Ever misplace your pencil

I have a better idea. Get a gross of pencils. Sharpen them all and spread them around the shop. There should be a pencil within arms reach at all times.

Good idea Bryan.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I tried that karson. I thought it would be a good idea, But within three weeks I had lost them all. If there attached to something they dont wander off.

-- bryano

You could attach them all together and then you’d only have to follow the string.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

lol!!! Id loose the darn string.

-- bryano

Staple one end to the ceiling. LOL

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I like the saturation technique. I’m tired of living life with strings attached.

-- The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources. Albert Einstein

Thanks Marty!!!!!!

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

LOL. I bought a box of LV pencils. Everytime I “lost” one, I sharpened another. After about 2 weeks I’d gone through the entire box. Pencils that are to remain in the shop are in my office, at work, in the kitchen, in the kids stuff, and when I cleaned the shop, all over tools in mitre slots, under the tablesaw, behind the bench, and right under my nose.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

So what’s your correction technique Tom. Buy more pencils or clean up more often. LOL

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I see your point but my outlook is, my rule & pencil are my most important tools! I pride myself on keeping them within minds and arms reach.

-- Bob "life is one big school & we are the students"

Karson, just add a box of pencils to each LV order.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

And don’t forget the pencil you have behind your ear. Especially when it’s time to smooch the wife…

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

pencils, pencils everywhere and not a drop of ink ….

-- a legend in my own mind ...

It ain’t just the pencils that get lost guys. I have at least 1 person a month that contacts me to replace a lost fountain pen – usually in the $300-$400 price range – so pencils are good to loose :-)).

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

oooooh the pencil issue!
When we organized our shop we laughed at the number of pencils available. (Probably 30)
it did not take long for there to be “0” to be found – Rick carries and drops them everywhere. I can never figure out why they wouldn’t be at a work area. Nope.. they just disappear.
I like the string idea.
We use what I call “zingers” for flyfishing (little string on a spring). I think I might try that for the mitre saw area. See what happens.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Most office supply stores sell do-it-yourself business card magnets. Come in 10, 25, 50 and 100 packets.

Peel the sticky side off and stick one near every place you use a pencil.
Cut a few others into strips a little less than 1/4” wide. Just wide enuff to fit on the side of the pencil.
Peel off the backing and put it on the pencil. Do this for about a dozen pencils.
The pencil will now stick to the uncut pads you’ve placed around the shop.

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

I use to keep all my pencils in a can on my workbench. Then I lost the can. It’s hopeless . . . just hopeless.

-- Bob

Yep been there done that: This is the body of a post I did on Sawmill Creek——- looking back on it——it’s a bit disturbing!

“picture it being 5:45 a.m. and that’s much to early to run the noisy equipment. My roomies, not to mention the neighbors appreciate me not starting anything noisy until at least 9. And so being the nice person I am, I work quietly very early. Soooooo I decided to do a bit of sanding this morning. I always use a pink eraser to lightly take off any pencil marks (I hate chalk – comes off to easy) before I do any sanding. Sooooooo I look for my eraser – you guessed it – can’t find it.

Decide it must be time for the bit of shop clean up – put it back where it belongs – and start messing up it again routine. So I start doing just that. Now – I’ve been at it quite a while when I realize – still no eraser – but – I have a large pile of pencils on the table. Quite a large pile – so I say to myself – just how many pencils does one woman need in a two car garage shop. So I count. Did not know I needed so many pencils. 514 pencils!!!!!!! – Just for one person. Now remember I’ve not finished cleaning up the shop – I’ve decided to stop – I don’t think I can handle finding any more pencils.

So I going inside the house – time for the morning caffiene – and quess what I find on the kitchen counter – yep – my pink eraser!!!!!

Now I’m thinking I have 514 pencils – why do I need a pink eraser? I’m guessing, and it’s an unprofessional guess, but I must have a prejudice against pencil erasers – as almost every eraser on those 514 pencils are just barely rounded off.

I bet it won’t take long to scatter all those pencils again – but I am going to go buy more pink erasers to scatter around also. II figure if I’ve been prejudiced against pencil erasers this long – there must be a reason.

