How to understand Pencil Hardness Grades
November 12th, 2007 | by Art Supplies |The use of pencils as a drawing tool has been around for millennia. The earliest pencil forms that were used were raw and roughly cut graphite, dug from the earth these would give the roughest of lines and control of it was extremely difficult. The process of refinement of graphite continued with varying levels of success but it was in the last years of the 18th century that Nicolas-Jaques Conte developed the process that is still used today throughout the world.
This process allowed for the mixing of different levels of key ingredients: graphite and clay and this resulted in variable degrees of hardness and the ability to mass produce them made them accessible to the general public and a great asset of any artist.
The earliest pencils were given four grades from 1 being the hardest and 4 being the softest, as the process developed and more pencil makers adopted the process, but as no universal system existed, and still to this day does not exist, then no accurate measure could be achieved.
The English pencil makers created what is perhaps the most recognisable systems in the world, the H.B pencil. H standing for hard and B standing for Black, so the higher the B number the softer the line and the higher the H number the harder the graphite.
In the 20th century the mixing of an alphanumeric system, utilising both the letters H and B and numbers 1 through 9. A 9B pencil being the softest and 9H being the hardest. What adds to the confusion is that no universal system exists many pencil-makers use their own system, which can make the decision of which pencil to use a confusing task.
If you needed to write a simple letter then the #2 or HB pencil, the most widely used pencil in the world, would be the best choice. The B numbered pencils are used by artists and the H numbered pencils are good for drafting plans and the like.
Choosing the right pencil to use depends on the job you want to do, always make sure that you have the right tool to get the best results.
