Chocolate Teapot ?

[Katomi woodsmith]

So somebody re invented the wheel,
Have they not seen a workshop, there are so many things to sharpen with]

 

[JSW]

I use these in the workshop to mark sheet components and rough cut hardwood ready to be planed. No good for accurate joinery.

Ah.

Is this why my dovetails are always way off? Anybody?

Carpenters pencils have their place, roofing and shuttering, 1st fix etc
Staedtler 2H or 4H for anything decent, sharpened with a chisel in a scalloping action to concave the (wood) end, been working fine for me for 20+ years, always open to new suggestions though.

 

[deema]

The pencil hardness, well I’ve started using PMV rather than HB and H or even H2 as I find it has better point retention but I think I will need to change my sharpening setup ……my coat is on and I’m out of the door.

 

[Cooper]

Ah.

Is this why my dovetails are always way off? Anybody?

Carpenters pencils have their place, roofing and shuttering, 1st fix etc
Staedtler 2H or 4H for anything decent, sharpened with a chisel in a scalloping action to concave the (wood) end, been working fine for me for 20+ years, always open to new suggestions though.

I haven’t made a set for sometime but I used to mark the pins with my dovetail saw and cut to the outside of the mark. I was always a bit lazy with the tails just marking the shoulders and the end, putting the wood at an angle in my vice and cutting straight down.

 

[paulrbarnard]

I was gifted a few unused carpenters pencils and sharpener the other day and have just used this sharpener for the very first time.
You can see the result below next to some sharpened by hand with a stanley knife as usual.

I can't help but think whoever invented the daft gadget didn't understand why a carpenter's pencil is made with a rectangular lead in the first place. To me at least, it is genuinely as useful as a chocolate teapot and has just gone straight in the bin.

A square lead can be sharpened in many different ways from razor edged to durable, but if you need a point like a round lead, just carry a round pencil instead of a not very good sharpener to fake one.

View attachment 198255

Am I missing something ?
And are there any other chocolate teapots out there ?

I got one free in a box of pencils. I used it once…