Postscript: I forgot to mention in this review that due to the softness of the lead, the pink eraser on this review pencil worked very well. Mike sent me a second Blackwing, this time with the black eraser, but I've not used that one.
One thing I will say about these new pencils is that they make for an interesting guessing game in terms of lead grade. In terms of softness, I compare the PBW602 to my Japanese pencils between B and HB, and that appears to mesh well with CalCedar's claim about getting closer to the Palomino HB. Though I may be off in my personal assessment, it seems to have a wear rate close to that of a B, a darkness around that of a B or a cheaper 2B, but a "smoothness" or tactile feedback of an HB (using a Hi-Uni and 9800 for comparison). The Hi-Uni B is noticeably slicker than the PBW602 on most kinds of paper without being appreciably darker or wearing down faster.
You're right about the lettering coming off easily, and it really is too bad, as the pencil is otherwise pretty attractive. In fact, I like keeping one on hand just for aesthetic reasons.
Thanks again for offering a review! The new PBW602 has gotten lots of attention from other corners of the blogosphere, but has, for a number of reasons, been passed over by many of the mainstream pencil blogs that participated in the first PBW release.
Not being tied to the Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602, my ideal Palomino Blackwing would be the matt black of the first Palomino Blackwing with the lead grade/performance of the PBW602... a t h i r d Palomino Blackwing please!!!
Thank you for that review and the great presentation!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I will say about these new pencils is that they make for an interesting guessing game in terms of lead grade. In terms of softness, I compare the PBW602 to my Japanese pencils between B and HB, and that appears to mesh well with CalCedar's claim about getting closer to the Palomino HB. Though I may be off in my personal assessment, it seems to have a wear rate close to that of a B, a darkness around that of a B or a cheaper 2B, but a "smoothness" or tactile feedback of an HB (using a Hi-Uni and 9800 for comparison). The Hi-Uni B is noticeably slicker than the PBW602 on most kinds of paper without being appreciably darker or wearing down faster.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the lettering coming off easily, and it really is too bad, as the pencil is otherwise pretty attractive. In fact, I like keeping one on hand just for aesthetic reasons.
Thanks again for offering a review! The new PBW602 has gotten lots of attention from other corners of the blogosphere, but has, for a number of reasons, been passed over by many of the mainstream pencil blogs that participated in the first PBW release.
Not being tied to the Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602, my ideal Palomino Blackwing would be the matt black of the first Palomino Blackwing with the lead grade/performance of the PBW602... a t h i r d Palomino Blackwing please!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your insightful review and the beautiful way you presented it. I loved the photos.
ReplyDelete