The key difference between 2B and HB pencil is that 2B pencils produce very dark lines while HB pencils produce medium line density.
A pencil is a writing or drawing tool having a solid pigment core that is surrounded by a sleeve, barrel, or shaft, which can prevent the breakdown of the core. A pencil can create marks through physical abrasion, leaving a trail of solid core material that tends to adhere to a sheet of paper or some other surface.
Pencil manufacturing started in 1662 in Nuremberg, Germany. Since then, different materials have been used to manufacture pencils from time to time. Typically, modern pencils are made with graphite instead of lead which was used in the past due to health concerns (lead is a toxic material). We can classify pencils into different categories according to their properties. The most common way of classification is darkness. The darkness of the writing or drawing provided by the pencil varies from grey color to black.
Manufacturers often use a grading system to classify the darkness of the pencil drawing. In Europe, they use the H to B system, which stands for hardness and blackness. Sometimes the letter F is used to indicate Fineness. According to this grading system, the standard writing pencil is HB.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a 2B Pencil
3. What is a HB Pencil
4. 2B vs HB Pencil in Tabular Form
5. Summary – 2B vs HB Pencil
What is a 2B Pencil?
2B pencil is a grade of H to B grading system of pencils having a dark theme. In other words, the writing done from 2B pencil is darker than those of H grade pencils. The character of this pencil grade can be described as soft. This means the 2B pencil has a sifter lead. This type of pencil is used in freehand drawing and writing applications.
The term 2B stands for “soft black leads.” 2B pencils have a small quantity of clay, making them a soft lead. It has a fairly darker shade which is harder to erase. Generally, 2B pencil forms a very dark line density and is ideal for bold and thick lines. They are used mostly by artists for drawings.
What is an HB Pencil?
HB pencil is a grade of H to B grading system having a light theme. In other words, the writings done from this pencil give a light-colored appearance, more like grey rather than black. Its character can be defined as hard (this means it has a moderately hard lead), and it is important in applications such as writing and linear drawings. In fact, HB is considered the standard pencil for writing.
The term HB stands for “Hard Black.” It has a limited amount of clay, making it medium-hard. It has a mediocre shade and is easier to erase. Moreover, this pencil produces a very medium line density and is ideal for general writing purposes. Typically, children in schools use HB pencils to improve their penmanship.
What is the Difference Between 2B and HB Pencil?
2B and HB are two grades of pencils with different shades. The key difference between 2B and HB pencil is that writing from 2B pencil is darker than that from HB pencil. Moreover, 2B pencils produce very dark lines while HB pencils produce medium line density. Typically, 2B pencils are used by artists, while HB pencils are used by school children.
The following table summarizes the difference between 2B and HB pencil.
Summary – 2B vs HB Pencil
Pencils come in different shapes, different colors, and shades. There are numerous types of pencil brands manufactured by different companies. There are different grades of pencils as well. 2B and HB are two grades of pencils. The key difference between 2B and HB lead is that writings made with 2B pencils are darker than writings made with HB pencils.
Reference:
1. “2B pencils” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “Pencils hb” By Original uploader was Dmgerman at en.wikipedia – Transfered from en.wikipedia:2007-09-15 07:35 Dmgerman 600×400×8 (119825 bytes) two pencils grade hbTransfer was stated to be made by User:Ddxc. (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia