I just read the pencil sharpener thread and although I'd like to have a good pencil sharpener, my problem isn't really the sharpener, it's the pencils. It seems like every pencil I buy has the lead broken on the inside so that when you sharpen it the lead just falls out. I've tried all sorts of pencils-cute and not cute-and it's always the same story. So, is there a brand that is better? Are the expensive ones worth it?
I've heard Ticonderoga are the best and the only ones that don't consistently break. We have so many pencils that are picked up here and there, that I usually only buy mechanical pencils. Those have their issues, too!
See... I've heard those are the best, too, but I don't like them! The best pencils we've gotten so far were actually some CVS freebie ones. *shrugs* Also, I always get pencil packs that are on the back/bottom of store racks, because they're less likely to have been dropped on the floor, thrown into a cart, or returned by customers. I think that's the main reason leads break on the inside.
We don't have any problems with Ticonderoga pencils breaking. The lead seems to be quite strong and lasts longer than cheaper pencils. They are more expensive when you compare them to other brands, but a couple dollars for a package is still inexpensive in my mind to not have pencils from China. USA Gold pencils are good too, but Ticonderogas sharpen smoother.
We like Ticonderoga pencils too. We also like Paper Mate ComfortMate Ultra .07 mm mechanical pencils.
Yep - Ticonderoga....I order them every year (then grab throughout the year when they are on sale)...... I order by the 100 pack (usually Amazon will have them at a special price around August I think)... and the kids fight over them.
Ticonderoga here,too! I've had the same pencils since August. That has got to be some kind of record lol.
I've never paid any attention to the pencils! We have pretty ones with Santa or some such thing on them and other dollar store cheapos and really who knows what else. Now I'm wondering what we're missing!
The Ticonderoga ones are what most of the schools request around here, but I wasn't sure if they were really better. Thanks for the input! I think I'll pick some up next time we're at the store.
We use Ticonderoga here, too. I did get some of the .01$ packs of Staples pencils. DS doesn't like them but DD will use them w/out a problem. They both prefer automatic pencils but the leads are too costly to keep replacing.
I'm still working thru the Ticonderogas I bought from Staples 3 years ago! HA HA HA!!!! Our Becker Teacher Store sells the Ticonderogas for $1/dozen. So I'm gonna go there IF I ever run out. I think went back 3 or 4 times, I even gave away 25 packs to our coop! LOL
I have pretty good luck with any pencil that is actually made from wood as oppose to those made from rubber or paper type materials. Back to the good sharpeners. I have found that poorly made shapeners will break the led instead of cutting the pencil properly. Old school shapeners use two grinders that are arranged at an angle. Most of the inexpensive manual and battery powered shapeners have a little blade. If the part the blade is attached to is shaped wrong, the pencil will proceed down off center and break the led. Some of the best maual pencil shapeners are in art supply stores. They are metal and cost as much as some electric sharpeners. I tend to use a pocket knife myself. The kids have an electric that they use. I keep a couple of good metal shapeners for my art supplies.
The only ones I like are the Ticonderoga. They seem to be a lot stronger and they are the only ones with erasers that will actually erase without leaving marks all over the paper. Every time we use a different pencil I end up throwing it away because all other ones are horrible
We use the Ticonderoga black and the Ticonderoga bright yellow, but we also use the Dixon (same company but a bit cheaper) yellow/orange. Some packs of the Dixon are great, and some not as good. I've even picked up some el-cheapo round neon colored (orange, green, yellow) pencils that turned out to be pretty good. We use a variety of sharpeners - a large blue electric one that has an adjustable wheel for different size pencils, a smaller red electric one that only does one size, a battery-powered one that only does one size, and a ton of the hand-held ones you get at wal-mart or the dollar store that do two sizes. I've come to the conclusion that it's the pencils not the sharpeners, in general -- of course, if the blade is dull, toss it! ETA: I hate mechanical pencils!
I love this pencil thread! Where else can you have a serious discussion about pencils! This is a great forum, full of useful information!
