How Are Pencils Made?

Despite the name, pencil 'lead' contains no lead; it is a mixture of graphite and clay. The ingredients are ground, mixed with water, pressed into thin rods and fired in a kiln at around 1,000 degrees Celsius. More clay makes a harder, lighter pencil (H grades), while more graphite makes a softer, darker one (B grades). Cores are laid into grooves cut in a slat of wood, often cedar, and a second grooved slat is glued on top. The sandwich is cut into individual pencils, shaped, painted and often fitted with an eraser.