# STL355: Pencil Geeks Assemble!

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2025-11-28
- Length: 1h 06m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-11-28-stl355-pencil-geeks-assemble
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl355-pencil-geeks-assemble

## Summary

Grant Christensen, president of Black Wing pencils, joins the Shop Talk Live hosts to discuss the history, manufacturing, and resurgence of the Black Wing 602 pencil. The conversation covers the brand's origins with the Barrelzheimer family, the use of California incense cedar, and the intricate process of creating their specific graphite leads. The hosts also share personal anecdotes about their obsession with pencils, the community culture surrounding them, and the specific tools like the two-stage sharpener that enhance the user experience.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-11-28-stl355-pencil-geeks-assemble#t=6) Introduction and Woodworking Inspirations
- [31:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-11-28-stl355-pencil-geeks-assemble#t=1862) Grant Christensen and the Black Wing Story
- [35:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-11-28-stl355-pencil-geeks-assemble#t=2110) Black Wing 602 History and Materials
- [38:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-11-28-stl355-pencil-geeks-assemble#t=2307) Mike Pekovic's Pencil Obsession
- [50:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-11-28-stl355-pencil-geeks-assemble#t=3033) The Black Wing Volumes Program and Square Pencil
- [54:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-11-28-stl355-pencil-geeks-assemble#t=3241) Lead Types and Sharpeners
- [1:01:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-11-28-stl355-pencil-geeks-assemble#t=3670) Community Culture and Conclusion

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Black Wing (company)
- Black Wing 602 (product)
- Black Wing 21 (product)
- California incense cedar (material)
- Ticonderoga (product)
- Palomino (product)
- Gorilla Wood Glue (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 14 - Pencil by FiftyThree (12/17)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-12-17-afterschool-podcast-episode-14-pencil-by-fiftythree-12-17) (Core77 Podcast)
- [81: Mark Three](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2022-06-29-81-mark-three) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [110: Mid-life Crisis Hobby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2024-03-21-110-mid-life-crisis-hobby) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [36: Mark One](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-03-20-36-mark-one) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [71: Glue Flange](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-08-18-71-glue-flange) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-11-28-stl355-pencil-geeks-assemble. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Shop Talk Live.