Here we have the first of the Palomino sampler pack, the natural wood finish (with lacquer) Prospector. Made of basswood, it's actually pretty easy to sharpen, and the starkly cornered hexagonal barrel, reminiscent of the Dixon Eldorado, makes for a great grip.
Fit/Finish: Though this is positioned at the bottom of Palomino's line, it's well-made, with uniform foil stamping and a securely attached ferrule. The lacquering does not make the pencil too slippery, and ensures that the wood will not attract dirt over time. A natural look with a painted-barrel feel.
Performance: I haven't gotten any hard spots in the graphite [but got a minor one after finishing the review, nothing as bad as a Ticonderoga though], and point retention seems to be good too. Very pleasantly surprised with this pencil's performance. This one does smear a bit though, making it less than ideal for journaling or notebooks in general. I think it's time for an erasability test!
The back-of-pencil eraser is certainly average, crumbling quite a bit and ghosting. The Staedtler had no problems.
Overall: For $1.95/dozen, this pencil is a definite step-up from the standard-issue Papermate Classic or Dixon Ticonderoga it is meant to replace. While it is no drawing pencil, it's great for school and general writing, and American-made to boot!
Rating: 3.5/5
Overall: For $1.95/dozen, this pencil is a definite step-up from the standard-issue Papermate Classic or Dixon Ticonderoga it is meant to replace. While it is no drawing pencil, it's great for school and general writing, and American-made to boot!
Rating: 3.5/5
hi-res images here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZVmSiP