# Pencils, Charcoal, Pastels & Crayons

Pick the medium first, then who will use it. Graphite and charcoal come down to grade, H for hard and light to B for soft and dark, and no two brands grade alike. Colour media come down to binder and lightfastness, which only artist lines publish. For children 12 and under, ACMI advises AP-seal products; US rules only.

## How it works

Everything here is a powder held together by a binder, and the binder decides how it behaves. Graphite pencils mix graphite with clay and fire it in a kiln; more clay makes a harder grade that leaves a lighter mark. Coloured pencils bind pigment with wax or oil inside a wooden case. Soft pastels use just enough gum or clay to hold the pigment in a stick, so they give the purest colour but shed dust. Oil pastels bind pigment in a non-drying oil and wax, so they never fully dry. Crayons are mostly paraffin wax. Vine charcoal is burned twigs with no binder, which is why it dusts off and erases; compressed charcoal adds a gum or wax binder for a deeper black. The pigment then sets lightfastness, meaning how long a colour survives light, and toxicity, which matters most in dusty media and for children. [1] [3] [11] [12] [13] [14] [22]

| Family | What it is | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Graphite | Graphite and clay fired into a core, in wood, in a mechanical pencil, or as a woodless stick; grey marks that erase and do not fade. | Writing, school, sketching, technical drawing. |
| Coloured pencil | Pigment in a wax or oil binder inside wood; some are water-soluble and turn to paint with a wet brush. | Colouring, illustration, detailed colour drawing. |
| Charcoal | Burned vine or willow sticks (light, erasable) or compressed charcoal with a binder (deep black), also cased as charcoal pencils. | Figure drawing, tonal studies, sketching big and loose. |
| Dry pastel | Pigment with a little gum or clay binder; hard pastels hold more binder, soft and extra-soft pastels less. Sticks, pastel pencils or pans. | Painterly colour work on textured paper. |
| Oil pastel | Pigment in non-drying oil and wax; creamy, low dust, never fully dries. | School art, bold colour, mixed media. |
| Wax crayon | Pigment in paraffin wax; blunt, cheap and the usual first drawing tool for small children. | Young children, classrooms. |

## How an expert narrows the choice

```mermaid
timeline
  section 1 · Medium
    graphite : ask Format, Hardness grade : skip Lightfastness rating, Binder (coloured pencils), Pastel softness, Charcoal type
    coloured pencil : ask Water-soluble, Binder (coloured pencils), Lightfastness rating : skip Hardness grade, Charcoal type, Pastel softness
    charcoal : ask Charcoal type, Format : skip Binder (coloured pencils), Pastel softness
    dry pastel : ask Pastel softness, Safety seal, Lightfastness rating : skip Hardness grade, Binder (coloured pencils), Charcoal type
    oil pastel : ask Lightfastness rating : skip Hardness grade, Binder (coloured pencils), Pastel softness, Charcoal type
    crayon : ask Washable, Safety seal : skip Hardness grade, Binder (coloured pencils), Pastel softness, Charcoal type
  section 2 · Product tier
    kids : ask Safety seal
    artist : ask Lightfastness rating, Sold singly (open stock)
  section 3 · Format
    mechanical or clutch pencil : ask Lead diameter, Lead mechanism, Hardness grade
    wood-cased pencil / stick, block or pan : skip Lead diameter, Lead mechanism
```

1. **Medium.** Ordinary (graphite) pencil, coloured pencil, charcoal, chalk pastel, oil pastel or crayon?
   The leaf bundles six media whose binders behave differently, and each answer leaves a different set of specs that matter. Graphite cares about grade, colour media about binder and lightfastness, dry pastel about dust.
   If graphite: ask Format, Hardness grade; skip Lightfastness rating, Binder (coloured pencils), Pastel softness, Charcoal type.
   If coloured pencil: ask Water-soluble, Binder (coloured pencils), Lightfastness rating; skip Hardness grade, Charcoal type, Pastel softness.
   If charcoal: ask Charcoal type, Format; skip Binder (coloured pencils), Pastel softness.
   If dry pastel: ask Pastel softness, Safety seal, Lightfastness rating; skip Hardness grade, Binder (coloured pencils), Charcoal type.
   If oil pastel: ask Lightfastness rating; skip Hardness grade, Binder (coloured pencils), Pastel softness, Charcoal type.
   If crayon: ask Washable, Safety seal; skip Hardness grade, Binder (coloured pencils), Pastel softness, Charcoal type.
   Skip if already known: a query naming the medium (colored pencils, oil pastels, charcoal, crayons, #2 pencils), an earlier answer naming a medium.

