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The problem with most modern pencils that I've found is that the leads are ever-so-slightly off-center, so a sharpened pencil will often have a piece of wood ve

The problem with most modern pencils that I've found is that the leads are ever-so-slightly off-center, so a sharpened pencil will often have a piece of wood very near the tip. From the pictures (I've never used one myself) in this article, these pencils are made to an excellent standard and the sharpened pencils look amazing. I'm far from a wood pencil connoisseur; I generally prefer mechanical pencils (specifically Pentel Sharp; the P205 is a beast), but in buying pencils for my kids I've found this to be a consistently annoying issue.

sleepybrett 2y ago
I finally ran out of my 'retro' blackwings and picked up a box of their revival. They are expensive ($2.50 a pencil in packs of 12) but the quality so far has been very consistent. Not sure I'd give them to my kids as likely as they would be to lose or destroy them, but you might consider them for yourself. For mechanicals I have a Rotring 600 and a Staedtler Mars Technico that is a billion years old.
- otherme123 2y ago
  Expensive pencils are one of those things that totally worth it. I use Faber-Castell pencil, eraser and sharpener, and while they are maybe double or triple the price of a cheap one, they last way longer than that because they do their job. I have sharpened a cheap pencil more than 3 cm at once because either the lead or the wood keep breaking.
  - FatChauncy 2y ago
    I found a cheap plastic Faber-Castell sharpener in the drawer yesterday. No idea where it came from, but it was razor sharp and the perfect angle for my double-ended Mitsubishi 772 red/blue. I’ll definitely be ordering more of those, and will check out their other offerings too.
wantless 2y ago
I have used the "Mitsu-Bishi" 9800s (the green painted pencil with gold lettering in this article) for years: all sharpen to perfection. I like HBs, but love the 2Bs, which write as smooth as butter. This is the low tier pencil offering at about 50 cents (US) each. I will never try high-end Unis; I can't afford to habituate myself to luxury with the volume I write.
SoftTalker 2y ago
I like wood pencils, I buy Faber-Castell 2B, also HB. I use a small razor twist sharpener, not a crank sharpener. Haven't really noticed much of a problem with off-center lead. Haven't tried any Japanese pencils.

sleepybrett 2y ago

I finally ran out of my 'retro' blackwings and picked up a box of their revival. They are expensive ($2.50 a pencil in packs of 12) but the quality so far has been very consistent. Not sure I'd give them to my kids as likely as they would be to lose or destroy them, but you might consider them for yourself. For mechanicals I have a Rotring 600 and a Staedtler Mars Technico that is a billion years old.

otherme123 2y ago
Expensive pencils are one of those things that totally worth it. I use Faber-Castell pencil, eraser and sharpener, and while they are maybe double or triple the price of a cheap one, they last way longer than that because they do their job. I have sharpened a cheap pencil more than 3 cm at once because either the lead or the wood keep breaking.
- FatChauncy 2y ago
  I found a cheap plastic Faber-Castell sharpener in the drawer yesterday. No idea where it came from, but it was razor sharp and the perfect angle for my double-ended Mitsubishi 772 red/blue. I’ll definitely be ordering more of those, and will check out their other offerings too.

wantless 2y ago

I have used the "Mitsu-Bishi" 9800s (the green painted pencil with gold lettering in this article) for years: all sharpen to perfection. I like HBs, but love the 2Bs, which write as smooth as butter. This is the low tier pencil offering at about 50 cents (US) each. I will never try high-end Unis; I can't afford to habituate myself to luxury with the volume I write.

SoftTalker 2y ago

I like wood pencils, I buy Faber-Castell 2B, also HB. I use a small razor twist sharpener, not a crank sharpener. Haven't really noticed much of a problem with off-center lead. Haven't tried any Japanese pencils.