Alligator Pliers are a variation of the tongue and grove pliers (commonly called Chanel-locks after the original pliers)

These tough pliers from Knipex fix some of the agrivating design issues all the other tongue and groove pliers have.

-Pinch guard protects against hand and finger pinching

- Optimum adjustment for different size work.  It will grab the smallest piece of wire and pipe up to 2 3/4 inches on the 10″ size.

- Wear resistant, hardened teeth grip objects of any shape.

Use these pliers to grip just about anything, pipe, metal rods, pull brads out of wood.  Yes, it will mar delicate surfaces but for plumbing and general use this is a great choice for a pliers that will last you a lifetime.

Buy at Sears.com.  Buy online, get the best deal, pick up at your local Sears or have it shipped to your home.

Knipex 10 in. Alligator Pliers

Knipex 12 in. Alligator Pliers

Knipex 7 1/4 in. Alligator Pliers

There are a thousand different types of wrenches out there and most of them are redundent. This in not one of them!  The Knipex Plier Wrench is one wrench that will replace a whole toolbox.  It’s not a gimick wrench like the “bionic” wrench.  This one works and does things you always wanted in a wrench.

Won't damage fittings

So what’s so great about it?

- The smooth jaws grip all parallel surfaces tightly without damaging the surface.  They will be you go-to pliers for finish plumbing.

- They will grip a large range of sizes.  These pliers work so well they will replace a full set of standard and metric open-end wrenches.

- They have a 10 to 1 grip transmission ratio so you can use them to grip, hold, press and bend workpieces.  You can even use them as a small vice.

- The zero backlash jaw surface (parallel faces) pressure prevents damage to edges of sensitive components.

- Instantly adjustable at the touch of a button.  You don’t have to remove the tool from the workpiece to adjust it.

- The instant adjustment will let you use it just like an open-ended ratchet.

- Chrome vanadium electric steel, forged, oil-hardened.  This tool will last a long as the ones I inherited from my great grandfather!

Buy Here at Sears.com: Knipex 10 in. Plier Wrench Grips to 1 3/4 inch.

Buy Here at Sears.com: Knipex 12 in. Plier Wrench Grips to  2 3/8 inch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_RLWKMXrqk

Buy Here at Sears.com: Knipex 3 Piece Pliers Wrench Set

 

Adjusts quickly

Grips Tightly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An adjustable that ratchets!

Today Channellock officially launched the Channellock Nation, a community for tool enthusiasts to share your Channellock pride.

Channellock is giving away lots of tools to members.  Plus you can register to win $5,000 in cash plus $2,500 in tools!

To join the Channellock Nation, just create a profile. Share photos of the Channellock tools you love.

Go Here To Enter The Contest and Join.

There is good news and bad news in this article about Craftsman Tape Measures.  Be sure to read the entire article to understand how it affects you.

Do you remember these classic Craftsman tape measures?

My Grandfather's Craftsman Tape

Craftsman Yellow

Craftsman Red

Of course you remember the red case.  It is the one that was sold until June 1, 2010.

Craftsman has decided to get out of the tape measure business for the time being.   They will continue to sell Stanley and other brands but there will no longer be a Craftsman branded tape measure.  The why is not important, but how this can benefit you is.

WAIT! I have a Craftsman tape measure and it’s guaranteed for life! Yes, all the tape measures except the red cased ones are guaranteed for life.  If you ever break one just return it to your local store and Sears will gladly replace it with a comparable product. (They never said “exact model”)

The red ones have always had a limited warranty.  The case and rewind mechanism have a full warranty, but the tape itself never has. You could buy a replacement tape if you cut or broke it. (read the back of the packaging the red tape came on)

SO WHAT DO I DO!

Here is where you can benefit from this change.  There are three options available to you and all of them are set up by Sears so you actually get the better of the deal.

Option One: Sears does have some existing stock of the red cased tape measures so you can exchange your broken tape if you want. These tapes are not for sale, they will just be available for customers who want a replacement Craftsman tape.  If the tape you have is no longer available (out of stock at the store you are at) they will gladly replace it with a comparable red tape (i.e., 25 foot lever for a 25 foot grip)  Remember, the metal tape is NOT warrantied, if it is broke, cut, or cracked you can buy a replacement tape to put into your case.

