A carpenter's pencil is the right tool for many DIY jobs, due to its shape and ease of use. Avoid a common mistake when sharpening it for safety and accuracy.

Although there are dedicated carpenter pencil sharpeners, it’s another gadget to own, get lost, or break. I prefer to sharpen these pencils the way most carpenters do: with a utility knife.

C.H Hanson’s Pro-Sharp Finishing Pencil Carpenter may seem like a spoof from the pages of Mad Magazine, but it is in fact a real product. And better — as we shall see — it is a real product ...

It’s just such a nice little object. It’s reassuringly weighty while still light enough to carry everyday. It has one job: it ...