From the closeup pics, I thought there was a metal tube extending at the tip through which the lead was projected. Nope, it's just a plastic tip, and what I thought was a tube was the lead itself. I wanted to use these in my tool bag, and leave some in the garage and toolbox in my car for carpentry work, like drawing lines of where to cut. However, the plastic tip won't likely last long when dragged along a straight edge or square which are metal. I'll use these until the plastic tips gets scored up too bad and break off, and then look for a higher grade mechanical pencil (0.7 or 0.9 mm) that has a protective metal tube to hold and support the lead at the tip.

BIC has always been my go to brand for school pencils.

These are the kids’ favorite pencils for school! Love the colors

they work very welland last long

Excellent product I bought for my children and they love it !

Works every time and is very cost-effective. Our go to mechanical pencil.

Loves these for home and school for homework and school work.

Favorite mechanical pencils ever!! Thick lead that doesn’t break easily!!

Strong and good value pack

they last longer than the other. pump pencils