Episode 240: Synchronized Head Molts (Pencil Primer, Part 2)

The Pencil Primer returns with part two: the case of yonder pencil. We trace the wood itself — from Conté's badass eyepatch to eastern red cedar, California incense cedar, and the creeping basswood era — plus why pencils are yellow (blame a Siberian graphite strike and some questionable 19th-century marketing) and why triangular pencils are weird. But first, the summer releases: Blackwing's birding-themed Volume 458 and Field Notes' melty, paleta-inspired Paletas edition get the full review. Next time: ferrules and erasers. Patreon subscribers at any level can watch the video version.

For this episode, we recorded video, available to Patreon subscribers! If you’re a patron, head over to see our faces and visual examples of many of the things we discuss. And if you’re not a patron, join us at any level and you can see this and other supplemental content at any time!

Show Notes & Links

Blackwing Volume 458 — a tribute to birding: Clark's Grebe, Mallard, Green Jay, and Black Rail gradients (Behind the Design)

How Blackwing Pencils Are Made — the making-of video we kept mentioning (also on YouTube)

Field Notes Paletas — nine popsicle notebooks inspired by Paletería Los Magos in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood

Field Notes: The Founding Documents

Outshine popsicles — the official popsicle-flavor icebreaker

Nahvalur Original Plus — new sparkly colors (plus mystery jewel-tone demonstrators spotted at the NYC stationery festival)

Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-gaki ink — Andy's persimmon-orange favorite

Stationery Day recaps from Brad Dowdy and friends

Musgrave Tennessee Red — eastern red cedar, clear lacquer, glorious smell

Musgrave Single Barrel 106 — named for Erasable episode 106 with Henry Hulan of Musgrave

Pencils Past and Present — the YouTube channel reviewing