With this Dixon® Ticonderoga® Woodcase Pencil, HB #2, Yellow Barrel, 96ct. pack you really are receiving The World’s Best Pencil™. Ticonderoga pencils’ bulk are made of high-quality cedar that is smoothed to a satin finish for the most comfortable writing experience. A favorite among teachers, students and professionals, Ticonderoga pencils contain an exclusive graphite formula writing core that provides smooth, tug-free writing performance, while premium latex-free erasers allow for effortless, clean corrections. How Are Ticonderoga Pencils Made? The pencils in your Ticonderoga Woodcase Pencil, HB #2, Yellow Barrel pack are made with high-quality materials in order to produce The World’s Best Pencil. Ticonderoga pencils must first start as seven-inch, 100% American, high-quality incense cedar slats. Next, several small grooves are cut into the cedar slat to hold the exclusive graphite formula writing cores. Then, the writing cores are glued into place inside the grooves and another grooved cedar slat is glued on top of the first cedar slat/writing core unit to create a “slat sandwich”. Next, a machine is used to cut out each individual pencil. From there, each of the Ticonderoga pencils are smoothed, shaped, painted, stamped with the Ticonderoga emblem and given one of the company’s premium latex-free erasers. Now the 2HB pencil from Dixon Ticonderoga is ready to be sharpened and used! What Do the Numbers Mean on the Pencils in Your Ticonderoga Woodcase Pencil, HB #2, Yellow Barrel Pack? Dixon Ticonderoga pencils have exclusive graphite formula writing cores that are made from a combination of graphite and clay. The ratio of graphite to clay determines how dark or light the mark of the pencil will be based on how hard or soft the writing core is. In America, Ticonderoga pencils are placed in one of 5 categories: 1 - extra soft, 2 - soft, 2.5 - medium, 3 - hard, and 4 - extra hard. The pencil cores with the highest graphite content are the softest, leave the darkest marks and are labeled #1’s. Conversely, the cores with the lowest graphite content are the hardest, leave the faintest marks and are labeled #4’s.