2. **Product tier.** Child 12 or under, teen or adult, or serious art?
   US rules draw the child line at 12 and under (pre-K to grade 6), where the safety seal is the filter; serious art makes lightfastness the filter. Blick shelves colour media into kids', student and professional grade.
   If kids: ask Safety seal.
   If artist: ask Lightfastness rating, Sold singly (open stock).
   Skip if already known: a child's age or school grade in memory, a query saying kids, toddler, classroom, artist or professional.

3. **Format.** Wooden pencil, mechanical pencil, or bare stick or pan?
   Mechanical pencils bring their own specs (lead size, mechanism) and never need sharpening; woodless sticks cover large areas and use the whole core. Most useful for graphite, charcoal and pastel, which come both as pencils and as sticks.
   If mechanical or clutch pencil: ask Lead diameter, Lead mechanism, Hardness grade.
   If wood-cased pencil or stick, block or pan: skip Lead diameter, Lead mechanism.
   Skip if already known: a query saying mechanical, lead holder, woodless, stick or pencil, an earlier answer about sharpening.

## What to surface

### Medium

What makes the mark: graphite, coloured pencil, charcoal, dry (soft or hard) pastel, oil pastel or wax crayon. The binder behind each medium decides how it erases, blends, smudges and lasts, so the specs worth reading change with it. Graphite erases and resists light; wax and oil coloured pencils layer; dry pastel gives the purest colour but sheds dust; oil pastel never fully dries; crayon is paraffin wax made for small hands. Retailers already shelve them apart. [1] [11] [12] [13] [14] [25]

Values: graphite, coloured pencil, charcoal, dry pastel, oil pastel, crayon.
Question to ask: Ordinary (graphite) pencil, coloured pencil, charcoal, chalk pastel, oil pastel or crayon?

Used as: top-level split, filter. Data: on the listing, backfill cost none. Look for it as: Product name and retailer category: 'colored pencils', 'soft pastels', 'oil pastels', 'vine charcoal', 'crayons'. Retailers file water-soluble wax pastels such as Neocolor II under crayons. Our calls: Conté sticks go under dry pastel; mixed-media sketch kits take the medium most of their pieces use; grease pencils and china markers stay out of this leaf.

### Product tier

Which tier the line is made for: kids' (made for children 12 and under, grade 6 or younger), student (cheaper, fewer colours) or artist (more pigment, rated for lightfastness). Artist lines carry more and better pigment, document lightfastness and sell single colours; student lines usually publish no lightfastness rating and vary even within one maker. Kids' lines, for ages 12 and under, are judged on the safety seal instead. The Colored Pencil Society warns that 'professional' on a box proves nothing, so check the rating rather than the word. [3] [5] [25] [36]

Values: kids, student, artist.
Question to ask: Child 12 or under, teen or adult, or serious art?

Used as: top-level split, filter. Data: needs research, backfill cost medium. Look for it as: Not a field. Title words such as Artists, Professional, Scholar, Kids or 'ages 3+' hint at it. Blick files colored pencils and oil pastels under Professional, Student and Kids' grade.
A brand-to-line lookup (Polychromos, Luminance, Lightfast: artist; Crayola: kids) plus a check for a published lightfastness chart, since 'artist' claims without one count as student, so it costs as much as lightfastness. Student versus artist is sourced for colour media only; for graphite and charcoal set kids where the product is made for 12 and under and leave the rest unassigned.

### Format

How the core is held: in a wooden case you sharpen, in a mechanical or clutch pencil that feeds lead, or as a bare stick, block or pan. Wood-cased cores are bonded to the case, which protects them; mechanical pencils never need sharpening but need refill leads of one exact diameter. Woodless sticks cover large areas and use the whole core. Charcoal and pastel come both as sticks and as pencils, which are cleaner on the hand and better for detail. [1] [15] [14] [25]

Values: wood-cased pencil, mechanical or clutch pencil, stick, block or pan.
Question to ask: Wooden pencil, mechanical pencil, or bare stick or pan?

Used as: top-level split, filter. Data: on the listing, backfill cost none. Look for it as: Product name: 'mechanical pencil', 'lead holder', 'woodless', 'charcoal pencil', 'pastel pencil', 'stick', 'PanPastel'. Wood-cased pencils rarely say so; assign wood-cased when a pencil names no other format.

