The perfect pen or pencil for the job is worth its weight in gold. The right type of marking tool can make all the difference when it comes to writing on wood, metal, plastic, or any other material you might be working with. These are the 7 pens and pencils I have as a MUST in my shop for all of my projects.
Deep-Hole Permanent Marker
Deep-hole permanent markers are excellent for drawing in a project. They are long-tipped permanent markers. This is fantastic for reaching into a project and marking lines that regular pens or pencils can’t reach. I have used them in the past for everything from taking notes to drawing up my plans for a project.
Permanent marker (Sharpie)
Permanent markers are used to create permanent marks on a variety of surfaces and materials. Because you cannot write on wet surfaces, alcohol and other cleaning agents remove the marks, and because they typically create a thicker mark, you must be careful. Despite the fact that they are excellent for quick, dirty work, they are not excellent for precision work. I keep a box of them in my shop at all times because they frequently get misplaced, taken in the house, or broken since they are used for fast work and their caps usually come off.
Ballpoint pen
Ballpoint pens are great for marking on wood or note-taking, or drawings. these I keep in a bulk pack because they are cheap and I don’t care if I lose them. I like to sketch out my projects so I can plan my material list, and my cut list, and just get a better idea of what I am building so that when I get to the project I know I am prepared. These also go along with my last item on this list.
Carpenter Pencil
A Carpenter’s pencil is a type of pencil with a very broad, flat tip. They are used for marking a variety of wide, straight lines. Carpenter pencils are ideal for marking on wood, concrete, and some metal surfaces. They have a broad and flat tip that makes them great for marking out your project. They are quick and efficient, and easy to use. Being pencils they have no dry time. These pencils are ideal for marking out your project and making notations on wood or surfaces. they are the permanent marker of the pencil world in my book.
Mechanical Pencil (0.5)
A mechanical pencil is a pencil you don’t have to sharpen to have a nice point. It has a very fine lead that makes it great for marking out small lines on your project so you know where to cut or to write on your project which piece is which. Much like the ballpoint pen, they can also just be used to just take notes or sketch out your plans.
Normal #2 Pencil
A #2 pencil is a classic workshop marking tool. My biggest complaint is that I need a sharpener for it. When I’m marking wood or drawing out designs that I’m unsure about, I like being able to wipe away anything that looks wrong.
Crayola 10-pack colored markers
I know some people may be surprised to learn that I make use of colored markers in my work. Personally, I find them invaluable for many purposes. I use them to color code my materials, draw in three dimensions, and choose color schemes for my work. I even use them to fill in where the material is missing in my drawings. However, markers might not be for everyone. if you have a few markers lying around, try them in your shop.
These are the 7 Marking tools I use.
As you can see, each of the above tools is ideal for different tasks. These are the 7 pens and pencils I keep in my shop. I would love to know what pens and pencils you keep in yours. Leave a comment down below and let us know!