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Pencil Leads

About Pencil Leads

Humans are using graphite for thousands of years. It has been a main source of creativity and bringing ideas and thoughts to life. And carrying the custom graphite is the core component of a modern-day pencil. The commonly known pencil lead is the misnomer, as it is a combination of graphite and clay.

Besides traditionally used pencils today, we can enjoy added comfort and benefits from mechanical pencils that come with a replaceable pencil lead. These leads are much thinner than the lead usually used in conventional pencils. However, despite being so thin, these pencils are incredibly resistant to break. However, just like regular pencils, the lead grade is of great importance in mechanical pencils. Moreover, the strength of lead also defines the strength, smudge resistance, smoothness, and pigmentation – hence the overall performance of the pencil.

All you need to know about choosing the right writing instrument

Pencil leads are housed in a variety of ways. For instance, a wooden pencil offers an extensive range of lead grades. Plus, the lead is thicker and allows you to appreciate the expression of each first grade fully. The more abundant lead allows you to appreciate the expressions of each lead grade. On the other hand, a mechanical pencil is convenient, clean with no-fuss tools, and ideal for writing. However, as most mechanical pencils have smaller tips, they are not ideally helpful in producing dynamic expressions of a wooden pencil. So, whatever you choose boils down to personal preferences and needs. But below, we have recommendations for all three categories.

The grading scales

There are two systems of grading pencil lead hardness, namely American and European. Both divide pencils based on the level of lead in the core. In simple words, the H grade pencils are extremely smudged resistant, giving cleaner lines and making them useful for outlines, light sketches, technical drawings and more. Whereas F and HB deliver a middle spectrum and are ideal for daily use and writing. The B grade lead is smooth and ideal for both drawing and writing. They smudge easily but are harder to erase, thus perfect for drawing and sketching.

About wooden pencil lead grades

Wooden pencils are conventional, and still, a large number of people prefer using them. The wooden lead grade or writing generally include F and HB grade. This is because of the high level of pigmentation and smoothness with considerably low-level smudging. Surrounding lead grades H & B are also suitable for writing. But it is based on how darker you want to write. Whereas for artworks, the artists need both hard and soft leads to achieve different effects and styles. And this is why they have all grades of lead in their collection.

About mechanical pencil lead grades

In mechanical pencils, we have limited lead grades. It is quite challenging to make soft leads in thin tip sizes, so avoid crumbling. While this cannot be a problem for writers, sketchers and artists may have difficulty finding a suitable lead grade per their needs. But artists can take advantage of these excellent tips for drawing details without any hassle of sharpening and maintaining the thickness of the line again and again. Artists can consider buying items Pentel Ain Stein, Uni Nano Dia, and the Pilot Neox.

Lead holders and lead grades

If you are an artist and looking to enjoy the convenience of mechanical pencils, the lead holders are a suitable compromise. The lead holders typically lead with a diameter of 2mm or more. With such a construction, they generally have a softer lead. But with lead holders, more of the lead can be exposed while in use hence are similar to wooden pencil in term of techniques that an artist need to employ. Here the Uni Mitsubishi lead holders are ideal for beginners. In contrast, the Pilot Croquis, Carbon Lead and Staedtler Silver Lead Holders are ideal for advanced sketchers and artists.

Tips on how to buy Pencil Lead online in UAE

For college or office supplies like cheap graphite pencils, choices can be unlimited. Whether you are buying them in bulk for your staff or want them for personal use, a wrong choice can cause havoc. And with so many brands and options, finding a reliable pen is always a difficult task. But you can deal with the process by paying attention to the necessary details, and we are sure that you will end up buying a lasting and dependable option for your specific needs. So, when it comes to buying the best lead pencils in the UAE, here are some basic tips you will need to consider.

  • Choose the right diameter – Different pencils come with different thicknesses of graphite in their core. The choices of diameter depend on the intended use. A 0.3 mm diameter is considered thinner and is not suitable for writing. But 0.5 is a common and versatile thickness to use.
  • Consider the writing style – If you know that you tend to use both hard and soft lead, you should consider the thickness and hardness of your lead. The pressure you use while writing can have a distinct impact on the marks you leave on paper.
  • The hardness of pencil – Some common grades of hardness in lead pencil are 2B, B, HB, H and 2H. They run in the same order where 2B leaves the darkest imprints, whereas the 2H is the lightest. But HB is standing right in the middle and is generally used as a school pencil.
  • The wood of the pencil – Besides adding aesthetic values, the pencil’s wood holds massive functional importance. Generally, the best quality pencils are made of genuine incense cedar. In contrast, economic items are made of poplar or basswood. You can read the description to know your wood.
  • The shape of the pencil – Pencils come in different shapes. The hexagonal pencils are ideal for everyday use, while the round and triangular are good for learners. Other shape options include Triangular or carpenter pencils. Note that with shape, the diameter of the pencil varies from one brand to another.
  • The tip of Pen – The ferrule on the pencil is a small metallic piece that generally attaches an eraser to the pencil. Usually, the ferrule is round, but they are also available in other shapes. Today you can also find glues ferrules that give a better finish to a pencil with a sturdier built and bright look.

When buying online, it is always recommended to look deep into the product description section to find the product’s material, size, and other specifications. If you are too confused about buying, ask for peer recommendations on brands and product items. For further clarification, you can dig into the customer review section to see what other users have to say about the particular product you are about to buy.

Question & Answer

What pencil lead is the darkest?

When you hear the term B -grade pencil, it will mean that the core has more graphite. And more the graphite bolder, and darker will be the lines. It will also smudge lesser as compare to a light pencil. At the same time, an H-grade pencil lead will have more clay elements and make fine lighter lines and be less smudgy than darker ones. Hence if you are looking for darker lines, find a pencil with a maximum amount of graphite in its core.

Which pencil lead is the easiest to erase?

Here a ground rule is that the more quickly a graphite mark will smudge, the easier it will erase it. So, no matter how lightly you draw with a hard lead like 6H, it will be difficult to erase it compared to removing the softer pencils like HB or 2B. Hence, we can say that HB or 2B are the easiest to remove using a standard eraser.

Which pencil lead is best for writing?

Writing is the most common activity that involves the use of lead. For more everyday uses likes writing and simple sketching, it better is to pick the middle grade leads like 2H and 2B. These are the most balanced leads in terms of the ratio of clay to graphite. This is why they can deliver you the most reasonably dark lines, but your pencil will retain its points fairly well. Additionally, they do not cause any smudginess of a dark pencil or the scratchiness of a light pencil.

Where to buy pencil lead online in the UAE?

Explore any product search engine to find the most variety of pencil leads for basic writing to advanced level sketching and drawing. An online search is the easiest way to shop from top brands like Faber-Castell, BIC, and Maped. All these brands are known for offering the best quality or reliable and eco-friendly products at cheaper rates. At Shops.ae, you can also use the price comparison tool to compare the price of products and make a smart and economical purchase.

Besides some mentioned above, Shops.ae also gives you access to products from top brands like Pentel, UNI, Staedtler, Pilot, and Rotring, for various handicraft articles. Here you can also search and buy a wide range of markers for all your writing needs.

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