Pica 3030 + 4040 Dry Pen including Special Lead Base Set, Carpenter's Pencil, Green, Blue, White

Pica vs Hultafors - can't go wrong with eitherI am a happy owner of both models (Pica and Hultafors) and my ideal combination would beHultafors pencil with Pica leds.Pica leds feel less soft (although still softer than my regular carpenters pencil).Sharpener on Hultafors is better positioned (in my subjective opinion). With sharpener on the side it is accessible at all times and can be used with one hand. Pica includes sharpener at end of the holder and best used with both hands.Both pencils feel overpriced for what they are, but if I lost one I would probably buy one again.

This is a great addition to my marking tools and I wonder why I'd not become aware of it sooner; although now I have have one I often spot them on other woodworkers. The outer 'Holster' clips securely into your pocket, protects the lead when not in use and has a neat sharpener in the end. The pencil itself has a 40mm long, slim, stainless tube supporting the lead allowing you to mark deep into recesses, a wider textured black plastic 'Grip' and a thumb button for advancing the lead. This kit comes with one conventional lead and 8 wax/chinagraph leads which whilst soft are brilliant for marking plastics and dark painted surfaces. It's not cheap, but now I have it I wouldn't want to be without.

This design is almost perfect. Everything you could want in a mechanical marking pencil.The only snag is the leads. The supplied graphite lead is so soft that I find myself sharpening it many times a day, using it up very quickly. The supplied white/blue/green leads are very soft, similar to a wax crayon, which might be good for marking some non-fibrous surfaces but is not great on steel.The best workshop pencil I've ever had, but a harder graphite lead would make it a solid 5 stars.

Brilliant product and so well designed

When you buy a pencil you expect a pencil. This product is a pencil. Enjoy

Epic

Was sold a pica that doesn’t stay in its case, and falls out every time you walk with it in your pouch