ceruza

Ceruza is the Hungarian term for a pencil, a common writing and drawing instrument. A typical wood-cased ceruza consists of a graphite-based core encased in a wooden barrel, usually cedar, though other woods and mechanical variants exist. The core, often called the lead, is made by mixing graphite with clay or other binders to achieve a particular hardness and darkness; the amount of clay controls the hardness of the lead.

History of the pencil traces the use of graphite for marking to the 16th century after a large graphite deposit was found in Cumberland, England. Early pencils used sticks of pure graphite wrapped in string or wood. In 1795, Nicolas-Jacques Conté developed a process to mix graphite with clay and extrude it into rods, enabling pencils of varying hardness. The modern wood-cased pencil typically has a hexagonal or round cross-section to resist rolling and facilitate sharpening.

Hardness and markings: Pencils are graded on a scale from hard to soft using the H–B system, where H indicates harder, lighter marks and B indicates softer, darker marks. The common everyday pencil is HB. Other grades include 2B, 4B, and 6B, with F representing a point between HB and H. Colored pencils use pigments rather than graphite for color rendering.

Variations and uses: In addition to standard wood-cased pencils, there are mechanical pencils with replaceable graphite leads and carpenter pencils with flat sides for marking on wood. Pencils are used for writing, drawing, technical drafting, and education. Proper care includes keeping the point sharp, storing to avoid breakage, and recycling or disposing of materials responsibly.