### Water-soluble

Whether the colour dissolves with a wet brush into a watercolour-like wash (watercolour pencils, aquarelle crayons, water-soluble pastels). Water-soluble colour works dry like an ordinary pencil or stick and turns to paint when wet, so one set does drawing and washes. The cost is that the finished work is not water-resistant, whereas lines such as Polychromos are sold as water-resistant and smudge-proof. [3] [11] [33] [8]

Question to ask: Dry colour only, or washes with a wet brush?

Used as: filter. Data: on the listing, backfill cost none. Look for it as: Product name: 'watercolor pencils', 'Aquarelle', 'water-soluble', 'Inktense'. Blick has separate watercolor pencil categories.

### Charcoal type

Vine or willow charcoal (burned twigs, no binder) or compressed charcoal (powder pressed with a gum or wax binder). Vine and willow charcoal give grey to dark marks that dust off and erase, which suits loose sketches and lay-ins but not detail. Compressed charcoal is stronger and deeper black, comes in grades like 2B to 6B, and is harder to erase. Charcoal pencils wrap compressed charcoal in wood for detail and clean hands. [14] [34] [35]

Values: vine or willow, compressed.
Question to ask: Light and erasable, or deep velvety black?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Product name says 'vine', 'willow' or 'compressed' (Blick: 'Winsor & Newton Vine Charcoal', 'General's Compressed Charcoal'); charcoal pencils hold compressed charcoal.
Blick names state vine or compressed, but generic marketplace 'charcoal sticks' sets often do not and may mix both; read the description or leave unset.

### Washable

Whether a crayon is formulated to wash out of fabric and off walls. Washable crayons were developed after parents complained about stained clothes and walls, and they are the main feature that separates one kids' crayon from another once the safety seal is settled. Ordinary wax crayons do not promise it. [13]

Question to ask: Washable off walls and clothes, or regular crayons?

Used as: filter. Data: needs research, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Product name says 'Washable'; assumed absent otherwise. Not confirmed on marketplace listings in this run, so it stays researched until one is checked.

### Hardness grade

The hardness of a graphite or charcoal core, from H (hard, light grey) through HB to B (soft, black); the US number 2 equals HB. Softer grades lay down more graphite, so they are darker, smudge more and dull faster; harder grades hold a point for fine, light lines. There is no common standard, so an HB from one maker is not another's HB, and pencils.com says Japanese HB runs softer than European. Compare grades within one brand. Compressed charcoal is graded the same way. [1] [2] [37] [34] [40]

Values: 4H and harder, 3H to H, F, HB (#2), B to 2B, 3B to 6B, 7B and softer, graded set.
Question to ask: Light and crisp lines, or dark and soft?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: needs research, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Usually in the product name on brand and art-store pages ('No 2', 'HB lead', '2B 4B 6B'); 'light and crisp' maps to H grades, 'dark and soft' to B grades. Seen on brand stores and Blick only; it stays researched until a marketplace listing is checked.
Writing pencils default to HB or #2 when unstated; drawing sets list their grade span in the set name.
Chart: Graphite grade scale.

### Lead diameter

The diameter of the lead a mechanical or clutch pencil takes, such as 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 or 2 mm. Each mechanical pencil takes only one diameter, so it fixes the refills you must buy. Thinner leads draw finer lines but snap more; 0.5 and 0.7 mm are the usual balance of precision and strength. Pentel also sells 0.2, 0.3, 0.9 and 1.3 mm refills. Lead holders take 2 mm leads and need a pointer or a built-in sharpener. [15] [40] [39]

Range: 0.5 and 0.7 mm for most mechanical pencils; 2 mm for lead holders.
Question to ask: Fine 0.5 mm lines, or sturdier 0.7 mm and up?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: needs research, backfill cost low. Look for it as: In the product name on brand stores, e.g. Pentel 'Lead Refill (0.5mm) Fine, HB'; Staedtler lead holders say '2 mm leads' in the description. Seen on brand stores and Blick only; no marketplace was fetched, so it stays researched until one is checked.
Brand pages always state it; a regex on the title catches most rows.

### Sold singly (open stock)

Whether each colour or grade of the line can be bought on its own, not only in sets. Artists wear out favourite colours long before the rest of a set, so a line sold singly can be topped up instead of replaced. Artist-grade coloured pencils are typically sold individually, Faber-Castell sells Polychromos in single colours, and Rembrandt sells full soft pastel sticks singly. [3] [8] [25] [30]

Question to ask: Want to replace single colours later?

