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Here in Edmonton, Canada one of the Home Depots gives carpenters pencils away. But only at the contractors only till. And if you don’t have ‘the look’ or an account they’ll ask you for your business info before you get one. Otherwise they charge about .50 ea.
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Can anyone tell me where i can find anymore of
those round carpenters pencils in n.y or mail
order.Nobody in w.n.y has them I'm on my last
couple and my brother and myself both like them.
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Golf Club Pencils! Around the shop I wear a cloth apron. Full size pencils always find their way to the bottom of the pouch and keep breaking off the point. Not golf pencils. There's room for a handfull. The lead is hard and keeps a good point. Thanks to by father, who when we work togeather called the sport pature ball, I now have a life time supply. He now golfs at least twice a week. In the field I still use a #2 hard lead round pencil sharpen with utility knife. If I'm framing all day, which is getting rarer, I'll use a flat carpenter pencil or as we refer to them as paint brushes.
*Hey Dan - Yes, I do know about Seigle's. While I was still at Best Homes, they hired our Engineering Manager to manage their plant while they were getting it off the ground. This was back in 1990, I believe. His name was Eric Dickerson. Just as a general rule - I wouldn't suggest writing off any truss manufacturer just because of one bid. They can vary a great deal, especially on complex roof systems. There's a lot of different ways of looking at roof truss pricing, and no 2 plants do it the same way. Best of luck up north...........
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I had always thought that the object of making carpenters pencils with rectangular leads was that you could rule longer in the along-the-long-axis-of-the-lead direction without having to stop & sharpen the thing so often. Also, in marking on relatively rough surfaces, such a lead is much stronger in that direction than a conical lead. But now I see that there is somebody making a sharpener (conical) for these pencils, see FHB May 2000, no 130, pg 126. What gives? Have I been believing an old wives tale all these years, or are the sharpener people nuts, or what?
David Joly
*David, everyone is trying to build the better mousetrap. And make a buck while they're at it.Personally, I think my utility knife is good enough, and I don't intend to carry any extra tools in my belt. It's heavy enough, and it's almost always empty!I do think that you can judge a great deal about a fellow carpenter by the way he sharpens his pecil though. Ever run into someone that couldn't sharpen one, and could build a good house?I didn't think so.blue
*David, I saw the sharpener you are talking about. One of the lumber yards had them displayed by the check out counter. Since most of my work is finish work, I'm always looking for a good sharpener that will put a pin point on a pencil. The concept looked like it would do just that.After purchasing the sharpener and trying it out on some flat carpenter pencils, I would have to agree with Blue, that you could do just as well if not better with a utility knife. If you were using your pencil to mark studs etc. fine. But, if you want pin point accuracy you need to carry a sanding block along to keep a sharp point. I think I'll stick to round pencils and my grade school pencil sharpener.
*David - I have to admit it - I like gadgets. So last time I placed an order to Lee Valley I bought on of those things just for the heck of it. Turns out, it's a nice conversation piece, but not much else. I really don't like the pencils after they're shaprened that way.
*Mad dog, Have you ever tried those mechanical pencils, I did about 7yrs. ago and been using them ever since.
*David, I have tried the sharpener at the check-out stand at Lowes, and it works quite well. I wish the guy who developed it the best of sucess with his product, but tomorrow morning I'll be leaning against my truck, sipping coffee and sharpening a couple of carpenter's pencils with my utility knife as I do last-minute planning and discuss today's NASCAR race with the subs. But, hey!, I've wasted hours sharpening and honing old chisels when my time would have been better spent if I'd simply purchased new ones...I bought a Prazi Bigg Lugg "belt hook" at JLC Live in Baltimore (great show... see my post at JLC Materials forum), so I'm into gimmicks. One thing that sold me was a guy who bought a whole slew of these things for his crew members.How a person sharpens a pencil concerns me less than where he or she makes the mark....Regards, Steve
*Steve,I am absolutely NOT into gimmicks and the fewer tools I buy the better----but I bought the Prazi belt hook and a "coil caddy".Reserving final judgement on both but for now I will say I am lukewarm at best on both of those items.Good Luck All,Stephen
*Allen, I like mechanical pencils too. Thats all I use for cabinet and trim work. No sharpening and the same size mark every time. I've had the best luck with the 0.7 mm lead size, doesnt break as easy.For framing a flat pencil and a utility knife works for me.Chuck
*What fascinated me in this was the possibility that either I had been believing a myth, or that it had been so long since the introduction of this particular specialized tool (rectangular leaded pencils) that the rationale had been forgotten. Steve Turner's remark about sharpening his chisels was, I'm sure, in jest - the time we spend doing that, or sharpening funny-shaped pencils, I regard as a form of prayer - how we re-align our spirits. More prosaicly, it's when I always notice that the blade in the knife needs changing - I'm always to much into it to stop & do that during actual work. Thanks for all your feedback!
