I finally found the perfect pencil. Well... almost.

[@GiacoWhatever]

Did you say “pencil = boring topic”??? HOW DARE YOU??????? How Dare You??????? (Thanks for the video) But how dare you?

[@johanflodkvist80]

Sooo, bets on how long it takes before Giaco puts up a kickstarter for the best mechanical pencil ever? I want it.

[@heyimamaker]

Rotring 4 Life!

[@cavasinon9182]

Next gofund Giacco ? (i'm available to work with this holly subject !)

[@creepincat7399]

I'm interested. I have a small decent collection of high quality metal mechanical pencils. I could only imagine what quality Giaco could produce. As an italian, I'd love to own a mechanical pencil made in italy as a family keepsake.

[@dsbassman4184]

I just got a Pentel Kerry 0.5 with HB lead and a Pentel Graphgear 1000 0.3 with 2B lead. So far loving both. My first "serious" (as in doing some research) mechanical pencil purchases. Rotring seems to have a pretty diehard fan base as well.

[@jjkalleck]

I’ve been using a Staedtler-Mars draughting pencil for 25 years... same pencil. I never knew there was a sharpener in the end piece.

[@sociopathmercenary]

A dog's red rocket... That moment when you see inside someone's brain and you realize that you don't want to be there

[@christianjanes]

It’s like when you find the spare bulb in the end of a maglite for the first time.

[@EricRoy85]

Wait, what????

[@danielrleal]

Looking forward to part II “let’s talk erasers”.

[@grandolddrummer]

I know you're probably just kidding, but the Staedtler Mars Plastic is really good. I especially like their triangular eraser holders. I've had one for years that's still going strong and it was less than $3

[@irvingcobian]

@@grandolddrummer that's badass I might look into one. I've been on the look out for a good pencil

[@kahoycrafts]

I'd watch it, good erasers are hard to find. 😄

[@michaelwagner3952]

I’m legit hoping for an eraser video.

[@danielrleal]

I was totally serious! Erasers would need to be a whole other video. I really hope David makes one. We’ll see.

[@danmoyer8191]

When I took mechanical drawing class decades ago, we used sandpaper to sharpen to get very narrow lines or thick lines, depending what your drawing needed.

[@NitramDoh]

FUN FACT: This versatil pen is originally from Czech republic, in Czech we sometimes say versatil as synonym for mechanical pencil (but more lead holder) ANOTHER FUN FACT: Best use for this pencil is to disassemble and the body makes the best blowgun for pieces of tissue. Everybody had one in my class in elementary, breaks were really fun.

[@robertheves942]

Correct. Some older might not even know what does the word vesrarile mean. It's a pencil. FUN FACT 2: The company is based in the same city as the Budweiser brewery is: České Budějovice

[@MossSteiger]

Dude, I found these a couple of years ago. One of the best things I’ve ever added to my life - I use mine for everything from taking notes to marking lumber. And as far as the end twisting off? One small drop of krazy glue or thread lock will fix that. Any tool that changes your life isn’t boring.

[@mandytrosky1888]

Not boring! It’s simple stuff like this that makes life easy and drives inspiration. I’d love for you to do a series on the simple stuff like this that you like!!

[@mandytrosky1888]

Even stuff like tape, gules-that kinda stuff. Really would be interested in knowing more about CA glue!

[@alkalinedale]

“The size of a dogs red rocket” 🤣

[@MithrilBiscuit]

While dressed all in red, including cap...

[@genghisbunny]

When this started, I thought, "I hope he's discovered architect's pencils." I was not disappointed.

[@philipgwyn8091]

ISTR hearing them called engineer's pencils.

[@genghisbunny]

@@philipgwyn8091 yeah, they've been used in all the drafting trades for ages, and I've heard them called architect's, engineer's and drafting pencils alternatively by lots of people depending on the background.

[@rebeccaberrett6812]

I just call them 2mils, & I've been using them for 45 years. My father - an architectural draughtsman & landscape architect gave me my first 60s era 2mil Staedtler when I was young. Now in my 60s. I like brass 2mm pencils particularly for drawing.

[@KellyBC]

There is a separate sharpener for those lead holders, it is called a rotary lead pointer. It is more of a desk item, than a pocket-sized tool though. I used to use these lead holders all the time in drafting. I think they are great!