Used as: shown on the card, filter. Data: needs research, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Brand pages say 'available in individual colours'; art retailers run an 'open stock' category. Marketplace set listings do not say.
A per-line flag from the brand catalogue; applies to every set of that line.

### Lightfastness rating

How long the colours resist fading in light, rated by ASTM D6901 (coloured pencils only, I best to V worst), the Blue Wool scale (higher is better) or the brand's own claims and stars. Colour work hung in light can fade or vanish; hot pinks, purples, blues, reds and oranges go first. ASTM D6901 compliance is voluntary; a line may claim it only if every colour rates I or II. Most artist lines instead rate colour by colour (Faber-Castell's 2014 table gives Polychromos one to three stars), pastels carry only brand claims, and student lines usually publish nothing. Only matters for work meant to last. [4] [6] [7] [9] [27] [28] [32] [3]

Values: whole range ASTM D6901 (I or II), whole range lightfast, brand claim, rated colour by colour, not rated.

Used as: filter, shown on the card, sortable. Data: needs research, backfill cost medium. Look for it as: Line-level claims sit in descriptions ('complies with ASTM D6901', '100% lightfast'); per-colour ratings sit in brand colour charts (PDF), not on the listing.
Backfill from brand colour charts for artist lines only, top N by sales; mark student and kids' lines not rated rather than guessing. D6901 applies to coloured pencils only; pastels take the brand-claim or per-colour values. The D6901 whole-line rule rests on CPSA alone.
Chart: Lightfastness ladder.

### Safety seal

The art-materials safety marking: the ACMI AP seal (non-toxic, fit for children), the CL seal (contains hazards, labelled with precautions), or only the legally required ASTM D-4236 conformance line. US law requires every art material to be reviewed by a toxicologist and labelled to ASTM D-4236. Children's products, for ages 12 and under, must stay under 100 ppm total lead, and paint on them, such as a pencil's lacquer, under 90 ppm. ACMI says never give a CL-seal product to a child in grade 6 or younger. Seals can differ colour by colour within one line, as Blick shows for Polychromos. These are US rules only. [16] [17] [23] [22] [18] [21] [20] [24] [26] [31] [19]

Values: AP seal, CL seal (some or all colours), ASTM D-4236 line only, not stated.

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: needs research, backfill cost medium. Look for it as: Printed on the package; Blick shows AP Non-Toxic, CL Cautionary Label and Prop 65 icons on product pages. Marketplace listings seldom state it.
ACMI publishes a searchable list of certified products, but lines such as Polychromos and Sennelier soft pastels mix AP and CL colours, so a set needs its colour list or package photo; top N only. Never infer AP from the word 'non-toxic' alone.

### Lead mechanism

How a mechanical pencil feeds and protects its lead: a standard click, a lead that rotates as you write, a spring tip that guards against breakage, or a clutch that drops the lead. Rotating mechanisms (Uni Kuru Toga) turn the lead with each stroke so the tip stays cone-shaped and the line width even; spring-tip systems (Zebra DelGuard) flex or retract under pressure so leads stop snapping. A fixed sleeve, as on the Pentel Sharp, guides along rulers. These fix the two complaints people have with fine leads. [15] [41] [42] [38]

Values: standard click, auto-rotating lead, break-protection tip, clutch lead holder.

Used as: shown on the card, filter. Data: needs research, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Named in the title or first bullet on brand pages: 'Kuru Toga', 'DelGuard', 'lead holder'; otherwise assume standard click.

### Pastel softness

For dry pastels, how much binder holds the pigment: hard pastels have more and draw crisp lines, soft and extra-soft pastels have less and lay down thick colour. Softer pastels carry more pigment and blend readily but crumble, dust more and need fixative or glass; harder pastels sharpen for detail and outlines but give less brilliant colour. Rembrandt sells a firmer soft pastel that avoids the crumbling of extra-soft sticks; Sennelier's are soft enough that a gentle stroke gives a solid line. Pastellists often own both. [11] [30] [31]

Values: hard, soft, extra soft.

Used as: shown on the card, filter. Data: needs research, backfill cost medium. Look for it as: Product name says 'soft pastels' or 'hard pastels'; finer softness only in description copy ('firmer texture', 'so soft that a gentle stroke').
Per-line lookup for the few dozen artist pastel lines; leave student sets at the name's claim.
Chart: Pastel softness scale.

