| 1. |
Incense-cedar logs are cut into "Pencil Blocks." |
| 2. |
Pencil Blocks are cut into "Pencil Slats." |
| 3. |
Pencil Slats are treated with wax and stain. |
| 4. |
A machine cuts grooves into the slats to accept the writing core (or "lead"). |
| 5. |
Writing cores -- made from a mixture of graphite and clay -- are placed into the grooves. |
| 6. |
A second grooved slat is glued onto the first -- making a "sandwich." |
| 7. |
The sandwich is machined into pencil shapes. |
| 8. |
Individual pencils are cut from the sandwich, and are sanded smooth. |
| 9. |
Each pencil is painted. A recess is cut to accept the ferrule (the metal ring that holds the eraser to the pencil). |
| 10. |
A ferrule and eraser are crimped into place on each pencil. |