Option Two: If you chose, Sears will replace your tape with a comparable Stanley Leverlock or Powerlock tape measure.  You can get either a plastic or metal case Leverlock! (Be nice, if you bring in a 25 footer don’t ask for a 50 foot in return) You will get a receipt with this exchange and if the Stanley breaks you can get a replacement through Stanley.  The Stanley carries a manufacture defect warranty.  This warranty covers missing tape rivets, broken spring, defective case, defective lock, and blade armor coating missing.

Option Three: Here is the good news!

You can get a Sears gift card for the retail price of the Red Discontinued Tape Measure!   Even though most of us bought the tape on sale (about $9.99) Sears will, if you chose, give you a gift card for the retail price plus local tax!  Here are the prices you can expect. Models 37391, 37392, 37394, $14.99.  Model 37393 $16.99. Model 37395 $11.99 and Model 37396 $8.99

Summary: I like what Sears is doing here.  Even though they are getting out of the tape measure business, they are putting the customer first.  This is a great example of being positive, being proactive, and being responsible to the customer.

Here is a short post to let you know ToolBoxHero is now proudly carrying products from WoodCraft Supply.

For those of you who are not familiar with this legendary company here is an short paragraph about them:

Since 1928, Woodcraft, America’s oldest woodworking retail chain and headquartered in Parkersburg, WV has delivered the finest woodworking tools, woodworking plans, and woodworking supplies to America’s woodworkers. Woodcraft brings you over 20,000 woodworking tools all backed by our 90 Day Guarantee and industry best customer service.

A Woodcraft Store

With top of the line power tools, clamps, pen kits, hand saws, fasteners, woodworking plans and more, Woodcraft is able to fill all your woodworking supply needs. Woodcraft has provided the woodworking community the best woodworking tools for 80 years, helping people complete countless projects. If you’re looking for the best in woodworking tools, woodworking plans, and supplies, look no further than Woodcraft.

To browse their website and see their latest catalog click here: WoodCraft Supply

Every once in a while there is a tool that does not get much attention, but is so good that people just buy it without all the hoopla of product announcements and hype.

C.H. Hanson Precision Ball Level

This level is a great example.  The C.H. Hanson level is one of the best on the market.  It’s extremely easy to use and will do so much more than just measure 90 and 45 degrees.

This level is designed to measure all angles and pitches.   It will measure accurately and easily.

The precision ball level is a little more expensive than the current levels made by Empire but at around $40 it is a great deal in my opinion.

I particularly like the wide stance and heavy-duty construction of this level.  It is the same size as common lumber and that makes it very easy to hold in place for measuring and marking.  You can use it and abuse it and it will give you years of service.  The heavy duty aluminum frame is very stable and even has groves for leveling pipe and other round objects.  For example, when I get through with this article I will be using it to set up construction for a patio.

Pitch and Degree Scales

It will measure angle in any position and has built in markings for both degrees and pitch.

It is fairly hard to find this level.  I have only seen it in a few stores but you can easily buy it from Amazon and have it shipped free to your home.  It’s worth the wait! BUY IT HERE! CH Hanson 50024 24-Inch Precision Ball Level

Security Bit Set

This article covers homeowner and professional Security and regular screwdriver bit sets.

Gone are the days when you needed three slotted screwdrivers and three Phillips screwdrivers to remove just about any screw.  Today there are many different types of screwheads including Phillips, Slotted, Phillips ACR®, Robertson, Slotted, Pozidriv®, Povidriv ACR®, French Recess (BNAE), Socket Head (Allen) standard and tamper resistant, Square Access, Torx® standard and tamper resistant, Torx Plus®, Spanner tamper resistant, Torq-Set®, Torq-Set Plus®, Tri-Wing®, Tri-Wing ACR®, Hi-Torque®, and Mortorq®

Manufactures are using all these types of screw heads for basically three reasons:  Automated Assembly, Safety and Security

Automated assembly.  Today’s manufactures use robots and automated assembly lines to build most of the products you buy.  The old slotted screw just doesn’t work for high speed assembly.  The Philips head is a lot easier to insert and remove than the slotted head but it still is not a good choice for automation.  Each of the types of screw heads listed above has it’s own advantages, but that is outside the scope of this article.  You just want to know where to get the screwdriver to remove the screw.

