Make Wooden Pencils
by Make Something TV in Workshop > Woodworking
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Make Wooden Pencils

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Quick and easy woodworking project anybody can do with a tablesaw and a router. A perfect way to get rid of the scraps you have lying around.
Cutting Pencil Blanks

Cut two thin strips of your favorite wood. Size doesn't matter yet as we'll be cutting down to size in a later step.
Route Groove

Using a v-groove bit route a very small channel in each piece. This will be used to hold the pencil lead.
Drawing Leads

For the graphite I'm using drawing leads I picked up from Amazon.
Gluing Up

Add plenty of wood glue to each half and insert the drawing lead in the groove.
Clamp It Up

Now clamp tightly and let dry for at least one hour.
Cutting Down to Size

Now you can cut your pencil down to size. I found an existing pencil and used that as my size guide.
Cutting to Length

Then cut the pencil to length. Here in the photo I'm cutting all my pencils at once.
Sanding

Using a jig with adhesive backed sandpaper and two pieces of wood angled at 120°, I sand some angles to create a hexagon shape.
Finishing

Optional: add a coat of polyurethane to bring out the beauty of the wood and add a bit of protection.
Dip in Paint

Optional: Dip the end in white paint for a decorative look. I angled my dip for an added effect.
Sharpen Your Pencil



And finally sharpen away! I did find that some exotic woods are very hard and takes a bit of force to sharpen.