On Sep 13, 2014, at 1:23 PM, Christopher Swingley  wrote:

> Galoots,
> 
> On Sat, Sep 13, 2014 at 4:39 AM, Michael Blair  wrote:
>>> Well recently a company called Palomino is trading on the name:
>>> 
>>> Writing or sketching with them was BLISS, not like the hard graphite
>>> crap in pencils today.
>> 
>> Hard graphite is not modern crap.  Graphite has come in different levels
>> of hardness for many decades.
> 
> The Palomino Blackwings are very nice, as are their other premium
> pencils.  The Blackwings are a bit soft for many uses, but I think
> their premium HB variants strike a good balance and have excellent
> lead, cases and finish. 

        I once worked in a group that luxuriously ordered stationary for
everyone’s individual preference.  I like the Ticonderoga’s just fine, but my
buddy would have them stock the Blackwings.  I never could get a liking for
them, too soft for my taste, but I really like the eraser on them.

        One of the funniest moments I have had with Todd Hughes was the time a
bunch of us pounced on a tailgate being set up late at PATINA.  I came away with
a pack of oldschool, round, cedar pencils.  When we started comparing our hauls
while walking away from the tailgate it was clear that Todd thought I was brain
damaged for being so happy with a pack of pencils.  What can I say, I like the
old cedar pencils.

Regards,
Steve------------------------------------------------------------------------