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When it comes to carpentry, I like to think that I’m laser accurate. Think is definitely the operative word there. It’s really more of a delusion. That’s why when it comes to marking wood for a cut, I’ve always been dissatisfied with the traditional carpenter’s pencil. How can I expect to make an accurate cut when my pencil line meanders and is seemingly an inch wide? Thankfully, our intrepid friends over at Tool-Rank.com and ToolGuyd.com may have turned us on to a great alternative to the carpenter’s pencil, the Staedtler 771 Mechnical Pencil.
The Staedtler 771 struts its girthI know what you’re thinking. “Mechanical pencils are for grade school.” or “But the lead always breaks.” or “HomeFixated is so boring, why am I even reading this crap?” All valid points of course. However, this Staedtler mechanical pencil is no ordinary pencil. . . it’s a super-pencil with mystical, stronger than Superman strength. Actually, it’s not that mystical – the pencil just uses a thicker lead. Never has 1.3mm seemed so beefy.
The 771's metal tip even retracts to help preserve your pocketsWhen it comes to pencils, it’s not about length, it’s all about girth (balanced with precision). The Staedtler 771 sounds like the perfect solution. You can say goodbye to the awkward sharpening issues and inaccurate extra-wide lines of carpenter pencils. You can also avoid the embarrassment of pulling out that drafting pencil and trying to daintily scribe lines while breaking the lead over and over. The Staedtler 771 appears to have bridged the gap between brutish carpenter pencils and fragile .0000000000003mm thick mechanical pencils that break off in a slight crosswind. The 771’s bright color will make it easy to spot in the shop, and a pocket clip should also prevent it from rolling off your work piece.
So, you want to know more right? For more mechanical pencil analysis than you’ve seen since your nerdy high school drafting teacher lectured you on pencil virtues, visit ToolGuyd.com and Tool-Rank.com. If you really want to get your pencil geek on, check out the DavesMechanicalPencils blog, which even features some passionate, heated commentary. Oh, and if you actually want to buy one, they’re about $8 at StationeryArt.com (don’t forget to order some extra lead while you’re at it).
Marc grew up under a brave single mom who "encouraged" home improvement on the family home. Early toddler gifts included a tool set, and even a cordless Bosch drill when cordless drills first came out. In grade school (give or take a few years), Marc's mom said, "We need to cut down some trees. . . . here's a chainsaw." A father figure also involved Marc in many home improvement projects, including a summer of home remodeling in Palo Alto, CA. Toss in some Obsessive Compulsive personality traits researching everything home improvement related. The end result: a genetically pre-disposed, socially sculpted home improvement machine! For his complete profile, please visit our About page. Really, it's worth it.
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Before I saw this on ToolGuyd I never thought about how bad those carpenter pencils are for anything other than crude marking. Now that it made three different blogs I’ll have to break down and part with $8 to see if all the coverage is worth it. The thing that sold me was Staedtler’s own description: “perfect choice for both children and chunky-pen-lovers!” Or is it chunky pen-lovers…..
Bob, I may need to start a chunky-pen-lovers blog now! You gotta love unintended marketing. If you wind up giving it a try, please report back on what you think of it! In the meantime I’d like to recommend a lower fat diet with lots of exercise for anyone struggling with being a chunky pen lover.
Been using mechanical pencils instead of carpenter pencils for the precision and the need for sharpening. When the stock is rough however, I resort to a ultra-fine Sharpies. This is a great alternative. Looking forward to trying it out.
When it comes to carpentry, I like to think that I’m laser accurate. Think is definitely the operative word there. It’s really more of a delusion. That’s why when it comes to marking wood for a cut, I’ve always been dissatisfied with the traditional carpenter’s pencil. How can I expect to make an accurate cut when my pencil line meanders and is seemingly an inch wide? Thankfully, our intrepid friends over at Tool-Rank.com and ToolGuyd.com may have turned us on to a great alternative to the carpenter’s pencil, the Staedtler 771 Mechnical Pencil. 
Chris of ToolRank also did a video review of the Staedtler 771 here:
http://youtu.be/qbYuWsTRLL4
Before I saw this on ToolGuyd I never thought about how bad those carpenter pencils are for anything other than crude marking. Now that it made three different blogs I’ll have to break down and part with $8 to see if all the coverage is worth it. The thing that sold me was Staedtler’s own description: “perfect choice for both children and chunky-pen-lovers!” Or is it chunky pen-lovers…..
Bob, I may need to start a chunky-pen-lovers blog now! You gotta love unintended marketing. If you wind up giving it a try, please report back on what you think of it! In the meantime I’d like to recommend a lower fat diet with lots of exercise for anyone struggling with being a chunky pen lover.
Been using mechanical pencils instead of carpenter pencils for the precision and the need for sharpening. When the stock is rough however, I resort to a ultra-fine Sharpies. This is a great alternative. Looking forward to trying it out.