[@Myopicvisions]

Thanks, I couldn't remember what it was called!

[@ineedanewuniquename2]

Used a similar one in school. Loved it... I was very sad when I broke it. The built-in sharpener was a last resort for me. It is a bit of a hack, but I sharpened both ends of the lead at home on my nice sharpener. If I quickly needed a sharp point while I was in class, I could just flip the lead around.

[@joentell]

"Pencils? You're talking about pencils? Not practice. Pencils!" -Iverson

[@aussiemagik]

I JUST bought a Pentel graphgear 1000, where the lead retracts into the shaft. So far it's great..

[@shoruk]

Is the best I’ve found - surprised I didn’t see it in the video

[@christophermadden5679]

Came here to mention this pencil too. Really good weight to it, comfortable knurling down by the tip, and the lead actually advances in pretty small increments.

[@Doughfam]

Pencils are never boring, and I have watched many videos on pencils, sharpening, history, etc.. loved it!

[@danielmuscatell3603]

I love topics like this. Pencils. Sketch books. Pocket knives. Stuff like that

[@CitizenAyellowblue]

Engineers used to use them. Staedtler have been making these for 100 years.

[@billmcgeechan6640]

Used these for draughting for the last 40 years.

[@danasmith8950]

Me too. Since college drafting class in 1979.

[@kevinconnaughton3299]

Same here

[@richardbrennan8910]

High School drafting class: 1963 For lead holders without the sharpener in the button (or even with)... my most-used accessory is an EMCA 110 Precision Point sharpener (from the 1970s...).

[@donrice703]

Junior high drafting in 76, the shop teacher had these and I bought some myself they were so cool. Several pencils for different lead types. I think the shop teacher had a sharpener but I used sandpaper. Lost my drafting stuff over the years. I may pick a couple up. Thanks for the memories.

[@dangraves25]

"It's about as big as a dog's red rocket". You win the internet today haha

[@TheTallWoodworker]

I've always liked the Pentel GraphGear 1000 Mechanical Pencil. It's a drafting pencil, but there are a few things I really like. The lead advances in much smaller amounts with each press than a typical pencil, and the entire tip retracts when you press the clip, so the tip is protected. They come in a variety of lead thicknesses (thickni?)

[@danielallen2000]

pencils are important! i bought 100 pencils and 100 small rare earth magnets. with a small piece of blue tape you can stick the small rare earth magnet to the pencil and stick them on every tool. everywhere you turn there are pencils within reach!

[@HandlebarWorkshops]

I've tried using regular 0.5 and 0.7 mechanical pencils in the shop. The lead breaks too easily. I bought a Staedtler 2mm lead holder and I love it. The lead is thick enough to mark the roughest cut wood, or withstand a fall from the table saw to the concrete floor without breaking and the overall size is about the same as a #2 pencil. Just like yours, the lead can be sharpened so I get a line less than 0.5mm. In the office, I use a 0.7mm Pentel GraphGear. Awesome pencil for writing and drawing quick plans.

[@Myopicvisions]

It's a drafting pencil, and you sharpen it either with a little board with grit on it, or a circular shaped sharpener that has an inside out sanding drum in it.

[@donnygrahambuilds]

Dude - low key, I love this video! I've been so annoyed with the pencils I've had in the shop lately. They break, they're flimsy, unreliable, etc. This was actually super helpful! The time savings of not having to search for another, not broken-pencil is kind of a game changer haha.

[@Grunblau]

In Architecture school, I was required to to buy those lead holders... The standalone sharpener is one of the best things about it! Look up Staedtler 502. I also have a dremel style power eraser that was a game changer back in the day. Love the chunky red rocket ones too!

[@tommygarrett2519]

i realize I'm kind of off topic but do anyone know a good site to stream new tv shows online ?

[@judahkeith6748]

@Tommy Garrett Flixportal xD

[@tommygarrett2519]

@Judah Keith thanks, signed up and it seems like a nice service :D I really appreciate it !

[@judahkeith6748]

@Tommy Garrett no problem :)

[@warlockcommandcenter]

I like this topic I am a trained old school draftsman. What your talking about is as you said a lead holder these were for mechanical drawing of blue print . Lead came in various hardnesses from the common HB to the very hard 9H there were others I still own a number including on the I turned into a sheet metal scribe. The Kohl ~Noor was one of the common drafting supply makers I still have almost all of my tools what you need is a pencil pointer it sands the lead to make it very sharp point. They are about the size of half a soup can check staples. “The fatter” lead holder is for darkening in pencil drawing art work. But I always hated the way drawings got graphite smudged all over them, so when I could I I braced AutoCAD and never had a dirty drawing again.

