Which Pencil

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Tanner

Tanner

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Peoria, Arizona, USA.
My son likes to draw and asked if I could make him a pencil. I saw the big fat pencils, they look a little big for drawing. He said he like to use mechanical pencils. I have seen some posts that say the pencil kits for the most part s**k. My son is a big guy, 6'4" and 250 pounds, so I'm thinking bigger is OK, just not those jumbo pencils. I did see BB had a cigar pencil kit. Has anyone made one of those and does it work good? Any help would be appreciated.
 
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I made my first pencil out of Platinum Cigar kit from CSUSA...expensive but nice mechanism. Cannot comment on others since I haven't tried them.
 
I have made quite a few of the various pencils. and also like to do pencil drawings. so from a dual prosective I will make this comment. first go for what your son says he likes. if that is a mechanical pencil then a mechanical pencil it should be. i would use one for very detailed fine lined drawings or drafting. I also like to do a lot of shaded type drawings and some of the large lead pencils work very well for that. I made one of the artist sketch pencils last wekend and although a little odd to get used to it does a lot of things other pencils could not do. you may want to consider making additional pencils for him later on just to let him experiment but for a pencil he is sure to use it sounds like the mechanical type are the sure bet.
now as for the mechanical variety. I have been most impressed with the Gent Jr. pencil. it is on the large size which I like. I am 6' 2" myself with a very large hand. and the larger pen does help. I also like the way the pencil advances the lead. it is novel and easy to use which is nice when you are trying to concentrate on capturing that certain something in your drawing. Distractions like trying to advance the lead can disrupt the flow.
also the jr. is still small enough to not be to heavy. the movement of the hand and the weight of the pencil is a precision thing in drawing. it is with the weight of the hand that marks are made heavy or light, sharp or broad and is a delecate thing. for me I can adust to a lighter pen far more easily than a heavier one. most heavy pencils I will simply give up on in short order.
 
I like the Penn State Combo 2. It's a pen and a pencil (and it come with an optional confort grip). Your son can keep it in is pocket and use the pencil when he needs to draw......and use the pen when he needs to sign stuff. I did one for my Dad using kingwood (did not use the comfort grip) and he really likes the convenience.
 
Also consider the Perfect Fit Convertible. You buy the pencil conversion and use it instead of the Parker refill. If it doesn't suit him, take the pencil conversion out and put the Parker refill in and you have a very nice pen. BTW, that is a Berea kit.

FWIW,
 
i've made a few p&p sets(cigar)from woodturningz and the pencils work fine,i think the pencils only come in gold though.
 
I also do quite a bit of drawing and I second Daniels opinion on the Jr. Gentleman pencils. For writing or drawing they can't be beat, plus they are really classy looking.

Wayne
 
OK, I ordered 2 Perfect Fit pencils, the combo 2 from Penn State, 2 artist sketch pencils, a Jr. Gent pen and pencil, and I had to throw BB some love by ordering 2 cigar pencils and other stuff from him. Ever since watching his video, I see he is a really nice, helpful and funny guy. Besides I have gotten some really nice wood and kits from him too. I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks for all the input and help.
 
Originally posted by Tanner
<br />OK, I ordered 2 Perfect Fit pencils, the combo 2 from Penn State, 2 artist sketch pencils, a Jr. Gent pen and pencil, and I had to throw BB some love by ordering 2 cigar pencils and other stuff from him. Ever since watching his video, I see he is a really nice, helpful and funny guy. Besides I have gotten some really nice wood and kits from him too. I'll let you know how it works out. Thanks for all the input and help.
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If he doesn't like any of these, put him up for adoption! [:D][:D][:D]
Seriously, keep us posted on how the project goes.
 
Heads up on the combo pen/pencil. I put togather the CSUSA one and it is a .5mm not a 7mm pencil. Takes a light touch, but it is better in my opinion than a .5mm Pentel for some odd reason that makes no sence to me. I made one of these for myself and other than a "light tinny" feel it is awesome. I use a pencil at work, but need a pen often. For me this is the perfect set. Now if they could make it operate like a cigar I would be in heaven! BTW, it is almost the same "hand feel weight" as a slimline. I am sure it is more but it is very hard to tell.

Here it is next to a slimline.
62206.jpg
 
I do like the bigger look to the combo and I would think it is easier for a bigger guy to handle. Now I'm just wondering if a cushion grip would be nice to have on the pencil as it would be used for hours at a time. I wonder if you can put a cushion grip on a cigar pencil.
 
Don't forget the Father Sing kit from CSUSA. The pencil has a .7mm mech. Similar to a slimline in shape with Rhodium plating available and a larger diameter centerband.

FATHER SING

Fangar
 
PSI has a 2mm pencil - I do not particularly like the nib, and hate the center band, I have been combining the two tubes and the centerband then sanding the center band to the size of the tube. That leaves a 4 inch long tube for a 8 mm hole in a piece of wood. 2mm us the same size as the drafting leads and come in many different hardness leads as well as about a dozen colors.
 
I have to give that a try. I was in Architectural Design in college and really liked my pencil set. Will that pencil fit in the Helix rotary lead pointer? I still have my lead pointer, however the pencil set was lost years ago. The rotary lead pointer works great for getting the lead for a 2mm drafting pencil real sharp. I must look into this. Thanks for the heads up.
 
I stuck a photo into the files area under kenv. This one is canary wood. I use these as utility pencils with a simple french polish finish and with buffed finish.

The tip is too fat to fit into most drafting pencil sharpeners like the old cast iron K&E. I have one small one that does sharpen just the lead. I had a sharpener in plastic with 4 square steel blades that I have not been able to find - but it has been a long time since I used it.

I make these fattened up to match the index finger. Funny looking but they feel good in the hand. Also weighs in against fitting in the sharpeners. But then I am old enouth to remember sandpaper pads.....
 
You know I was thinking about that. I see pictures of pens/pencils with different shapes to fit a hand and fingers better. I was thinking about taking a pencil and have ny son hold it in his hand and marking where his index finger and thumb rests and where the top part of the pen/pencil rests between his index finger and thumb and make indents there so as to have it fit his hand better. Maybe this sounds a little over done, however if my son draws a lot, it may feel better in his hand being it will be there for long periods of time.
 
Originally posted by KenV
<br />
PSI has a 2mm pencil - I do not particularly like the nib, and hate the center band, I have been combining the two tubes and the centerband then sanding the center band to the size of the tube. That leaves a 4 inch long tube for a 8 mm hole in a piece of wood. 2mm us the same size as the drafting leads and come in many different hardness leads as well as about a dozen colors.
Click to expand...

Why not just eliminate the center band and use both tubes inside the wood blank?

Fangar
 
That will work leaving a bit of a gap between the tubes in the middle (same length of blank. I found it a bit troublesome to get the "squeeze out" drilled out of the blanks. Someone with better metering of glue quanties would not have the same challenges.

I got a few of the 1/4 inch pencils from CUSA that call for epoxy setting the threads, and after fighting messes etc, got a few extra woodworker tubes and glue them in from both ends. Now I just avoid that model.
 
Tanner said

"I was thinking about taking a pencil and have ny son hold it in his hand and marking where his index finger and thumb rests and where the top part of the pen/pencil rests between his index finger and thumb and make indents there so as to have it fit his hand better. "

You might want to try FIMO plastic-clay on brass tubes and then bake it in the oven to set it. That comes in all kinds of colors too.
 
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