All good carpenters agree — quality tools are key to a job well done and, trivial as they may seem, pencils are no exception. While there are literally thousands of different types of pencils available to carpenters these days, that doesn’t mean that they’re all good options.
A good carpenter’s pencil needs to create clearly visible markings, have plenty of grip, and last more than just a couple of weeks. Those three things alone narrow down the options considerably, but in this guide we’re cutting them down to the best of the best!
Draw up a better business plan with our free PDF download!
Short on time? Skip ahead!
1. Staedtler Carpenter's Pencil
This carpenter’s pencil from Staedler is an absolute classic. It’s the pencil that every carpenter has seen on site before. For good reason too — their flat, two-sided design makes for a pencil that’s easy to see, hold, and sharpen.
Pros:
- Thick, high-quality graphite lead that produces clear markings.
- The ergonomic design makes it easy to grip.
- Easy to sharpen with a blade.
- Flat design prevents it from rolling away.
Cons:
- Sharpening with a blade may reduce its lifetime.
- Commonality means it might get taken by people who thinks it’s theirs.
- Not great for writing on damp/wet surfaces.
2. Swanson Tool Carpenter Pencil
For those who can’t be bothered with the hassle of sharpening, there’s the Swanson Tool Carpenter Pencil. Thanks to the refillable lead tip, not only will you never have to sharpen this pencil, but you may never have to replace it either (provided you don’t lose it)!
Pros:
- Reusable and eco-friendly.
- Flat design prevents it from rolling away.
- Hard, sharp lead that produces clear markings.
Cons:
- The plastic construction can cause it to crack and break.
- If you run out of lead refills, you’re going to be pencil-less for the rest of the day.
3. Troika Zimmerman Carpenter Pencil
For the carpenter that prefers their tools to have an element of craftsmanship, there’s the Troika Zimmerman Carpenter Pencil. This beautifully crafted mechanical pencil is elegantly designed with all the functionality you need: thick lead and plenty of grip.
Pros:
- Thick lead will give clear marking and won’t break easily.
- Hexagonal shape for maximum grip.
- Showstopping craftsmanship.
Cons:
- It’s an expensive pencil.
- Lead refills aren’t always easy to get a hold of.
- Heavier than most pencils.
4. Pica-Dry Longlife Automatic Pencil
This one comes highly recommended by carpenters for its ability to create high-visibility markings on anything — even wet surfaces. If you’re looking for a pencil that you can rely on for great markings in any weather, you can’t go wrong with the Pica-Dry Longlife.
Pros:
- Leaves high-visibility marks on any surface.
- Automatic/mechanical design saves sharpening and waste.
- Ergonomic design for extreme grip.
Cons:
- Lead refills aren’t always easy to get a hold of.
- The plastic construction can cause it to crack and break.
5. Dixon Ticonderoga
A favourite among veteran carpenters, the Dixon Ticonderoga leaves a better finish than most others on the market, if not all of them! The pencil comes in a variety of thicknesses, so having a few different types allows you to pick the perfect thickness for the task at hand, while enjoying the best finish possible.
Pros:
- One of the best finishes on the market.
- Comes in a variety of thicknesses.
- Beautiful cedar construction.
Cons:
- Some carpenters find the lead too soft.
- Not a lot of grip compared to other pencils on this grip.
- Prone to rolling away.
6. Get the most out of your pencil
While pencils are a great tool to use on-site, we don’t recommend using them to handle your paperwork. In fact, we don’t recommend having any paperwork at all. With Tradify, you can scrap the paperwork and bring your business into the cloud.
Tradify features:
- Quoting and estimating — create quotes and estimates quickly from any device.
- Invoicing — create professional-looking custom invoices quickly and get paid faster.
- Scheduling — get a real-time view of project schedules, active jobs and the locations of staff or subcontractors.
- Job tracking — keep track of time spent on jobs, organise work and create individual tasks.
- Timesheets — create and submit digital timesheets, record hours and track time.
- Enquiries — receive and respond to work requests and enquiries wherever you are.
- Automated payment reminders — automatically send follow–up emails for unpaid invoices.
- Subcontractor management — connect with subcontractors, organise jobs and easily share important job information.
- Creating an Instant Website — create a custom website tailored to your business.
Sign up for a 14-day free trial with Tradify. No credit card required. No commitment. Or visit one of our live demo webinars to see Tradify in action.