Ok my rant is over – time to get back to work!”

Now my solution to my previous pencil situation was I gathered them all up and gave them to a teacher friend to use at school. I now have several cans stationed around my shop that holds my pencils. I’ve even gotten pretty good at putting them back.

As to the missing erasers——I’ve gotten several more – then I drilled a 3/8” hole in each one—- glued in an earth magnet and they are now attached to each machine I use. I also got several with strings attached to put in and around the shop. I think I’m now covered———now if I could only find my wooden rule….!

-- Betsy - There is no strength where there is no struggle

Pat and Mike are re roofing the shop.
Mike slips off the roof and bangs his head on the eaves trough on the way to the ground.
Pat scurries down the ladder and over to Mike where he finds his friend bleeding from cut where his ear should be.
Near his head pat spots an ear on the ground.

He says to his pal…” Mike is this your ear?”

Mike says…. “Nope”

“Mine had a pencil behind it.”

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Better yet… attach the zinger to yourself…

Drew

-- Drew, Pleasant Grove, Utah

I like the magnet idea sawdust! As far as pencils go mechanicals lead breaks too much, and the free pencils you get from the lumber providers are made of some sort of alien pencil MDF that cant hold a point. Ticonderoga HB#2..the REAL pencil, still made the same way for the last 50 years! And a dozen only costs about three bucks! Well worth the investment!

-- Women love me.....trees fear me

Um . . . I may be the odd person out . . . but I have 2 pencils and have not misplaced them for at least 6 months. I put one behind my ear under my bucket hat (the one Im wearing in my avatar) and one in the pocket of my coveralls. I always have one handy.

Now if we were talking measuring tapes . . . those buggers are always running off.

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

Bryano,
When I can find one, I carry a pencil in my shirt pocket. I also carry my glasses there as well. Sometimes the pencil is there and some times not. this summer I needed some new polo shirts. No pockets!!! I guess it just costs too much to sew a pocket on a shirt in Bagladesh. What do people do who don’t have pockets on their shirts. I used to wear a vest all the time so I had enough pockets. Now, they are denying me just one!!
Tom

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

I agree Tom. Its hard to find me without a shirt pocket but i still loose my pencils. lol

-- bryano

I find that all pencils tend to gravitate to just a few shops in my shop.

If I need one I can usually one in one of those spots.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

OK, here’s the solution.

1. Do like Norm Abram does and wear a carpenter’s apron (even though you’re not a carpenter, and you’re not going to do carpentry) and stick a pencil in the pencil slot of your apron.

1. Get into the habit of always returning the pencil to the pencil slot.

1. Stick post it notes around the shop reminding yourself to always put your pencil back into the slot on your apron.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Take those 514 pencils (or buy them if you don’t have that many) drill them and attach string, as previously suggested, and attach one to the ceiling joists every 3-4 feet… If you find all those pencils get in your way – If they don’t what’s wrong with you? use elastics instead of string… and attach them just an inch overhead (all over the dang shop) and just pull one down when you need it. (try to avoid the recoil when it flies back up to the ceiling, it may break, but you still have 513 to go! enough to last a week or so.

I can never find a pencil, I do always have a marking knife (well almost always) in my toolbelt, or a pocket so I’m usually ok on that score… tape measures however, I have terrible luck with. I had a great one for years, a Stanly with the lever on the bottom, when that one broke (split) I tried to replace it and went through at least 6 of a similar model some not even lasting a week or two, due to drops, the tape getting jammed, cracked or split. They just aren’t durable enough, and I don’t need a honkin fat max, but why can’t they put a good blade in the bottom lever type – Lufkin does, but the tab is a little small and hard to grab for anyone without fingernails. – small concession for a tape that can survive my abuse longer than a month with nothing to show for it. – Sorry Stanley, you can’t say I didn’t give you a chance!

-- The opposite of war isn't peace. It's creation. -- Wood T's: http://www.printfection.com/snbcreative

I always buy a dozen tape measures at the same time and same brand. And I check that the first 6” line up on all of them.

