How to keep your shop pencil handy

[jimreed2160]

Here is a tip for those (like me) who tend to misplace their shop pencils. It is also a way to recycle those old clothes in a useful fashion.

When I worked for the man back in the day, I wore starched white shirts. Some of the best were from Lands End. Now that I work for me, I am recycling the dress shirts and using them when I do yardwork. My grass allergy means that I get along better if I wear a long sleeve shirt and wash it immediately after yard work So this shirt survived a year or so of dress work and two years of yard work. The collar finally wore out last week, so the fine oxford cotton became shop rags. BUT I saved the pocket.

I have several pockets in my shop. This one is air gun nailed to a piece of scrap wood. Perfect pencil holder.

 

[tr0n]

you clever dog.

 

[6PTsocket]

Now all you need is a pocket protector for it.

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[jakemac]

Just make sure you remove the accountant before you nail the pocket to the board.

 

[Dirtydan69]

Funny, mine is always, always in my back pocket.

 

[txvwnut]

That's a cool idea. I keep mine stored on the table saw fence, that way I always know where they are and if I need a skinny push stick it's right where I need it.

 

[alien]

I have 5 or 6 throughout the work area. After a while they all seem to migrate to the same place, all 5 or 6 of them. That must be where they want to be....until next time.

 

[LXCam]

I knew I should have cut off my dads ear after he died.

 

[Outlander]

Now all you need is a pocket protector for it.

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If I look hard enough in my home workshop I'll find my drafting instruments, and yes, a pocket protector.

 

[bczygan]

I can never find mine.

Makes me scratch my head....

Bill

 

[A29]

I start with about 6 pencils. When I can not find one I must be through

 

[JRC3]

I used to use an ear to hold a pencil but then I had to start wearing glasses. Years later I went to contacts but already started using a pencil pull.

Great for walking back and forth to the saw while doing flooring or trim work. I attach it to the neck of my shirt so it pulls down.

 

[bastage]

I'm almost always wearing a hat. So I just shove the blunt end up in between my hat and my head.

 

[PCustoms]

I'm almost always wearing a hat. So I just shove the blunt end up in between my hat and my head.

Was just about to post the same. Have a carpenters pencil tucked in it right now!

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: other than BCZ's post showing the pencil in an odd place evil, i like some of the ideas a lot. i've actually put on my tool belt just to have the pencil and the tape measure in it so i'd know where it is at all times.

anybody else own 30 tape measures like i do? i think i know where 3 are, but sometimes those go MIA too.

i'd vote for a leather tool belt or apron if you are standing around doing your work.

 

[notlob]

i have few magnetic pencil holders similar to the below stuck onto various tool chests, etc in my shop. I generally end up gluing at least one larger flat rare earth magnet to the back to make sure the holder stays in place. I do the same with remotes for the shop TV and stereo, and a few tape measures.

 

[gdocktor3]

I used to use an ear to hold a pencil but then I had to start wearing glasses. Years later I went to contacts but already started using a pencil pull.

Great for walking back and forth to the saw while doing flooring or trim work. I attach it to the neck of my shirt so it pulls down.

I use this also. Love it.

 

[gahrajmahal]

When I teach wood shop I grab a fist full. Next class, another fist full. The first few classes I had the school buy carpenters pencils along with the safety glasses and tape measures. I never saw them after the initial class, so did not waste my time after that.

 

[mbshop]

I use the can method. But actually, I got pencils all over the place. Nothing irritates much more than needing a pencil and they are alwsys just out of reach.

 

[stage20]

the pocket needs to be in the repurpose thread. i like

 

[drivesitfar]

the pocket needs to be in the repurpose thread. i like

Stage: do you have a link to that Re Purpose thread cause not sure i have ever seen it?

 

[Jarhead0408]

i have few magnetic pencil holders similar to the below stuck onto various tool chests, etc in my shop. I generally end up gluing at least one larger flat rare earth magnet to the back to make sure the holder stays in place. I do the same with remotes for the shop TV and stereo, and a few tape measures.

Now THAT I like. I'll be buying a few now. Thank you.

