain crisp and uniform. It rotates the pencil lead as you write using only the kinetic energy created by your pencil strokes. If the rubber grip on the Rubber Grip model doesn't satisfy you, this Alpha Gel Kuru Toga collaboration has one of the cushiest grips we've ever come across. Kuru Toga has solved this problem with its core rotation mechanism. The problem with mechanical pencils is that the lead gets worn down on one side as you write, which results in a chiseled edge. This leaves a nub of graphite exposed as the lead wears down so that you don’t have to extend it as often. Pull out the eraser. Intrigued? Every time you write, the lines will look different depending on the angle of the pencil. I didn't have this problem, but it seems to be common enough that to be worth a mention. Up until about a few years ago, I always used a roller-ball pen in my sketchbooks. Uni's Kuru Toga self sharpening pencil feature an automatic core rotation mechanism (the 'Kuru Toga engine'). The amount of rotation depends on the Kuru Toga model, but suffices to … If you write cursive, if you are going drafting or have the habit to rotate manually the mechanical pencil, the Kuru Toga engine is useless... level 1. By Randy Preising in Review Simpler scripts such as Roman characters use fewer and longer strokes. The 0.7 mm tip size is smooth and pleasant to write with, best for those who like a bolder line. You can also push the sleeve in with a finger, which I often do. I'm fine with the minute movement in the Kuru Toga. The Advance will rotate every 20 strokes. The difference with the Advance is that it has an updated mechanism, which rotates the lead much faster than the standard Kuru Toga models. The knob also features the Kuru Toga logo and is connected to the lead feeder. This innovative pencil features a built-in mechanism that rotates the lead in the pencil as you write, resulting in a sharp, crisp line for everything you pencil down. If you do use the erasers more than I do, just note that the Advance uses the Uni “standard” eraser (no metal sleeve). The Kuru Toga is aptly named by taking two words from the Japanese language and merging them together. The lead rotates approximately 18 degrees with each contact - twice as much as the original Kuru Toga, for quicker turning - around 20 touches will rotate the lead completely. There are times when I bring my sketchbook with me on travels. Even though you may start off with clear lines, the point of the lead is gradually worn down until your line widths are thick and smudgy. ). This lets you write with the "Sharp" side of the lead at all times. Kuru means turning or rotating and Toga means to taper to a point when translated to English–thanks again to JetPens for this information. I find it better balanced than the lighter Starter model, and the knurled grip is comfortable. 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