Sketching Tool Spotlight: Home Depot Carpenter Pencils and Sharpener

Yup grasshoppers, you can find sketching tools even at the hardware store. Can't really go wrong with a sketching kit for under $4 that consists of 10 Home Depot carpenter pencils and a matching sharpener. The pencils were made in the USA and the sharpener was made in China. While the sharpener yielded a regular pencil point, a utility knife was needed to carve a nice chisel point on the rectangular lead of the carpenter pencils. The broad flat tip laid down wide graphite strokes and shading marks quickly and easily. Its darkness suggest an HB grade lead. Their unusual shape might take some practice to get used to them and to produce the desired marks, but they can be easily found almost anywhere. Carpenter pencils would make an inexpensive addition to your sketching kit that might provide a nice change of pace to your drawing routine.