### Binder (coloured pencils)

Whether a coloured pencil's pigment is held in a wax-based or an oil-based binder. Wax-based pencils are usually softer, blend to a buttery finish and burnish quickly, but cores break more easily and can grow wax bloom, a light film that wipes off. Oil-based pencils are harder, keep a sharp point, show no bloom and are mostly premium lines. Artists treat it as a working-style choice, not a quality ranking. [10] [3] [26] [27]

Values: wax-based, oil-based, not stated.

Used as: shown on the card, filter. Data: needs research, backfill cost low. Look for it as: In descriptions on art-store and brand pages: Blick writes 'oil-based cores' for Polychromos, Derwent Lightfast and Holbein, 'wax-based' for Derwent Drawing. Rarely in the title.
A per-line lookup covers it: a few dozen artist lines account for nearly all oil-based pencils. Leave student lines as not stated.

## Numbers worth computing

| Metric | Formula | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lightfast share of a set (%) | `colours in the set rated ASTM I or II / colours in the set` | Lightfastness is rated per colour, so a set from a well-rated line can still hold fugitive colours; a whole-range D6901 line scores 100 percent by definition. High backfill cost: each set's colour list must be matched to a per-colour chart, so compute it for artist lines with published assortments only, top N. [4] [9] |

## What you give up

- Softer B grades give darker marks with less pressure, but they smudge, dull faster and need sharpening more often. Hard H grades stay sharp and clean but look pale. [2] [1] Board branch: "See more harder, cleaner grades".
- Wax pencils blend and burnish to a buttery finish quickly, but the soft cores break if dropped and dense layers can grow wax bloom. Oil pencils hold a point and never bloom, at a premium. [10] [3] Board branch: "See more oil-based pencils".
- Soft pastels give the most brilliant colour of any dry medium, but they shed dust that irritates lungs and the finished work smudges until framed under glass or fixed, which can dull it. [11] [22] Board branch: "See more low-dust oil pastels".
- Vine charcoal wipes away, so you can correct freely, but it stays grey and blurs fine lines. Compressed charcoal gives velvet black that is hard to take back. [14] [34] Board branch: "See more compressed charcoal".
- Watercolour pencils and aquarelle crayons double as paint, but a splash later moves the colour. Dry lines sold as water-resistant stay put. [3] [8]
- Thin leads draw fine, consistent lines but snap under pressure; 0.7 mm and thicker survive heavy hands. Break-protection tips narrow the gap. [15] [42] Board branch: "See more break-resistant pencils".

## How to draw it

**Graphite grade scale** (scale, shows Hardness grade). Puts a pencil or a graded set on one line from hard and pale to soft and black, so a buyer sees what span a set covers and where HB and #2 sit. Used today by Manufacturers' grade charts and the European-letter to US-number equivalence table.. [1] [2]

**Lightfastness ladder** (scale, shows Lightfastness rating). Shows the ASTM I to V rating beside its Blue Wool equivalent, so ratings from different systems read on one ladder. Used today by ASTM D6901 categories; the Blue Wool equivalence table. The equivalence rests on Wikipedia alone, so confirm it before drawing the ladder.. [4] [7]

**Colour chart with ratings** (swatch grid, shows Lightfastness rating, Safety seal). One swatch per colour with its lightfastness mark, so a buyer sees which colours in a set are fugitive. Used today by Brand colour charts: Faber-Castell's 2014 table prints one to three stars per colour; Prismacolor publishes a lightfast colour chart.. [9] [29]

**Pastel softness scale** (scale, shows Pastel softness). Places pastel lines from hard to extra soft, which is how pastellists combine brands within one painting. This is a proposal, nobody draws it this way yet. [11]

