Best New Tool: The Sharpdraw Mechanical Pencil

The carpenter's pencil that never needs to be sharpened.

The wood carpenter's pencil is an indispensable marking tool, but it has it flaws. The cheap ones are junk. Spend a few cents more and you can buy a better quality pencil (if you can find it) that will see you through the construction of an entire house, provided you don't lose the thing. But then there's sharpening. If you've got a good pencil and a sharp blade in your utility knife, you can whittle the tip of a carpenter's pencil to a pleasingly sharp point. It just doesn't last.

So we're pleased to see the Sharpdraw by Speedtac, a mechanical carpenter's pencil that never needs sharpening. It works exactly the same as a 9 mm utility knife—the kind with the snap-off blades. Use the thumb latch on the pencil's back to feed a fresh piece of No. 2 HB lead to the metal tip. You need only expose a tiny triangle of lead to mark a crisp line. As the lead wears, feed more lead forward. If you happen to snap off the tip, feed more forward and whittle it to a nice sharp point. The carbon fiber-reinforced lead sharpens easily.

What will all this marking glory cost you? About $7. That's expensive compared to carpenter's pencils that cost 18 to 30 cents apiece, or about $3.50 to $4 for a 10-pack. On the other hand, the Sharpdraw is a clean marking tool with a long-lasting lead that will save you sharpening time. In addition, its pocket clip means you're less likely to lose it. And it makes a nicer line than a carpenter's pencil.

That's a lot of virtues, it seems to me. I also like that you can buy a pack of 3 replacement leads for about $7. They come in a small plastic case that will stand up well inside your toolbox.

So will I give up my standard carpenter's pencils? No. They're too handy and rugged to quit entirely, especially for really tough marking, like on concrete block. But for most of my work, I'll use the Sharpdraw. It's a better way to make a line.

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