Comments on: How Crayola crayons are made http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 20:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957955 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957955 Here's the Youtube version of the MR. Rogers Crayon video for those who are being blocked by PBS. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41_hVjQiK9M Sorry for the bad quality, I didn't post it. Here’s the Youtube version of the MR. Rogers Crayon video for those who are being blocked by PBS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41_hVjQiK9M

Sorry for the bad quality, I didn’t post it.

]]> By: Micah http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957959 Micah Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957959 When it comes to analysis of crayon marketing and manufacturing, Daddytypes' Labor Day 2009 manifesto, <A href"http://daddytypes.com/2009/09/08/the_triumph_of_the_crayolatariat.php">The Triumph of the Crayolatariat</a>, should be required reading. It's a truly extraordinary piece of work. When it comes to analysis of crayon marketing and manufacturing, Daddytypes’ Labor Day 2009 manifesto, The Triumph of the Crayolatariat, should be required reading. It’s a truly extraordinary piece of work.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-958988 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-958988 My girlfriend added stearic acid to improve rub-off, and I was less than enthused. My girlfriend added stearic acid to improve rub-off, and I was less than enthused.

]]> By: Hmpf http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957966 Hmpf Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957966 @BrotherOdy: >why not give your nephew all sorts of different brands, and see which ones lose the tips first? Cause I'm really really poor. *g* @BrotherOdy:

>why not give your nephew all sorts of different brands, and see which ones lose the tips first?

Cause I’m really really poor. *g*

]]> By: Laura CB http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957967 Laura CB Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957967 Thank you for the amazing links to Sesame Street (which I immediately thought of when I started this video) and Mr. Rogers. So much has changed about how we make tv for kids. Thank you for the amazing links to Sesame Street (which I immediately thought of when I started this video) and Mr. Rogers. So much has changed about how we make tv for kids.

]]> By: bklynchris http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957969 bklynchris Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957969 Couple of things strike me here... 1) The King's English apparently has completely different slang terms for male masturbation. 2) The narrator must hail from the same part of England as Robin Leach, with his quirky accent. Couple of things strike me here…
1) The King’s English apparently has completely different slang terms for male masturbation.
2) The narrator must hail from the same part of England as Robin Leach, with his quirky accent.

]]> By: ominousbox http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957974 ominousbox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957974 I would assume they have more than one labeling machine to make up the difference in production. I couldn't help to think that all those kids were going to be disapointed by all those boxes of those crappy RoseArt crayons. That's why i always used markers and colored pencils. I would assume they have more than one labeling machine to make up the difference in production.

I couldn’t help to think that all those kids were going to be disapointed by all those boxes of those crappy RoseArt crayons.

That’s why i always used markers and colored pencils.

]]> By: mccrum http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957976 mccrum Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957976 I'd just like to add that the camera work of the closeups was way machine sexy and the sort of thing I like to see from my internet. I’d just like to add that the camera work of the closeups was way machine sexy and the sort of thing I like to see from my internet.

]]> By: bardfinn http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957982 bardfinn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957982 The 'secret powder' in RoseArt crayons is powdered cellulose and starch. In Crayola crayons, it's mostly or entirely cellulose. in really cheapo crayons, (and in "organic" crayons) it's mostly or entirely starch. The way to figure out whether there is starch in the crayon: Put some of the crayon in a small cup of warm spit. If it partially dissolves, it has starch in it (spit has enzymes targeted specifically at breaking down starch). The more it dissolves in an hour, the more starch it has. Crayola's pre-schooler crayons in the early 80's had a high amount of starch in particular colours of the crayons. (Yes, I was 6, sucked on a crayon, it started to dissolve, talked to my dad about it (because paraffin doesn't dissolve in spit), and we did scientific experiments on crayons. And now thirty years on it pays off.) The ‘secret powder’ in RoseArt crayons is powdered cellulose and starch.

In Crayola crayons, it’s mostly or entirely cellulose.

in really cheapo crayons, (and in “organic” crayons) it’s mostly or entirely starch.

The way to figure out whether there is starch in the crayon: Put some of the crayon in a small cup of warm spit. If it partially dissolves, it has starch in it (spit has enzymes targeted specifically at breaking down starch). The more it dissolves in an hour, the more starch it has.

Crayola’s pre-schooler crayons in the early 80′s had a high amount of starch in particular colours of the crayons.

