I’ve had an all out pencil war since I’ve started homeschooling. They simply don’t make them like they used to. Well the eraser part at least. And because I must have a tad too much time on my hands, I did a little experiment.
I gathered all the assorted pencils that I had lying around and wrote Pencil #1 , Pencil #2 and so on with the pencil that is being represented below the written word “pencil # sunthin’”. And if you understood that prior sentence you must come here often. If not, then I’ve got a picture illustration below. 
Here’s a closer look.
Now I took the corresponding pencil and erased the written word “pencil # whatever” above it, using the eraser provided on the pencil.
Here are the results.
This is pencil #1. Impressive huh? Not. Can you imagine a whole paper that looked like this.
The rest weren’t much better. Except for Pencil #6.
Pencil #6 won hands down, so I promptly went to my nearest Staples and bought a box of their name brand pencils. It even says on the box “latex-free erasers”. Which meant nothing to me, all I know is that their erasers erased, so I was happy, latex free or not.
Have any of you had trouble with the “new” pencils out there? The thing is, is that they KNOW they are selling you a pencil with a crappy eraser because if they didn’t there would be no use for these.
And this is if they even stay on your pencil. The one to the left broke off while in mid erasing and half the time they don’t even fit on there well.
Well there you go. Do you feel like you’re leaving just a little more educated? I did the foot work for you, did a mind blowing experiment and came to a conclusive decision.
You’re welcome and Have a FABULOUS day!
I am totally with you on this one! I find the erasers coming off is our biggest problem!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know it's not just me!
LOL We've had the same problems here. So we use mechanical pencils almost exclusively now. Their erasers work, although they are so tiny we have to buy extra erasers :P Thanks for this enlightening experiment! :)
ReplyDeleteAmen and amen! I dread the pencil hunt, as I've deemed it, each school year. Which one will hold up to my memory of a good pencil from my school days. None as of yet have pleased me. If they erase, then they don't sharpen evenly and we're sharpening pencils every other sentence. Thanks for the heads up and I will be getting new pencils next trip to town at Staples!
ReplyDeleteThis was too funny! I'm on my 18th year of homeschooling and not only do we still struggle to find a great pencil and a great eraser, we can't find a great pencil sharpener. I bought every one on the market. We also try mechanical, but struggle finding a high quality one with built in boomarang features, ya' know, you spent $5 for it, you want it to come back into the school box at the end of the day?
ReplyDeletethanks for the laugh. you have to laugh or you'd be snapping pencils in half and throwing erasers across the room.
GREAT sleuthing!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny! Personally, pencils drive me crazy because the get dull too quickly. So I started using mostly mechanical pencils. And I use block erasers. Art gum are super.
ReplyDeleteThe ONLY kind of erasers I like are those white "Magic Rub" erasers. I don't think those colored ones you attach to the end of the pencil come close to the clean erase you get from "Magic Rub." Have you ever tried those?
ReplyDeleteHave a great day.
Love,
Patti
LOL! I love this! Yes you do have too much time on your hands. LOL. jk.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I have never liked pencils or the erasers that come with them. I have always used mechanical pencils. The ones we use at work have a really great eraser. It's one of those white erasers. I can't remember what it is made of but not rubber. Tires are made of rubber and they leave skid marks too. :)
Okay, I had to go look it up or I would not have been able to sleep tonight. It is made of vinyl. Here it is.
http://museartanddesign.com/2011/03/erasers-pink-erasers/
Thanks for the test. Now I know where to point people if I want to make a point about erasers. :)
Mechanical pencils ROCK!
ReplyDeleteThis is why I went to mechanical pencils. I got so stinkin' tired of the stupid erasers not working. Glad to see it isn't just me. I LOVE your experiment idea, and I especially love that you shared it with us :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sweet comments on my Civil War dress :) Hugs to you, Girl!
Look at how you sacrifice to give your readers the latest scoop on pencil erasers - thank you my friend!!! LOL!! Those erasers do make me so mad - ridiculous! We use mechanical pencils and like those best. I got so sick of bad pencils and kiddo liked his to be so sharp that his pencils would always be about 2 inches long after the constant sharpening!
ReplyDeleteBig Staples-should-give-you-a-supply-of-free-pencils-for-the-endorsement size hugs to you!! :) Love you friend - have a fabulous day!
Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm with you!
ReplyDeleteI try to tell my boys not to chew on the erasers. Because when WE were little, that always made them erase yucky. But now they COME chewed on. That's the only thing I can think of. I wonder who chews on all the pencils before they get shipped to the stores???
Amen !! Those erasers or the lack there of...drive me crazy! We all pretty much use the mechanical pencils as well but always have our "pink pearl eraser" right there ready for the job! :) I'm thinking maybe you should show Staples your post and maybe, just maybe, you could score a FREE BOX of pencils....hmmm! ya never knowwww :)
ReplyDeleteLove ya!
Accounting classes involve a lot of writing and a whole LOT of erasing. Since I have been in college for 843 years, pencils are also a part of my life. Nathan bought me pencils for Christmas one year lol!! Those are my fav...Thin point lead, awesome replaceable erasers - mechanical pencils. I know I'm weird but I can't stand the feel of a regular pencil between my fingers...and the soft, dull scribble as I use one..AHHHHH!! (Pet peeve)Thanks for the run down. I know it's hard to find good ones anymore.
ReplyDeleteLol! I just read the rest of the comments...HAHAHA! So yeah, mechanical pencils.
ReplyDeleteI thought erasers were for mistakes and since I've never made one (cough cough), I've never had to use them.
ReplyDeleteI want you to know that looking at my reflection in the glass of a framed photo near my monitor, I couldn't keep a straight face while typing this!
This post cracks me up!! I love it!
ReplyDelete