Customer Reviews

Biss Product 77-579 Striker Mechanical Carpenter's Pencil

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

OK this isn't an accusation, but when there are 4 rave reviews for an item that as soon as you use it, you see the drawbacks, you have to check out the reviewers. Each of those four reviewers had only ONE review and it was of course of this product. Here's a review by a woodworker who reviews items all the time, some good, some bad... and the average ones get little attention from me other than in circumstances like this.

First, the good parts. The red case is easy to find. I have not yet broken the case, and since I drop things a lot, that's good. The colored leads make it possible to make a visible line on almost anything... if you happen to be carrying the appropriate lead with you. It's easy to load and easy to advance the lead when needed.

Next, the problems. The biggest one is, when you drop the pencil, the lead shatters into multiple short strips. Since it takes a strip of at least an inch or more to clasp properly, it definitely shortens the usefulness of each lead if it's in three or more pieces. Also once the lead is short, it tends to skew in the holder, so it's sometimes hard to see where it's going to mark if you're, say, trying to mark to the 16th of an inch on a framing square. If you don't work within a 16th of an inch that's fine, then...but it's a bit disconcerting to find you've marked a tight fit wrong and you have to redo it because it's too short or too long to fit.

Another small thing, it doesn't stay in my T-shirt pocket very well. It's too long for the clip to grab very much pocket and oops, you bend over and there's the lead shattered yet again.

Oh, and one more tiny problem is that the point is too blunt to be able to see the lead if you're marking something right in front of you. So you turn the pencil sideways so you can see the lead, but now you've got it on the flat side marking and you have to tilt it to get the corner of the lead (unless you sharpened it, which was the whole idea of getting this pencil in the first place, because you're not supposed to have to sharpen it.

I'll keep working with it because I bought 4 sets of refills and if I find some workarounds or ways to make it work better I'll update. I find dropping it into my jeans pocket is a good idea because it's safer there.

I had puchased these for my crew and myself thinking it would save time from sharpening the standard carpenter pencil but in reallity they are a waste of time because the lead snaps off by the grooves used to hold it in the pencil and after some wear the lead will get stuck ing the pencil wasting my valuble time trying to get the leadout so save your money and just buy a regular carpenter pencil

Good points:
- lead is very durable and does not wear down quickly
- grips securely without slipping
- easy to move lead down a notch as it is used

Bad point:
- the stepped plastic tip makes it more difficult to draw a line along a straightedge than if using a wooden pencil

Overall, I like the nice thick line and the durable lead. So far I haven't had the lead break! This will definitely have a place in my pocket for drawing long offset lines along a sheet of plywood and writing sizing info and instructions on cut lumber. But for short distances where a precise line is required, a well-sharpened pencil still wins out.

This product has been very durable, and is convenient in working environments.

The Striker was shipped fast and I am completely happy with the product. It is very well made. The function is simple, which I think is good. The lead is strong and has worked great for all of my projects especially on concrete where my old pencils would constantly need sharpening. The pocket clip is a nice touch, but it still fits in my tool belt.
I put a sharp tip on my lead by just rubbing the tip on concrete, like the picture shows. it is great because the sharp edge is still broad and strong. I can use it on a straight edge or spped square like a scribe now it gets so close.

I purchased the striker mechanical construction pencil and extra leads for my brother who is a foreman in carpentry. He absolutely loves this item. His crew is enveous! It works great and is exceptionally handy. He intends to purchase one for each of his crew members.

ok so here it is, the pencil is ok as an hvac journeyman using one on a daily basis in commercial construction it ok. however you can prob pick one up a few cents cheaper locally at your nearest Home Depot although it will not be the "Striker" brand it will be a "Husky" but none the less the exact same thing and retails for $1.99 and lead refills also $1.99...hope this helps

Number 1 reason I got this was because it stays the same length. It is surprisingly accurate when sharp. I've only used it for framing so far but its obvious I'll be able to use it for basic finish work as well.
One drawback is the leads break inside the pencil. Apparently, the pencil flexes, being made of plastic.
Over all, I'd recommend it.

The leads break, the leads jam, it costs almost as much in shipping as the cost of the product. An extremely poor value for the money.

Bought this and several other types of mechanical carpenters pencils to try because I got tired of constantly sharpening wooden carpenter pencils for construction work. After using it a few months I am very pleased. The function is good, the pencil body is strong and the lead has teeth so it is held tightly in the pencil body. There are two ways to use it. For any masonry, rough carpentry, tile layout or any outdoor work the lead works fine as is. The line is dark enough and thin enough. For anything where I need to have a finer line I rub it a few times on cement or on a piece of wood to make the lead line a little finer.

If you drop it that can break the lead inside as another reviewer commented. Its happened to me occasionally, but it is still a lot better than the old way. I'm not going back. Highly recommended.