(Yes, I was 6, sucked on a crayon, it started to dissolve, talked to my dad about it (because paraffin doesn’t dissolve in spit), and we did scientific experiments on crayons. And now thirty years on it pays off.)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957986 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957986 The "secret powder" used to be talc; I'm not sure if this is still the case. Talc is a chemical relative of asbestos; asbestos is carcinogenic because it's hollow- it pierces cells, defeating the purpose of having a selective membrane. That's why it was mainly smokers who got lung cancer with asbestos: either one is bad, but the combination is particularly lethal. CPSC found transitional talc in Crayola crayons, so my money is that the "secret" ingredient is nothing more than talc. http://www.crayola.com/safety/faq.cfm It makes sense because of talc's slippery properties; it would make for a very nice, flowable product when applied to paper. A little more Googling shows they changed the formulation in 2000 after the CPSC's squealing. It's not like asbestos is going to come flying out of a wax matrix and embed itself in a kid's lung, certainly not in concentrations high enough to cause cancer. It's a huge leap; it's not asbestos, it's in wax, and it's not airborne. The risk is about as close to zero as you can get. The “secret powder” used to be talc; I’m not sure if this is still the case. Talc is a chemical relative of asbestos; asbestos is carcinogenic because it’s hollow- it pierces cells, defeating the purpose of having a selective membrane. That’s why it was mainly smokers who got lung cancer with asbestos: either one is bad, but the combination is particularly lethal.

CPSC found transitional talc in Crayola crayons, so my money is that the “secret” ingredient is nothing more than talc.

http://www.crayola.com/safety/faq.cfm

It makes sense because of talc’s slippery properties; it would make for a very nice, flowable product when applied to paper. A little more Googling shows they changed the formulation in 2000 after the CPSC’s squealing. It’s not like asbestos is going to come flying out of a wax matrix and embed itself in a kid’s lung, certainly not in concentrations high enough to cause cancer. It’s a huge leap; it’s not asbestos, it’s in wax, and it’s not airborne. The risk is about as close to zero as you can get.

]]> By: max http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957731 max Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957731 youtube votes the secret powder is cocaine, maybe that's why i stuck so many up my nose youtube votes the secret powder is cocaine, maybe that’s why i stuck so many up my nose

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957733 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957733 Thats RoseArt.... not Crayola. Thats RoseArt…. not Crayola.

]]> By: Kosmoid http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957736 Kosmoid Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957736 A "nice rub-off" is always appreciated. A “nice rub-off” is always appreciated.

]]> By: SteveMcQueensgotnothingonme http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957737 SteveMcQueensgotnothingonme Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957737 I love it when the narrator states that the machines are completely automated, just as the worker drone is placing crayons in the hopper. I love it when the narrator states that the machines are completely automated, just as the worker drone is placing crayons in the hopper.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-958505 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-958505 Re: using the white crayon: 1) Choose colored paper, draw with white crayon. 2) Use white crayon for highlight in multicolored compositions on colored paper. 3) Draw on white paper with white crayon. Apply watercolor wash as desired over white crayon. Re: using the white crayon:

1) Choose colored paper, draw with white crayon.
2) Use white crayon for highlight in multicolored compositions on colored paper.
3) Draw on white paper with white crayon. Apply watercolor wash as desired over white crayon.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957741 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957741 If I was given task to reverse engineer the secret powder, my candidate no. 1 would be starch. I don't believe the competitors do not know what the secret ingredient is. All it takes is to purchase one box of crayons and pay for use of mass chromatography machine. If I was given task to reverse engineer the secret powder, my candidate no. 1 would be starch.
I don’t believe the competitors do not know what the secret ingredient is. All it takes is to purchase one box of crayons and pay for use of mass chromatography machine.

]]> By: softestmonster http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957742 softestmonster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957742 I still remember the Sesame Street trip to the crayola factory with some fondness. i think i might've had it on video and watched it over and over, it's so deep in my brain... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMU-wXsgyR8 I still remember the Sesame Street trip to the crayola factory with some fondness. i think i might’ve had it on video and watched it over and over, it’s so deep in my brain… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMU-wXsgyR8

]]> By: Cheaplazymom http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957746 Cheaplazymom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957746 The label says "Rose Art" which is in fact an inferior crayon-- color is thin and too waxy. Is the video mislabeled, the post, or does Crayola make RoseArt? The label says “Rose Art” which is in fact an inferior crayon– color is thin and too waxy. Is the video mislabeled, the post, or does Crayola make RoseArt?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957749 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957749 @Softestmonster, you beat me to it. I loved that episode. @Softestmonster, you beat me to it. I loved that episode.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957753 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957753 The Mr. Rogers version is even more mesmerizing. http://video.pbs.org/video/1415190951/ The Mr. Rogers version is even more mesmerizing.

