Palomino Graphite Drawing Pencils are made in Japan from incense cedar. They’re available in grades from 2H to 6B and cost around $12 for a dozen. Theses pencils look pretty good, with a bright orange-red barrel and black end. One side is printed simply ‘Palomino’ and the other side has the ugly but sadly ubiquitous […]
The Mitsubishi Hi-Uni Pencil is a wooden pencil that comes in a vast range of different grades from 10B to 10H (22 grades in all). The finish is a gorgeous dark purple with gold lettering and trim and a black end. The hexagonal body neatly transforms into a rounded end. Everything suggests care and attention […]
The Faber-Castell 9000 is a classic among pencils, having been made since 1905. It’s available in sixteen different grades from 8B to 6H. The classic dark green hexagonal barrel is painted with water-based varnish and is well finished. It’s available with an eraser should you so wish. The lead is smooth and this 2B grade […]
The Caran d’Ache Technograph 777 is a cedarwood pencil with a bright yellow water-based varnish. The wood comes from sustainably managed forests. This is a well made pencil. The hexagonal barrel looks good (if you like bright yellow) and the finish is extremely sharp. The lead is available in twelve grades from 4H to 6B. […]
The Palomino Blackwing Pearl is the third and, currently, final Palomino Blackwing in the series. It’s harder and lighter than the Blackwing and softer and darker than the Blackwing 602. In other words, it’s in between. As such, if you are looking for a pencil to both write and sketch with, this may be a […]