Dave455
Well-known member
I’ve always had fairly decent drawing pencils and pens, but historically my workshop got a bit neglected, and used up all the crappy stuff and pencil stubs! Given the time I spend there, this was stupid, so a few years back I started using decent stuff in the shop. Made a big difference. This is what I’ve found works for me.
Regular graphite pencils. Work well for marking softwood, not great on anything else. Quality makes a huge difference and a couple of good quality drawing pencils cost little. The traditional carpenters pencil has it’s benefits, but there are more crappy ones than good ones. Practicality rating 6/10.
Stabilo “All” Pencil. If you’ve never used these they are awesome! They look and feel like a regular graphite pencil, but write with a darker line, and on any surface - wood, metal, plastic, seemingly the lot. Superb things but not many folks know about them. 9/10.
Chinagraph / Grease Pencil. Seemingly an obvious choice, these often disappoint. Generally too soft for wood, but not bold enough on metal. Good for marking on plastic, and score a point for not drying out! 4/10.
Spirit Markers. Excellent tools. I use the fine “OHP” pens for marking out most metalwork jobs. The bigger markers get used for writing on plastic, but also on metal before using a scriber - I can actually see the scribed line that way. 8/10.
Pica Pencils and Pens. I just love everything this company makes. They’re one of the few manufacturers who really think about their designs. The pencils are superb. Lead is just perfect - good and bold but can be sharpened to a point. You can mark into deep holes, and the holder with clip protects the point perfectly. There’s a huge selection of refills too - different hardness and colours, and special refills for different trades!
The marker pens are equally well thought through. Again, you can mark through holes, and the fibre tip can be extended as it wears. Don’t seem to dry out either. My most used markers now. 10/10.
Pica “Visor” Markers. Basically a propelling paint crayon, these are again superbly thought out. Very bold colours, and write on seemingly anything. My first choice for tasks needing bigger marks, but also good for general labelling and writing on metal / plastic etc! Another 10/10.
But - I haven’t tried everything. Feel free to share what you have found works for you. Has anybody found a halfway decent paint pen? I also note that the Japanese company Shinwa offer special pencils for wood marking. I wonder if these are better than conventional ones?
Regular graphite pencils. Work well for marking softwood, not great on anything else. Quality makes a huge difference and a couple of good quality drawing pencils cost little. The traditional carpenters pencil has it’s benefits, but there are more crappy ones than good ones. Practicality rating 6/10.
Stabilo “All” Pencil. If you’ve never used these they are awesome! They look and feel like a regular graphite pencil, but write with a darker line, and on any surface - wood, metal, plastic, seemingly the lot. Superb things but not many folks know about them. 9/10.
Chinagraph / Grease Pencil. Seemingly an obvious choice, these often disappoint. Generally too soft for wood, but not bold enough on metal. Good for marking on plastic, and score a point for not drying out! 4/10.
Spirit Markers. Excellent tools. I use the fine “OHP” pens for marking out most metalwork jobs. The bigger markers get used for writing on plastic, but also on metal before using a scriber - I can actually see the scribed line that way. 8/10.
Pica Pencils and Pens. I just love everything this company makes. They’re one of the few manufacturers who really think about their designs. The pencils are superb. Lead is just perfect - good and bold but can be sharpened to a point. You can mark into deep holes, and the holder with clip protects the point perfectly. There’s a huge selection of refills too - different hardness and colours, and special refills for different trades!
The marker pens are equally well thought through. Again, you can mark through holes, and the fibre tip can be extended as it wears. Don’t seem to dry out either. My most used markers now. 10/10.
Pica “Visor” Markers. Basically a propelling paint crayon, these are again superbly thought out. Very bold colours, and write on seemingly anything. My first choice for tasks needing bigger marks, but also good for general labelling and writing on metal / plastic etc! Another 10/10.
But - I haven’t tried everything. Feel free to share what you have found works for you. Has anybody found a halfway decent paint pen? I also note that the Japanese company Shinwa offer special pencils for wood marking. I wonder if these are better than conventional ones?
