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Draw Varied Lines

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Why are carpenters pencils flat?

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What happens here

Once your carpenter's pencil has been sharpened to a chisel point, you can demonstrate its ability to draw lines of varying widths. Hold the pencil firmly against a straight edge or a speed square. To create a broad, thick line, tilt the pencil so that the flat, wide edge of the chisel point is in full contact with the surface. Then, rotate the pencil 90 degrees and use the thin, sharp edge of the chisel point to draw a fine, narrow line. This allows for clear distinction between different types of markings.

Goal: Create both wide and narrow markings with a single pencil.

Tools and materials

  • Carpenter's Pencil — The tool used for drawing lines
  • Speed Square — Providing a straight edge for accurate line drawing
  • Workpiece — The surface on which lines are drawn, such as plywood, drywall, or paper

What they say

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This isn't the only reason this pencil's flat. Watch what happens when I sharpen it. Shape the graphite into a chisel's point and you get two different lines. But, that's not even the biggest difference between these pencils. Look at how much thicker this graphite core is. So, let's test them on something rough. That thick core can handle rough surfaces like concrete, but the graphite isn't even my favorite part. Even the body itself is useful. Need a quick spacer? It's roughly half an inch this way. Or, turn it and it's roughly a quarter inch. But, that flat body can do something

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