Safety.  Fifty years ago when the toaster quit you grabbed a screwdriver and a pencil eraser took the bottom off the toaster and cleaned the contacts with the eraser.  Then somebody tried doing that and forgot to unplug the toaster before they tore it apart.  Their surviving relatives sued the toaster manufacture and today when you go to open the toaster you are confronted with warning stickers and screw heads you have never seen before. If there is a screw head you don’t recognize preventing you from tearing your appliance apart there just may be a good safety reason why.

Security. Today there are many reasons why the manufacture doesn’t want you to go inside your device.  You see the big warning sign “No user serviceable parts inside”  For example, with most of todays electronics can easily be ruined by you touching the components.  Just the static that you build up walking around the house is enough to ruin the insides of most computers, flat panel TV’s and appliances if you touch the circuit board or components without proper grounding.  Keeping you out of the unit and only letting a properly trained service tech in can be very cost effective for many of today’s manufactures.

Another example, a lot of the small engine carburetors today have adjustment screws with no slots.  The manufactures have EPA qualified these engines based on a specific fuel mixture and to keep the government happy (and your lungs) these carburetors are set at the factory and no one really wants you messing with them without the proper measuring equipment.

I Still Want To Get Inside!

OK, with the exception of the screws on your phone, (it takes a #6 Torx) the easiest way to get the proper bit to remove that strange screw is to buy a set of bits.  Trying to find a screwdriver with the exact style you need can be a very, very frustrating experience.  Buy a bit set and be done with hunting for the proper screwdriver.

I have selected a few good sets that will remove most of the screws you will come across.  (Most of the sets DO NOT come with the #6 Torx for your phone)

#6 Torx for your phone. Craftsman T6 x 1-1/2 in. Screwdriver 09 41651

#6 Torx

Screwdrivers with bit sets.

This is my best choice for most homeowners. Craftsman 32 pc. Security Screwdriver and Bit Set Installs and removes tamper-proof and security screws. Bits are stored in a vinyl holder that stores on the screwdriver shaft. Handle has a swivel cap for smooth like ratcheting action.

Craftsman Security Bit Set

If you would like one screwdriver with all the regular and tamper proof bits commonly used around the home and in autos the Craftsman Professional 51-pc. Magnetic Driver Model 49303 is the best choice.  It includes slotted, Phillips, Torx, square, and all the automotive security bits.  This set is guarenteed forever. If any of the tips or the driver breaks, bring the whole set into your nearest Sears and they will gladly replace it.

Model 49303

If you need all the different bits available  or you work on devices professionally here is a set of bench-top drivers specially designed for the professional. Wiha Master Technicians Bench Top Driver Set, 50 Pc, ESD

Wiha Pro Set

Wiha Master Technicians Bench Top Set – 50 Piece 50 precision screwdrivers and nutdrivers in convenient Plexiglass frame. (Germany) Includes:Slotted: .8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0mm Phillips: #000, #00, #0, #1 Torx: T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T15, T20 Metric Hex: .07, .09, 1.3, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0mm Inch Hex: 1/16, 5/64, 3/32, 7/64, 1/8, 9/64, 5/32″ Metric Nutdrivers: 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5mm Chip Lifter

I originally published this article on EzineArticles. Here I am going to add some examples of good pliers you can buy.

This article is going to cover what makes a quality pliers and I wil use slip-joint pliers as the example. But it doesn’t matter if it is a slip joint, pump, tongue & groove, arc joint, needle nose, or long nose pliers. Good quality pliers all have the same characteristics.

Bright & shiny is not always good.

Many cheap pliers look great. They are usually bright silver in color. If you look closely at the cheap pliers underneath the shiny coating the metal is rough.

Cheap Pliers

There are no smooth surfaces anywhere on the pliers. A quality pliers usually has machined surfaces on at least two sides. While some quality pliers are plated (usually a bright silver color) many of them are not. Some of the best pliers are not plated at all. The parts are usually a dark gray and if you look at them after a few years they will turn to a deep brown. Most quality pliers will rust if left outside. The rust doesn’t harm them. Just scrub them with a scotch-brite pad and rub on a light oil. Even if they get really rusty you can sand them with sand paper to remove the rust.

Quality Pliers

So how do you tell a quality pliers from a cheap pair.

1. The teeth on the jaws are sharp.

For example, Let’s say you want to take the end off a curtain rod. You decide to use a slip-joint pliers to hold the round part of the rod while you unscrew the end. With a cheap pliers it will slip and ruin the finish on the rod. With a quality pliers it will grip the rod and not slip. Yes it will make some score marks, but they will be small and you won’t see them when the rod is put back up.

