Other than lead, graphite and small amounts of clay, what else are alternativly found in modern pencils?

Question

Ie, normal pencils, not the water ones, nor the cosmetic ones.

Answer 1

There's no lead in modern pencils.

Answer 2

1. Before there were space pens, astronauts used pencils in space. Not bad for an ancient technology that's been around for more than 400 years! They're still found in schools, and just about everywhere else. Pencils come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours, but 75% of the ones sold in the US (and presumably in Canada as well) are yellow. They're the most common pencils, but have you ever wondered why they're yellow? If you haven't, you will now!

Why were pencils first painted yellow?

9% - a) So they'd be easy to spot in clutter or low light
65% - b) To indicate that they contained Chinese graphite
17% - c) When pencils were first mass produced, yellow paint was the cheapest
10% - d) Yellow was the favourite colour of the manufacturer's wife

Answer is: b) To indicate that they contained Chinese graphite

In the 1890's, pencils were unpainted, and the best graphite came from China. American manufacturers were using Chinese graphite in their pencils, and looking for ways to draw attention to their brands. So, they decided to paint their pencils yellow, to advertise that they contained Chinese graphite. They figured that since yellow was the colour of the Chinese Imperial household, the royal association would make their pencils more desirable.



2. Most pencils sold in North America today have an eraser on the end. But more than 100 years ago, pencils had no erasers. Back then, teachers felt that being able to erase would encourage students to make mistakes. As far as we know, there haven't been any studies to find out if that's true or not. But according to MindBender's very own, unofficial survey, more often than not, the eraser is gone long before the pencil is used up. So, it MUST be true! Some of us just can't get enough eraser...but how much do we really know about those little pink nubs on the end of the pencil?

What is the primary ingredient in pencil erasers?

6% - a) clay
10% - b) corn starch
47% - c) rubber
37% - d) vegetable oil

Answer is: d) vegetable oil

The main ingredient in pink pencil erasers is factice, vegetable oil that's been vulcanized - meaning, it's been treated with chemicals and heat to make it strong and flexible. Though it's not the primary ingredient, there is some rubber in pink pencil erasers. It binds the factice together. Other ingredients found in pencil erasers include clay, and the colourants that make the eraser pink.



3. Fans of the pencil think that it's the greatest invention ever. It does have many advantages over other writing implements: it's lightweight, portable, doesn't leak, or give off radiation, isn't subject to power surges, costs mere pennies to buy, and lasts for a long time. How long? Good question! Just for the MindBender of it, what if we took a regular yellow pencil and drew a line until the pencil was all used up?

Approximately how long a line could a modern pencil make? Would it...

7% - a) circle the earth at the equator
13% - b) draw the outside dimensions of 1,000 NBA basketball courts
8% - c) outline the island of Taiwan
72% - d) trace the route of a 56 km Ultra-marathon

Answer is: d) trace the route of a 56 km Ultra-marathon

Or, instead of drawing a really long line, you could write about 45,000 words...even in zero gravity, upside down, or under water! If you've ever chewed a pencil and wondered if it's safe, you can relax. According to one pencil maker, you could actually eat a pencil a day without risking your health! The lead in pencils is made of graphite, a non-toxic mineral. We're not sure about pencils from other parts of the world, but these days, the yellow paint used for pencils made in North America is non-toxic too. Another good thing about pencils is that when they get dull or break, you can just sharpen them. An average pencil can be sharpened about 17 times.

Answer 3

Parafin wax, commonly used in some of Prisma color's Soft lead color pencils, also used in China Markers, if you happen to use those. Charcoal, or charred wood, which is what it actually is, is also a good tool to use as an Illustrator.

Answer 4

Wood

Answer 5

If there's lead in your lead pencil, you need to call the CDC

Answer 6

wood? metal? Eraser?

Answer 7

thats the funniest question to ask.

Answer 8

wood?