Here are a few FAQs about your ALLY Tools and Parts Carpenter Pencils that you have never known. Also if you lost or misplaced your carpentry pencil sharpener, here are instructions on how to sharpen your pencils by hand.
Why are Carpenter Pencils Flat?
The simple answer to why carpenter pencils are flat is so the pencils don't roll around when on uneven surfaces or slopes.
The more detailed answer on why carpentry pencils are flat is that they are easier to grip, especially when the user is wearing protective gloves.
The second detailed answer why these pencils are flat is that they are specifically designed so the lead is just about the same width as a blade of a hand saw or circular saw. As long as you do not sharpen the lead tip to a fine point, the lead tip works extremely well in making markings that are the same width of a blade. Very hand when cutting boards of wood.
How to Sharpen your Carpenter Pencil by hand?
If you misplaced your Carpenter Pencil Sharpener, the traditional method of sharpening your carpenter pencils is by utility knife or chisel.
Step 1) Grasp the carpentry pencil firmly, making sure your hand has a few inches of space between it and the end you’ll be sharpening. Your sharpening tool can either be a utility knife or a chisel.
Step 2) With your other hand, take your sharpening tool and point it towards the pencil at a 45° angle, about a half-inch from the end you wish to sharpen. Important: keep the sharpening tool pointed away from you at all times. This is for your safety.
Step 3) Begin slicing off the pencil’s wood, starting with the narrow sides and then moving on to the wider sides. Place the sharpening tool against the pencil. Push the blade of your tool into the pencil and away from your body in a whittling style. Continue cutting off shallow slices until the pencil lead is exposed. Be careful not to cut into the lead proper. Stop sharpening when about a quarter-inch of lead is showing.
Step 4) The sharpness of the lead can be adjusted using sand paper. Place the pencil’s flat side, tip end on a piece of sand paper. Lean the pencil’s body upwards and drag the tip against the paper. Turn over the carpentry pencil and repeat until the desired sharpness (or thickness) is reached.
Conversely this step can be done with our ALLY Tools and Parts Carpenter Pencil Sharpener. The sharpener comes with a sanding block in the side that acts as sand paper.
ALLY Tools 24pc Carpenter Pencils Kit on Amazon.com
