Pencil Revolution

Review of Dixon Ticonderoga Classic.

Our review today comes from Tom Leininger, a professional writer and photographer based in Lafayette, Indiana. Tom also has a blog on which you can see some of his amazing photos. We know that Tom is a huge fan of the Dixon Ticonderoga, so we asked him if he would review them for the Revolution, and we want to thank Tom at the outset for a great review and wonderful photos.

The technical stuff:
Material: Incense cedar.
Shape: Hexagonal.
Finish: Non-toxic yellow, high gloss.
Ferrule: Dixon’s famous green with yellow stripes.
Eraser: Soft pink rubber.
Core: HB (#2) graphite.
Markings: Green Foil. “U.S.A. Dixon Ticonderago 1388-2/HB Soft.”
Packaging: Varies. The box I have had 10 in it. Also available by the dozen and multi-dozen.
Origin: Manufactured in USA of California cedar; Company is based in Heathrow, Fla.

It was not until college that I understood how vital a pencil is to my chosen profession. I was sitting in my first journalism class at Western Kentucky University when the professor said we should always carry a pencil with us. Or, just use pencils all the time. They work in the rain, when ink runs. They work in the cold when ink freezes.

So, I have always had a pencil at hand, I just never really wrote with them all the time, until recently.

Before I found this blog I had been trying to go back to the fountain pen I bought when I was in college. I liked the fact it was messy and pretentious. It must have gotten lost in all of my moves. The disposable ones I tried did not always work. Since most of my writing is done in small notebooks standing up, I needed something simple.

The pencil. It was staring me in the face all along. I always kept one in my car, for when it rained or was extremely cold. I thought this might be what I am looking for.

So, I grabbed a generic one from the drawer at work, but was disappointed. A couple of people mentioned the Pilot G2 mechanical, which I tried. These let me down.

Coming home one day I found the rather patriotic box of Dixon Ticonderogas sitting on the desk. My wife, a former first grade teacher, said they were best for her kids. “I know you are reading about pencils,” she said with a smirk. “They are the best.”

So I sharpened one to a nice point. Unlike the mechanical one, the lead does not break easily. With pencils and keyboards, I am a little on the rough side. It works well writing in small notebooks standing up, or crouching down on the ground.

I gave one to a pencil wielding editor at the newspaper I work at. Maybe it is even better when used at a desk. “It’s a good pencil,” he said. It required one sharpening for a days worth of work. The generic he had been using needed to be sharpened every five minutes. He also noted that pencil has a more rounded feel to it. It does not leave creases in your hand.

“Another thing about that stupid pencil,” he said leaving the office. “It is strong and does not break.”

I have realized it can’t write on everything. My hand or checks to be cashed for example, At times it is not always easy to carry. These would be the biggest drawback to the wooden pencil.

Most of the time I will tuck it behind my ear, leading to the phantom pencil syndrome. At the end of the day, I still think it is behind my ear when alas, it is not. Luckily, it tucks into my Newswear chest vest and Mountainsmith Tour lumbar bag easily.

I do wish it came in a size that would fit a shirt pocket well. Sharpening is a breeze. The point is solid. They taste like wood. The eraser works well. And they can write on napkins. What more could one ask for? For one thing, these are right handed pencils, I am left-handed. So, all of the printing is upside down when I am writing.

The Dixon Ticonderoga has earned a spot in my kit. That is saying a lot, since I am kind of picky.

[All photos and text copyright T. Leininger 2005.]

51 Comments so far
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Thanks for mentioning the Ticonderoga–my favorite pencil. The only pencil I like more is the Cretacolor Monolith woodless graphite pencil in either 4,6, or 8B. But these are so soft it is downright decadent to write very much with them. Plus, they don’t have an eraser, and they need a cap to keep them tidy. So the Ticonderoga is still my favorite!!

Another great review; because of it I went out and bought a box. I just sharpened one and gave it a try, and I really like it–it writes a smooth, dark line.

Any chance of a review of the Faber Castell Grip 2001?