 

[stage20]

Stage: do you have a link to that Re Purpose thread cause not sure i have ever seen it?

with as many posts as you have?
got a lot of catching up. lol
some cool stuff in there. most ive probably forgotten.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=209475&highlight=repurposing

 

[6PTsocket]

I have 5 or 6 throughout the work area. After a while they all seem to migrate to the same place, all 5 or 6 of them. That must be where they want to be....until next time.

I have a bunch of them and can never find one when I need it.. If you can tell me where they migrate to, I would be grateful.

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[Roobaix]

I have a metal mechanical pencil tucked into the pencil slot in my cargo pants.

 

[6PTsocket]

Funny, mine is always, always in my back pocket.

Until you sit down and then you have two pencils.....short ones.

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[6PTsocket]

I have 5 or 6 throughout the work area. After a while they all seem to migrate to the same place, all 5 or 6 of them. That must be where they want to be....until next time.

I think they are hiding out with the missing socks.

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[speed bump]

I just buy tape measures, pencils, sharpies, and utility knives whenever they are on sale. After a year or so you start tripping over them and it's no longer a problem.

 

[2oolhound]

The top narrow drawer of my 42" roller cabinet 12"x18"x1 1/2" is used for markers. This means felt pens of all sizes, ball point pens, paint pens, soap stone chalks, carpenters pencils and regular pencils. Each type have their own section so they are easy to find. Scribes and awls are elsewhere.

During a job I'll often end up with 3 or 4 of each kind scattered around but I can still quickly grab one from the drawer and when I see them laying on the bench they are put right back into the drawer.

Tapes are kept hanging off the lipped edge of a narrow metal shelf above the bench using their belt clip. There is usually 6 there but at least 3 at any given time. As I find them lying around they also get returned.

I keep safety glasses (5 - 6 pair) hanging below the tape measures, above the bench as I've found myself scrounging around too often looking for them wasting time. This system works pretty well for me.

 

[cheechi]

I just buy tape measures, pencils, sharpies, and utility knives whenever they are on sale. After a year or so you start tripping over them and it's no longer a problem.

this ^


you guys need to eat more soup. I have pencil cans everywhere I need (except for that one spot, you know the one, where you never knew you needed it but it's the penultimate place for a writing utensil and always has been)

 

[MarkG]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one trying to keep migratory pencils under control! It got to me so bad once, I bought a whole box, sharpened them, and put a few by each machine. I have no clue where they can possibly disappear to, but it's almost time to buy another box again!! :S

 

[JRC3]

If you work outside a shop then one tape measure only...Unless you like wasting money losing tape measures. Same with utility knives. You won't lose it if there's only one and it's always with you. I don't always have a tape or pencil on me but I always have a utility knife while working.

 

[Bert_]

I just buy tape measures, pencils, sharpies, and utility knives whenever they are on sale. After a year or so you start tripping over them and it's no longer a problem.

^This. Need a few around the shop, one in each truck, one or two in the house, ect. You can never have to many.

 

[cajunfirehawk]

Or go to the orange box store and spend $3.50 for these...w/sharpener

 

[mikegt4]

My son made this for me when he was about 8 years old, 25 years ago. He was pretty proud of it and so am I, still keep it hanging on the wall.

 

[Empty Pockets]

They don't let me have anything sharp, like pencils where I live

 

[Shiftless]

I like having at least 10 in various places. But I find the soup cans aren't heavy enough and tip over. So I use coffee mugs. If you're like me, you accumulate too many of those up in the kitchen. So the ones somebody doesn't like any more or the ones that get chipped, are quite suitable for pencils, pens, lumber crayons, magic markers, etc.

I don't recommend the back pocket. Good way to accidentally pierce your driver seat upholstery.

 

[pstemari]

Buy pencils & sharpies in quantity, scatter then about the shop. I've also bought a bunch of PEC and SPI rules and machine specific wrenches. It makes life easier.

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[ATC]

I'm almost always wearing a hat. So I just shove the blunt end up in between my hat and my head.

Me too.

 

[tdkkart]