[@sgsax]

I actually keep an old drafting pencil/lead holder in my shop. I even have a sharpener for it. I got both in middle school when I took a drafting class and thought I might be an architect. Love that you are passionate about your tools, even the pencils. Pencils! Thanks for sharing!

[@kyrodes]

Additionally, you can sharp the lead of the mechanical clutch using sandpaper. Your favorite art shop probably has sandpaper made specifically for this and they are much better to give a perfect shape to the lead.

[@Chef_PC]

These are just common drafting leads. They’re super old-school.

[@pileofstuff]

I've got a Staedtler drafting pencil from back in my high school days (late '80s) that is very similar to David's "new favourite" (just a bit longer). One of the great features is being able to swap to various hardness leads. But (again, similar to David) I have a case of the cheap mechanical pencils strewn around my work space. That way I don't have to carry one around yet there is always one (or more) within arms reach.

[@Chef_PC]

@@pileofstuff I have a stash of old Staedtler drafting pencils with a pack of different leads too. I still catch myself picking them over anything else, but I don’t have (or can’t find) my easy sharpening system for them.

[@heyallenify]

@@pileofstuff I was about to mention Staedtler ones as well, and that you can still go into any Staples or the like, and find them available in with the drafting supplies.

[@ninnymuggins2006]

@@Chef_PC what you need is a 'lead pointer'. Another standard drafting tool from back in the day when people did drafting with actual pencils.

[@Chef_PC]

@@ninnymuggins2006 Now that I think about it, I had one of those little spinny things. I need to go dig out my drafting supplies from the attic now.

[@TokiNotAB]

"I've been thinking about getting a little metal lathe to do...metal lathe stuff" lmao if that isn't the most DIY-er thing to say. Sometimes we need a tool for a project, most of the times we are looking for a project to get a new tool :-P

[@ElfInTheFlowers]

This is a wonderful topic! I love pencils and use wood pencils, lead holders, and mechanical pencils interchangeably. In fact I do carry my pencils and travel watercolors in my purse ALL the time. Even have a full pencil sharpener in a ziplock and metal caps for the wood pencils. Thank you for this video. Not boring at all!

[@ElMundodeAnica]

Stop saying this is boring! We love pencils! Thank you

[@NevenBoyanov]

KOH-I-NOOR - that was the only brand for pencils that I knew growing up.

[@salvsays]

If youre gonna make your own pencil. Id recommend a clip that can clip from the top so you can put it in your pocket, and a clip for the slide. So you can clip it to a notebook without creating more dimensions than necessary.

[@billj5645]

The Koh-I-Noor lead holder is made for drafting. There is a wide variety of lead types available for it, the downside is that you need a way to sharpen the lead. I have a lead holder here by UNIVERSE so I checked and by gosh it has a little sharpener in its cap. If you can find a good online source for drafting supplies you can probably find a wide variety of lead holders. I'm an engineer- I've been using Pentel-type pencils for a long time. I started with 0.5mm but now I prefer 0.9mm. I use them for engineering, sketching, and even for woodworking. This type of pencil is very cheap so you can have lots of them around your shop. But my EDC is a pair ("2 is one, one is none") of pushbutton pens. Right now I have a couple of Zebra Saras that I'm carrying. Pilot G-2 also seem to be good. These are reliable and they write well as soon as you pull the out of your pocket, plus a push button is easier than a pen that you have to twise to take to top off of.

[@Ferndalien]

The mechanism in the Koh-i-noor lead holder is the same mechanism that was in my engineer's mechanical pencil when I was in college back in the 1970's. They're much older than that, though. I still have one, though I don't use it. The sharpeners always created a very fine, long tapered point which would break off near the tip if you pushed just a little too hard. By the way, the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts all flew in spacecraft by engineers who almost universally used that type of pencil both for their calculations and for the drawings from which the blueprints for those spacecraft were made. That was long before CADCAM. The mechanism in that Versatil pencil has been part of Great Things.

