Derwent Academy Sketching Pencils have a slim 6.9mm hexagonal graphite grey barrel with a long black gloss end dip The size of the pencil core varies depending on its hardness; It is 2.2mm for the harder degrees (2B – 5H) and 2.8mm for the softer degrees (3B - 6B) Made with natural wood barrels and quality graphite they are easy to sharpen and break resistant. The hexagonal barrel makes the pencil easy to hold and control particularly for detailed drawings For ease of identification the degree is printed on the end of the barrel