Something that has annoyed me for years is when a mechanical pencil’s lead won’t come out! I remember the first time this happened to me, I was in 8th grade and I was having a big math test that day. I was trying to get some last-minute studying done because I had fallen behind in my work. But then it happened, I clicked, jammed and panicked. 

On that day, my mechanical pencil lead got stuck inside. Fortunately, it was just a bad day and not my last one with a stuck lead. The pencils that can’t be fixed tend to end up with the rest of the trash. Today, I want to show you the most common problems I face while using mechanical pencils and the methods I use to fix them.

How to Fix a Jammed Mechanical Pencil?

Mechanical pencils are handy, but they can be a little finicky. One of the most common problems is a jammed lead, which prevents the pencil from working properly. If your mechanical pencil is jammed, don’t throw it away! You can fix most problems with a few simple steps.

Pressing Button

Press down on the pencil’s button that releases the lead and then shake it. Doing this will allow you to remove any excess lead that might be stuck. If you have a 0.5 mm mechanical pencil, you’ll need to hold it upside down so that all of the excess lead falls out. Once all of the extra lead has fallen out, try pressing down on the button again. If it still doesn’t work, try tapping it against your writing surface or desk for about a minute.

Using The Cleaning Rod

If you still can’t get your pencil working, use a cleaning rod and insert it into the tip of your mechanical pencil. This will force out any trapped lead or debris that might be causing your pencil to jam. You can also use a paper clip if you don’t have a cleaning rod on hand. Once you’ve inserted your cleaning rod or paper clip into the tip of your mechanical pencil, gently tap it against a hard surface for a minute.

How to Fix a Badly Jammed Mechanical Pencil

If a pencil is badly jammed, the cause is usually a broken piece of lead stuck inside. You might be able to fix it by following these steps:

1. First, remove the eraser and anything else keeping the lead from coming out as usual. This means removing any caps or clips on the top of the pencil where the lead is usually retracted.
2. Next, remove all the lead from inside your pencil and keep the pencil upside down on your desk or table. You might need to use tweezers to get out all the pieces of lead stuck in your pencil if they don’t come out easily when you shake them out while holding it upside down.
3. If removing all of the lead doesn’t work, then you’re going to need to take off the front of your pencil by unscrewing it. Now carefully open up the clutch at either end of your pencil, being careful not to break any parts inside (especially if you have a mechanical pencil). Usually you can do this by pushing down on the pencil. 
4. Now use the cleaning rod and clear the lead holder of your pencil. 

How to Fix Bent Mechanical Pencil Tip

Using Household Pliers

Use household pliers to bend the metal tip back into place. This method may work if it has just been bent or if it is only slightly out of place. It may take multiple tries before being able to straighten it completely, and this method is not recommended for severe bends.

Using Metal Rod

Remove the eraser and lead sleeve from the back of the pencil. Push the 0.5mm metal rod through the back of your mechanical pencil and through the tip. This should straighten out any bending you have in your tip.

How to Fix a Pencil Propeller?

Pencil propellers can be incredibly frustrating for children and adults alike. Whether your pencil has a loose propeller or a broken one, these instructions can help you fix it in no time.

1. Check the propeller to see if it is broken or just loose. If the plastic is still attached to the pencil, then it is just a loose propeller. If the plastic has come off of the pencil, then your propeller is broken and will need to be replaced.
2. Put your thumb on top of the propeller, while holding the pencil with your other hand underneath. Push down on the propeller firmly with your thumb and slowly pull the pencil away from you until you feel resistance (the propeller will snap into place).
3. If your pencil’s propeller is broken or missing, then you may need to replace it. You likely need a replacement propeller that is compatible with your specific brand of pencil (although generic ones may be available). You can try looking online or at stores that sell office supplies to find one that fits your needs, or as a last resort you can use glue to attach it in its place.

How Do You Fix the Spring on a Mechanical Pencil?

A broken pencil spring is a common problem, but it’s also an easy one to fix.

The first step is to determine if the spring is actually broken. It may be stuck in the pencil shaft. If it’s not broken, you can usually fix a stuck spring by firmly tapping the barrel against a hard surface. This will loosen it up and allow you to push the spring back into place.