[@JohnWilsonOnline]

Can we have a follow-up video, covering erasers?

[@donjohnson24]

The first lesson in Technical Drawing at school (68 years ago) was devoted to instructing us pupils on the way to sharpen a 3H pencil to a chisel point, and how to keep it in perfect condition. I realised that I was not very good at this, probably because I was rather impatient to be getting on with the actual drawing, so sought a solution at the local stationers. This came in the form of a flat lead mechanical pencil, where the lead size could be chosen to be exactly the width of the desired chisel point. I invested a lot of my pocket money in purchasing one of these (Staedler ?) pencils and thereafter was always able to spend more time actually working on my drawing tasks rather than having to devote time to fiddling with penknife, razor blade and sandpaper on a wooden pencil. I was therefore always well in front of my fellows in completing assignments, and usually got top marks.

[@TheHandystanley]

David, I have always appreciated your vulnerability and how you always get to the POINT....Well here is a quick TIP, one thing you could do is glue a strip of sandpaper to the inside back cover of your field notebook to sharpen your pencil...just a POINTED thought...

[@Original_Old_Farmer]

Lead holders were originally for drafting. I had my first lead holder in the mid 1960s. Look in drafting stores or artist shops for different sizes. I tend to prefer the standard size lead holders, the size of a #2 pencil, so I can't help you there. But it would be nice for older fingers to have thicker barrels.

[@djhousley1]

Drafting suppliers do sell "lead pointer" to sharpen those. You could also try the .9 & 1.2 mm mechanical pencils. There are smaller size ones, especially for the 1.2 as they are intended for kids with smaller hands. They are cheaper, lead refills are easier to find, and you don't need a lead pointer to sharpen them.

[@maostran76]

I have what almost borders on an obsession with Cross mechanical pencils, specifically the smaller diameter ones. It's a twist to advance the lead kind of thing, but not continuously like the yellow one in the video. I'm always using one out in the workshop and every time I pull it out I wonder if I'm the only person using a Cross pencil for shop projects. More pencil videos please!

[@xtopherJanderson989]

Those types of pencils are made for artists and for technical hand drawing or drafting. They make another type of specialized sharpener that puts a point on the wider versions of the lead which these types of pencils use. It rubs the lead tip around the inner circumference of a beveled, sanded cylinder. Pencils are a thrilling topic, to a guy with a bachelor's degree in drawing!

[@angrynimbuswoodcraft77]

I too have been on a quest for the perfect pencil. Its a surprisingly personal thing. I really like my Pentel P209 (0.9) for most tasks in the shop. Rarely have an issue with the tip breaking and it has a long steel tip for getting in tight places. I also keep a Pentel PG1015 (0.5) in my marking/measring pouch for extra sharp lines. The PG1015 is nice because the whole tip assembly retracts when you put it in your pocket so you don't get stabbed.

[@royreynolds108]

The Koh-I-Noor is a lead holder for drafting. I like the Pentel Technical Pencil 0.5 mm(available in 0.7 mm, & 0.9 mm). Leads can be had from very soft to HB to H7 or more in hardness. Being an engineer, I like the holders and small diameter leads.

[@s.h.v.c2865]

Great video, I was really into pencils years ago and found your channel back when you made your fancy wood pencil vid. Here are some of my favourites: -Pentel P209 (Very basic drafting pencil, decently available, unbreakable lead also good for wood, works well for using with ruler, can't really pocket carry due to sharp/fragile lead tube, used it for years in high school, Laura Kampf uses one) -Autopoint 0.9mm (Same lead as above although can be picky about lead choice, twist action like the sharpwriter, can pocket carry, lightweight, old fashioned, also sold branded by "rite in the rain", USA made) -Koh-I-Noor 5228 (Your favourite! Very good pocket carry, works great with coloured leads eg red for correcting, not much more to say) -Koh-I-Noor 5608 (Essentially auto advance version of above, less fiddly to use, feels sturdier/slightly heavier than 5228, nice knurled grip, current favourite and pocket carry. Downsides are it doesn't like coloured leads and the sharpener is essentially useless) For all the Koh-I-Noors I've owned I've had issues with them unscrewing on me, I fix it with PTFE plumbing tape just to add some thickness to the threads. I tried the 5.6mm Koh-I-Noor (carried it enough for the paint to fall off) but I'd say skip it if you aren't an artist. If you want more videos about pencils, check out "Wood & Graphite" and "Clutch Situation"