Absolutely, Frank. That’s definitely in the works for the near future:)

“I do wish it came in a size that would fit a shirt pocket well.”

A solution for that exists… “Sharpen” it down to around 4″ long, the size of a golf-pencil (but much higher quality and with an eraser). I keep just such a writing implement in my wallet, an even smaller space than a shirt pocket (and while I don’t always have pockets on my shirts, I always have my wallet).

That might be kind of wasteful, pla. Some companies do sell shorter pencils with erasers for pockets and such. But not the American companies.

I usually just keep the pencils that get short through using them and then I have some shorter pencils for my pocket, without wasting any:)

The Dixon Ticonderoga has been my favorite for years because you can sharpen it to a killing point and it will last forever.

I sorry, but I have to disagree with you. The World’s Smoothest Writing Pencil is the Mirado Black Warrior.
How do I know it’s the World’s Smoothest Writing Pencil? Because it says it right on the box and it’s guaranteed. Have you ever seen a pencil come with guarantee that if the pencil fails to perform to your satisfaction you can get a refund?

They are round and will roll away from you, but they have great ‘hand feel’and they’re made in the USA.
Try one, I think you’ll like it.

The Mirado series (Black Warrior, Classic and Woodtones) will certainly be reviewed soon. Personally, of the three, I really like the Mirado Classic.

You’re right that the Mirados are smooth, but I find that they are not as dark as a Dixon, not that it’s a bad thing, since I use different pencils for different things.

DT is by far the best. I’ve used one since my school days. I’ve had affairs with expensive mechanical pencils, I’ve even experimented with pens, but I always come back to the wholesome DT.

Any fan of the Dixon Ticonderoga #2 MUST read Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine. The DT2 plays a key role as the narrator’s favorite pencil.

“…these are right handed pencils, I am left-handed. So, all of the printing is upside down when I am writing.”

Excellent point. I’m working on an adaptor that will convert right-handed pencils (and possibly pens) for left hand use, but currently the prototype is a tad unwieldy as it is constructed of schedule 40 PVC pipe and diamond plate sheetmetal. I’ll post here when I have a more workable solution.

BTW, loved the review and the pix!

Cheers,
Ed T.

The Dixon Ticonderoga is a fine pencil (and has an awe-inspiring name). The Mirado Black Warrior is another great one, but my favorite remains the Mongol #1 - I’m a musician and they’re the best for marking scores.
I’m also thrilled to discover that there are so many other pencil afficionados out there!

Have any of you folks tried the Ticonderoga tri-write?

It’s quite nice, easy to hold, doesn’t roll off the desk and is essentially the old #2 in a new shape.

Cool and worth a try.

Russ,
That’s one of the pencils on the review list for the future. I have a friend who swears by the Tri-Write:) I like them a lot myself, and I’m glad to see that they’re availability is growing.

The eraser on the Ticonderoga works well? The eraser does the job, but hardly as well as a Magic Rub does. Most pencils I’ve used sadly have rather poor erasers.

Will you review erasers as well? (Or is that for Eraser Revolution?)

Keep those reviews coming!

Eraser reviews to come soon:)

This is an excellent review. Why not rate pencil sharpners as well? After all, the second longest period of time one spends apart from putting pencil to paper is putting pencil to sharpner.
Possible points of evaluation could be (not in any particular order):
A] The noise it makes while sharpening
B] How many “twists” or rotations it takes to give a fine point.
C] Whether there is a point “sculpting” device. That is, to make a point round and blunted or sharp and pointed.
D] color of the sharpener / aesthetics / taste, smell, feel…you get the idea?

Have a great day

‘Tis an awesome pencil.

I just wanted to add that I gave the pencil a “wet” test today. I had to write down names during a rainy football practice. It worked like a champ.

I have spent years looking for the perfect pencil. Like you, I am very rough with my writing instruments and tend to snap a lot of leads.

In my quest I have discovered The Holy Grail of pencils: the Pentel PS 535. You can put several pounds of pressure on the tip and the lead will not break. The secret? The finely engineered sliding sleeve that covers the lead and retracts as the lead wears away.