If the spring really is broken, it’s best to replace it with a new one. But if you’re in a pinch and you need to use that pencil now, here are a few quick fixes:

• Twist the two ends of the spring together and press them into the barrel of your pencil. This should hold for at least a little while, but don’t expect this fix to last long.
• Take off a small piece of tape (duct tape or masking tape will work fine) and wrap it tightly around your pencil barrel where the old spring was. The friction created by this pressure will hold your lead in place for at least a short period of time.
• In some cases, you may be able to find another spring around your house that will fit inside your mechanical pencil barrel. Springs from ballpoint pens or plastic lids often work well for this.

How to Put Lead in A Mechanical Pencil?

Mechanical pencils are made up of three main parts. From the point outwards, they are the tip, the barrel and the grip. The lead is stored inside the barrel and is always ready to write. To put lead in your mechanical pencil, you will need to open the tip and place a piece of lead inside.

1. Unscrew the tip of your pencil by turning it counterclockwise; this will release a spring that forces the lead out of the tip.
2. Pull out any unused pieces of broken lead that may be stuck in the tip by grasping them with tweezers. If you do not have tweezers, use your fingers instead. Examine the lead carefully to see if it is still usable or if it needs to be replaced with a new piece. If it is broken or no longer usable, dispose of it.
3. Insert a fresh piece of lead into the tip by placing one end into one side of the opening and pushing it in until it comes out of the other side. This can be done by hand, but tweezers may make it easier if you have them on hand. Make sure that none of your skin touches either end of the lead to prevent contamination from oil or grime.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Pencil Jams Happen?

A pencil jam is when the lead (graphite core) of the pencil breaks and gets stuck inside the pencil mechanism. The pencil is rendered inoperable until you find a way to dislodge the broken piece of lead from within the mechanism. This can happen to any mechanical pencil, even inexpensive ones.

Do mechanical pencils last forever?

Not quite, but they sure come close. Mechanical pencils have moving parts and wear out over time with use. The lead mechanism that advances and retracts the lead wears out eventually. The plastic lead sleeve wears out eventually and gets loose where it connects to the barrel of the pencil or connects to the tip of the pencil. The metal tip gets worn down from rubbing against paper and erasers and eventually wears away completely.

The good news is that all of these parts are replaceable on most mechanical pencils, so in many cases you can extend the life of your favorite mechanical pencil indefinitely by replacing parts as they wear out.

The maximum number of lead feed cycles depends on the type of mechanical pencil and its usage conditions. In general, the number of lead feed cycles is between 100 and 200 times. However, in some cases, it may stop working even before that time depending on how you use it.

Why does my mechanical pencil not work?

If your mechanical pencil is not working, there are a few simple things that you can do to get it working again. First, check to see if your lead is in properly and that it hasn’t broken off at the tip. Next, try pressing down on the tip of the mechanical pencil with your thumb to expose more lead by pushing down on the eraser end. If all else fails and you still can’t get it working, you may need to replace one or more parts of your mechanical pencil.

Why does my mechanical pencil lead keep breaking?

There are two main reasons why your mechanical pencil lead may break:

1. Your lead diameter is too small for your pencil or it isn’t sharpened to a fine enough point. Solution: Try using a thicker diameter (0.5mm or 0.7mm) or switch to a thicker grade of lead (HB or B).​
2. Your lead is too soft for your writing surface and you are applying too much pressure when you write. Solution: Use a harder grade of lead (more H’s), use less pressure when writing, or try using a different writing surface that isn’t so abrasive (such as newsprint instead of textured paper).

Can I use a piece of lead to unjam a pencil?

No! You should not use lead to unjam a pencil. It can break off inside the mechanism and leave you with no way to get it out. Always use a cleaning rod for this purpose.

How to Use The Cleaning Rod?

If your mechanical pencil is jammed, you’ll need to take it apart. You can do this by removing the top part of the pencil (the part that holds the lead). Then you can use a cleaning rod to push out any lead that may have broken off inside the mechanism.