What Kind of Wood Are Pencils Made Of?

Pencils have undergone significant changes since the discovery of graphite in 1564. Since graphite is a soft material, writing enthusiasts quickly learned that graphite had to be housed in a wooden casing, unlike lead, the predecessor of graphite.

Graphite is housed in a wooden casing to make a pencil.

Red Cedar

Historically, many pencils were made from the Eastern red cedar. This wood fell out of favor in the early 1900s.

Incense cedar

Timber companies where constantly on the lookout for new, better, wood for pencil making. It was in the early 1900s that they discovered Incense cedar was optimal for pencils.

Natural Habitat

Incense cedar grows in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. The nature of this cedar produces high-quality pencils.

Forest Management

Strict forest management has insured that incense cedars grow in abundance. Forest management has also prevented the destruction of the natural habitat of the Sierra Nevada region.

Sustained yield

The practice of sustained yield allows timber companies to ensure that timber growth is always greater than the amount of timber harvested. Because of their careful milling techniques, incense cedars will remain the wood of choice for pencils.

Global Business

Incense cedar pencils are sold worldwide. However, most pencil-making businesses are located in Tennessee and a few other Southern states.