When buying pencils, or pencil lead, for drawing, it can be very overwhelming to see all the different types – ranging from 10H to 10B (using the European system). This was me when standing in the art store wondering what the difference was anyway. But, after some research, here is a short breakdown for you, as well as some links for more information. Firstly, a bit of basic information. Pencil lead is a mixture of graphite and clay. The formula of the mixture is what determines the grade – or the rating between 10H to 10B. The more clay in the formula, the harder the lead (10H), and vice versa…