[@picklesaregross01]

I have been using 2mm lead holders for years, and they are by far my favorite pencil for use when doing woodwork, or I want a fine sharp line. If I am sketching/drawing, I do prefer my 6mm lead holders. For the 2mm lead holders, there are also sharpeners that can be purchase that will allow you to make a very fine point, or a not so fine point. It is very versatile

[@TheLoveDoctor989]

0:06 Q: How do you help a maker with constipation? A: You give them a pencil and tell them to work it out

[@DavidWilliams-tr9gt]

Interesting. I was introduced that type pencil in my college drafting class in 1969. I think I still have one somewhere.

[@bomb00000]

No joke lead holders or clutch pencils are honestly the best thing ever, you can even strip pencils and get their lead and put them in the graphite holder

[@dc85337]

Say what you will - my goto pencil is a 5mm. I have the 2 sizes of Clutch pencils. Use them regularly - 5mm is the best for layout and sketching. Now get yourself a clutch pencil ERASER holder - now that is trick! I'd show you my pencil / eraser holder - but can't post pics here. (looks like an old timey cannon)

[@GeekBuildersNet]

I love 2mm lead holders. I've been using them since I took drafting in the early 90's. Being able to sketch with a sharpened tip and shade with the broad side has always been helpful when doing field studies. I also save the graphite dust for other projects.

[@paperspeaksco]

If you liked those, I'd suggest getting the Koh-i-noor Versatil 5608 (2mm) and the Koh-i-noor Hardmuth 5640 (5.6mm). Both those models have an auto advance mechanism so you get just the right amount of lead extension with every click.

[@grandolddrummer]

I collect mechanical pencils, so this topic is right up my alley. A really good source is the "Dave's Mechanical Pencils" blog.

[@lilBugger35]

I love pencils, I kind of collect them. My fav so far is a zebra mechanical pencil that you can shake to make the lead advance. It was 20 bucks but I love it. I got it in the 0.9 for the shop so it don't snap off to often.

[@bwiltse2620]

Totally appreciate the enthusiasm about pencils! If you're willing to look at yet another mechanical pencil, can I recommend the Pentel Graph Geal 1000 Mechanical Drafting Pencil? I absolutely love mine because they come in a bunch of sizes (0.3mm through 0.9mm), the tip retracts, but also the tip is super long so it allows you to have the lead pretty far out without breaking. It's a full size pencil, so I'm not sure if it's something you'd want to carry every day, but they're the only thing I use when I'm working at home and absolutely love them. Consider checking them out!

[@chrisjordan4210]

Love pencils - I had a jar full of them on my bench, now I have two jars, soon there will be more jars than bench. Watch where you go with engineers lathes, you'll find the tooling ends up costing more than the lathe before you make one pencil.

[@detroitphoto3255]

pencils........pencils.........pencils were talking about pencils.!!!!! i did realize i needed to know what i know now but thanks!!!! PENCILS!!!!!! i feel some new merch ideas coming on.......

[@ginav3879]

I use the big lead holder for scribbling on wood, especially before sanding or planing to make sure that I get down to fresh surface across the whole board.

[@billdiehl156]

I have never, NEVER been more mesmerized by a video on the subject of pencils! It’s like I’ve been waiting my whole life for a comprehensive look at our friend, the Pencil. Thank you, David! Oh, and the Iverson impression. Dead On, Dude!

[@Chuptaburger_]

Those are drafting pencils, David. I've been using them for years, ever since I was young and my dad gave me an old architect's drafting kit. They're amazing for wood working and sketching new ideas :-) As a teacher and a wood worker, I was on the edge of my seat the entire video :-) Oh, and btw, you can get these is packs with different sizes on Amazon. I usually get the one with 3-4 different thickness lead

[@robharrison6030]

Like you, I am forever searching for the best pencil. The drafting pencils / lead holders, especially the ones with the sharpener built in, have been a favorite. Then I found the big ones. With a sharpener. And with DIFFERENT COLOR PIECES OF "LEAD" - I really like the white for marking walnut and other dark woods. The one that has become my go-to (at least the one that I get out of my apron the most) is the Fat Boy from FastCap. I have also found some large format pencil turning kits. Look for sketching pencil or 5.6mm pencil kits.

