The carpenter’s toolkit is an invaluable asset that no carpenter would want to go without. While hand tools and power tools are popular components of the toolkit, a basic component that often goes unnoticed is the carpenter’s pencil.
Though onlookers may not be aware of the value of the humble pencil, a carpenter would not want to be even seen without the pencil behind the ear!
So, what is a carpenter’s pencil and why is it invaluable to the individual wielding the tool? Get to know more about this carpenter’s asset here:
What are Carpenters Pencils?
Carpenters pencils are specialized marking instruments manufactured from wood and graphite.
High-quality hardwood is used to make carpenters pencils. Oak, ash and beech types of wood are usually used to make these pencils. These woods are often the chosen materials for the pencils because they exhibit high strength and durability.
Graphite, a mineral by origin, is used for the writing/ marking tip of the pencil.
These pencils are used by carpenters specifically because marks made by these pencils are visible on almost any surface.
Carpenters work on a variety of surfaces as part of their job, marking surfaces to cut or shape them as required. Good marking gives reliable cuts and shapes. Carpenters pencils make this basic yet crucial job easier for the professionals. These pencils work on almost any material or surface, including grainy types.
Material-cutting is a critical job as the shape determines the integrity and aesthetics of the structure. The humble carpenters pencil serves as a guide for carpenters in appropriate material-cutting and shaping.
Carpenters pencil is an important element in a carpenter’s toolkit. An inadequate toolkit leads to a low-quality job, which can damage a carpenter’s reputation.
An insurance is as important for carpenters as their toolkit. An insurance protects them from injury claims and lawsuits by third parties.
What insurance does a carpenter need? A general liability insurance.
This insurance is specifically designed for professions such as carpentry, which involve providing services in a tangible or physical form. This insurance also covers risks involved in dealing with customers and suppliers on worksites and independent locations.
With a comprehensive insurance, carpenters get better protection. Visit this website to know more.
Did you Know these Interesting Facts about Carpenters Pencils?
There are some facts about carpenters pencils that make them even more interesting.
1. Carpenters Pencils are Flat, not Round, in Design
Unlike normal pencils, carpenters pencils are made flat so that they do not roll away leaving the carpenter searching for the tool in between tasks. Carpenters work on sloped, rough, grainy and uneven surfaces, among others. With its flat design, a carpenters pencil works well on a range of surfaces.
Given this reason, carpenter pencils are flat and either rectangular or square in shape. As they do not roll away, they are easily and quickly accessible to carpenters amidst work.
The graphite used for carpenter pencils is thicker and harder, which imparts outstanding durability to these pencils.
The flat design also makes these pencils advantageous to carpenters in other ways:
- The wider surface provides better grip.
- These pencils contain more lead in them than normal pencils. The lead is also harder to break. Carpenters do not have to waste time sharpening their pencils frequently as a result.
- The tip is bigger, which makes markings clearer.
2. Carpenter Pencils Serve as a Spacer
You can become as creative as possible when you have the efficient carpenter pencils with you!
These pencils are tough in strength and have solid thickness and width. The steady dimensions make them a reliable instrument for acting as a filler between repetitive even gaps. For example, you could use them between decking boards to ensure accurate and consistent gaps.
3. Carpenter Pencils do not Have a Ferrule
The end opposite the tip of a carpenter pencil does not feature a ferrule. So, you can use this end too, to make your markings. You can sharpen both ends so that you do not run out of the tip when you need to make a mark urgently in between tasks.
By keeping both ends sharp, you’ll have a ready end if the other tip breaks. You need not lose time sharpening pencils.
4. Most Carpenter Pencils Use a Chisel Tip
A chisel tip is most favored on carpenter pencils. A chisel tip, for one, is easier to be shaped into a sharp point. A utility knife or blade is enough to sharpen this lead. Also, a chisel tip enables carpenters to make clearer marks.
The chisel tip is not as blunt as it is with other types of carpenters pencil tips. A blunt end happens because carpenters use the pencils frequently on rough surfaces. They also do not sharp the pencils frequently. Making marks using a blunt end does not make it accurate.
With a chisel tip, you get a rectangular tip with four sharp corners. You can change the angles of the tip to make thick and thin lines with accuracy.
Using a blade or knife may seem a practical option to sharpen your pencil. But the disadvantage is that you lose a lot of lead this way. Use a customized sharpener to avoid such waste.
5. Carpenters Pencils are not Used by Carpenters Alone
The make of these pencils makes them ideal for use on surfaces such as timber, stone and concrete. So, professionals such as builders and bricklayers too use carpenters pencils. Carpenters pencils may not work on polished or glazed surfaces though.
In Conclusion
The right tools are key to an outstanding job. You can infuse high quality into carpentry with carpenters pencils. Carpenters pencils are steady and long-lasting companions that work for you while you provide high-quality work, on every project.