*Hi Stephen,Do let us know about your final verdict on those. Been thinking about buying those items myself.See ya around, John
*Stephen, I too would be interested in "Bigg Lugg" review. I use my 18 volt cordless alot and my old holster for my 9 volt "aint gettin it" . Shakey Jake
*Hi to all, thought I'd add my two cents, rectangular pencil(and hence lead) is to keep the pencil from rolling around on you. I use a standard carpenters pencil for framing and rough work, but be aware there are differing lead grades, typically hard, medium, and soft,the soft lead works well on P.T. that might be wet,the hard lead is my preference for the rest....I use a #3 round pencil for trim and finish work, I keep a pencil sharpener on site all the time. As for the Big lugg I found it works great on the 18-volt and the coil caddy works well too, although I do a minimum of roofing.Big lugg works well on the Paslode Impulse gun as well. Steve T., glad to see you enjoyed the show, I attended Balt. last year(where I bought the big lugg), planning on doing Providence this year. see y'all Geoff
*I'm assuming you guys mean an actual mechanical pencil like a Scripto and not a drafting pencil where you drop in the graphite sticks. I did try a drafting pencil but ended up going back to #3 regular pencils. I'll give your idea a try. I know it probably sounds trivial making an issue about pencils; but, when you're using one all day to make precise marks, you want something that's easy to keep sharp to maintain your accuracy.
*Pencils, I buy a pack of oval shaped carpenter's pencils for general use and a pack of those semi-disposable .7s for trim and cabinets. A knife works just fine for sharpening, i give anyone on the crew who needs a pencil the first one and charge them a dollar for any after that. Keeps down the "hey can i borrow a pencil)" to a minimum. Just a pet peeve of mine.
*I love those fat round ones with the soft lead. Last chance I got to grab some, they were from a sand&gravel outfit. In my ope, a hundred or so would never be enough. Unfortunately, the place does not have those kind anymore, and I am almost through my last one. I haven't found any anywhere else around here either.I use them for drawing. The square ones are fine for work. Anyone out there have any of the fat, round, soft kind ?Hey Skip, can I borrow a pencil ???
*In my mind i'd be stark naked if i didn't have my pocket knife; yes its sharp enough to sharpen a pencil.
*Luka,You should be able to find those pencils at any school & teachers supply store. They use those in some of the younger primary grades so those little hands can get a better grip on them. I'm not making any personal inferences as to why you like them, but they're probably near the crayolas ; }. Seriously though, I usually have one or two around(my wife's a teacher) and they come in pretty handy.Your mentioning a hundred or so pencils, brings back my brother's memory. We lost him about 1 1/2 yrs. ago. A couple of Christmases before, he bought me a box of 100 carpenters pencils(a greatly appreciated gift by the way). He had worked for me a little while and knew how often I missplaced/dropped/loaned out mine. I still have about half of that box in my shed, I don't think I'll ever be able to empty it out now. When I do grab one from that box it always brings a smile to my face, and sometimes a tear to my eye.Hope you find your fat ones, John
*That's right !!!! I forgot about that. My kids used those when they were in grade school. I always gave them the ones I would pick up at work. My son cried one time because he had wanted a new pencil... I gave him one, and the crying was because it didn't look like the ones at school. LOL I had to go find one for him elsewhere. heheheThanks for the heads up, John, now I know where to expand me searchin'.I have no doubt I like them for the same reason the little 'uns do. (Almost) I have large, muscled hands, (don't fold the same as others'), and I find it easier to work more delicate stuff with the fat pencil. (I can find soft leads for drafting pencils, and soft small pencils, but I prefer the big fat ones.)
