Kaweco SketchUp 5.6 Mechanical Pencil Satin Chrome

The Kaweco SketchUp is a classic propelling pencil in Kaweco's distinctive octagonal format – compact enough for your shirt pocket, yet substantial enough for precise drawing. The satin chrome finish on the chrome-plated brass body creates a matte, silky-cool surface that feels pleasantly grippy in hand whilst shimmering with an even silvery sheen. The 5.6 mm lead allows broad, soft strokes – the format favoured by traditional technical draughtsmen and illustrators.

Features

• Collet clamping mechanism at the tip: A metal collet grips the lead securely without slipping or shifting during drawing. The lead can be advanced or retracted by pressing the end button, and replaced entirely when needed.
• Integrated sharpener in the end cap: The end piece unscrews to reveal a built-in sharpener – shape the lead tip directly to your requirements without needing separate tools.
• 5.6 mm lead format: The broad lead in standard hardness 5B produces soft, easily blendable graphite marks. The format accepts leads from 5.4 to 5.7 mm – alongside graphite, you can also use multi-colour and highlighter leads from Kaweco's range.
• Satin chrome finish: The matte chrome finish reflects light softly and evenly – no glare when working under lamps, with a pleasantly cool feel in the hand.
• Octagonal barrel: The eight-sided profile prevents rolling on angled drawing boards and provides a natural hand position for hatching and shading.
• Compact 10.5 cm length: Fits unextended into any jacket or shirt pocket – ready to use without needing to extend or unfold.

Use & Tips

• Sketching and illustration: The 5B lead responds to pressure variation – light pressure produces fine outlines, firmer pressure creates broad strokes. Ideal for quick sketches and figure studies.
• Technical drawing: With a freshly sharpened lead, you can draw clean, defined lines on tracing paper or drawing board.
• Shading and fills: Use the lead on its broad side to create even grey tones and soft transitions – particularly effective on medium-grain drawing paper.
• Explore lead variety: Kaweco offers multi-colour leads (blue, red, green) and highlighter leads in 5.6 mm format – transforming the SketchUp into a colour marker or highlighter.
• Sharpener tip: Blow gently through the integrated sharpener after use – graphite residue inside the end piece can roughen the threads when opening.

For Drawing Enthusiasts

The SketchUp continues the tradition of the European propelling pencil, which flourished in technical drawing during the 1950s – equally prized for ink pen and pencil work. The 5.6 mm format is no accident: it matches the diameter of classic drafting pencils that were standard in schools and architecture offices until CAD became widespread. Kaweco manufactures and tests the SketchUp by hand in Nuremberg – the collet mechanism and end piece are individually checked for function. The satin chrome surface in the grip area is deliberately rougher than polished chrome, providing noticeably better control during extended drawing sessions.

Technical Specifications