Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-06-12
PROCESS on PENCIL-MAkING.


The two little pieces of wood and the
stick of graphite are made. Just
take the wood ana put tho lead be-
tween them" would be the explanation
of most persons if questioned oil hand
upon the subject, but as Il matter OF
fact the process Of making pencil is
tedious
The first error to be corrected is that |
lead is by no means component part |
of an ordinary pencil, This part really !
consists of graphite, which is dug from |
the earth, and then properly treated.
Only small per cent of the graphite
mined can be used for pencil manu- |
facture, the rest being converted into
paint, lubricant and stove polish. When |
first mined, graphite contains from ~ |
to SO per cent of impurities, and the
first process through which 1T is put |
is TO free it from this foreign matter.
This is done by pulverizing it under |
water, the particles being carried by |
the current through series OF tanks.
Through this process that intended for I
pencil use is reduced to impalpable, |
iusterless powder, finer than flour, |
which can be taken in the hand much
the same as water, and retained about |
as easily
After the graphite reaches this stage
the real pencilmaking begins, and this
same powder, which is so fine that
pinch of it cannot be held between the
| finger and thumb, is treated to a
| second process, which further reduces
| it. Sufficient water is added to cause
| it to run very freely and then 1t IS
| turned into hopper, from which IL
| flows through a series of four tubs
| The coarsest and heaviest particles
settle in the bottom of the first tub,
the next coarsast in the second, and
so on to the last, by which time the
powder has all settled and the liquid
runs of clear.
This process of Floating" has
separated and graded the PARTICLES
much more perfectly than could posi-
bly, be performed by any direct hand
ling, while in the dry state, and 1t Is
now only necessary to drain the tanks
and remove the deposit through tine
gates at the bottom. For the finest
pencils that taken from the last tub
is used, and for tho ordinary and cheap
grades, that from the preceding tubs
will answer.
A peculiar kind of clay, which is
only obtained in Germany, and which
has also been treated to the floating
graphite in proportions varying ac-
! cording to degree of hardness desired
for the medium grades about seven
parts OF clay to 10 of graphite. Water
Is added until the combination is
about the consistency of cream, and
the mixture put through tho grinding
mill in much the same manner as paint
! for the finest pencils as many as y
!, times, thus insuring the most perfect
, strength, uniformity and freeness from
. grit in the leads.
From the grinding mills it is put in
r stout canvas bags and the water forced
: out by hydraulic pressure until tht
, mass becomes as thick as dough, ant
: in this condition it goes to the forming
!, press This machine is simply SINAI
r vertical iron cylinder having pisto'
!. driven by screw. A plate is inserted
"a in the bottom having an opening TIT
n size and shape Of the lead desired
| through which the doughlike comb
y nation is forced, curling round ans
!. round like q coil of rope and falling
under wooden tray. At intervals thi
ii tray is removed ana the lead straight
~ ened out and cut into lengths sutbcien
n, be done expeditiously, rs the lea
IN formerly be tied into lunse knots il take
re fresh, when exposed to the air for
a little time it crumbles almos' with
touch. After the leads are cut int
or lengths they are put into crpcibles an
ar baked in kiln, from which the
q. emerge rady for the wu0aen case.
H. For tho CHEAPEST pepcils pine
Mt used, for the common grades an ord
he nary quality of red cedar, and for 81
n. standard grades the Florida Keye
NV cedar. This latter wood is both sol
he and close grained ami is considered S
vs. superior for the purpose that even th
.se European manufacturers are Obliged
ht shin it from Florida. In the mills {
Il. Tampa the wood is shaped into piece
"a seven inches long, 3la inches wide an
ma ee-sixteenths of an inch thicl
los Each strip is wide enough to make IL
nv halves o. six pencils, and in this shap'
ls. trimmed of all superhuous wood
lev avoid freight charges, they are SOL
,ed to the main factory, where they a
alt fed into machine which cuts 81
Ion grooves for the leads and at the san
of time smoothes the face of the wood.
Filling the leads, as it is called,
done by girls sitting at brass eovert
me tables. The first takes u groved 81
led with the left hand and bunch
on leads with the right and spreadiI
ary them out in her fingers like the site
of fan dexterously lays them in Il
grooves and passes the filled slips
the girl at the left, who puts over
another slip which has Just received
coat of glue from brush welded
third.
ere In an incredibly short time sto
Of filled slips have been glued togeth
W and are ready for the press, where tn
csc! remain until thoroughly dry. On
moving from the press tho rough on
and projecting leads are ground smoo
by placing them against a VIII
: covered with sandpaper, and they {
then ready for the most INTEREST,"
ese and characteristic process of all-tt
of separating and shaping.
The foreign makers formerly p
sisted in making each pencil separ;
and at one time did all the shaping
W. w. hand, after which the work v
smoothed by sandraper. This m
have been quick enough process
early days, but something more raj
had to be devised to provide I
n Americans with the enormous guam
.esel ties of pencils used every day.
The slips, which are six pencils in
piece, are fed one by one under
volving cutter, which shapes them
one side by cutting away the sup
fluous wood AS they come out Il
aese are automatically turned over 4
passed under second cutter, VIII
AIRY does the same work on the other 81
The little revolving knives make
succession of little gouges in the wo
''.oo but following one another SO clos
eesa that they leave the surface not 0