For example, a ‘4H’ is quite a hard pencil but will give a rather dark mark on paper due to the softness of the core. Today, most pencils using a HB system and lead grades will be designated a number and letter combination. ‘HB’ pencils are considered the middle point of pencil lead grades. The letter ‘F’ indicates a pencil that sharpens to a fine point.Ī combination of letters, for example, ‘HB’ means the pencil is hard and black. A softer lead is often used by artists as it can create quick and heavy lines. The letter ‘B’ indicates the blackness of a pencil’s mark (soft lead). Hard lead is known for being smudge-resistant and giving clean lines, which makes it a great choice for outlines or technical drawings. However, they are often accompanied by a number to indicate the level of hardness, blackness, or fineness. The majority of pencil manufacturers in the UK use the HB grading system this is based on three letters (H, B and F). The higher the number, the harder the lead and the lighter mark that will be produced. The scale is based on numbers, which represent the level of lead hardness in a pencil. In the USA, pencil manufacturers often use a numerical scale. In this article, we will help you understand pencil lead grades and how to choose the perfect one for you and your projects. ‘’2B or not 2B’’ is a well-known saying in the pencil industry, and knowing your pencil lead grades is important. When you’re looking at buying new pencils, the letters and numbers on a pencil can be a little confusing. Pencils are a perfect form of expression, and whether it be writing or drawing, the pencil can aid some impressive work. From here, people began wrapping graphite in string and later began inserting the graphite into wooden sticks, which is how the pencil was created. (On a related note, you cannot get ink poisoning from a pen.Graphite originally became popular in England in 1564, and as the mineral was so soft and brittle that it required a ‘holder’. Probably best to use your pencil for writing. Of course, there would still be a hole in you from the stabbing, and swallowing bits of wood and other foreign material is a choking hazard and a threat to your digestion. So, getting stabbed with a bit of pencil lead or swallowing some will not give you Lead poisoning. banned Lead in paint, and nearly 15 years later, in 1992, the U.K. In the early days of pencil making, the paint they used to coat the wood would have contained Lead.Īround the 1940s, many manufacturers stopped adding Lead to the paint they were coating their products.īut it was not until 1978 that the U.S. Therefore, it is essential to be cautious when using colored pencils and to avoid ingesting or exposing oneself to their Lead. These binding agents may contain potentially harmful chemicals if ingested or exposed for long periods. Is Colored Pencil Lead Toxic?Ĭolored pencil lead is made from a mixture of pigments and binding agents, unlike regular graphite pencils. If you want to know more about wooden and mechanical pencils, look at Wooden Pencils Vs. It is not lead, but graphite, the only difference being that it is not cased in wood and is a nontoxic substance. The simple answer is no because the Lead in a mechanical pencil is the same as a wooden lead. If this is severe, it is always worth seeing a doctor. But there should be no lasting harm done. They discuss the problems you may encounter if you inadvertently swallow pencil lead (graphite).īasically, you are unlikely to experience any symptoms if you swallow pencil lead or are inadvertently stabbed by a pencil.Īt worst, you may experience a mild stomach ache or be sick. National Institute of Health explains on its website. The graphite used in pencils is more or less harmless, as the U.S. You should be ok if you eat pencil graphite (pencil lead). ![]() To learn more about this, look at our guide on where pencil lead comes from. Graphite is not metal but a mineral formed from carbon. So the next obvious question is graphite toxic?Ĭan you get graphite poisoning? Fortunately, the answer again is no graphite is not toxic or poisonous if it were, all the pencil chewers would be in a spot of bother. Yes, it is called ‘pencil lead,’ but it is graphite, a different substance from Lead. Why not? Because there is no lead in a pencil, you are perfectly safe and cannot die from pencil lead. The answer is ‘No.’ Not possible…not even from a whole box of pencils. What Happens if You Eat Pencil Graphite?įor those wondering if pencil lead is poisonous or toxic and if they can get lead poisoning from a pencil?
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