## Words you will meet

- **Binder**. The material that holds powdered pigment or graphite together in a core or stick, such as clay, wax, oil or gum.
- **HB**. The middle hardness grade of a graphite pencil; letters toward H are harder and lighter, toward B softer and darker.
- **#2 pencil**. The US number for the standard writing grade, usually equal to HB.
- **Lightfastness**. How well a colour resists fading when exposed to light.
- **ASTM D6901**. The US standard for artists' coloured pencils that rates each colour's lightfastness from I (best) to V; it does not cover pastels.
- **Blue Wool scale**. A fading test that rates a colour by which of a set of dyed wool strips fades at the same rate; higher numbers are more stable.
- **ASTM D-4236**. The US labelling standard that requires a toxicologist to review art materials for long-term health hazards.
- **AP seal**. The Art and Creative Materials Institute's voluntary mark for products certified non-toxic, including for children.
- **CL seal**. The same institute's mark for products that contain hazards and carry precautions; not for children in grade 6 or younger.
- **Wax bloom**. A pale, waxy haze that can rise to the surface of heavy wax coloured-pencil work; it wipes off.
- **Burnishing**. Pressing coloured pencil layers hard until the paper texture disappears and the colour looks polished.
- **Open stock**. Single pencils or sticks sold individually rather than only in sets.
- **Vine charcoal**. Thin sticks of grapevine burned without air, which give light, easily erased marks.
- **Compressed charcoal**. Charcoal powder pressed with a gum or wax binder into a stick for a darker, firmer mark.
- **Fixative**. A spray varnish that holds loose charcoal or pastel particles on the paper.
- **Clutch pencil**. A lead holder, usually for 2 mm leads, whose jaws open to let the lead slide out.
- **Woodless pencil**. A solid graphite or colour core with only a thin wrapper, so the whole stick draws.
- **Watercolour pencil**. A coloured pencil whose core dissolves with water into a wash.

## Where we made a call

- Graphite grades only compare within one brand; an HB or #2 from one maker can be darker or softer than another's. (confidence high). Wikipedia and pencils.com both say there is no common standard; Faber-Castell's Grip numbering even maps numbers to letters differently. [1] [2]
- Read the lightfastness rating, not the word 'artist' or 'professional' on the box. (confidence high). The Colored Pencil Society warns packaging claims are unreliable; Wikipedia says student lines usually carry no rating. [5] [3]
- Lightfastness belongs to each colour, so even a top artist range can include colours that fade. (confidence high). Faber-Castell's 2014 table rates Polychromos colours one to three stars and Blick describes the range as 'good to maximum'; only whole-range D6901 lines avoid this. The table may be out of date. [9] [26] [4]
- For children 12 and under, ACMI and Blick advise AP-seal products only; the CPSC asks for D-4236 labelling with no cautionary warnings. (confidence high). Sources disagree. All agree CL products are not for grade 6 or younger. The AP seal is a voluntary trade-association programme; LHAMA governs hazard-labelled materials and never mentions it. Ours: filter on AP as the stricter advice, and fall back to the CPSC floor where no seal is stated. [23] [24] [17] [22]
- Dry pastel dust is the main health risk in this category; oil pastels are the low-dust alternative. (confidence high). The CPSC guide names pastel dust and lead chromate pigments and recommends oil pastels as less dusty; Wikipedia adds cadmium. The same guide calls charcoal dust irritating. [22] [11]
- An AP seal does not mean a pastel is free of cadmium or cobalt pigments. (confidence medium). Wikipedia says AP brands may use very insoluble cadmium or cobalt forms. Some brands, such as Rembrandt, state they are free of these metals; read the colour, not only the seal. [11] [30]
- Wax versus oil coloured pencils is a working-style choice, not a quality grade. (confidence medium). Ours, following The Virtual Instructor, which lists trade-offs both ways and says the only way to know is to try both. Oil lines do cost more. [10]
- Whether finished oil pastel work needs fixative is unsettled. (confidence low). Sources disagree. Wikipedia's pastel article says oil pastels do not require fixative; its oil pastel article says works are often fixed because the oil never dries. Blick confirms they never dry. We do not pick a side. [11] [12] [32]

