The picture illustrates the steps involved in the manufacture of a wood pencil.
FUN FACT: Most pencils today are made from Basswood.
- It starts with a block of wood (most pencils today are made from Basswood).
- The wood is cut into slats.
- The slats are stained.
- Grooves are cut into the surface of the slats.
- Prepared leads are placed into the grooves.
- A second slat is placed on top and bonded with the first.
- This ‘pencil sandwich’ is then passed through a milling process.
- Individual pencils are created from the milled slats.
- The pencil is first painted.
- After it is painted, it is then finished.
- A ferrule crimped onto the end.
- Finally, an eraser is crimped into the ferrule.