Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17
HOW LEAD PENCILS ARE MADE.

Do you know there is no lead in a lead
pencil? The name lead pencil is a misnomer
made correct by cAstom The so-called
leads of a pencil are m reality a mixture of
graphite and clay.
Graphite is a word derived from the Greek
meaning ito write" It y native mineral
carbon of black color and brilliant metal
lie luster To the touch 1t feels smooth,
somewhat like soap5tohe.i and 1t breaks in
a very naky mannet ,inher a very light
blow. 1t is so soft rIl leave trace on
paper. va
It is sometimes called piumbago, and has
still another name. black lead from which.
Of course. we get the name lead pencil.
Graphite is found inthe oldest rock forma-
tons. and deposits ere TO be found in the
being those at Altai.l IN siberia. and at IT,
cenderoKa, N. Y. in this country.
At the outlet OF Lake George into Lake
Champlain the Dixon company has large
mill for making the graphite Of Ticondero-
ga perfect for use In pencil making. 1t Is
first reduced to an impalpable powder by
grinding. then water Is added. and then. tn
the liquid state. 1t Is passed through mixers.
Here it is combined with whatever quantity
Of clay may be necessary to give 1t the de-
sired grade. The more clay. the harder the
lead. and vice versa The composition of
the clay is the result of years Of expert
color it is a pale drabbish gray, and can
easily be cut with pocket knife.
The graphite and clay Is mixed by ma
chinery. after which the mass is run
through filter presses in a way to take out
the greater part of the water and make the
mass like dough. This Is then passed
through perforated plates. called dies, I'M
der great pressure. and the leads issue in
tiny rods, or wires. In general appearance
not unlike those that are put in the PEN
ellis. but instead of being dry and brittle.
they are soft and pliable This treatment
of passing through dies is repeated over and
over again, through smaller and smaller
perfOrations. until tests show that the mix
ing is complete: then the material is passed
through dies Of the exact diameter Of the
lead that is to go into the pencil. These
leads are cut to lengths of about three feet
and allowed to dry. after which they are
in crucibles and burned for several hours
In order to get rid of every bit Of moisture
and make the lead finally ready for In
sertion in its wooden case.
Cedar, which is the wood used for PEN
ellis, Is a name givento several evergreen
trees Of the pine family, and the wood Is
remarkable for It's durability and fragrant
odor. It is superior to any other wood for
pencil making, because or the c1oseness OF
its grain, combined with the peculiar soft
ness which makes 1t cut almost like
cheese.
The cedar used in this country Is that
cedar with shreddy bark and aromatic
heart wood. The wood is shipped from
Florida in small slabs. little longer than
pencil little wider than four or six
pencils placed side by side, and Of proper
thickness.
The cedar case of a pencil Is made In
halves. each half being equally channeled.
so that the place where they join comes
against the center of the lead.
First we have the slab of wood as 1t is
shipped from Florida-this slab is passed
under rotary cutter. which planes the
surface perfectly fiat and smooth. and at
the same time grooves 1t to receive six
leads. These leads are now laid in the
grooves of one of these slabs, and another
slab, similarly planned and grooved. is
spread with glue and laid upon it: the two
press. and when perfectly dry are taken
out and passed twice under grooved
rotary cutter first on one side. rounding one
half of the pencil. and then on the other,
finishing the rounding Of the whole pencil
and separating one from the other at the
same time.
These single pencils are then passed
through other machines which polish. var
nish. stamps and put them in cases. ready
for delivery to the trade.
All kinds OF sizes are made-thick and
thin. long and short, round pencils, hexa-
gonal. triangular, nat. oval, tapered and
parallel pencils. as well as odd shapes.
The grade or hardness Of the lead Of the
pencil is indicated by the letters that ap-
pear on the pencils. OF the ordinary pen
Gil there are eight grades, the softest of
which is marked s., meaning soft (for
heavy shading): tfle4 following in order
are s. B.. soft black (fer heavy shading);
8. NJ. soft medium {podket and ofice); NJ
B. medium black (poeket and mechanical.
NJ, medium fmep6randurp books; NJ. Fl.
medium hard drawing cfasses): H, hard
dodgers and outlines). and v. H. very
hard Finest lfnes)..
OF artists and draftsmen's pencils there
are eleven grades. beginning with v. v. s..
very. very soft. and ending with v. v. H.,
very. very hard.
The ability to make wise choice of
grade is an important matterg The various
sizes and shapes are made for good reasons
and all who have to make frequent and
prolonged use Of the lead pencil find it Is
great rest to the hand If they change
from one size or shape of pencil to another
whenever the hand grows tired.
Colored lead pencils are made in the same
manner as described except that the leads
themselves consist chiefly Of wax and col
ortng pigment and therefore cannot be
baked. If any of my young readers get
an opportunity to visit pencil factory
they will find much of interest to repay
their effort. WALTER BAYES
Stories Of q Chimpauzee