Charles Leonard Checking Pencil, Combination Red/Blue Leads, 12/Box (65045)

When I first got these pencils, I was concerned about the negative reviews--definitely a minority--that said they splintered when you sharpened them. So it was with trepidation that I tried to sharpen the first one, and my worst fears were realized: it split and splintered but wouldn't sharpen. But then it occurred to me that my sharpener (one of those little cubes you insert the point into and then rotate by hand) was really old, and I found another that was much newer. What a world of difference! The pencils sharpened almost to needle point sharpness with no problem. If you're having a problem with them, it is probably that you're using a crappy sharpener. I think these pencils are a great bargain and are exactly what I was looking for.

I just received these pencils, and like several other reviews that I've read, the leads all the way down the pencils are broken, making it impossible to use.I originally gave these pencils 1 star due to finding broken lead when first sharpening. I thought at first that they were all broken all the way down, but in all fairness, I was able to use both ends of the pencil once I was past the first inch or so. I will report back depending on what I find with the other pencils in the box.I'm back and have had no further problems with these pencils after several weeks. I can safely say they are mostly fine, and that for the price I do recommend them. I won't be so quick next time with criticism until I've had a chance to use and inspect the product fully.

My son has Occupational Therapy a few times a week. He goes through red and blue colored pencils very quickly. The therapist likes him to use these 2 colors since it is easier to see when he is tracing over certain things, etc. I came across these while searching for replacement pencils instead of continously purchasing whole packs of colored pencils. We have only used one of the pencils so far and it works great for out needs. He has used them to trace, write, and to color with. So far, I haven't had any issues stated in some of the other reviews. Examples: we have had no issues with the leads being broken inside the pencil, or an issue with sharpening (we use a plug in electric pencil sharpener). The colors show up nicely. My son does seem to press down more than I would, but haven't had an issue with the tips breaking like we did with regular colored pencils. The lead seems to last fairly well. We have used the one pencil several times a week for a couple of weeks and we are still on the firstr pencil we started with. So far, happy with the product.

I photocopy my cross stitch patterns and mark them with a colored pencil as I go. It is so much easier to keep my place, especially since I start and stop frequently. The lead is soft so a light touch is all that's needed to fill in with rich color. I think these will last better than hard lead since I make one swipe instead of several. These are well worth the price!

I like these pencils because they serve their purpose but the only drawback is they need sharpening too often. If I’m grading 20 papers I have to sharpen the pencil about 1-2 times.