Went in to B&Q today and was given a nice "carpenter's pencil" - at
least this is what I think they are called.

Not circular cross-section but rectangular 15x5 - with rectangular
lead as well.

What is the original purpose/advantage of this design?

mike wrote:
Went in to B&Q today and was given a nice "carpenter's pencil" - at
least this is what I think they are called.

Not circular cross-section but rectangular 15x5 - with rectangular
lead as well.

What is the original purpose/advantage of this design?

So when you put it down it doesn't roll away?

"mike" wrote in message
...
Went in to B&Q today and was given a nice "carpenter's pencil" - at
least this is what I think they are called.

Not circular cross-section but rectangular 15x5 - with rectangular
lead as well.

What is the original purpose/advantage of this design?

AAA - Doesn't roll away when put down
BBB - Can be sharpened with a chisel to produce a long 'line' with a narrow
'edge' for marking wood. {BTW; one can purchase 'carpenters'
pencil -sharpeners - rather a weird 'eccentric' action - but it produces a
nice result}

--

Brian

In article ,
mike wrote:
Went in to B&Q today and was given a nice "carpenter's pencil" -
at least this is what I think they are called.

Not circular cross-section but rectangular 15x5 - with
rectangular lead as well.

What is the original purpose/advantage of this design?

You sharpen it to a chisel edge, and this allows more
finer lines to be drawn be drawn before resharpening.

--
Tony Williams.

On Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:15:18 +0100, mike wrote:

Went in to B&Q today and was given a nice "carpenter's pencil" - at
least this is what I think they are called.

Not circular cross-section but rectangular 15x5 - with rectangular
lead as well.

What is the original purpose/advantage of this design?

Sharpened down to a flat 'chisel' edge, they give a fine line when marking
out. The chisel edge also seems to be reasonably long-lasting.

--
the dot wanderer at tesco dot net

Tony Williams wrote:
In article ,
mike wrote:
Went in to B&Q today and was given a nice "carpenter's pencil" -
at least this is what I think they are called.

Not circular cross-section but rectangular 15x5 - with
rectangular lead as well.

What is the original purpose/advantage of this design?

You sharpen it to a chisel edge, and this allows more
finer lines to be drawn be drawn before resharpening.

Or on the edge of an angle grinder..;-)

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
Tony Williams wrote:
In article ,
mike wrote:
Went in to B&Q today and was given a nice "carpenter's pencil" -
at least this is what I think they are called.

Not circular cross-section but rectangular 15x5 - with
rectangular lead as well.

What is the original purpose/advantage of this design?

You sharpen it to a chisel edge, and this allows more
finer lines to be drawn be drawn before resharpening.

Or on the edge of an angle grinder..;-)

LOL! I use a bench-mounded belt sander. I'm really intrigued by the
"mechanical" sharpener though....

In article ,
Newshound wrote:
LOL! I use a bench-mounded belt sander. I'm really intrigued by the
"mechanical" sharpener though....

It's just like an ordinary pencil sharpener but has a rotating ring that
the pencil fits into. It produces a normal round point, though, so rather
wasteful compared to traditional methods - ie a good sharp chisel.

--
*Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Brian Sharrock wrote:

AAA - Doesn't roll away when put down
BBB - Can be sharpened with a chisel to produce a long 'line' with a
narrow 'edge' for marking wood. {BTW; one can purchase 'carpenters'
pencil -sharpeners - rather a weird 'eccentric' action - but it
produces a nice result}

Also better IMO for marking sawn timber - thicker lead doesn't snap so
often.


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

In message , Newshound
writes
LOL! I use a bench-mounded belt sander. I'm really intrigued by the
"mechanical" sharpener though....

Maplin (Bleurgh!) are currently selling sets of carpenters pencils with
a rotary sharpener. It's like an ordinary sharpener but with a
rectangular guide that rotates. It seems to work unlike most of Maplins
stuff.

--
Clive Mitchell
http://www.bigclive.com

In article ,
Clive Mitchell wrote:
Maplin (Bleurgh!) are currently selling sets of carpenters pencils with
a rotary sharpener. It's like an ordinary sharpener but with a
rectangular guide that rotates. It seems to work unlike most of Maplins
stuff.

Yup. But twice the price of the identical article at my local Sunday
market.

I've not had a problem with Maplin selling rubbish though. They're just a
tad expensive.

--
*A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.