It takes a little getting used to at first because you cannot see the lead as you write. You only see the metal sliding sleeve. As you write, and the lead wears away, the sleeve gets pushed back up into the barrel of the pencil.

When you apply pressure, the metal sleeve is what protects the lead from breaking.

They are a little pricey compared to the other mechanical pencils they are usually displayed with ($9 or $10 compared to $2 or $3), but they are well worth the investment. Try one for a week, and I guarantee you will never go back to the wooden ones, or any other mechanical pencil for that matter.

As far as non-mechanical pencils go, I could not agree with you more. The Ticonderoga is a great writing implement. These days, however, my weapon of choice is the newly-redesigned Staedtler 925 (in .3 and .5mm). I think the Pilot is a smooth writing pencil, but they show signs of wear rather quickly. The 925 is a high quality pencil at around 6 dollars.

I’ve recently re-discovered the wooden pencil after many, many years with the same Pentel mechanical. Yesterday I went out and got a box of the Ticonderoga pencils reviewed here, as well as a blister pack of Mirado Classic pencils (both 2 HB). I scored a baseball game using the Ticonderoga for one side and the Mirado for the other (The A’s won in the top of the 11th BTW).

Both are nice pencils with high quality graphite that didn’t break, both wrote crisply and smoothly (even on the crappy OfficeMax paper the scorecard is printed on), and both erasers worked well when needed.

Differences: the fit and finish on the Ticonderoga was better. The Mirado I pulled from the blister pack was slightly bent at the eraser end and the eraser band seemed to be unceremoniously jammed onto the top of the pencil.

The Ticonderoga is softer than the Mirado, so it writes darker, but becomes dull faster. The differences aren’t very large, but by the ninth inning, I was itching to re-sharpen the Ticonderoga while the Mirado was still sharp enough to comfortably record the balls and strikes on the scorecard. The erasers are also different, with the Mirado eraser being harder and more abrasive. Both erasers worked well, but I suspect that like the pencil itself, the Mirado eraser might last longer because it’s harder.

Conclusions: Both excellent pencils, with a trade off between softness / darkness and point longevity. If you want a nice smooth dark line but don’t mind sharpening it more often, go with the Ticonderoga. If you want a slightly harder pencil that lasts a bit longer, use the Mirado.

God I love the blog-o-sphere. A blog on pencils! Yes! A like-minded community. I found this via 43folders.com and it plays into my recent obsession with pencils. I too have, and still use fountain pens (a Lammy 2000 I’ve had for countless years, but recently lost), but pencils have become my writing instrument of choice. For nearly 20 years, I’ve kept journals with fountain pens, written novels and screenplays that way, but now, I am switching.

The Ticonderoga is one of my faves, but I do love the Mirado Black Warriors because of being round and black. That said, it’s harder to misplace a yellow Ticonderoga. And whenver I pick one up, I think of that upstate New York town.

Just as an FYI (and a question), Staples is selling 72 yellow no.2 pencils for $2.99. A fantastic price. I felt it was overkill so bought a dozen to test them out. They seem to be very close to the Ticonderogas and may actually be manufactured by them. Does anyone know? I know there are many imitators out there.

Was watching the Travel Channel last night when I saw a shwo whose name I dont remember. Essentially, it has John ratzenberger ( Cliff the postman from Cheers) goes to various American companies who are still making various items in the USA, and have chosen not to move overseas. So, yesterday’s episode covered John’s visit to Versailles, MO, where the Dixon Ticonderoga pencils are made. Wonderful show - I highly recommend it. Cheers

Did I read correctly that one of the people in that blog entry uses a pencil to write cheques (British English) / checks (American English)?

Surely this leaves the cheque/check open to erasing and alteration by a fraudster?

