What kind of pencils do you guys use for framing? One of my guys has done a lot of trimming but not much framing, and was trying to use a 2H or something. The rest of us gave him some crap for that.
Stirrin’ the pot,
Mike Maines
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Replies
Framers use pencils? I've always seen them use crayons. I figured it had something to do with the last grade they cumpleted is skool........lol.
Seriously- a lot of the guys around here have started using these waterproof Sharpie type markers- the name of which escapes me at the moment.
Bob
waterproof Sharpie type markers
I haven't seen those. It's a great idea though.
If it's wet I use crayons. Dry I use carpenter's pencils. You know the .50$ flat ones with the lumberyard's name on 'em?
Pat
whhhaattt you pay for dem things..... since I dont do alot of framing I get mines from my lumbre yard/ hardware supplier. everytime I go in I ask for some. I havent bought a pencil in years.
Other than mechanical pencils now theres a horse of a different color
View Image Official Jeff Buck Memorial Tagline "
no, but I thought a guy who asks what pencils to use might recognize them in the box fer .50$
I still have a fistfull that say "Hitachi" on them from my last gun purchase.
P
Ahem, I didn't ask what kind to use, I asked what YOU use.
I don't pay for me pencils.
For framing I use free rectangular pencils. Sometimes free round pencils. Sometimes a Sharpie. That I have to pay for.
I tried the mechanical pencil thing but kept breaking them when I'd squeeze between joists or studs. Maybe I need to lose some weight.
I tried the mechanical pencil thing but kept breaking them when I'd squeeze between joists or studs. Maybe I need to lose some weight.
Framing - carpenter's pencils, Sharpie, keel.
Trim - mechanical pencils from WalMart. No studs on view to break them. Current set are from Staples. When they wander or die, not too many tears.
Could use my old draftsman's lead holder, but I know it would just go away.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Looks it's a big deal whether one pays for pencils or not.
I was just describing the rectangular pencil you always see for .50C
I too will use anything I've got... sometimes I have a forest of pencils... sometimes it's a stubby little thing I scrounged out of the bottom of some godforsaken bucket and is so small I can't get it out of it's little holster in my tool belt...
As for sharpies... my wife is a teacher. I think the sharpies are a migratory sort...massing here at the house as of late.
Cheers,
Pat
Bump,
One day I was working for this couple with a 4 year old.
She came up to watch me and screams out "DORA!!" pointing at me. Her mom was sort of mortified...
I didn't know exactly what she was talking about until I realized I had my 2 yr old daughter's chubby "DORA THE EXPLORER" pencil in my tool belt...
always used a round #2 it fits easier between the ear and the hat and always for free. i dont know if my kids have ever had a pencil that didnt say Shaw or Scherer bros on it for their school work.
I like Dixon carpenter pencils. They come in 3 hardnesses. Softer lead for wet wood. Hard ones for dry wood and less frequent sharpening.
My yard gives out free pencils with their name on it. Both carpenter and regular round. I always try to get some for the guys. Throw 'em a (little) bone - you know...
Actually end up using mostly nail points, or the edge of the tape measure as a scribe.
mirado black warrior 2 1/2 for most things. Free lumberyard pencils if it's strictly framing, or if the wood is wet.
zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Gary Katz sent some 2 1/2s to Tipi Fest. Nice pencils. I like to use the Black Warriors for trim, but I've never seen 'em in 2 1/2. Where do you find them?For the OP, I like the big round jobs for framing. Oh God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No." Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God says, "Out on Highway 61."
I actually get the 2 1/2s at an art supply store, Dick Blick. 1 block from the lumberyard, and I go in there for art stuff once in a while anyway. I'm pretty good with pencils- the Mirados last a long time, and I've had the same two (no losses) for three weeks now.
I like the big round pencils for framing too. They seem to be a bit higher quality than the rectangular ones usually are.zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
i used to use pencils ... but blue told me i was being incompetent
'''real carps just eyeball things"
good enough for blue.... good enough fer me
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
"real carps just eyeball things"
I'll make sure to try that line in my meeting with the architect tomorrow morning if she thinks the 1/64" gaps in exterior trim (painted) are too big (she will).
She'll get a laugh out of it, even if it doesn't get me any sympathy.zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
That got a chuckle out of me .
"eyeballs" Best tool on the job !
When I can find them (on site), I use a standard no.2. Nothing gets lost (for me anyway) more than a pencil. I'll buy a ten pack and it seems like they dont last two weeks.
I purchased online what i thought was a case of 72 of the fat round pencils... paid like $2 but the screwed me on shipping like $12... live & learn.... till they got here... there were 72 to a BOX what i got was a CASE 72 boxes of 72... I tried give'n away boxes at Memphisfest... but i guess no one believed i had that may or they didn't want to look bad take'n em... a few took a few
but... I'd lose the 10 you buy before lunch... A D D big time... i can have 10 things going on and not even know it.... just start working on the one i see at the time... 20 tape measures and pencils everywhere and i can get a little bit done...
p
20 tape measures and pencils everywhere and i can get a little bit done.
We gotta meet at a fest sometime. If I dont have at least 20 pencils (or loose nails) and 20 or so tapes laying about (or pliers, or screwdriver, etc) , I never can find one.
