4

18 cm

The degree of hardness of a pencil is printed on the pencil. B stands for “black”. These pencils are soft. H stands for “hard”. HB stands for “hard black”, which means “medium hard”. F stands for “firm”.

“H” pencils feature harder graphite. In other words, a “4H” pencil is harder than a “2H” pencil while a “4B” pencil is softer than a “2B” pencil. Harder pencils produce lighter marks since less of the material is released as pressure is applied. Softer pencils make darker marks since more of the material is released.

The HB Scale The letter “H” is used to indicate the hardness of a pencil’s mark. The letter “B” is used to indicate the blackness of a pencil’s mark (a darker mark means a softer lead). The letter “F” is used to indicate that the pencil lead is a special formulation that will maintain a fine point.

B9 is the softest and darkest. 9H is the lightest and hardest graphite pencil. So a B6 is softer and darker than a B2. An 6H is harder and lighter than a 2H and much harder and lighter than a HB or a B pencil.

The 2B pencil has a higher blackness, and the marks drawn are relatively black, while the HB pencil has a lower blackness, and the color of the marks drawn is relatively light, which is very different. The usage of 2B pencil and HB pencil is also quite different. 2B pencil is darker in color and lower in hardness.

Keeping this in mind, the lead of a 6B lead will be much softer than a 2B and hence, will produce a blacker impression. HB enjoys middle status. Its position implies an ability to produce both darker and lighter marks but disregarding the extremes.

Different Classifications and Types of Pencils

• Colored pencils, or pencil crayons – pencils with wax-based cores that have pigments mixed in them with additives, and binding agents.
• Grease pencils – pencil made of wax core and, most often, with paper casing.
• Watercolor pencils – a subtype of colored pencils.

The H pencil range: The 9H pencil is the hardest and H pencil is the softest. The B pencil range: The 9B pencil is the softest, and the B pencil is the hardest.

“B” or “2B” pencils as well according to the same FAQ. Generally, a #2 pencil is about the equivalent of an HB pencil. According to this system, pencils are graded on a continuum for “H” (hardness) and “B” (blackness), with a number to say how hard or how black it is.

Most pencil manufacturers outside of the U.S. use this scale, using the letter “H” to indicate a hard pencil. Today, however, most pencils using the HB system are designated by a number such as 2B, 4B or 2H to indicate the degree of hardness. For example, a 4B would be softer than a 2B and a 3H harder than an H.

The #2 refers to hardness of the lead, so it depends on the lead you use in the pencil – if you buy HB leads – whether 0.5 mm or 0.07 mm or 0.09 mm – that is equivalent to #2; there are other designations such as B or H which are different. Yes, it’s equivalent to a #2 pencil.

* 2B- Softer than the HB, 2B makes darker lines. 2B is great for outlining drawings.

An American #2 pencil (roughly) corresponds to an HB pencil on the rest of the world’s scale. The lead is not too dark and not too light, and it’s not too hard or too soft. Pencils numbered higher than 2 have harder leads and are often used by engineers, architects, and draftsmen because of their harder points.

Numbers are then used to indicate the degree of softness – the higher the number the softer the lead and the blacker the mark. For example, a 2B lead is softer than a B lead and will produce a blacker mark. A 4B lead is softer than a 2B etc.

It was also the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company, an American subsidiary of a Bavarian pencil manufacturer, who would introduce the world to pink erasers. At first, the hue was simply a consequence of the particular type of Italian pumice that the the company had sourced, which was pink rather than red.