http://video.pbs.org/video/1415190951/

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-958009 nixiebunny Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-958009 It's interesting to compare the 40 year old Crayola factory with the newer RoseArt factory. A lot of the machine stuff is nearly identical, just slightly different implementations of the same idea. And only a few more steps are automated by RoseArt. There's a wonderful Mullard vacuum tube factory video out there that shows similar changes - they have older assembly lines with ladies doing lots of delicate hand work to make tubes, and a brand-new assembly line for ECC83s (12AX7s for Americans) that's nearly completely automatic. But one gets the impression that the newer line might have a lot of downtime, since there are a lot of fiddly bits in tubes that require fiddling with. It’s interesting to compare the 40 year old Crayola factory with the newer RoseArt factory. A lot of the machine stuff is nearly identical, just slightly different implementations of the same idea. And only a few more steps are automated by RoseArt.

There’s a wonderful Mullard vacuum tube factory video out there that shows similar changes – they have older assembly lines with ladies doing lots of delicate hand work to make tubes, and a brand-new assembly line for ECC83s (12AX7s for Americans) that’s nearly completely automatic. But one gets the impression that the newer line might have a lot of downtime, since there are a lot of fiddly bits in tubes that require fiddling with.

]]> By: Marktech http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957755 Marktech Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957755 I enjoyed that. But now I want to eat a crayon. I enjoyed that. But now I want to eat a crayon.

]]> By: inness http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957756 inness Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957756 I always thought it was Mr. Rogers who went to the Crayola factory. Hmm. If I had any desire or curiousity at all I'd research that. Unfortunately, this bit of typing has done me in for the day. So there. I always thought it was Mr. Rogers who went to the Crayola factory. Hmm. If I had any desire or curiousity at all I’d research that. Unfortunately, this bit of typing has done me in for the day. So there.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957759 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957759 Does anybody ever uses that "white" crayon? Does anybody ever uses that “white” crayon?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-958528 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-958528 Thanks for posting this. I'm going to try to buy some of these. I think the difference between American crayolas and some European brands (I have a pack I bought at Harrod's) is that some manufacturers remember that crayons were originally invented for use by "serious professional artists", and maintain a quality product intended for that use. In the U.S., however, wax-bound crayons have always been considered strictly for use (and consumption) by young children, are manufactured cheaply, and you generally get an inferior product. Thanks for posting this. I’m going to try to buy some of these. I think the difference between American crayolas and some European brands (I have a pack I bought at Harrod’s) is that some manufacturers remember that crayons were originally invented for use by “serious professional artists”, and maintain a quality product intended for that use. In the U.S., however, wax-bound crayons have always been considered strictly for use (and consumption) by young children, are manufactured cheaply, and you generally get an inferior product.

]]> By: PrimeOne http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957777 PrimeOne Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957777 I just want to state that these are NOT Crayola Crayons. If anyone actually paid attention to the video, they were RoseArt and we all know that RoseArt doesn't compare to Crayola. I just want to state that these are NOT Crayola Crayons. If anyone actually paid attention to the video, they were RoseArt and we all know that RoseArt doesn’t compare to Crayola.

]]> By: adamnvillani http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957781 adamnvillani Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957781 These are very obviously not Crayola crayons. The giveaway is all the labels saying "Rose Art," along with the T-shirts on the workers saying the same thing. And also the pixels. These are very obviously not Crayola crayons. The giveaway is all the labels saying “Rose Art,” along with the T-shirts on the workers saying the same thing. And also the pixels.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957792 EH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957792 Pusher robots now protect crayons, I can relax around the stairs again. Pusher robots now protect crayons, I can relax around the stairs again.

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-957794 SamSam Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-957794 I don't think anyone here has mentioned yet that these are "Rose Art" crayons NOT Crayola. I just thought I'd tell you. I don’t think anyone here has mentioned yet that these are “Rose Art” crayons NOT Crayola. I just thought I’d tell you.

]]> By: Maggie Koerth-Baker http://boingboing.net/2010/12/05/how-crayola-crayons.html#comment-958309 Maggie Koerth-Baker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-958309 Hmpf, Judging from your description and the Stockmar site, I think that what you're calling a "crayon" we call "pastels" over here. You can buy them, but usually in art supply stores and they aren't commonly marketed to kids. And the daughter of an artist, I have to agree with you: Pastels > Crayons Hmpf,

Judging from your description and the Stockmar site, I think that what you’re calling a “crayon” we call “pastels” over here. You can buy them, but usually in art supply stores and they aren’t commonly marketed to kids.

And the daughter of an artist, I have to agree with you:

Pastels > Crayons

]]>