[@santista211]

The little one is called a DRAFTING PENCIL I used them on my schooling for Electronic.

[@donfrost1856]

The pencil you like was used by professional draftsmen/architects/engineers years ago......

[@gracemeiman187]

I know right! I started using one when I was 15 when I started mechanical drafting.

[@Redthumb45]

I used those for many years as an architect. Computers changed everything. I’d say I used the mechanical pencils for the first 25 years and computers for the last 25 years.

[@donfrost1856]

@@Redthumb45 I was an architect also...and used these pencils for many years before we switched to computer....

[@SpencleyDesignCo]

"it's about the size of a dogs red rocket"😂

[@uniformedtexan6639]

I love those types of pencils. I found a few of the Staedler pencils like that in my dad's old drafting stuff. I also have one from Rockler for the shop. If you get frustrated with the tip blunting, there is a small sharpener that you stick the tip in a spin it around. Its perfect for the desk top.

[@sjmaguirepdx]

Yeah... Clutch pencil. Should have asked an architect. We've been using them for decades. You can get several different lead soft/hardness for them as well... They make special rotary sharpeners as well.

[@danielruiz7131]

That kind of pencil has been around like forever, at least 60 - 80 years

[@mabmachine]

My favorite mechanical is the Pentel GraphGear 1000. I always enjoy a good old school #2 pencil too. As far as pens I keep a whole box of Bic Clic Stic medium black around. Simple and cheap as I tend to loose them. I see field notes has version with graph paper, probably need to try that out.

[@williamellis8993]

Those lead holders are what we used back in the day for drafting. There were several types of sharpeners. The basic one was a small paddle of several layers of sandpaper. There was a desktop with metal blades that you extended the lead, put the holder in it and rotated the pencil around it. The third was similar but had a floating sandpaper cone. The farther you extended the lead, the longer the taper would be. We had a lot of fun (?) with the graphite dust from those. Bill

[@OrganizeCreateDecorate]

My Dad always had a mechanical pencil similar to your Koh-I-Noor mechanical clutch pencils. I don't remember what brand, but I thought they were awesome so I've always been big on mechanical pencils. You can get them in color and soft to hard leads too. So no, not boring.

[@aaronbrown7218]

I consider a pocket knife an essential carry item, so wooden pencils are no problem to sharpen. Plus, you can get them free everywhere!

[@kittslc]

Definitely snort-laughed at the dog’s red rocket.

[@RobotJustice]

Dude got me all hopeful. This was my last video of the night. I was in bed all comfy, and he shows the built in sharpener. I'm like, hold up, does the lead holder I've had for 15 years have a sharpener? So I get up, haul my sad self all the way down to the basement, and no, no, my lead holder does not have a built in sharpener. Dangit. Lead holders forever though, that's a true fact.

[@martinvybiral1154]

Koh I Noor is a Czech company. Name is based on famous diamond, which is a part of British Crown Jewelery. As a kids we all have it in school. We mostly use it as a “blow weapon”. U spin out both up and bottom part, take the lead out, chew small scrap of paper, put it in and blow to your classmates. U r welcome.

[@ChadHadsell]

I've got a similar one by a company called "rite in the rain". It pairs nicely with the orange waterproof Field Notes.

[@herbertliedel7019]

Before drafting became a computer job we used these to hold all our different drawing leads and aluminum rods to draw on Mylar. 37 years Ford automotive product designer.

[@HammerSmashedFace92]

My go to pencils are a 2mm Staedtler Mars Technical Mechanical and a Brass Kaweco SketchUp 5.6mm. The built-in sharpeners are the best thing ever. Mostly use them for random sketches and marking on wood

[@Gold63Beast]

This pencil is AWESOME! What will make it better? Solid brass.

[@paulocostapd]

Man, this was the BEST pencil talk I had the chance to catch in ERAS! Lol Also tried a lot of mechanical pencils through the years, until I realise Faber-Castell's Regent HB is THE ONE for me. I really like the way its mine runs on paper, for drawing! In case you need one for field notes, well, you got it! Keep whatever content you want on! Be safe! Greetings from Brazil! 👏👏

[@loulunetta425]

My 2 mm lead holders made it from the old drafting table to the shop. I have the same 2 for over 50 years, I'd tell you the brand buy its all worn off. They are so much better than the the 0.5 or 0.7 mm. Never used a sharpener. Keep a small piece of 220 glued to a block of plywood to get a point or chisel edge to highlight a knife line. It does suck trying to find the thicker leads. I still use carpenter pencils too and if you get into wood pencils -vintage are best because they used real western cedar, not china wood.

