We get a lot of inquiries about our range of promotional pencils, and while many of them relate to the colour pencils we stock, a lot of businesses are keen on our standard writing pencils. The regular lead pencils we stock are HB, and they're easily the most popular promotional pencils on the market. So what *is* an HB pencil and why is it the kind that everybody wants?

The Australian Standard Logo Decorated Pencil

HB pencils often referred to in the US as "#2" pencils, are the pencils we have the most interest in here at Cubic Promote because they are in the exact middle of the scale determining the softness and hardness of promotional pencils. While we refer to the central element of pencils as the "lead" pencils is actually made of graphite, and depending on what you want to use your pencil for, different graphite strengths will suit your needs.

What is the Graphite Scale?

The graphite scale is how the hardness of a pencil is measured. The softer the pencil, the less clay is used to bind the lead. The hardest standard lead is the 9H, which reduces all the way to H. From there the blackness of the graphite will take over, this is a grading of the darkness of the lead but also of its softness. B is the standard then it moves all the way down to 9xxB. The HB pencil is directly in the middle of these meaning it's mid-range in hardness 'H' and mid-range in blackness 'B'.

Who Uses What Pencil?

Generally speaking, the more artistic your use of pencil the softer you will want the graphite lead. This owes to the fact that the softer lead is easier to illustrate with and to achieve complex shades. Industries that utilise very hard pencils include those requiring precise elements, such as architecture. Who uses the HB pencil? Well, pretty much everyone else that doesn't fit into these two categories!

Why Should I Order Promotional HB Pencils?

If you're looking at purchasing a bulk order of pencils for your organisation, we recommend HB pencils because they are the perfect strength and colour for standard daily usage. Almost every school or office situation requires nothing but an HB pencil and that's why these are the pencils we sell most often. If you require a different type of pencil lead, feel free to ask our friendly sales team for more information.

Bonus Fact: Why Are There So Many Yellow Pencils?

This is actually an early form of (very successful) marketing through promotional products! At the 1889 World's Fair in Paris the Hardtmuth company of Austria introduced yellow-painted pencils named after Koh-i-Noor Indian diamond. This association lead to a huge boost in sales and to this day you'll find a considerable number of the pencils you come across are painted yellow!

Details first spotted here: http://mentalfloss.com/article/24832/what-makes-2-pencils-so-special