Difference Between a Carpenter's Pencil & a Regular Pencil

There are a number of important differences between standard pencils and carpentry pencils. The differences in the carpentry pencils have evolved to be more practical and useful for carpenters.

Shape

Where normal pencils are cylindrical, carpenter pencils are flat or elliptical. The shape prevents the pencil from rolling away on the job site.The lead inside carpenter pencils also is flat.

Sharpening

A regular pencil may be sharpened by a cone-shaped sharpener, but a carpenter pencil must be sharpened by a knife or a special sharpener with two parallel blades.

Uses

The shape of the lead in a carpenter pencil means that very thin lines may be drawn, as well as thick lines, much like a calligraphy pen. If you notch the middle of the lead, you may draw close, parallel lines.

References

• Ask the Builder: Using a Carpenter Pencil
• Pencil Pages: Carpenter's Pencils