General Pencil Various Layout Graphite Drawing 12 kg 6B

I was delighted to get my hands on a box of these pencils. I had come across references to them in the instruction manuals of many of the 1930's American illustrators and artists whose work I revere but had assumed that they were one of these bits of kit that were no longer made. So I immediately ordered a box of them.I am so glad I did. Although they are nominally a 6B they are far darker than a standard 8b graphite pencil and lay down far more smoothly. They also don't give as much of a sheen as ordinary graphite does in heavy applications. They erase easily with a standard polymer eraser but a heavy line will not lift completely. This makes me assume that the core has an oil content. This does however mean that they easily sharpen to a perfect long point that neither shatters nor wears down quickly, unlike most of the other high carbon graphite pencils I've tried. (General's vaunted "Carbo-Weld" process used on these that bonds the core to the casing actually works which was a pleasant surprise and makes them far less frustrating to use and economical than most other brands.)Do be aware that all pencils of this type are only for adult artists and anything with an oil content should of course not be chewed or given to children to draw with.These are superb artist's pencils that are not only great value but also a real pleasure to use. Recommended.

Pencils do what is required of them. I am quite pleased with the prouct.

Great pencils would highly recommend.

Great to sketch with