Uni Wooden Pencil, 3B, Box of 12 (HU3B)

I recently got into the world of pencils after being a pen-only writer for years. I like dark, bold lines (for pens, I use Pilot G2 1.0mm) and I bought this pencil in 10B because it was the darkest lead I could find for a decent price—after tax, this set was $1.71 per pencil). To compare the more well known pencils, I also purchased Palomino BlackWing pencils—a 12 set is $2.08 per pencil; Mitsubishi 9850 HB pencils—a set of 12 is $0.68 per pencil; and a rOtring 600 mechanical pencil 0.7 for $26.40. This set is BY FAR my favorite! The case it comes in is overly impressive case to simply house a set of pencils. The little black divider that keeps the pencils in place isn't connected to the housing, this did get on my nerves because the divider would come out whenever I removed a pencil so I cut some strips of tape and connected the divider to the housing and now it's perfect. This pencils do smudge a little when writing so it may not be the best option for left-handed writers (I'd recommend Mitsubishi 9850 HB for lefties). The lead is super soft so don't expect the tip to stay sharp; for me, the tip is already dulled when I start my second letter. This doesn't bother me because I prefer bold, thick lines. I bought a set of cheap white (not pink perils) erasers at Walmart and the lines erase very well. Is the set worth the price? With the insanely good carrying case that you can repurpose long after you use up the pencils, yes. The pencils are nice and dark and the best alternative to a Pilot G2 pen. My coworkers make fun of me because now, when I pick up a standard #2 pencil, I cringe and start looking around for my good pencil! The difference in quality is a lot more drastic than I would have ever guessed.

The 10B pencils I bought write very smoothly and get very dark, they cost a bit but with the high quality the price is low in comparison.

Had to wait a little to get them in the mail, they came from Japan, but the wait was well worth it! It's really difficult to find a pencil with a hardness level beyond 4H or 6H where I live and I was glad I went with these because they are VERY nice. They come in a hard plastic case with a flip open top, the case comes in a cardstock sheath. I have to say, It really felt like I was unboxing a fine Scotch whiskey... but they're pencils. Or maybe I should have had a bottle of Scotch around the accompany the unboxing of the pencils. Pretty fancy! The pencils themselves look incredibly nice and the 10H graphite is really hard and makes lines that are easy to erase from the page making it perfect for light marks that , for me, are meant as guides while drawing. As hard as the graphite is I could imagine these may last me a very long time. If I ever need another box I will not even hesitate to buy another of the same brand and kind if I can!

Mitsubishi unis are buttery soft. They glide like paint over paper it’s amazing. Beautiful, practical, thoughtful packaging, and sharpen well too. After buying 2mm led by the brand, it’s the only pencil I’ll buy. Compared quality specifically against prisma, stadtler, ebony and far exceeded them in quality. I’ve heard the H leds by this brand can be a bit tough though-I haven’t used them yet so I wouldn’t know, but jet pens did a bunch of consumer reports and tests on pencil grades and posted an article with the results on their page you can also look up. They cited these as being best for artists. They’re a really helpful resource for Japanese paper culture, office supplies, etc.

I bought these pencils after looking to reorder my Blackwing Palamino pencils and saw these mentioned in a review. These are a step above the Blackwings in my opinion. While the Blackwings are smooth, these are even smoother. And they come in various hardness/softness levels. These do NOT have an eraser, but it is easy to purchase some white plastic eraser tips to put on the end (remember the erasers we put on our school pencils when we used up all of the available eraser). I recommend the newer white plastic type of eraser rather than the older rubber erasers from childhood. The white plastic eraser works better. Speaking of erasing, these erase cleanly and with no shadow left from previous lines. Very nice! Cleaner erasing than the Blackwing pencils. I would also recommend that you purchase some pencil lead tips/covers, as this lead is very soft and will break easily if just stored in a bag without protection. Amazon sells some that are made of aluminum, 4 to a pack for a very good price, considering that are are Japanese In manufacture. As the lead is so soft, they do wear down more quickly than a standard HB pencil. I would recommend also a good quality pencil sharpener (a good brass one with replaceable blades if possible, as a good sharp blade is necessary for sharpening these pencils if you want a good point). I do not find that I need to sharpen them as often as some of the other reviewers have mentioned, though I think that might a difference in how hard different users press when using these pencils. Pressing harder will get you a bolder, thicker, darker line, but I find those qualities sufficient for my drawing and writing without pressing hard on the lead while using it. Takeaway, these are an absolute joy to draw and write with. Crisp smooth bold lines are their primary feature in my opinion. Too expensive for the user who is not artistically inclined perhaps, but astounding feel and look for those of us who are.

These are probably the finest pencils I have ever had

Beautiful enamel, with an unexpectedly well thought out and executed case when purchasing by the dozen. All of that is just icing on the cake. This 10B pencil is super soft and smooth, creating an exquisitely dark line, and it blends beautifully. Perfect for the darkest areas of a graphite drawing. I use a hollow, metal pencil extender over the point of the pencil when not in use, to protect the soft lead. Due to the high quality wood casing and obvious care in manufacturing, lead breakage has been rare, despite shipping from Japan, and the softness of the lead. This has become a must have among my drawing supplies. I would not hesitate to buy these again, or to buy other Mitsu-Bishi Hi-Uni pencils. It is evident that the manufacturer cares about the quality of these pencils, from ensuring they are protected and presented well, through ensuring the wood case is made from excellent materials and manufactured well so it sharpens cleanly, and that the lead itself is smooth and rich and performs superbly.

First of all, I have order other soft pencils and with very mixed results. But this are as close to perfect as I have had. The texture makes them easy to use and very fluid in application. They blend well and shading is a snap. The lack of brittleness in the graphite makes for easy sharpening without breaking the graphite in the process. I will buy this brand again based on this experience. And they come in a very nice plastic carrying case.