The easy way to understand this is to go to your favorite hardware or big box store and look at the cheapest slip-joint pliers and the most expensive ones. On the most expensive pair the teeth or grooves on the jaws will be sharp to the touch. The teeth  are not sharp enough to cut you but they will be noticeably sharper than the cheap pair. You want the teeth sharp so they will grip the item you are using them on. The good pair will grip well and let you hold the item without gouging or scraping it. Yes, pliers will leave a mark on the item they are grabbing, but a good pair will grip well and not slip easily and mar the surface. DON’T USE A PLIERS ON ANYTHING YOU DON’T WANT SCRATCHED.

A good pair usually has ground sides.  They don’t look as “pretty” but the grinding actually make the edges of the tool better. Click on the quality pliers picture to see an example of the grind marks.

2. The hinge joint is close tolerance.

On a solid joint pliers like a needlenose grab a handle in each hand and try to wiggle the joint. A quality pliers will have no “wiggle” in the joint. If you have an older set and the pliers get stiff and hard to open and close, spray the joint with a penetrating oil like “LiquidWrench” or “PB Blaster”. Leave it set for a few hours and it will loosen up.  If the joint gets “loose” replace the pliers.

On slip joint pliers you can “slip” the joint which increases the capacity range of the pliers. The joint of a quality slip-joint pliers will also be tight like a solid joint pliers. The joint should “slip” easily when you move it intentionally, but not be “sloppy.”  A sloppy joint will slip when you are least expecting it and pinch your hand.

3. Handles

On a quality pliers, the handles have a knurled grip or a cushion grip. The knurling should be rough, but not sharp. In other words, the handles should fit your hand. If they are not comfortable, you won’t want to use them. Cushion grips are molded to the handle. Don’t buy a pliers where the cushion grips are slipped on. They will slip off when you try to use the pliers.

If you do automotive work where you get everything greasy, stay away from the cushion grip handles.  Many cushion grips get slippery with oil and grease on them.  You can actually grip a good bare metal handle like the Crescent 6 pliers better and they are easy to clean.  If you get them really dirty they clean easily with a little diesel fuel (parts cleaner) and Dove dish detergent.

4. Size

Slip-Joint pliers come in three basic sizes. 6 inch, 8 inch and 10 inch.  While the 6 inch is the most common you may find the 8 inch is the best pliers for you.  Even for small hands the 8 inch size gives you good leverage to do most of the tasks and it is small enough to fit in your kitchen drawer or toolbox.  Contractors and farmers like the 10 inch for rebar work and fence repairs.

Stay away from straight handle pliers.

Most pliers have an arch in the handle.  This arch gives you the most torque  for almost any task.  Stay away from the straight handle slip-joint pliers.  I tend to pinch my hand (it hurts) more often with this type.

A few good choices for you.

I have selected a few pliers that from my experience are good tools and will last you many years.  Some are fairly expensive but some are suprisingly affordable.  Here is the list.  Click on the item name to view it.  You can purchase from these companies and be assured to get exactly what you ordered.

Note: I don’t like the Craftsman Laminated Pliers. They do not have sharp teeth. (the laminated tools have rivets on the jaws)  I am also not a fan of KR Branded tools.

GreatNeck 6 Inch Slip Joint Plier Carded

Channellock 528 8-Inch Slip Joint Plier

Craftsman 8 in. Pliers, Slip Joint

Irwin 2078408 Vise Grip 8-Inch Slip Joint Plier

Evolv 5 pc. Pliers Set The Evolv set is suprisingly affordable and will make a great set for any homeowner.

Craftsman 3 pc. Pliers Set The famous “guarenteed forever” set of Craftsman Pliers.

Stanley 3 Piece Plier Set Another good set of homeowner tools.

Channellock 5-Piece Plier Set My Top Choice.  This set will last you a lifetime.  This link is through Amazon

Channellock 5 Piece Pliers Set My Top Choice.  This set will last you a lifetime.  This link is through Sears

Channellock 5 Piece Set

Lastly, Don’t go for hype.  There are many new pliers introduced each year with fancy names and advertised as the “best” pliers.   If it is advertised as the best invention since the wheel … it probably isn’t.

Why Buy Quality Screwdrivers?