Anything smaller than 5 pounds has to be in at least triplicate.
what i really can't keep up with is soapstone when i'm welding... must be 30 in the drawer in the laundry room at home (they know to check my pockets before they wash anything)... got a few of the soap stone holders... took a 2ft piece of plastic caution tape and tied it to each one.... I still can't find em...
I'm sure it's A D D but.... i also have a plumber ask'n me 20 questions and an electrican that asks 2000 questions a day... and then who knows what else going on... along with my "todays list of things to do" which is more than 4-5 guys could do... so... i just figure in the end it all has to be done... I can usually figure out what it was i was working on by where my tools are...
p
try a grey or silver felt tip instead of soapstone...
great for marking ABS too...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Back a half dozen years Pentel or someone like that made a strong pencil for kindergarden kids with 1.2mm lead. I bought them by the dozens and gave 'em away to everyone on the crew. Everyone loved 'em and used 'em, even the diehard framers. One finish carp was a shop teacher during the school year and ordered a gross for his shop. Then the pencil was discontinued and nothing since has worked as well.
I have used a few .9mm pencils that worked well, but they don't hold up unless you have a safe spot on your belt. Mostly a trim pencil.
For trim I like the .7mm mech. pencils bought by the dozen.
With all the mechanical pencils there seems to be a huge difference in lead strength from brand to brand.
Lately, we've been getting nothing but crappy pencils from the lumber yard so I've been using round pencils and like them fine. For the first time in my life I'd be happy with a well sharpened carpenter pencil, but can't seem to get good ones. Oh well.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
I checked the Pentel website and they now make a 1.3 mm pencil. For $2, I might just give a try.
https://www.pentelstore.com/catalog/index.php?grp=57&osCsid=2962e47d63dc48749f39527825844b1a
Thanks for the link. I just ordered 2 of each color. I use a .9mm pentel for trim carpentry, but it breaks too easy so I want to try the 1.3mm.
Actually, it doesn't really break too easy unless you just keep clicking out more lead than you need as I'm wont to do.
(I wonder if a pencil thread has any chance of rivaling a nail/screw thread)
-Don
Thanks for the link! I'll order a few to see how they work. It does look a lot like the ones that we used a few years back.
Unfortunately, the colored leads, at least those from a few years ago, aren't as durable as the black leads.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
For framing, I use the flat ones from the lumber yard or the window guy. I've even gotten a few for free at HD, but that's rare. For trim, I use #3 H yellow pencils. Although I have to actually buy them, the #3s hold a nice sharp point far more longer than the #2s. I always keep a few black or blue lumber crayons in the truck to mark stud locations on subfloors. Could never figure out any use for a yellow lumber crayon. I like to use Sharpies for marking stud locations on tyvek, but if the tyvek is wet, the sharpie ain't worth squat.
We used only yellow and white lumber crayons in commercial roofing, I guess cause most of the products were dark. Never owned a blue one. Some of the EPDM manufactures supply white grease crayons to mark the roof for PS seam tape placement. If left on the surface of the roof in the summer, they quickly melt down to a nice, gooey puddle! Tend to melt in your tool bags too! We took to storing them in a coffee can with a little water when not in use.
I usually get the flat carpenter pencils, until I found some oval shaped carpenter pencils at Harbor Freight for $2 a dozen. They are red so their easy to find and actually pretty comfortable to hold too.
I bought two dozen and the next time I stopped there they were sold out of them, so someone else must like them too.
and yes, I get the free ones from the lumberyard and my dog gets free dogbones at the bank drive through and blah.....blah....
Edited 1/9/2007 9:28 am ET by wood4rd
It goes against the rule that you shouldn't buy your pencils, but I like this one with the replaceable tips from Swanson.
http://www.swansontoolco.com/products/accessories.html
Those are fantastic! Bought one as a goof once and was totally won over.
I'm still using the pencils from that Blodgett kids pencil exchange program!!
January 20, 2009 Duhhhbya's last day in office : )
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Real carpenters don't use pencils. We do it all by eye.
Talk about stirring the pot.
FREE CAROLE
(This hasn't worked for anyone else....but what the heck.)
only if I forget my laser pencil. :0)
Will I get banned if I say I use my pink pencil as often as I can???Peace
Turn in your man card.
I use a 4H Ticonderoga.
a rock or a nail at times...
but how do you sharpen it...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Couldnt you sharpen the nail with the rock?
use the hammer and pound it into a spade point..Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Framing: flat 50 centers, Sharpie (black for the first mark, red to make any corrections), crayon, nail.
Trim: 2H or 4H (preferred) Ticonderoga or the Chinese knock-offs from the Dollar Store (box of 20 for $1). Actually, I mark more trim cuts with a tiny cut from my utility knife than with a pencil.
Possibly useful - I use a number of Bucket organizers for tool transport and the round pencil points would almost never survive the pockets. I found a discarded plastic cigar tube, slipped the tube into an exterior pocket and the pencils go inside of the tube - 4 pencils go in the tube and the points always survive transport.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I like the Ticonderogas for finish work too.
The cigar tube is a good idea. I thought my new Veto Pro would protect my pencils better but they still break.
In my Veto Pro is a battery-powered pencil sharpener. I love it.
I use "golf" pencils. They come pre-sharpened in boxes of 100 or so. I leave the box somewhere handy so when I break/loose/dull one I can just grab a few more. And, it's no big deal if someone else needs a pencil