The case of the wrong WOPEX

14 Replies to “The case of the wrong WOPEX”

1. They’re also now available at Canadian Wal-marts and Staples with attached erasers.

2. I tried some Eco pencils of another type a year or so ago, but they disintegrated in the sharpener!

3. They are finally offered in the US!
   http://www.amazon.com/Staedtler-Graphite-Eco-Pencil-18241BK10-NA/dp/B00DYVV12I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378870898&sr=8-1&keywords=wopex

   The eraser and ferrule are actually pretty nice (we’re working on a review — hope this isn’t annoying self-promotion).

4. I wish they’d also offer them with attached erasers in Europe. I’ve only ever seen ones without erasers here…

5. On the negative side of the erase/ferrule: they make an already heavy pencil even heavier.

6. I was wondering why the WOPEX pencil I got at a local stationery store was green and of HB grade. I wanted the light blue one.

7. I have just bought (in Spain) a package of three black WOPEX pencils that come with a black plastic sharpener and a small (and also black) rasoplast eraser. The show an Art. Nr.180 HB-9 on the side. The green WOPEX do not have the 9. Is there any difference, beyond the external colour, between these two WOPEX pencils?

8. Hi David, that’s an interesting question – Staedtler has been known to vary their budget pencils between markets, but why vary a premium product that has been the subject of much media? Won’t regional variants just confuse the public and dilute advertising messages?

   A note – WOPEX is becoming quite the overloaded term – it is a product name, but with the new Noris eco pencil, it also gets a demotion to being just a material name.

   So here are details from the pencils themselves:
   
Europe 2H - EAN 40 07817 180013 Art. Nr. 180-2H
Europe HB - EAN 40 07817 180006 Art. Nr. 180-HB
Europe 2B - EAN 40 07817 180020 Art. Nr. 180-2B
North America HB - EAN 40 07817 180099 Art. Nr. 180 10-HB


   On the pencil’s main face, the North American variant additionally has the grade marked as both “HB” and “2”.

   The erasers are another interesting angle – I’m not aware of Staedtler selling this type of eraser by itself.

   And to try to answer your question – I don’t know if there is a difference between the two versions. I don’t detect anything obvious.

9. Thanks for the info.

10. Staples in the US started selling a Staedtler woodless pencil that seems to be made of WOPEX material rather than the woodless pencils I have from Faber Castell (back when I took art class in college). Here’s a link to it on the Staples website:

    http://www.staples.com/Staedtler-allXWrite-2-HB-Graphite-Pencils-5-Pack/product_949299

    It is not advertised as WOPEX, but the material is definitely some sort of plastic polymer that writes and erases like a pencil.

    Staples also sells a Rasoplast set of 3 too:

    http://www.staples.com/Staedtler-Rasoplast-Black-Erasers-3-Pack/product_949298

    They still sell the famous Staedtler Mars plastic eraser too, just in a different area of the store. <_<;

    I couldn't resist and bought the pencils and the erasers even though I have plenty already. D: I noticed them around August or late July when stores started advertising their Back-to-School supplies.

11. Hi Pisces,

    Thanks for the report! I look forward to learning more about Staedtler’s new product.

12. Hi,

    Last week I bought an 18 count package of Staedtler WOPEX HB 2 pencils from my local Staples for only $3.00 US. Incredible price!

    They are lime green in color with an attached white Latex and PVC free eraser. These pencils are light weight and sharpen great. I am a math instructor who tries every pencil I can find. These pencils are now my favorite.

    I’m going back to Staples to buy more.

13. Pingback: Wopex Pencils at Staples. » Pencil Revolution

14. I got these pencils at Staples for $3.00 (18 pack) in NYC.
    As you mentioned it is a bit heavier than a regular pencil but no complaints. I love the weight, the smoothness. I tested for smudge marks and barely if not none at all. I have to do some additional testing on the eraser, as it didn’t erase as clean as the Staedtler Mars.