## References

1. [Pencil (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil) (primer). Supports: Graphite plus clay fired in a kiln; more clay makes a harder, lighter core; No common grading standard; same grade differs between makers; HB equals US #2; grade equivalence table; Graphite marks resist ultraviolet light and ageing; Most pencils use incense cedar; core bonded to the wood case.
2. [The HB graphite grading scale (Pencils.com)](https://pencils.com/pages/hb-graphite-grading-scale) (primer). Supports: No industry standard for darkness within a grade; HB differs by brand; Japanese HB is generally softer and darker than European HB; Softer pencils dull faster and need more sharpening.
3. [Colored pencil (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colored_pencil) (primer). Supports: Artist grade has more pigment, documented lightfastness, single pencils; Student grade usually has no lightfastness rating; Oil binders give less wax bloom; watercolour pencils work wet or dry.
4. [ASTM Standard D6901 (Colored Pencil Society of America)](https://cpsa.org/about/astm-standard/) (enthusiast community). Supports: D6901 published 2003; categories I to V, I best; Only I or II may claim compliance; a whole line needs every pencil I or II; Compliance is not mandatory.
5. [Colored Pencil Defined and Lightfastness (CPSA)](https://cpsa.org/about/colored-pencil-defined/) (enthusiast community). Supports: Coloured pencil cores contain waxes and oils, pigments, fillers, binders; Packaging 'professional' and 'lightfast' claims are not necessarily true.
6. [Lightfastness (Colored Pencil Society of America)](https://cpsa.org/about/lightfastness/) (enthusiast community). Supports: Hot pinks, purples, blues, reds and oranges are the least stable colours.
7. [Lightfastness (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightfastness) (primer). Supports: Blue Wool 1 to 8 and ASTM I to V scales; ASTM I equals Blue Wool 7 to 8; V equals Blue Wool 1 (single source).
8. [Polychromos colour pencil, tin of 60 (Faber-Castell UK)](https://www.faber-castell.co.uk/products/110060) (spec sheet). Supports: Lists lightfastness, water resistance, 3.8 mm lead, break-resistant bonding, single colours; Water-resistant and smudge-proof.
9. [Colour codes, colours and set assortments: Art & Graphic (Faber-Castell PDF)](https://www.faber-castell.co.uk/-/media/Faber-Castell-new/PDF/en/Farbtabelle-AG-ENG-0214.ashx?sc_lang=en-GB) (spec sheet). Supports: Lightfastness rated per colour with one to three stars (2014 table); Polychromos light magenta 119 rated one star in 2014.
10. [Oil-based vs wax-based colored pencils (The Virtual Instructor)](https://thevirtualinstructor.com/blog/oil-based-vs-wax-based-colored-pencils) (primer). Supports: Wax pencils softer, burnish quickly, break more easily, show wax bloom; Oil pencils harder, hold a point, no bloom, premium lines; Only way to choose is to try both.
11. [Pastel (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastel) (primer). Supports: Soft pastels: more pigment, less binder, more dust, need fixative or glass; Hard pastels: more binder, sharper, less brilliant; Dust and toxic pigments such as cadmium; AP brands may use insoluble forms; Oil pastels do not require fixative.
12. [Oil pastel (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_pastel) (primer). Supports: Binder is non-drying oil and wax; Works are often fixed because oil pastels never dry completely.
13. [Crayon (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayon) (primer). Supports: Crayons are mostly paraffin wax; good for teaching small children; Washable crayons developed after complaints about stained fabrics and walls.
14. [Charcoal (art) (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal_(art)) (primer). Supports: Vine and willow are burned sticks; erase easily, unsuited to detail; Compressed charcoal uses gum or wax binder; Charcoal pencils wrap compressed charcoal in wood.
15. [Mechanical pencil (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_pencil) (primer). Supports: Each mechanism takes one lead diameter; 0.5 and 0.7 mm most common; JIS puts 0.5 mm lead at 0.55 to 0.58 mm; Rotating and break-protection mechanisms; clutch pencils for 2 mm.
16. [16 CFR 1500.14(b)(8), art materials labelling (Cornell LII)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/16/1500.14) (regulator). Supports: LHAMA makes ASTM D-4236 labelling a federal rule; Formulations reviewed by a toxicologist at least every 5 years; Conformance statement wording 'Conforms to ASTM D-4236'.
17. [15 U.S.C. 1277, Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (Cornell LII)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1277) (regulator). Supports: Hazard-labelled art materials must say they are inappropriate for children; CPSC may stop purchase of such materials for pre-K to grade 6.
18. [15 U.S.C. 1278a, lead in children's products (Cornell LII)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1278a) (regulator). Supports: Total lead limit for children's products stepped down to 100 ppm; Lead paint limit in 16 CFR 1303.1 cut to 0.009 percent.
19. [16 CFR 1303.1, ban of lead-containing paint (Cornell LII)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/16/1303.1) (regulator). Supports: Paint on toys and articles for children limited to 0.009 percent lead from August 2009.
