STAEDTLER 200 Mars carbon Zeichenmine 12 Stück Etui, 4B

It is difficult to understand why the pack is made so difficult to open. You need to press a blue tongue up out of the base to get a lead out. Not exactly a bright idea as it is very easy to break. It would have been far better to leave the sharpener out and, instead, put a cap on the end that could be removed thus allowing the leads to be easily removed. The product is good but I shall now check for a major change ind esign before buying again. Other 2mm leads are better packed.

Not sure why but the hardness is inconsistent. I tried three leads and one was ok, the other two were more like a 4H instead of a 4B. All labels and barcodes were 4B, so I don’t know if the standards are different these days.Not the product I used to buy.Returned.

I am newly converted to using these leads with a lead holder and I won't go back. These are lovely smooth leads I cannot fault them. Environmentally great too!

The Staedler products are great. Mine was incomplete and lacked the colored top.loss of stars because this shouldn’t happen.

...an addition to my battery of drawing tools. Unfortunately the coloured cap provided to indicate lead grade doesn't fit my Faber Castell clutch pen - never mind, a bit of coloured sticky tape will have to suffice. My thanks to those who answered the questions about opening the box of leads - a bit puzzling until someone tells you how to do it.