In your review you forgot to mention one of the most important things about my favorite pencil, the mouth feel factor. Come on, everyone has chewed on a pencil at one point or another. But my precious dixon holds up to the wear of the human tooth. I’m not talking about eating pencils, that’s just weird. I’m talking about those times when you run out of hand space and your pencil finds its way into your mouth. Or, the times when you are in deep contemplation and you give your pencil the occasional bite. Either way, the Dixon is not so hard where you might hurt yourself, nor is it too soft where it might crumble in your mouth. It is the baby bear of the pencil world.

I have a love affair with this pencil. I always felt inferior because everyone around me had mechanical pencils. Their work was supposedly neater. I didn’t care, I just love the feel of the wood and the way it writes.

For the Black Warrior and other rollaways (indeed, for several pencils), I use grips. Triangular grips turn any pencil into a triangular one, too.

I second the call for a sharpener review.. I use a nice old electric Panasonic Point-o-matic when at work.. but have yet to find a good portable manual sharpener that is small enough to take everywhere.

Anyone have a fav portable point maker, especially one well suited to the Ticonderoga?

Sharpeners? C’mon people. People who love wooden pencils have only two sharpeners: the basic tapered-hole-and-blade model (with various devices for catching the shavings) and a pocketknife. Any grinding mechanics — and never mind the horror of electricity! — cannot provide the control, the elegance, and the simplicity of a simple sharpener. I keep a simple sharpener in my bag at all times, and simply make a delicate pile of shavings on my desk.

The Dixon Ticonderoga eraser is indeed a very good eraser, so long as it’s fresh. Once it dries out — as all rubber will eventually do — it’s lousy. If you’re using it consistently and have a fairly fresh pencil, it’s just the thing. And you can’t beat the convenience.

What and awesome site! And this nice lengthy review of my all time favorite pencil, the “Dixon Ticonderoga Thirteen-Eighty-Eight dash Two, HB Soooft…” Most people seem to find it funny-strange that this is my answer when asked what my favorite pencil is, every time. I’ve even had people look at my pencil to see if I’ve said it’s full name correctly (not hard since I’m a lefty as well, and someone to my left can read it easily).

I just don’t like mech pencils. I’ve had many, used them, and always feel disappointed either by it’s lack of softness, it’s crappy line quality, or just the generally impersonal feel of it. I always come back home to the Dixon Ti.

They also have it in “natural color,” and black. I’m sure it will come as no suprise to anyone here that I have one of those large plastic cigar box things FILLED with all three. Don’t wanna run out!

Peace

I’m with you on that, Piper. I have a STASH of the Black Dixons at home — one of my favorite American pencils for sure:)

ticonderoga is the best. I love that they always have different types of pencils out. like the, woodgrain, laddies, begginers, and the millienium editon.(dont think I spelled it right)

Has anyone ever used one of the rare Dixon Ticonderoga round-barrel 1388’s? They can only be purchased individually, at about 35 cents apiece, from special dispensers. They are thicker, with a denser coating of smooth paint. In my opinion, these pencils have superior handling than the traditional hexagonal 1388. (Handling-wise, they feel even better than the Black Warriors from pre-Papermate days!)It is a pity that Dixon does not make these wonderful pencils available in boxes or blister packs. The only cosmetic drawback: because the pencils are sold individually, the upc code is printed on the shaft, spoiling the lovely lacquered yellow. But, this soon vanishes as you sharpen…

Dixon tichoderoga #1s are impecable. I rate them just under the palomino and mongol. any musician should have a few handy.

I was writing the other day with my dixon nicaragua DB5000 when the lead cracked and split all over my paper. It was at this exact moment that I realized that pencils were out. I marched straight to staples the next day and bought a fashionable hot pink gel ink bic pen with a double barrel exhaust retractable pin point. I haven’t regretted by decision a day since!

I am so shocked to find so many people that love the very pencil I adore, but then again, why should I be shocked at mutual love affair with one of the best pencils ever made! I am most excited to mingle with other bloggers at a site dedicated entirely to pencils! What an amazing and wonderful find here in blogland!