Yesterday I was installing a curtain rod in the kitchen. I asked my wife for a flat bladed screwdriver and she reached into her tool drawer and handed me one. After 30 seconds of frustration I handed it back to her and went out to the garage, grabbed a different screwdriver from my toolbox, returned to the kitchen and finished the job in no time.

Why did I get a different screwdriver? Simply, the one she gave me was junk. When I put the blade of her screwdriver into the slot of the screw and went to turn it, the screwdriver immediately jumped out of the slot. I pushed harder on the screwdriver on the second try and all it did was round off the edges of the screw slot. After I got one of my screwdrivers from my toolbox I was able to remove the screw easily even with the slot on the screw damaged from the first screwdriver.

Master GearWrench Set

The difference was the quality of the screwdriver. The one she had came from some no-name home toolkit (like the ones in pink toolkits). It was just a steel rod with an end stamped to look like a flat blade and a plastic injection molded handle. The screwdriver that I had was made from a forged steel rod, the tip was ground to an exact tolerance and designed to grip the inside edge of the screw slot. The handle was molded onto the shaft of the screwdriver and was made of a shatter resistant plastic. There was also a rubber covering (cushion grip) over the plastic handle that allowed me to easily grip the screwdriver and turn out the screw.

Screwdrivers are one of the most important items in your toolbox. When you need to use it, you need to use it correctly and it needs to do the job correctly. There is nothing more frustrating to the homeowner than trying to remove a screw and have the screwdriver strip out the head. Buying a quality screwdriver is important for just this fact.

Here a few things to look for when selecting a quality screwdriver.

It doesn’t matter if the screwdriver has a flat blade, Phillips, Torx, or square point end.

1.  First, most consumer manufacturers make two or more grades of screwdrivers. Even if the name is one you trust like Craftsman be aware of this fact. The red, blue, and clear handled ones at Sears are not the same quality as the red and black handled professional line.  If you want long lasting screwdrivers select from the professional grade line or buy from a manufacture like Klein that only makes professional tools.

2.  A quality screwdriver has a tip that is forged steel and ground to precise tolerances for an exact fit on the screw. Many of the good screwdrivers have a hardened tip. (the tip is a different color usually a flat black or flat gray

3.  The handles are made of a shatter resistant plastic. The shaft has large flanges inside the handle to hold it securely

4.  I prefer a cushion grip handle (and most of you will too). The cushion grip is a rubber sleeve that fits over the plastic handle. It makes the handle larger and easier to grip.

5.  Be aware of the warranty. Many homeowners abuse their screwdrivers. They use them to open paint cans, pound on them, use them as chisels and digging tools. They also use the wrong size screwdriver and twist the tips of the flat bladed ones and round the ends off the Phillip’s ones. If you break a screwdriver how do you get it replaced? Most manufactures today will only warranty screwdrivers for defects and will not warranty them for abuse. By purchasing a quality screwdriver you at least have a tool that when abused will last longer that the cheap ones. Craftsman is one of the few that will replace a Craftsman screwdriver for any reason.

Ten years ago it was harder for the typical homeowner to buy quality tools. You had to find a store that carried the specific brand you were looking for and most of the time you had to order and wait for a tool. Today, if you are reading this article on a computer, you have a much better access to quality tools. You can easily order them through Sears, Amazon or many other places on the web.

I’ve selected three grades of tools for you that I recommend.  My selections are based on my many years of using tools both around the home and professionally.

Basic Homeowner Grade – You use it every month or so - Good tool at a good price. (Good Homeowner Set)

Evolv Screwdriver Set

Klein 32477 10-in-1 Screwdriver/Nut Driver

Remodel/Construction Grade – You use it every weekend - Better tool will last you years. (Automotive Professional like this set)

The Good Craftsman Screwdriver Sets

Stanley 66-158 8-Piece 100 Plus Screwdriver Set

Professional Grade – You use it everyday - When you only want the best. (Electricians use this brand (was Klein) exclusively)

Greenlee Seven Piece Set

4 pc. Precision Screwdriver Set

Klein JSDS02 7-Piece Journeyman Screwdriver Set

A full set of electricians tools. This would make a good set for a home that will last a lifetime (my set I bought in 1972) By the way the adjustable wrench in this kit is the only true parallel jaw “cresent” wrench I know of.

