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Thread: Pencil leads - differences between brands?

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    Default Pencil leads - differences between brands?

    I was just curious whether there are differences between pencil leads between different brands given the same hardness. With fountain pen inks there appear to be a lot of variables that can go into a "plain ol black" ink. I was curious whether, for instance one brand's 0.7 mm HB lead refill behaves the same as other brand's 0.7 mm HB lead refill. I don't have much familiarity with pencil leads so my apologies if this is a naive question.

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    Default Re: Pencil leads - differences between brands?

    Yes, there is
    There are subtle differences between brands, just like ink, each of them has its own "feel" and shade.
    in the old days (1980s) I had draftng classes in High School and College, and had to have a few pencils that covered the whole spectrum (4B-4H)
    I liked the Staedtler 0.5mm leads over Rotring and Pentel (except HB), they just felt right and gave me the results I wanted.
    In the large pencil leads (2.0mm) Koh-I-Noor (HB-4B) and Staedtler (HB-4H) and Faber Castel (F) were the ones I used in high school and college for drafting.

    Nowadays I use Pentel (HB) because they are easily available, and have tried the UNI (HB) brand and they are not bad at all.

    PS. I found a small cache of Faber Castell 9000 F pencils at a bargain bin... made my Xmas!
    Last edited by titrisol; January 8th, 2018 at 05:39 AM.
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    Ahriman4891 (March 3rd, 2017), fountainpenkid (November 7th, 2016), Mister5 (November 4th, 2016), sidpost (February 8th, 2017)

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    Default Re: Pencil leads - differences between brands?

    One comparison is available by JetPens Guide to mechanical pencil leads

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    Ahriman4891 (March 3rd, 2017), Mister5 (November 4th, 2016), myu (December 20th, 2017), VertOlive (December 13th, 2017)

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    Default Re: Pencil leads - differences between brands?

    Wow! Thanks - I didn't realize there could be such variability. Pencils may be another avenue to explore beyond fountain pens, and likely a bit less expensive. I have a Parker 51 pencil that I haven't used yet and wonder how it will write!

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    Default Re: Pencil leads - differences between brands?

    I have a number of 51 pencils. I use them for crosswords.

    I just bought some IBM testing 1.1 leads for a Scripto pencil. I can finally read the writing with this pencil.

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    Default Re: Pencil leads - differences between brands?

    I use cheap, grocery store disposable mechanical pencils. A lot. I want a nicer one, but got too confused by the variety.

    Because of this thread and the Jet Pens link I bought a Pentel Kerry 0.5 (Pilot Neox 2B lead) and a Uni Kuru Toga Auto 0.3 (Nano Dia B) to try!
    Last edited by VertOlive; December 13th, 2017 at 09:08 PM.
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    Default Re: Pencil leads - differences between brands?

    Yea a number 2 (HB) from Dixon, Staedtler and General very different. The Dixon is the hardest, Staedtler softer/smoother and the General very dark. They are the only three brands I have experience of in regular use though.

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