Why Pencils? Which Pencils?
Aside from my career as an elementary student, I’ve enjoyed writing with pencils for a little more than a decade and since the evolution of social media I, on occasion, show off some crafted lead from time to time. Sometimes, I’m greeted with a “pencil nerd” compliment and then other times, I’m asked which pencils I use and why I used those particular ones.
I thought I’d share my top 3 pencils that I currently use on the daily (I may have a rotation, but you’ll never find out!) and each one is for a specific reason because that’s just how I roll.
THE NERDS
BLACKWING VOL. 24 (THE WRITER’S PENCIL)
This pencil is my go-to. I write in my journal almost every day and this is the pencil I use for that time. My favorite thing about this pencil is that it holds a firm point for a pretty decent amount of time and writes dark. My only gripe about this pencil is that because it does write dark, it can smudge on the paper.
This next pencil is simply a beast. I write a manuscript for each of my sermons and this is the pencil I use. I freakin’ love it. It writes really smooth and has good point retention, not dark like the Blackwing, and is a premium for writing in my opinion. The Japanese really know what they’re doing here. Before you check this one out, just know that it does NOT have an eraser.
ELEMENT 2 WRITING PENCIL BY VIKING
Much like the Tombow pencil, the Element is right behind in quality. It is similar in structure and quality. However, in my opinion, it doesn’t write as smooth as the Tombow (can fade a little) and it’s a little darker than the Tombow. Still, it’s a great quality pencil that I use for writing and note taking during meetings. And finally, much like the Tombow, the Element does not have an eraser either.
HONORABLE MENTIONS?
I was really excited for this pencil and the design is slick. All of the Blackwing Volumes pencils are paying homage to something or someone historical. For instance, the Writer’s pencil is a tribute to the late John Steinbeck and they did a phenomenal job. The 33 1/3 is paying a tribute to vinyl records and again, they killed it. I absolutely love the grip on this pencil, however the retention point is weak so when it comes to journaling or writing a manuscript, I’m afraid it’s not the best one for that. But when it comes to note-taking, this one is my jam.
GENERAL PENCIL NO. 2 (CEDAR POINTE)
This was the first “fancy” pencil I started writing with and I love it. It’s a classic and the smell of cedar courses through it’s lead. If you’re looking to buy a couple of pencils for all of life’s essentials, then this is a great pencil to begin with. The retention point is fair, writes dark, and is very affordable.
I hooked you up with the links to these pencils and I hope you check them out. I will add that these aren’t exactly “cheap.” So, make sure you do some research, write well, and enjoy!