They tell you don’t measure something with one rule and cut with a different ruler, because you will get hit with “I’ve measured twice and it’s still too small”. I make sure that my rules all match or they are pitched. I’d rather pitch them than a piece of exotic wood.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Pencils….I can never have enough. I buy them by the case. Today I used two different pencils. Sharpening a good 1 1/2 inch off each one. Thats 3 inches of pencil a day.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

If you want to buy pencils at a reasonable price. you can go here. he would get the seconds from pencil companies and sell them.

http://store.pencils-for-you.net/

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Seems that lost and multiple pencils are a problem in our hobby. I’ve actually have come up with a good solution for most of my pencil problems. I don’t use them. I’ve found that a good knife mark makes a better “cut here” line than a pencil does. Secondly, most of my precision cuts are done on a sled with a stop block measured with a wooden rule and set accordingly – so no need for pencils. For larger cuts I’ve been trying to teach myself to use story sticks for measuring and mark the story stick with a fine tip red felt pin.The red is easy to see and is much less likely to fad from handling the stick. Seems to work for now. For those marks that I need to say this piece is this or that – I use blue painters tape and a sharpie, which oddly enough I have absolutely no problem ever finding.

Just my solution to a pencil fetish gone out of control.

I will leave pencils hanging on strings from the rafters for anyone less able to move on from their pencil issues or who enjoy torturing themselves. I for one vow never to wander into that number again. I have several cans around my shop that have about 15 or 20 pencils – but like I said earlier I’m not using them all that much.

:-)

-- Betsy - There is no strength where there is no struggle

Hi! Folks,
I am new to the site and may have some early input. I hope this may help. I clip it to a belt loop and put the pencil in my pocket or just let it hang. I am really looking forward to being a part of this community.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc22/genec17/DSCF0001.jpg

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia

hey Scott, instead of an elastic, maybe a slinky would work!! :)

TF – the solution is right there indeed: get in the habit of putting it back. What a concept!

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I wear carpenter jeans, which have a small pocket on the leg for pencils, etc. For awhile, I used to use the carpenter pencils, you know – the ones that are flat and wide. But, you have to have a special pencil sharpener, or use your knife and sometimes get a weird point. Now a days, I carry a pencil that my Dad turned on his lathe. The pencil has a larger lead than the mechanical pencils. It also has a pocket clip, so it will stay in place in my pocket. So far, I have not lost it yet.

I prefer using a pencil over a marking knife, as I sometimes need to change a mark. The pencil is easier to chance instead of the mark. But that is me.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

Where I seem to use a pencil the most is at the miter station. So what I did was tape a 2” piece of clear tubing to the handle and ‘viola! There it should always be. But right now it’s not. Oh well.

We had a bonfire party last Saturday and my son brought some of his homemade “RedNeck Hard Cider” to pass…Now that stuff really put the lead in your pencil! Ya know?

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

I know!! Bib overalls!. I wear them in the winter and they have a neat pocket to lose your pencil out of. It also replaces the pocket my shirt used to have. There is even a button hole where you can attach the string you attached to the pencil so you could drag it around the shop until you step on it. Yeah, this is it! Maybe attach a half dozen pencils to the little button hole.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

I have the Bucket Boss pen/pencil holder, but there never seems to be a pencil there when I need one. Funny how that happens. I often wonder if I spend more time building or more time looking for a pencil.

-- JP, Shelbyville, KY

a pocket is all fine and good… but then the next question is… How many pencils, sharpies, utility knives etc end up in the laundry room (found before AND after going throught the wash) ?

-- The opposite of war isn't peace. It's creation. -- Wood T's: http://www.printfection.com/snbcreative

I buy my #2 pencils at the dollar store.
Packages of twenty-four and 4 packs at at time.
Keep them in the top drawer of my tool box.
when they all walk away, I buy more.
Only have to make about a dozen trips to the dollar store in a year that way ! >grin<

Also buy the small artists brushes there. packs of 20. good for glue-ups.
Stash them in the 3rd drawer down in my other tool box. use the brushes once and throw them away.

-- a legend in my own mind ...

