1. The wood:

* The wood for the pencil is usually cedar, as it is soft, straight-grained, and strong.

* The cedar logs are cut into thin planks.

* The planks are milled to the desired thickness, usually around 6mm.

2. The graphite:

* The graphite used for the core of the pencil comes from graphite mines.

* It is mined in several countries, including China, Brazil, and Madagascar.

* The graphite is purified to remove impurities.

* It is then ground into a fine powder.

3. The clay:

* Clay is added to the graphite powder to bind it together.

* Different proportions of clay affect the hardness or softness of the pencil.

* Water is also added to the graphite and clay mixture to form a paste.

4. Extrusion:

* The mixture is fed into an extruder, a machine that forces it through a small opening.

* As the mixture passes through the opening, it forms long, thin strands called "leads."

* These leads are then cut into shorter lengths.

5. Kiln firing:

* The lead cores are placed in a kiln and heated to a temperature of around 1200°C (2200°F).

* This process hardens the cores and removes any remaining moisture.

6. Sorting:

* The cores are sorted according to their hardness.

* Pencil hardness is graded on a scale from 9H (hardest) to 6B (softest).

7. Encasing the lead:

* Each core is placed into a grooved wooden slat.

* Two or more slats are glued together to encase the lead.

* The finished pencils are then cut to size and sanded smooth.

8. Finishing:

* The pencils are coated with a varnish or lacquer to protect the wood and add shine.

* They may be stamped with the manufacturer's logo and other details.

9. Packaging:

* The finished pencils are packaged into boxes or other containers for sale.