20. [15 U.S.C. 2052, definitions: children's product (Cornell LII)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2052) (regulator). Supports: A children's product is designed primarily for children 12 years of age or younger.
21. [Total Lead Content (CPSC business guidance)](https://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Business-Education/Lead/Total-Lead-Content) (regulator). Supports: Children's products over 100 ppm lead in an accessible part are banned.
22. [Art and Craft Safety Guide, Pub. 5015 (CPSC with ACMI)](https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/5015.pdf) (regulator). Supports: Crayons, chalk and coloured pencils are children's art materials; Parents should buy D-4236-conforming products without cautionary warnings; Pastel dust and lead chromate risks; oil pastels less dusty; Children's band: up to 12 years, pre-K to grade 6.
23. [Art Materials Safety: AP and CL seals (ACMI)](https://acmiart.org/materials-safety) (standards body). Supports: AP seal: toxicologist-certified non-toxic, including for children; CL seal: never for children in grade 6 or younger.
24. [Health and Safety (Blick Art Materials)](https://www.dickblick.com/learning-resources/product-info/health-safety/) (retail listing). Supports: Blick marks products with AP, CL and Prop 65 icons; Recommends AP-certified products for K-6 classrooms.
25. [Colored pencils, oil pastels, charcoal, crayons and mechanical pencils categories (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/categories/coloredpencils/) (retail listing). Supports: Retail filters: Professional, Student and Kids' grade; Open Stock; Oil Based; Watercolor; Crayon category includes water-soluble wax pastels and oil pastels.
26. [Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencils (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/faber-castell-polychromos-pencils/) (retail listing). Supports: Oil-based 3.8 mm cores; lightfastness rated good to maximum; Product page shows both AP and CL seal icons.
27. [Derwent Lightfast Colored Pencils (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/derwent-lightfast-colored-pencils/) (retail listing). Supports: Oil-based; every pencil complies with ASTM D6901 and Blue Wool ISO 105.
28. [Caran d'Ache Luminance Colored Pencils (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/caran-dache-luminance-colored-pencils/) (retail listing). Supports: Whole line meets ASTM D6901; 3.8 mm cores; incense cedar casings.
29. [Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/prismacolor-premier-colored-pencils/) (retail listing). Supports: Soft 3.8 mm cores in cedar; links a lightfast colour chart.
30. [Rembrandt Soft Pastels (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/rembrandt-soft-pastels/) (retail listing). Supports: Kaolin binder, firmer than extra-soft pastels, less crumbling; Free of cadmium, cobalt and lead; full sticks sold singly.
31. [Sennelier Soft Pastels (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/sennelier-soft-pastels/) (retail listing). Supports: Minimal binder, no fillers; gentle stroke gives a solid line; Product page shows AP, CL and Prop 65 icons.
32. [Sennelier Oil Pastels (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/sennelier-oil-pastels/) (retail listing). Supports: Oil pastels never dry out; Lightfast except metallic and fluorescent colours, a brand-level claim.
33. [Caran d'Ache Neocolor II Aquarelle (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/caran-dache-neocolor-ii-artists-crayons/) (retail listing). Supports: Water-soluble wax pastels used dry or as washes.
34. [General's Compressed Charcoal (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/generals-compressed-charcoal/) (retail listing). Supports: Compressed charcoal graded 2B, 4B, 6B; stronger than vine.
35. [Winsor & Newton Vine Charcoal Packs (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/winsor-newton-vine-charcoal-packs/) (retail listing). Supports: Vine charcoal named in the product title.
36. [Crayola Crayons (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/crayola-crayons/) (retail listing). Supports: Kids' crayons labelled for ages 3 and up with AP seal.
37. [Dixon Ticonderoga Pencils (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/dixon-ticonderoga-pencils/) (retail listing). Supports: Writing pencils listed as 'No 2' in the set name.
38. [Pentel Sharp Mechanical Pencil (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/pentel-sharp-mechanical-pencil/) (retail listing). Supports: Fixed sleeve protects lead along rulers and templates; HB lead.
39. [Staedtler Mars Technico 780 Lead Holder (Blick)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/staedtler-mars-technico-780-lead-holder/) (retail listing). Supports: Lead holder for 2 mm leads with built-in sharpener.
40. [Lead refills collection (Pentel)](https://www.pentel.com/collections/lead-refills) (spec sheet). Supports: Refills in 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 1.3 mm; Refills titled by diameter and grade, e.g. '(0.5mm) Fine, HB'.
41. [Kuru Toga (uni-ball UK)](https://www.uniball.co.uk/products/kuru-toga) (spec sheet). Supports: Gear mechanism rotates lead each stroke; tip stays cone-shaped, resists breaking.
42. [DelGuard Mechanical Pencil (Zebra Pen)](https://www.zebrapen.com/products/delguard-mechanical-pencil) (spec sheet). Supports: Double-spring tip protects lead from breakage, vertical or angled.