I read in the Cedar Institute’s web page that pencils were standard issued equipment for Civil War soldiers. I can’t find any references regarding that fact on any Civil War site.

I sent an e-mail to Tom, and then I discovered the comments below. Great review, Tom. It was loads of fun to read.

It’s a bit of a heart-warming experience to discover the ways in which we are connected to others, no? Who would have thought pencils would evoke such an emotional response in so many people. And yet, now that we’re out of the closet, I realize I have a relationship with pencils myself.

Wood pencils, it seems to me, are to mechanical pencils what fountain pens are to ballpoints. Wood pencils turn handwriting into art. As the words flow from the writer’s mind onto the page, the point dulls and must be resharpened. A rhythm develops, like the alternation of night and day, that becomes a part of the experience of creating.

My favorite pencils have been, for years, the Dixon Ticonderoga Nos. 1 and 2 and the famous and much lamented Blackwing 602.

I remember as a youngster thinking how cool the name “Ticonderoga” sounded. I do not remember a time in my life in which the world was without that yellow pencil.

The No. 2 is great for the moment when my patience runs out with the No. 1’s point dulling too fast. Then I switch back to the No. 1 when I just can’t take the (relatively) hard feeling of the No. 2. I have some Palominos on order, and I eagerly await them.

The Blackwing was in a class by itself. I discovered one in an office I was visiting and bought one from the owner. Its eraser alone was worth the price of admission. It did not, in my opinion, erase really well, but it was so outrageously clever in its design.
It appealed to me because I didn’t have to be so stingy with my eraser on a Blackwing because you could extend it, and then extend it again until it was down to a nubbin, whereas all the other pencils were constructed so that when the eraser was worn down to the ferrule, the user was presented with a very unpleasant scratching sensation.

Did you bite the ferrule to squeeze out just a little bit more of the eraser? That’s what I did. True, one could always put on one of those pencil erasers that slips over the ferrule, but part of a pencil’s appeal is the way it looks and its perfect balance. And a pencil is not graceful or balanced with that growth on the end.

As I mentioned to Tom in my e-mail, if you visit Pendemonium.com, and other sites, you can find an ink called Noodler’s which comes in many colors, some of which are waterproof, not water resistant, but waterproof. The ink reacts with the cellulose in the paper and nothing known will remove it. And, get this, the inventor of that ink has developed an ink that will not freeze. It’s suitable for use in Antarctica.

But there’s something comforting about the simplicity and dependability of a pencil. Pens may leak or be empty or broken. Mechanical pencils may malfunction, jam, or be out of lead. But a wood pencil, now, there’s something you can depend on. If you can see a pencil, you know you have something that will write — even if you have to sharpen it with your teeth.

And when you get the urge to draw, well, the pencil’s unsurpassed. I swear that some of my best drawings have been with a Dixon Ticonderoga No. 2 in my school notebook during class when I should have been paying attention. But, hey, handing a world-class pencil to an artist is like handing a straight line to a comic: you’re on autopilot.

Are you people aware that the all-American Ticonderoga Pencil Factory has now moved to good ol Mexico? So much for patriotism.

Dixon Ticonderoga pencils are a good example of American practicality and sturdiness. I use mechanicals and woodcase pencils every day, including Caran D’Ache Fixpencils and a Pentel PG5, Eberhard-Faber Black Velvet 2’s and Dixon Ticonderoga 2’s. My favorite, however, is a Lyra Orlow in B grade. Great review!

I like Ticoderoga woodgrains the best because they are high quality and are low priced. Other brands like Papermate are very cheap especially if you by the Papermate American. The American is made from cheap wood that snaps easily, and the older versions have a sucky eraser. Also, on the American, when you sharpen it, especially with grind sharpeners, the wood right behind the lead is very rough. The only drawback to Ticonderoga Woodgrains, is that the eraser part will occasionally fall off due to the binding. But then, you can just sharpen the other side and have dual points.

I like the Dixons but noticed a change. I purchased a twelve pack recently, and the barrels of several pencils were warped and not true. And they are no longer made domestically. If you read the packinging carefully, you find that they are made “for” American writers, drawers, and so on. They are no longer actually made in this country. They are made in Mexico.