I use 4H art pencils. They stay sharper longer and leave a lighter mark. They and 6H work best on leather as well.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

I’m converting myself to old fashion marking knives. The ones with a blade on one end and an awl point on the other…. I can never find a sharp pencil.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

And what is with those carpenter pencils . . . I have about 10 and getting a sharp edge is near impossible. The only thing they are good for is making a line for a chain saw or shimming up the leg of a table.

I prefer mechanical pencils of the 0.7mm variety. The 0.5 tend to crack more often.

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

Never one to do something the easy way, here’s the solution I’d recommend (wink wink)

For small shops, the optional ceiling track may not be needed. The inventive woodworker may replace the straight pencil on a string with a fully realized elevator/pulley system that delivers a complete pencil “entourage” including pink pearl erasers, replacement leads (for the mechanical pencil enthusiast), etc.

I’ve taken the liberty of filing for patent rights on this contraption, but for a nominal fee my good friends here at LJ can certainly implement the Pencil Arm Elevator and never again face this woodworker’s nightmare… :)

-- --==[ Pappy ]==--

Any chance you could add a motor drive and remote control Pappy?

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Absolutely, that’s in the Deeluques model, but I’m still in negotiations with Ridgid over production values: can’t be distributing just any ol’ crapola to every big orange box now, can we?

-- --==[ Pappy ]==--

—-you just got to love pencils….

Actually I use the carpenter pencils a lot of the time for sketching, WIDE LINES and THIN LINES ….it’s an art thing.

Also when buying pencils I buy them by the case and then I just spread the individual boxes around my shop, home, brief case, truck etc. Any extra boxes left over, I stick them inside the not used and left over, mortise holes that are in the timber beams of my barn. Plus never forgetting the pockets of my pants, I will cut a carpenter pencil and #2 in half and stick them in my pants pockets.

As far as sharping carpenter pencils goes, well I have tried those special sharpeners from HP and gave up with them. I was taught way back when, that every carpenter also has a few pocket knives in his//her pockets and one of the uses of a knife is for ‘hand sharpening’ pencils, among other uses.

And yes, I have tried the pencil behind the ear which works good, except that nowadays I’m all-ways wearing ear protection a lot of the time and have found that pencils and ear muffs don’t mix. Now days instead of looking for my pencil that’s behind my ear, I’m usually wondering why I seem to not be hearing quite clearly only to remember that my mouse ears are still in place….LOL

I had to laugh at what Dan said above about the small artists brushes for glue ups….NOW I know why I’m so cheap, I’m still washing them out and using them over….well I best be getting out of here before I reveal any more of my secrets or short-falls….LOL

Good topic Bryano and
Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank

-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/

Zip those brushes into a ziplock bag and you don’t even need to wash them out.. they will be ready to use next time

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

So funny how “it happens” to all of us! While working on our neices home same ritual with my husband. We had about 50..ok 50 PLUS carpenter pencils. No matter how many times Darryl left them laying around from one end to the other someone was always searching. I even had them in my front pocket, back pocket, shirt pocket, behind my ear etc he managed to keep leaving them “somewhere”. Funny how someone loses it and then wants US to find it. It was a daily routine finding his pencils! UGH! Well, we manage to get the house done..and yes 50 PLUS pencils where found. So since we all seem to play the game each day of finding pencils…I took them home and I carved trees and snowmen out of them and gave them to each person who helped look for pencils for Christmas. It was really fun to see them open the present. They said they won’t lose these pencils! Also Pappy Ford…that’s a neat idea..except for us petite people. I’d be jumping for it all the time or poking my eye out running into it.
These where all fun pencils stories to read folks!
Krum

-- Cathy Krumrei (Krum) http://www.TheCarversCorner.com

a carved pencil ! Who would have thought? ! oh – that’s right Krum would have thought!!!

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

My son wears a lanyard around his neck that has a retractible ( keyholder) that he attaches his pencil to. He pulls it out to use it and it hangs loosely atound his neck when he does not need it. I keep three in my tool belt that i wear whenever I am wot=rking in the shop.

-- Hope Never fails

Here’s an interesting pencil storage tip.

