Originally Posted by sewbizgirl

I think the "lead" (or chalk) in those pencils is too soft or too brittle to withstand normal handling of the pencils before they are sold. Every one I've ever bought has been all broken inside the pencil. You sharpen the tip and the next tiny bit falls right out. It sucks. Maybe if we all brought them back as defective, the companies would come up with a better pencil!