Simple as it might sound, getting a carpenter’s pencil sharp and such that the “lead” (it’s graphite) is long enough to last is a minor art. And the challenge I’ve seen people struggle with over the years is that they don’t support the pencil enough while they are trying to cut it with a utility knife: the pencil moves, the knife doesn’t cut enough…vicious cycle.
The key is to choke up on the pencil and the utility knife so you can control both as the knife blade removes wood and graphite. Here’s how I do it.
Grab the pencil with my entire hand about one inch from the end.
Carpenter’s pencils are rough-carpentry tools and not meant for fine marking and you can only get them so sharp before the graphite breaks. For precision marking on items like trim and wood working you need a “school boy” pencil.
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