Although I have already digested the "lead pencil" sticky in it's entirety some years ago, I seek some clarification on the method/process.
Should I be looking for a shaving of lead, just a gouging of lead, or gouging with attention to the pencil's destruction/deformation? I ask because I processed some 400#'s of roof flashing/boot lead a month ago which should be in the pure lead range (I think). Today after having filed off the surface of a couple ingots I set about scraping the lead with pencil tips sanded to a flat sharp edge and held at a 45 degree angle pushed across the lead.
The 5B (7-8 BHN) pencil made a gouge without totally destroying the lead tip. The 6B (4-5 BHN) pencil made a gouge but the pencil point crumbled as it was pushed across the lead. Both distorted/altered the surface of the ingot, but which one is the best indicator of hardness?