Carpentry needs a lot of special equipment and tools, but there is nothing as simple and essential as a carpentry pencil.
Pencils may not be the most exciting tools in the world, but carpenters require basic pencils to note down designs and specific measurements.
For this reason, many individuals think that a mechanical carpenter's pencil is better than a traditional carpenter pencil for carpentry tasks.
They believe that a mechanical carpenter pencil is stronger and more durable compared to your usual pencils.
But is this true?
We’ll cover the advantages of using mechanical pencils for carpentry in this article, including the different types of pencils that can be used in woodworking, the benefits of using mechanical pencils, and which type of pencil is better than the other.
What Pencils Are Used In Carpentry?
Both wood and mechanical pencils are used in carpentry. Woodwork involves lots of careful and deliberate planning, which is why making marks on wood is so important.
From this, carpenters can then attach nails and create lines and patterns, provided that the markings are accurate and visible.
With this in mind, the best carpentry pencil should deliver legible marks on rough and uneven surfaces, like dense wood.
It would also be an advantage if the pencil could mark other surfaces, like concrete or stone.
Despite this, being able to create bold and clear lines is the trademark of carpentry pencils, which is why these tools tend to have a particular form
Rather than tubular bodies with circular rims, woodworking pencils have elliptical or rectangular bodies.
The rougher sides stop the pencils from rolling away, as many carpenters place their tools on flat surfaces.
Woodworking pencils also have a larger surface area that makes them easier to hold.
You’ll also notice that when you sharpen them, they contain more lead on the inside compared to standard ones. This is because carpentry tasks need larger marks that cannot be erased easily.
While carpentry pencils have specific requirements, carpenters can still use other styles of pencils you may have on hand.
Here are a few examples:
Graphite
Graphite pencils are probably the most popular style of pencils used for everyday tasks. Drawing, marking, and writing activities can all be done with graphite pencils encased in wood.
A disadvantage of these pencils is that their round exterior means they can roll off of tables easily.
Carpenters may also have to apply more pressure with a wooden pencil to make their marks bolder and more visible.
Charcoal
Charcoal pencils are often used by artists to draw. Though charcoal pencils are used more in the art field, carpenters can still use charcoal ones when necessary.
Charcoal creates darker lines compared to graphite, so carpenters may prefer these as marking tools.
Despite this, charcoal markings can be quite wide instead of precise, so they aren’t the best choice for detailed or accurate tasks.
Carbon
Carbon pencils are great if you desire darker lines. Their inner core is made from both graphite and charcoal, helping them create smoother markings.
Carbon pencils tend to be used for fine art instead of carpentry, so they may be harder to find.
Mechanical
These pencils are unlike the ones we’ve covered previously. Mechanical pencils have a replaceable and retractable graphite core.
This core is thin and can be extended from the pencil, so it will never need to be sharpened.
Mechanical pencils are efficient and are often used for technical tasks as they create accurate markings.
This is why they are a good choice for carpentry, as they deliver more precise measurements and markings.
Why Are Mechanical Pencils Good For Carpentry?
Mechanical pencils are a great choice for carpentry as they create accurate, legible, and precise markings.
They may be referred to as other names, such as automatic pencils, click pencils, and pump pencils.
These pencils have become a lot more popular for carpentry and woodworking tasks. They deliver all the requirements for carpentry pencils and have the benefit of never needing sharpening.
Here are some of the advantages of using mechanical pencils in carpentry:
Durable
Mechanical pencils have a sturdy casing that won’t break down as easily as your usual pencil.
As they don’t need to be sharpened, the pencil’s casing can last for a long time. All you need to do is replace the lead.
You can also find mechanical pencils made specifically for carpentry. These may have a body made from stronger materials that make them slightly heavier.
This stops the pencils from rolling off of work surfaces, but it also makes them stronger.
Efficient
As mechanical pencils don’t need sharpening, you can continue with your woodworking tasks with little disruption.
This also reduces the amount of waste formed from pencil shavings, as well as when pencils are disposed of when they are too small.
The mechanism within mechanical pencils has an auto-feed process. The pencil core keeps extending with every click, which is a seamless and efficient design.
Refillable Lead Core
As the core can be refilled, you won’t need to throw the pencil body away, so you can get the most out of the pencil. This also means you won't need pencil sharpeners to sharpen the carpenter pencils.
Though the core is often referred to as lead, this isn’t the toxic lead as some may believe. The core is made from clay and graphite.
While mechanical pencils may cost a little more initially, you’ll save more money overall as you won’t need to keep replacing carpentry pencils.
Consistent Markings
The line that wooden pencils made becomes thinner every time they are sharpened. If a pencil is used a lot without sharpening, they start creating wider lines.
This won’t happen with mechanical pencils, as they always deliver lines of consistent width. This is ideal for carpenters when they attempt to create accurate lines or markings on smaller wood pieces.
Plus, a mechanical carpenters pencil comes in three main sizes to make fine, medium, or thick lines.
Which Is Better, Wooden Pencils Or Mechanical Pencils?
When you look at the advantages of mechanical pencils, it’s obvious that these are better than wooden ones, at least for carpentry tasks.
Mechanical pencils deliver accurate and precise markings that wood pencils cannot provide. They can also be made with flat edges that stop them from rolling away on flat or rough surfaces.
Mechanical pencils are also better for longer periods, as wooden pencils wear down and need to be replaced often.
Wooden pencils also create waste as they are thrown away when they become too short to be used.
The most important benefit of mechanical pencils is that as they don’t need sharpening, they don’t create a weaker point.
The pencil core remains intact and is ideal for maintaining consistent and accurate marks.
The Bottom Line
Mechanical pencils have many advantages over their wooden counterparts, which make them an ideal choice for use in carpentry.
Mechanical pencils have flat edges that stop them from rolling away on tables. They also deliver lines of consistent width, which is ideal for creating accurate and precise markings.
Mechanical pencils also create less waste as they don’t need sharpening. Wooden pencils create pencil shavings and need to be thrown away when they get too short, creating waste in the process.
While mechanical pencils are a better choice for carpenters, they can still use other types of pencils that are readily available to purchase.
Graphite, charcoal, and carbon pencils are all used in woodworking, though they lack some of the advantages of mechanical pencils.