Everything Jalysa

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Slats - Woodblocks are sawed into "slats", each one half the thickness of a finished pencil.
Grooving -- Each slat is machine grooved to secure the pencil lead.
Lead Laying -- Pencil "lead", a fragile mixture of clay and graphite, is place into the grooves of the bottom slat.
Gluing -- A second grooved slat is glued on top of the leaded slat, forming a "sandwich". Each sandwich is held tightly together in pneumatic clamps until the glue dries.
Clamping -- After 8 or more hours, the clamps are then removed and the rough edges trimmed.
Shaping -- A high-speed machinery is then used to shape and cut the slat sandwiches into individual pencils.
Coating -- Several coats of non-toxic finish are applied to each pencil. Excess paint at the pencils tip is removed.
Stamping/Shouldering -- The brand name "Mongol" is then heat-stamped onto one face of the pencil.
Ferrule insertion -- A shoulder is cut into one end of the pencil to accept the "ferrule", a metal device that secures the eraser tip, which is inserted into the pencil end and is then clinched to the wood.
Eraser insertion -- An eraser is then inserted into the ferrule. The finished product is distributed in the market.