Tag: Pencil

I can’t count the number of pencil sword fights I got into growing up. All I know is that my elementary school teachers didn’t appreciate it much. I can recall one particularly nasty duel where my opponent ended up with some lead under the palm of his hand.

Way back in 2012, we talked about some unique pencils that write as you expect, but have a unique feature. Once these pencils are too short to write with, you can stick them in a pot of dirt, eraser end first, and they will grow plants.

Whoever invented pencils didn’t really think things through. Everything’s all good at the start, but what happens when the pencil gets too short and stubby that you can’t really use it to write comfortably? That’s where the folks behind the Sprout Pencil come in.

Different pencil sharpeners result in differently-shaped and textured pencil shavings. For example, the ones that come with a handle churn out thin, coil-like shavings (which I packed into tiny bags and used as instant noodle props for my Barbie dolls when I was a kid.) Then there’s the handier, compact sharpener that produces the kind of shavings that Marta Altes uses in her art.

There’s not much you can do with paper after you’ve written (or printed) both sides of it. You could use it to wrap stuff up you intend to store or throw away, but that’s about it. 

Another week, another deadly weapon from The Slingshot Channel’s Joerg Sprave. His latest creation, a pump-action weapon that fires pencils at 100 miles per hour.

People are often trying to come up with stuff to make various things and situations in life easier and simpler. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible in our highly complicated world today. Or is it?

Traditional lead pencils are made of wood and have a small eraser stub at the end so you can rub your mistakes into oblivion. But often, these erasers are of poor quality and leave your paper with a nasty hole instead of erasing the offending mark.

The last time I sharpened a pencil was when I took my licensure examination to become a Chemical Engineer. Before that, however, the last time I probably sharpened and used pencils on a regular basis was in third grade, before we made the switch to ballpoint pens.

I had a friend who relied a lot on chance. Back in college, when we were having our exams, he would etch the letters A to E on the different faces of his pencil, near the eraser.

An elegantly concealed weapon covered in gold, this 1948 .22 cal pencil-pistol was made by The Late Maharaja of Jodhpur, who gave it as a present to Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India. Sounds like a (minor) treasure worthy of Nathan Drake doesn’t it?

Ever wanted to learn how to draw and paint, but don’t have the time or money to deal with real world art supplies? Well if you happen to own a Nintendo DSi, you can sign up for the Art Academy without so much as buying a tube of paint.

Getting students to stay “on task,” as they say, is a constant challenge in the modern school, but one company thinks they have part of the answer. British design company Concentrate has just debuted a new age in the ABCs of reading, writing, and ‘rithmatic… but in this case, that means “already-been-chewed.” As in, their new pencils have been.

Feeling musically inclined, but haven’t the time or knowledge to write sheet music? Now you can produce your own sonic creations simply by doodling on a piece of paper. Designed by Adafruit (in collaboration with Jay Silver), Drawdio is an analog synthesizer circuit that straps to any soft-leaded pencil, and lets you crank out electronic sounds while you sketch.

If your kids aren’t getting beat up in school enough for your liking, then you could try your hand at these felt lightsaber pencil holders and see if that kicks it up a notch. Seriously, this is a pretty cool idea, but there is one problem: they don’t actually resemble lightsabers.

This is a pretty sweet autonomous robot that employs pencil erasers as bumpers. It’s called No. 2, Champion Autonomous Mini-Sumo Robot (a name that just rolls off the tongue, no?) It was made by David Cook (not the American Idol winner, though, it’s a different David Cook.) The process of making this bot is detailed, and I do mean detailed, on his website Robot Room.