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Pencil lead hardness for writing Kanji (2B, B, etc.)

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Reply #1 - 2012 April 17, 9:19 pm
PotbellyPig
Member
From: New York
Registered: 2012-01-29
Posts: 150

I'm buying a 0.5mm mechanical pencil to practice writing Kanji out on paper.  I need to know which lead to purchase.  I've seen some references on the web that "2B" is good since it is soft and facilitates drawing the different endings to a stroke.  But can that be too soft for writing out complicated Kanji in a small space?  Should I pick up a "B" or something harder as well?  Thanks...

Reply #2 - 2012 April 17, 9:33 pm
Tzadeck
Member
From: Kinki
Registered: 2009-02-21
Posts: 2139

Don't waste study time--or, more importantly, your life--thinking about silly things. 

Buy a pencil that has lead, and start practicing kanji. 
Better yet, look around your immediate area.  Is there a pencil?  Bingo.

Last edited by Tzadeck (2012 April 17, 9:33 pm)

Reply #3 - 2012 April 17, 10:03 pm
PotbellyPig
Member
From: New York
Registered: 2012-01-29
Posts: 150

Thanks for the advice but its not like my life is at the breaking point because of this.  Since I am paying for it, I figured I should buy something appropriate.

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Reply #4 - 2012 April 17, 10:08 pm
Fillanzea
Member
From: New York, NY
Registered: 2009-10-02
Posts: 458
Website

I personally prefer slightly harder pencils (just regular HBs) for writing small kanji. I've never had problems distinguishing between はね strokes and とめ　strokes with them.

Reply #5 - 2012 April 17, 10:24 pm
Tzadeck
Member
From: Kinki
Registered: 2009-02-21
Posts: 2139

I know my answer was uncooperative, but any type of lead is perfectly appropriate for writing kanji.  So, if you ask which lead you should purchase, I'm pretty sure my answer was the correct one: any lead is fine.  The advantages and disadvantages of different lead types aren't enough to aid or hinder kanji studies.

Fillanzea gave a personal preference, and that's all this really comes down to.  There might be a pencil lead you prefer writing with, but that's about the extent of the issue.

Last edited by Tzadeck (2012 April 18, 1:22 am)

Reply #6 - 2012 April 18, 12:08 am
Inny Jan
Member
From: Sydney
Registered: 2010-03-09
Posts: 529

I would be more concerned about the grip than the lead - I prefer soft grips.

Reply #7 - 2012 April 18, 1:04 am
JimmySeal
Member
From: Kyoto
Registered: 2006-03-28
Posts: 2240

*Facepalm*

Reply #8 - 2012 April 18, 3:35 pm
Irixmark
Member
From: 加奈陀
Registered: 2005-12-04
Posts: 291

At the end of the day, it's not how hard the pencil lead is, but what it says on the pencil.

I've got 'ohhs' and 'ahhs' in Japan and the occasional プロポーズ with this one (0.5 MN 100 黒, in case you want to know).

http://i.imgur.com/57TTI.png?1

Reply #9 - 2012 April 18, 4:15 pm
Blahah
Member
From: Cambridge, UK
Registered: 2008-07-15
Posts: 715
Website

I use the OHTO super promecha - for me the weighting of the thing (quite heavy around the grip, light at both ends) is more important than the lead hardness. With the right balance it's much easier to control and make the exact shape you want on the page.

Also I prefer hard grips which don't get slippery - soft grips give you less precision.

edit: I use HB lead, and I wouldn't want to go softer than that.

Last edited by Blahah (2012 April 18, 4:17 pm)

Reply #10 - 2012 April 18, 4:22 pm
kainzero
Member
From: Los Angeles
Registered: 2009-08-31
Posts: 925

Tzadeck wrote:

Don't waste study time--or, more importantly, your life--thinking about silly things. 

Buy a pencil that has lead, and start practicing kanji. 
Better yet, look around your immediate area.  Is there a pencil?  Bingo.

2B or not 2B, that is the question. big_smile

Reply #11 - 2012 April 18, 5:14 pm
Apache Chief
Member
Registered: 2011-02-04
Posts: 39

And here we have a lucky glimpse of the rare えんぴつ オタク in their natural habitat.

Reply #12 - 2012 April 18, 5:24 pm
Inny Jan
Member
From: Sydney
Registered: 2010-03-09
Posts: 529

One should not forget about an eraser at the opposite tip of the pencil - on occasions it becomes quite handy. Don't go with hard ones as they leave smudges when you erase this kanji that you didn't quite get right.

Reply #13 - 2012 April 18, 5:31 pm
Splatted
Member
From: England
Registered: 2010-10-02
Posts: 645

kainzero wrote:

Tzadeck wrote:

Don't waste study time--or, more importantly, your life--thinking about silly things. 

Buy a pencil that has lead, and start practicing kanji. 
Better yet, look around your immediate area.  Is there a pencil?  Bingo.

2B or not 2B, that is the question. big_smile

If this entire thread had just been a set-up for that joke, it would have been worth it. big_smile

Reply #14 - 2012 April 18, 7:23 pm
six8ten
Member
Registered: 2011-02-26
Posts: 92

I only use the highest end model rapidograph pens. Sure, I can't erase any mistakes, but that just means I have to write everything over from the beginning of the page if I get anything wrong.

I'm more concerned about my breathing technique when writing kanji. Since I've learned Kanji mostly from the books and never had any formal training, I'm not sure if I've got the breathing patterns down. I always wonder if I should be exhaling on the left-right strokes or on the top-bottom strokes.

Reply #15 - 2012 April 18, 7:55 pm
JimmySeal
Member
From: Kyoto
Registered: 2006-03-28
Posts: 2240

six8ten wrote:

I'm more concerned about my breathing technique when writing kanji. Since I've learned Kanji mostly from the books and never had any formal training, I'm not sure if I've got the breathing patterns down. I always wonder if I should be exhaling on the left-right strokes or on the top-bottom strokes.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4061/4669812732_5407c2534c.jpg

Reply #16 - 2012 April 18, 7:57 pm
kainzero
Member
From: Los Angeles
Registered: 2009-08-31
Posts: 925

okay now to be honest for a second...

i've seen 2B as recommended from the NHK program for prettier characters.
if you like you can also pick up a brush pen (fude pen). there are techniques to write with one, though. if you don't pay attention to your technique all your character will be super thick.

i'm not sure if you're going for prettier characters though. that takes a lot of practice. it's not necessary if your goal is quick and pure fluency. i used to practice a fair bit of it for fun using DS Bimoji and watching handwriting videos on youtube. for practicality, any pencil will work. if you're gonna go to the store and buy one and it doesn't make a difference anyway then i'd take the NHK rec and go 2B.

i also hate using thick-tip pens to write because it gets all blobby.

Reply #17 - 2012 April 18, 8:02 pm
PotbellyPig
Member
From: New York
Registered: 2012-01-29
Posts: 150

Thanks kainzero.  I saw that NHK video also which is one of the reasons I brought up this topic.  I may try Bimoji DS as well as it looks like fun.  As to the others who poke fun,  I am amused (really!).  I'll slink back into my hole about now.....

Last edited by PotbellyPig (2012 April 18, 8:07 pm)

Reply #18 - 2012 April 18, 8:07 pm
s0apgun
Moderator
From: Chicago
Registered: 2011-12-24
Posts: 224
Website

I only use bamboo pencils, mechanical pencils are taboo imo.

Last edited by s0apgun (2012 April 18, 8:08 pm)

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