DragonFaerie Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I didn't want to hijack the pencil sharpener thread, but I have a question about Ticonderoga pencils. It seems to me like they don't write very dark. Why is that? Is there some other lead type available that we should be using? We always have #2 pencils. Is there another brand with darker lead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I didnt read the sharpener thread, but I've read that some of the Ticonderoga pencils are not as good quality as others, depending maybe on where they are made. Could you just have a bad batch? Once i bought my first box, the kids refused to use anything else. And they dont seem light to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I had so many issues with other pencil brands that I don't use anything but Ticonderoga. Like the PP, perhaps it was a bad batch. For us, the lead has always written well, doesn't break easily, and is centered in the wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 We're not having any problems with the leads breaking or anything like that. And my kids write "harder" than I do, so they don't have my problem. Maybe it's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsmm Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I don't know. They seem perfect to me. My kids use the yellow, but I prefer the black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 I don't know. They seem perfect to me. My kids use the yellow, but I prefer the black. Is there a difference in how they write? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I buy the Ticonderoga Laddies. They have a thicker barrel and even my 12yo prefers them over reg skinny Ticonderogas. Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamajudy Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I have found the Mirado Classic by Papermate to be a decent pencil, if your Ticonderogas aren't satisfactory. If you want a darker pencil, you can get softer ones, such as a 4B, at an art supply store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 There is another number you need, not #2, but as mamajudy said, the softness factor. When I was in school, I used the very hard ones, which are light, because they don't smear. Try getting towards the B rather than the H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 #3s are harder, but write a finer line, which I think looks way lighter. Just looking at the Dixon site, I see #2s in an economy plastic pack, and #2s in the little flip-top cardboard box. Could it be the that the sub-grade products go into those economy packs? Prob too much of a conspiracy theory, but I've never compared box to bag, so maybe??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I just compared one of our Ticonderoga's and a Mirado Black Warrior. I can't tell the difference in the color or line thickness. I do see more variation in our cheap, freebie pencils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 #3s are harder, but write a finer line, which I think looks way lighter. Just looking at the Dixon site, I see #2s in an economy plastic pack, and #2s in the little flip-top cardboard box. Could it be the that the sub-grade products go into those economy packs? Prob too much of a conspiracy theory, but I've never compared box to bag, so maybe??? The commercial quality one seems interesting. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Thanks for all the suggestions, y'all! I'll have to try some different ones and see if there's something I like better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourisenough Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Can we all just admit that we are nerds? I saw a thread with Ticonderoga in the title and I just had to click on it. Pencils consume more of my brain space than I'm willing to admit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamajudy Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Only on TWTM Forums would one find two active threads discussing PENCILS, of all things! :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 Only on TWTM Forums would one find two active threads discussing PENCILS, of all things! :laugh: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishmommy Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Yea, and I am reading these threads! What does that say about me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsmm Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Is there a difference in how they write? I'm not sure. I seem to always pick the black, and they always grab the yellow. So, maybe? I'm not anywhere near the pencils, otherwise I'd check for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Pencil nerd? You jest. Madam, I am a pencil snob.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 The blacks are clearly lighter than the yellows (Ticonderoga). I bought a package of each and thought the blacks would be darker because they are supposed to be the better quality. I tested them side by side and the blacks are much lighter. I don't like them. The boys don't seem to mind as much as I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 Thanks to the other pencil thread, I am now drooling over those Blackwing pencils. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korrale Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 My 2HB Ticonderogas seem light also. I think because I prefer to use 2B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 My 2HB Ticonderogas seem light also. I think because I prefer to use 2B. H might stand for Hard, which will be finer. DT's #3 are labelled H and are harder. Prob good for drafting and whatnot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korrale Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I had to google. B is #1. HB is #2. The leads get hard the higher the numbers go. #2 or HB are pretty much the standard. The numbers are the American system the letters are European/Australian system. Confusing. I have pacer leads that I have bought in 2B in the US though. I know that as I detest HB leads. I have not much looked into pencils though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted February 5, 2014 Author Share Posted February 5, 2014 So harder lead = lighter writing? I really like the Blackwings, though (of course given their cost). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Can we all just admit that we are nerds? I saw a thread with Ticonderoga in the title and I just had to click on it. Pencils consume more of my brain space than I'm willing to admit. Haha, me too! I just got a shiny new pack of the Noirs. Bliss! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 We just started using mechanical pencils. Gasp! Luuuuv them and DH wants some for work. Ha! I think the girls are getting him some for Valentines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted February 7, 2014 Author Share Posted February 7, 2014 We just started using mechanical pencils. Gasp! Luuuuv them and DH wants some for work. Ha! I think the girls are getting him some for Valentines. See, I don't like mechanical pencils because the leads break sooooo easily. My DD was required to have them for school (something about students spending too much time at the pencil sharpener) and she went through them QUICK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommee & Baba Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 Can we all just admit that we are nerds? I saw a thread with Ticonderoga in the title and I just had to click on it. Pencils consume more of my brain space than I'm willing to admit. Yes, this exactly! Teeeheee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korrale Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 See, I don't like mechanical pencils because the leads break sooooo easily. My DD was required to have them for school (something about students spending too much time at the pencil sharpener) and she went through them QUICK. Another reason why I prefer the 2B leads. They don't break so easily because you don't have to press so hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 I don't like the way the lead (graphite) feels on the paper for mechanical pencils as I'm writing. I can't describe it, but it's different and I don't like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 I don't like the way the lead (graphite) feels on the paper for mechanical pencils as I'm writing. I can't describe it, but it's different and I don't like it! Scratchy. That's my feeling -- thinner diameter lead is scratchy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korrale Posted February 9, 2014 Share Posted February 9, 2014 Once again a 2B lead will fix that. It really is much smoother. I can't stand the scratchy, hard, lighter easily breakabe HB leads. But I love my mechanical pencils with a softer lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 My dad had a mechanical drafting pencil back in the 70's with a lead as thick as a wood pencil, and it needed a special sharpener that sorta sanded the point. I could see something like that working, but generic mechanicals just snap the leads too often for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkygirl Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Great discussion! Ticonderogas are the only pencil that is latex free for my DD it is good to learn about the variety in them before we are using pencils regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 Great discussion! Ticonderogas are the only pencil that is latex free for my DD it is good to learn about the variety in them before we are using pencils regularly. Interesting. I never thought of that. My daughter has a very mild latex allergy, but we've never noticed a problem with pencils before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Haha, me too! I just got a shiny new pack of the Noirs. Bliss! Because of this post I ordered a box of these. They arrive tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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