Hard lead and soft lead pencils have different uses.
Soft and hard lead have different properties, making each one useful for different purposes. The various characteristics of these two leads and their uses will be explored below.
Hard Lead
Hard lead is a lead alloy that has one or more other metals added to it. It is unrefined and contains impurities which make it hard to bend and mold.
Soft Lead
Soft lead is mostly pure lead that does not contain other metals or impurities. Soft lead can be identified by scratching or pressing on it. If it is easy to scratch, it is probably soft lead. Soft lead has a low working temperature, the temperature at which it can be melted and used in molds, of about 700 to 800 degrees. This makes soft lead easier to use than hard lead.
Uses of Hard and Soft lead
Hard lead is often used to make fishing tackle, wheel weights, batteries for vehicles, ammunition and pencils for sketching. Hard lead pencils are useful when you want to make precise lines. These pencils come don't have to be sharpened very often.
Soft lead pencils are a better option when you are drawing dark, thick lines. Soft lead also is used in the aprons worn during X-rays to shield body parts from radiation.