[@Curly_Maple]

Not boring at all! It IS a really important tool.

[@rubixdragon5017]

I'm not a pencil historian but I think those lead holder pencils have been around since the early 1800s. I'm glad you finally found the perfect pencil for you.

[@Ego.monster]

Oh ya, I've been using those since I was a draftsman in the 80's. I've probably got three or four of them laying in drawers around here. I stopped using them because I kept losing places to buy 2mm lead. Great tool, super easy to use, and durable. I was hoping he was going to make a turn advance for 2mm lead which would be thick and super cool.

[@dm-rd1zx]

@@Ego.monster Have you looked on eBay? There’s 2mm on there and not priced too high. The newer ones come with the lead holder, but there are some sellers that have 'vintage' lead.

[@DanGaskell]

I remember your pencil making video. Loved it. Would love to see Pencil Making 2.0. Pencils!

[@TylerSmith-zk2yi]

Pocket Pen of choice for me changed a few years ago.. now it's a Tornado Retro 1951 with a Monte Verde Parker style ball point refill. Balance is amazing and I don't have to worry about leaks or the pen randomly opening. Don't carry a pencil in my pocket, but for pencils I like the Prismacolor turquoise lead holder or for a mechanical pencil, I still have my Koh-I-Noor rapidomatic from 1986.

[@MaxPower_Designs]

Pro Tip: for your metal shop look at Markal Silver-Streak refills pretty sure they’ll fit these. (Or you can get the clutch pen/refill package) They are highly visible marker lead that doesn’t get burn but the torch/plasma/heat from metal working. They are reflective and can be seen through the shade of your welding hood.

[@horiamartis6657]

You just made a great choice, I've got mine for decades and it's really reliable. I appreciate you share this topic

[@stonee1968]

Funny how to realize something I've been using for mechanical drafting since the 1980's isn't known by everyone....you just get used to something and you just assume everyone knows!

[@kyler6312]

How great would a Make Something/ Field Notes collaboration be!!

[@GraemePayne1967Marine]

Koh-i-Noor pencils, inks, leads, pencils and drawing/drafting tools have long been preferred by artists, and by people who still do drafting & designing on old fashioned paper. And inking the final design on vellum.

[@topsaw]

Love it, near impossible to keep any pencil in a high school shop.

[@birgitexter4796]

Hi, the small one has the sharpener in its end, too. My favorite pencil! For my A6 sketchbook sets. I use B2 leads, they are better for sketching😊

[@nfladamgrim]

I use a Zebra MLP2 (2B). Rectangular lead in an oval housing. Lead almost never breaks. Only ever broken one (got caught in a car door latch. Rip). A good inbetween from the typical wood carpenters pencil and an EDC mechanical. I have mine in a leather pocket carrier with my note pad!

[@sandrahildebrand4283]

You can use soft foam pencil grips to increase pencil diameter, but that will hinder pulling the pencil out of pocket. I have the 5228 pencil as well and my metal tip also unscrews, going to use some 222 loctite, good suggestion.

[@turfblacksmith]

Thank you David, the most important tool in the shop is the pencil!

[@rustyscrafts]

I love Zebra's DelGuard mechanical pencils. There's extra springy parts in the tip to retract the lead, to keep it from snapping. Though not good for workshop use, since the they don't have models for thick lead.

[@wafflebeaver]

Best product review of 2021. I’m calling it!

[@whoahanant]

My grandpa made me a few sets of pencils and pens on the lathe and one of which was a wood one (made of cherry wood) that had ebony lead in it (ebony is just super dark lead good for shadows and stuff) the best part about it though was that it had thick lead. It's a lead holder as well and the thick lead made it fantastic for what I do! Maybe you can make some personalized ones for yourself too. I really like mine as well though mine is a normal pencil length it is still fantastic on the go as well. Also I find it better on my hand, sometimes the normal ones can strain my hand after a while but the bigger one feels a little better to grip.

[@mikededmon]

OMG - "A dog's red rocket" - that killed me.