I’ve seen the Black Warrior, situated directly above the Mirado Classic, at my Jewel grocery store. I buy the Classic. I used to think Dixon pencils were the best.

A hex pencil is good, for when your points are not perfectly symmetrical, you can use the sides of the pencil to establish relativity to the pencil’s point.

The strangest thing I observed was the consistent quality of a cheap, plastic pencil sharpener - a Fiskars sharperner carried inside a small plastic cup. I bought Kum sharpeners, and the ones that are made purely of metal for Dick Blick at 99 cents a pop, and sharpeners with beautiful glass ink-well bodies. Yet the cheap Fiskars puts a nice point on; I’ve lost more than one in my lack of organization, yet when I buy a new one (after buying more costly ones), the quality is actually consistent. You cannot get more Chinese when it comes to pencil sharpeners, yet SOMEHOW these generic sharpeners sold at Jewel put on a nice symmetrical and sharp point.

Thank god! People DO recognize the Dixon Ticonderoga as the greatest pencil out there!

I have found an old box of Dixon Ticonderoga 1388 No 3 pencils. It has a Revotionary-period soldier on the front of the box. Can you date these pencils for me?

i am most sr type - plus left handed
i love “the round yellow ticondo” there is nothing like the feel - where can i purchase the round / like a box
today - i’m starting my art 101 for kids. i use a hex form graphite stick first - to get the feel of drawing
i am using a wood egg #1 / move on to #2 an apple - which they can eat !
comments welcome - for first timers - grampa dick

I could reccomend a good handheld sharpener Jeremy. It’s the Staedtler Oval sharpener. It works good on my Ticonderoga hexagon shaped pencils. What I don’t like about it is that it ruins Tri-conderoga pencils in the oversized slot. It makes the points nice and sharp-but not too sharp so that the tip of the lead crumples when you write. It is also quality. A lot of the other handheld sharpeners were bad and just ruined the pencil, but this one doesn’t.

I personally think that ever since Ticonderoga moved their manufacturing plants to Mexico, their pencils are now…junk. The quality control is terrible. I bought a box of 48 pencils.
Here are my complaints:
1. The pencils came out of the box with a strange grayish dust. Doesn’t bother me alot.
2. The lettering on most of the pencils (more than 70%) was either printed off center, the letters were cut in half, or the letters globbed.
3. I sharpened my first pencil, as soon as I write with it, the tip breaks off. Most of the lead inside the pencil is not one continuous stick, but rather made of (probably broken into) 1.5 cm long segments. Not good.
4. The amount of adhesive to glue the two wood halves was below minimal. You could see the wood crack in half. Near the tip, where the lead was, you could see the wood splitting with the least amount of pressure.
5. Not only was the wood cheaply bonded together, the wood was also not properly bonded to the lead core. This resulted in wood separating from the lead, making a very weak point.

Now, I do have to agree, the eraser on the pencil is phenomenal. It outlasts the pencil itself.
I used to use the Ticonderoga Woodgrains. They look nice, and the quality was great. But now they aren’t sold at the stores near me, and I think that they too are now being made in Mexico.
I’ve been trying to find better pencils that are cheap enough that my dad will actually buy for me (asian parents are penny pinchers). I’ve been using mechanical pencils for a while, but they lack the balance as well as the long lasting point. I’m now trying the Mirado Classic.

Unfortunately, it seems that Ticonderogas are not made in America anymore. What a pity.

I purchased a large 48 pack of DTs and was dissapointed with the quality, i looks at the barrel closely and realized something was missing, it no longer says Made in USA. Looking at the box. Mexico!

I am so dissapointed, how can I stick up on these older USA ones before they are all gone?

I’ve heard the Mirado Black Warrior vs. Dixon Ticonderoga battle for a long time, but I think the Tri-Conderoga defeats them both.

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Review of Dixon Ticonderoga Classic.

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