How Pencils Are Made

Summary

This video takes viewers through the intricate process of pencil production, highlighting the precision and craftsmanship behind each stage. Starting with the selection of soft yet sturdy California cedar, the process involves cutting the wood, filling it with a special elastic blue material to cushion the graphite lead, and shaping it into a hexagonal profile. The lead, made from a graphite and clay mixture, is baked and inserted into the wood slats. After applying glue, compressing the slats, and painting them, the pencils are fitted with erasers and ferrules. Finally, they are sharpened to perfection, ready for use.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pencils are made from a soft but durable wood, such as cedar from California.
• 😀 The wood arrives pre-cut in slats measuring 7 by 2.5 inches, and the slats are then carved to form grooves for the lead.
• 😀 A special blue elastic material is applied to the grooves to cushion the lead and reduce breakage.
• 😀 The lead consists of a graphite and clay mixture, baked at almost 1500°F to harden.
• 😀 Machines load the lead into the grooves, with spacing matching the slats' grooves.
• 😀 After the lead is inserted, an automated arm flips and glues the slats together to form a leaded sandwich.
• 😀 A plunger compresses the leaded sandwich with a ton of pressure, and the glue is left to dry for an hour.
• 😀 The pencils are then shaped into a hexagonal profile using an upper and lower cutter.
• 😀 The pencils are coated in yellow lacquer via a device known as a lacquering head.
• 😀 The final step involves inserting an aluminum ferrule and rubber eraser, followed by sharpening to perfection.

Q & A

What type of wood is used for making the pencil body?

The pencil body is made from cedar wood sourced from California, which is soft enough to sharpen but strong enough to withstand pressure from writing.

What is the thickness of the wood slats used for the pencil body?

The wood slats used for the pencil body are 0.2 inches thick.

How are the grooves for the lead created in the slats?

The grooves for the lead are created by passing the slats under a giant cutting wheel that carves the grooves down the middle of the wood.

What is the purpose of the blue elastic material added to the grooves?

The blue elastic material cushions the lead, making it less likely to break inside the channel.

What is the composition of the lead used in pencils?

The lead is made of a mixture of graphite and clay, which is baked at nearly 1500 degrees Fahrenheit.

How is the lead inserted into the slats?

The lead is inserted into the grooves by a machine that loads the graphite and clay mixture into the grooves, aligning the lead with the slat’s channels.

What happens after the lead is inserted into the grooves of the slats?

Once the lead is inserted, an automated arm flips each slat, applies glue, and then presses the slat onto a leaded slat, creating a lead sandwich.

What is the process of pressing the lead sandwiches together?

The lead sandwiches are compressed with a plunger that applies a full ton of pressure for an hour, allowing the glue to dry and bond the materials together.

How are the pencils shaped into their final form?

The pencils are shaped into a hexagonal profile using a shaping machine with two cutters—one for the upper side and one for the bottom—forming the distinct hexagonal shape.

What happens after the pencils are shaped?

After shaping, the pencils are coated with yellow paint using a device called a lacquering head, and then they undergo a rubber tip assembly process where an aluminum ferrule and a rubber eraser are added to the top of the pencil.