How Are Pencils Made?

The pencil has been a mainstay in the hand of the scribe, note-taker, artist and doodler for centuries. Its simple but effective design is central to the sustained popularity of this most humble of mark makers. The technique of manufacture used today is heavily based on the method devised by N.J. Conte in 1795. He discovered that by pulverising graphite and combining it with certain types of clay, he was able to fashion an effective drawing and writing tool, that fundamental process remains the foundation of modern pencil manufacture. Although the principle is simple and the final product relatively basic, the creation of a pencil from raw materials to sitting on a desk is a relatively lengthy and complex business.

The life of a pencil begins at a sawmill, where incense-cedar logs are cut into blocks referred to as 'pencil stock' and then dried in order to reduce the moisture content in a uniform manner. This pencil stock is then sent to a slat factory, where it is cut into 'pencil blocks' which are slightly longer than standard pencils in order to allow for trimming waste. These blocks are then cut into pencil slats which are sheets of the lumber that are slightly thicker than a pencil to further account for the waste resulting from the final shaping process.

Having been reduced to slats, the wood is treated with wax and stained to both ensure consistent colouring and prepare the slats for the machining processes to follow. These treated pieces of wood are then shipped off to a pencil factory. The first task undertaken at the pencil factory is the cutting of grooves into the slats to allow for the insertion of the writing core (often referred to as the 'lead'). The writing cores, made from a mixture of graphite and clay not dissimilar to Conte's original recipe, are then placed into the grooves of a prepared pencil slat before another grooved slat is securely glued on top. The resulting sandwich is then machined into individual pencil shapes, whether that be hexagonal, circular, triangular or otherwise.

Once any defective pencils have been discarded, the remainder are put into a machine which applies anywhere between four and ten coats of lacquer to achieve a smooth, attractive finish. At this point some pencils are imprinted with a brand name and others wrapped in decorative foil, dependant on the manufacturer. Those pencils which are to feature an eraser tip are put through a tipping machine which adds the eraser attached to a metal ferrule.

Once these manufacturing processes have been carried out, the pencils are ready to be shipped out to distributors and ultimately end up in your desk drawer, pencil case or shirt pocket.