I tried writing with it once. What is a metal pencil? A metal pencil uses a special lead made of graphite and metal. When writing, the friction between the paper and the lead causes particles of graphite and metal to adhere to the paper, creating the writing. It's like a pencil, but not quite – a completely new writing instrument. The lead is approximately equivalent to a 2H pencil in darkness. (※The darkness may vary depending on the type of paper.)