*I prefer the round leaded carpenter pencil & sharpen it with a utility knife.. Its hard to find the round lead carpenter pencils. For the last few years I have been using a ball point pen. I have found that the brand 'Zebra' to be the best. Particle board does not mess up the ball & I can still use it for writing checks. By the way I bought one of those sharpeners for rectangle pencils & they are messy. Don't buy one.. They are not worth it.
*Kindergarten
*You know, it just occurred to me - I think the reason most carpenters around here use the flat pencils is because that's the kind lumberyards and such give away. I think actually going out and buying a pencil is sort of against the unwritten rules.That would be like a farmer actually going out and buying a hat. It just ain't done.
*Ron,What lumberyards still give away pencils?
*John,I have used the Big Lugg to hang my roofing gun on while I was working on a ladder.It was a little awkward to get the gun on and off the hook(which is why I am lukewarm about it) I am hoping further experience with it will make it easier to use.My original plan was to use the hook for my drill when hanging gutter.I haven't tried it yet cause I am not convinced that hook will hold my drill secure while I climb an extension ladder carrying 40 ft. of gutter.I am reserving judgement till I have tried that little manuever.PS. My wife is a teacher also.Stephen
*All of our yards in the Chicagoland area bring out a box with the load of lumber and if it happens to get a truss roof that delivery has another box as well.
*Steve - Here in Central Illinois, it's still quite common. Don't know about other areas. Hey Dan - Didn't realize you were in the Chicago area. Do you ever do business with Best Homes out of Hazel Crest ? I used to work there about 10 years ago................
*Wasn't that grade school, and were a foot long, some had a drum on them and bells. Ha-Ha, tee hee.
*Yeh MDM, I just use pentel brand. Just push on the eraser to advance the lead, holds three or four sticks in the body of the pencil.Chuck
*They used to give em away around here, along with the cloth nail aprons. Now the pencils are about fifty cents a pop and the aprons a couple of bucks. But they still have their logo on them.The cabinet material supply places still give me the round ones but I use a mechanical pencil for finish work so I have a bucket of them.Chuck
*Lowes has the carpenter and big round pencil sharpners. The same sharpner will sharpen both. My lumber yard still gives away all 3 sizes of pencils, plus hats and cloth nail aprons(not as often on these 2 items).
*I shouldn't bring this up, but a sometimes poster on this board, Bill Conner (I believe it was him -- stuck in Chicago with no professional sports), asked about these pencils on the now defunct This Old House bulletin board (RIP, thank heavens). It was for a Boy Scout project, and someone who hated him, for some reason, as I can't imagine cyber-hate over Scouts, ridiculed him about it. Anyway, the line promoted many interesting concepts about square carpenters pencils -- wished I'd kept them. A few I remember: The long and short edges provide rough estimates of portions of an inch; the sharp edge is truer than that from a round lead; and the pencil can be used as a rough scribe.
*Here in Edmonton, Canada one of the Home Depots gives carpenters pencils away. But only at the contractors only till. And if you don't have 'the look' or an account they'll ask you for your business info before you get one. Otherwise they charge about .50 ea.
*I agree ron! I'd start scratching with a nail before I'd actually buy a carpenter's pencil!blue
*And you guys thought the CT'ers were obsessed with biscuits? LOL!
*Which one of you CT'ers is claiming ownership of the recipe for the kind of biscuits we use?
*Rough Work - SharpieDay To Day - 9 MM. HB x Ko I Noor MechanicalFine Work - Olfa L-2 Utility IMHO
*Howdy Ron,If we encounter a truss roof system it usually comes from Seigle's which is a competitive priced good quality manufacture, have you heard or dealt with them by chance? I travel down I-80 passing Best Homes daily and they are still in business. After one price quote,which turned out to be pretty expensive in comparison to others and being happy with current supplier I have not dealt with them since. From the land were pencils are still free, good luck and make it a great day! Dan
*Elly Mae Clampett.( Betty??) Hockey puck type, anyway!