DO’S AND DON’T WHEN USING SCREWDRIVERS

1.  Don’t hold the work in one hand while using the screwdriver with the other. If the screwdriver slips out of the slot you will cut yourself. (a trip to the emergency room!)
2.  Don’t use a screwdriver with rounded edges or tips; it will slip and cause damage to the work or yourself. (another trip to the emergency room!)
3.  Don’t use a screwdriver near a live wire or for electrical testing. (Unless you like having your heart restarted with the paddles!)
4.  Don’t use a screwdriver to check a storage battery or to determine if an electrical circuit is live. (electrical burns are not fun. another trip to the emergency room!)
5.  Don’t use a screwdriver for prying, punching, chiseling, scoring, or scraping. (another trip to the emergency room!)
6.  Use an offset screwdriver in close quarters where a conventional screwdriver cannot be used.
7.  Don’t use pliers on the handle of a screwdriver to get extra turning power. Some larger screwdrivers have a portion of the shank just below the handle that looks like a nut that is specifically designed for that purpose.
8.  Don’t expose a screwdriver blade to excessive heat as it may reduce the hardness of the blade. (Don’t use it to stir your campfire coals)
9.  Don’t use a screwdriver for opening paint cans or stirring paint. (that will break the tip)
10.  Don’t use a screwdriver with a split or broken handle.  (another trip to the emergency room!)
11.  Keep the screwdriver handle clean; a slippery handle is apt to cause an accident. (another trip to the emergency room!)
12.  A screwdriver should never be used as a pry bar. If it is over-stressed in this manner, the blade might break and send a particle of steel into the operator’s arm or perhaps even an eye.

Do’s and Don’ts taken from “Proper Use and Care of Hand Tools, Pliers, Screwdrivers, Wrenches, Striking & Struck Tools” Klein Tools 1977

What is a carpenter pencil?

Carpenter pencils have been around since the early 1500′s.    A Carpenter’s Pencil is large, flat pencil designed to mark wood for cutting.  A perk of using a carpenters pencil is the lead is just about the same width as a blade of a hand saw or circular saw. If you don’t sharpen it to a fine point it works very well to mark out the width of the blade when you are laying out your cuts on the boards.

Do you need an carpenter pencil?

Most of the time when remodeling your house it really doesn’t matter what you use to mark your wood or drywall before your cut it, but you will find most of the time a pencil is too brittle, a pen skips, and a felt-tip bleeds too much.  A Carpenter’s Pencil fixes all of these issues and makes marking most construction items easy.  The lead lasts, it doesn’t break easily, it’s cheap and will mark on most building materials.   The lead is easy to clean off the wood clean, especially if the wood you are using is really porous and will soak up the ink from a magic marker easily.

I use carpenter pencils a lot. I keep a dozen or so right with my tape measures. When they all get dull I like to use a carpenter pencil sharpener to sharpen them, but you can quickly use a utility knife out at the job.  I use the taper drill to mark and start holes and a carpenter’s pencil to mark cuts.

Using One

Each type of wood will require a different pressure to make the mark you want. If you are using pine you won’t have to use much pressure to make your mark but if you are using hard maple you will have to use more force to mark it. Try the your pencil on a scrap piece first. I use the carpenter pencil in combination with a square or straight edge (ruler). I lay the square where I want to make the mark and then pull the tip of the pencil along the edge of the square to keep the line straight.

Here is a cute video showcasing the latest carpenter pencil.  I use wood pencils instead of the refillable ones mainly because I leave them laying all over the place and I would never be able to find just one pencil.

I’ve selected three carpenter pencils for you:

I will let you decide how nice of an pencil you need. Here are three for you to choose from.  If you are buying the wood pencils, buy 6 to 12 at a time for the best deal.  You can click on the link and then order it from that website that pops up. The are dozens of companies that sell carpenter pencils but I only show you websites that I trust.  You know that my selections are based on many years of using tools both around the home and at work.

Basic Homeowner Grade – You use it every month or so – Good tool at a good price.

C. H. Hanson 206 Carpenter’s Combo Pencil And Sharpener

CH Hanson Company 00213 VersaSharp 10 Pencil Tube

Remodel/Construction Grade – You use it every weekend – Better tool, will last you years.

Swanson Tool CP216 Always Sharp Refillable Carpenter Pencil

Professional Grade – You use it everyday – When you only want the best.

STRIKER Construction Pencil with DURA LEAD combo pack