Custom Mechanical vs. Traditional Wooden Pencils: Which to Choose?

In the distant past, people used sticks and dirt to draw out their ideas and convey messages. Then, they carved those pictures into rock in a work-intensive way to share stories. Today, we have a variety of writing tools, including promotional pencils with logo. If pencils are your writing tool of choice, which type would you want to customize for your business? Mechanical or traditional?

Overview of Custom Mechanical Pencils

While most people text, there are still uses for pencils! The New York Times states that graphite deposits, discovered in England, were sliced up into the first pencils 500 years ago, and people have been using them to write (and erase and rewrite) ever since. 

Custom mechanical pencils are a wonderful way to promote a product, or even an overall business. They can be customized in any way you want. Place your logo on it, change the color, create the text, and anything else you want. You can even get different materials, including eco-friendly options. You are able to choose everything from the construction and design to the logo and text.

Key Comparison Criteria

Pencils have come a long way since their invention. The Washington Post shows that they used to be cut into graphite chunks, much like crayons, and used in that manner before they were covered in wood for easier use.

When you are trying to decide between customizing either traditional wooden pencils or mechanical pencils, there are a variety of pieces to compare to make the final choice. Here are a few to consider:

Price PointUsage Wants/NeedsDuration/LongevityDesign OptionsMessagingPros & Cons Summary

There are pros and cons to mechanical vs wooden pencils, and before you decide which direction to take, you should analyze each side of both choices.

Mechanical Pencils: ProsConsistency

The lead is always the same width and allows users to deliver lines in a precise manner.

Longevity

Mechanical pencils don’t break nearly as easily as classic options. 

Cost-Effective

Mechanical pencils can be refilled, making them cost-effective long term.

Ergonomic Options

These pencils can have thicker barrels and other customizations that make them more comfortable to use.

Options

Mechanical pencils come in infinite ways.

Mechanical Pencils: ConsFragility

Mechanical pencil lead is easier to break. Those who write with a heavy hand can break the lead quickly and easily.

Higher Costs

While these pencils last longer and cost less in the long run, they cost more upfront if you are going to customize them and hand them out for your business.

Malfunctions

Lead can get stuck in these pencils, or shorter pieces can retract into the pencil when you try to use them, leading to frustration for the user.

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Wooden Pencils: ProsNostalgia

Using a wooden pencil feels ‘normal’. They’re classics that never go out of style.

Variations

When you vary the pressure on a wooden pencil, the line you get changes. That’s necessary for some uses, like sketching.

Better Erasers

Many users enjoy the erasers on traditional pencils and state that they simply erase better than their mechanical counterparts.

Affordability

Regular pencils are not only readily available but inexpensive, even if you customize them to suit your business.

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Wooden Pencils: ConsSharpening Needs

Classic pencils can’t be used unless they are sharpened. You have to have a sharpener on hand
for those cases. Each time you sharpen the pencil, it shortens as well, and eventually, it will be too short to use.

Short Life

As pencils get shorter, they are uncomfortable to use. No one uses the pencil until there is no lead left, which leads to waste.

Body Breakage

While lead can break on classic pencils, the lead is harder to break than in mechanical pencils. However, the body of the classic wooden pencil can break if it is used harshly or dropped.

Use Cases and Target Audience

As you decide which type of pencil to use for your business’ customization, consider your target audience. Are you looking to target people who draw, school children, or those who utilize pencils in a general manner? Or, are you looking for people who might use pencils professionally, at home for lists, and for a long time?

Draw up a case of your target audience and decide on which pencil type you want to go with from there.

How to Decide for Your Campaign

Not only does your target audience matter, but the specific campaign details make a difference. One of the things that could be a deciding factor is the budget. How much do you have to spend on the pencils, and how many are you able to buy? You can buy more pencils for less when you go with traditional, wooden options. Save Your Ink can show you choices in both genres.

In conclusion

Neither option, traditional wooden pencils nor mechanical pencils, is completely better or worse than the other. However, one will be better for your exact customizing campaign. You just have to decide what to do based on the pros and cons, your budget, and the campaign you want to run. Start with basic decisions and work your way up to more detailed design choices.

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