-- JP, Shelbyville, KY

How about this bryan,

Photo Sharing and Vide

or maybe this

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia

To funny :)

My grandfather always made me put things back where you got them from, otherwise I was in for a long talking to. It has stuck (well mostly :). Another good things (heard it on the wood whispers) is put 10 things away each time you walk into your shop :) I was just telling my mom about it last night.

-- "so much to learn and so little time"..

I’m liking the “zinger” idea but the spring cord looks good too. I think they would be good training devices to get into the habit of putting the pencil back into your pocket.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

thanks Gene, that looks like a great idea. Just have to be cureful with spring back. wouldnt want to stab oneself.

-- bryano

I like the pipe insulation trick that JP posted. I’ve also found that sheet foam serves the purpose too.

You could also try the right nostril too. That’s why we have doctors. ;)

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

I just yell out hey Shelbie ( my daughter) were is a pencil !!!

-- MARK IN BOB, So. CAL

Hey Bryan,
“Just one more” I have the tempory patent on this device. I designed it with the carpenter and woodworker in mind. May start a discution to see if anyone thinks it will sell? Give me your opinion. Thanks
God bless

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia

Hey Gene. is that a pencil, string, and sharpener that mounts to a table? If so I think I would buy one.

-- bryano

Yep Bryan, It attaches to almost anything. On your belt or shirt, dash or sun visor, you can hang it, has a magnet on the belt clip. Thanks for the input. I will start a post in the next couple of days with full details, to get feedback to see if I want to go for the full patent. It also has many uses. Please watch for the post.

I thought it very coincidental when I first read your original post. (I think my heart skipped a beat ! )

I really do appreciate your input.

God Bless

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia

the Universe works in mysterious ways, doesn’t it?? !!! :)

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Gene. How about sending me one, I cangive it a free test drive no cost to you.lol!!!
seriously I hope it dose well. Glad i could unknowingly help out with this forum.
Also WELCOME TO LUMBERJOCKS!!!!

-- bryano

Bryan. Thanks a lot, I’m glad to be here!

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia

Pencils? What true woodworker uses a pencil? That’s ridculous!

By the way, I am having a problem with a new coffe table I built. Drinks keep sliding off to one side. Any suggestions?

-- Branden - Sacramento, California - www.ShopDogUSA.com

Branden, you could glue some sandpaper to it. Then you could sharpen on it when your not drinking…

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Branden

Double sided tape might work ! on the bottom of the glass or maybe the bottle

-- a legend in my own mind ...

You guys don’t have a clue. All you do is put a 3ft. string on your pencil and stapel it to your head. You never will loose it again.

-- Pat, Murfreesboro. Tn

Take out the erasier and glu in a magnet. Then you can stick it to any machine and it will not roll off.

Goodness gracious, methinks I am not the only one with the pencil problem. The thing about my pencils is that I am always loosing the newly sharpened pencils, and I got this little stubby one that is always the one I find. I sure will be sorry when I sharpen the pencil into the eraser…

-- There are three kinds of people... those who can count, and those who can't

The small pre sharpened ones that are at gas stations/mini-marts, used for lotto/keno are a good source for free-bees, clerks rarely mind you taking a handful if asked. For inside work and around shop rather than a big, bulky leather belt I always use those cheap cloth aprons sold at home centers for a $1, better than pockets and won’t scratch things.

Pencils aren’t my problem (mostly). Now glasses….

-- Maplewood, MN

a while back Peggester and I went to a grand opening of a IKEA warehouse store,

Didn’t buy anything but came home with about 2 dozen little free pencils.

Good ones for woodworkers !

-- a legend in my own mind ...

I allways where an apron (bib type) from the hardware store. Keeps the shirt clean and I keep 2 pencils a 4” square and a 6” steel rule in it so that they are always there. Works great for me. At the end of the day I put my safety gear in and hang it up in the shop so it’s ready to go the next day.

-- Jimmy, Oklahoma "It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm wearing milkbone underwear!"

I like the sugestion Al gave with inserting a magnet. Although I havent lost any pincels with the string attached. the string does get in the way (it catches or snags on every piece of wood that gets neer it).

-- bryano

Someone is inventing a pencil that will never be lost. Saw it on CNN …

-- a legend in my own mind ...