I have been stubbornly avoiding these Nicpro carpenter pencils, but need to admit it looks like very good buy.
This set, which comes with two long-reach mechanical pencils, lead sharpener, and 26 refills (a mix of black, red, and yellow), is just $9 at Amazon.
A Pica-Dry pencil, just one, is $15. Ox Tools has a marking pencil too, and it’s also $15.
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I posted about readers’ Amazon deals and finds a couple of months ago, and a reader mentioned buying a Starbond pencil for $15. I looked it up, and it seemed to be a rebranded Nicpro bit with a markup.
The Nicpro set looks to have great reviews (83% 5-star, 12% 4-star).
Nicpro advertises these as being a deep hole marking pencil for construction, woodworking, and other applications. Everyone seems to like them. The price seems very fair. Is there a catch?
There’s also a single pencil with refills for $7, but the jump to $9 gives you a lot more.
If you’ve tried these, please let me know what you think! For the price, I’m likely to include a set in my next Amazon order.
I’m happy with my Pica, but I also like the idea of having more construction and wood marking pencils at a much lower price.
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Amazon also has this more colorful 4-pack for a lot of refills for $16.
As a reminder, you can load any of the pencils with the black lead, or any other color refill, as they all seems to have a 2.8mm lead size. Meaning, you can go with color-coded pencils as depicted, but you don’t have to.
jorhay
I got a similar set for Christmas a year ago. Haven’t used them enough to give a valid critique. Seems to work fine, but doesn’t seem too high quality in the hand.
Had an actual Pica pen, but used it so infrequently that it dried up on me.
Cubbie
But can they hold back the blade guard on my Skilsaw?:)
Josh R
I’ve got the Hultfors marking pencil and I really like it. Similar pricing to the Pica, but the ergonomics just feel really nice to me.
Stuart
This one? https://www.amazon.com/Hultafors-Tools-650100-Dry-Marker/dp/B07L22N2WD/?tag=toolguyd-20
fred
Gotta luv Amazon – they say that the recommend use for the one you link to is: “Moisturizing”
Josh R
Yeah, that one. Something about it is just nice to use.
Matt_T
I bought a 4 pack of the Pica style with the sharpener in the bottom of the sheath as a proof of concept. The pencils, and graphite leads, work fine. My main dislike is having to remove the sheath to sharpen them. So I’m glad I didn’t buy a Pica to find that out.
The colored leads I’m not impressed with. They’re better than graphite on some surfaces but don’t mark well IME. Will probably try some name brand colored leads at some point.
Blocky
I keep the pica clipped to the outside of a pouch. Touch it up only once in awhile when my toolbelt is off. I agree having to remove the sheath would be super annoying.
TomCat
I have a set of these and I like them a lot. I can sharpen them up if I need finer lines, but mostly I need them thick enough to withstand rough marking. They are rugged enough to withstand a toolbox.
Marco Lima
Pica all the way. I got the Ox Tools 2 years ago. After a week the lead would not advance. Take it apart, mess with it, new lead it would advance sometimes then nothing. Got a warranty replacement again but same issues afterwards. They’re junk. Tried a similar style to this Nicpro and the lead are very weak marking wise.
Pica has never had an issue in 4 years.
Katie
I had a long nose marker and a long nose pencil. However, I couldn’t find the pencil so I use the marker on my current project but I would rather use pencil. These look great. I just got a four pack. It was Not that much more for the double set. I also like that they are in different colors. Right now I’m making drawers and had to use different colors of masking tape so that I didn’t get the parts mixed up. maybe I can use these pencils in a similar way because I got the multicolor
Arthur
I had a set of those but they didn’t seem to reliably advance when I needed more lead which was frustrating. I also slowly lost all the tops as they twisted themselves off from random friction throughout the day as I wore them clipped on to my pocket or my pouches and they rubbed up against sleeves or work benches or whatever. Sticking with the Picas.
Berg
I have a full color Nicpro set of the style with screw off grips instead of the holster/sleeve thing. I don’t know who used the design first, but the Sola TLM2 is the most “name brand” version of that style I’ve seen, I’ve always assumed the Nicpro ones were a knockoff of it.
I’ve mostly used them occasionally for some diy stuff where my black Pica pencil wouldn’t show up well on the surface and so far they’ve worked fine, no complaints from me. The colored leads don’t seem super durable but I’ve never tried more premium ones so I don’t know if they could be better or that’s just how colored leads work. I definitely prefer the ergonomics of the removable grip but if you’re moving around a lot and don’t want to lose it then the holster is probably worth it because the clips do not go on and off easily.
If I’m just doing woodworking at my workbench I have sometimes grabbed the Nicpro one instead of my Pica because of the grip, but I usually prefer the Pica Fine 0.9mm version because it’s precise enough without needing to be resharpened and if I need a super precise line I’ll probably use a marking knife anyway.
Flooring
I use Pica everyday and love it. I keep one on me and one on my tool belt. Bought a big pack of knock off replacement lead for cheap. So far so good.
Garrett
I’ve had the same brand graphite/red/yellow set for almost 3 years now, and don’t have any complaints. I mainly use the graphite one for notes on paper and the yellow or red for rough marks on lumber where the graphite won’t do (though anything precise is marked with a marking knife instead). They give you so many refills that it’s hard to imagine ever using up all of them. I’m not sure how much the additional colors would add (green + it looks like blue and white in the included refill packs), but the price difference between the two is only $2 and you get another pencil out of it.
Wes
I purchased the set of 3 a little over a year ago. I promptly lost one, so that’s out of the running. Of the other two, there are definitely some snags. One is harder to sharpen (the lead doesn’t seem to be as snug in the pencil and tends to rotate as I twist the sharpener, so I have to do some fussy maneuvers where I try to hold the lead still with a finger while sharpening without putting so much sideways pressure on it that I break it), but the clicking mechanism on the other seems to have frozen up, or at least gotten quite stiff. The good news is I can kind of mix and match components to get a functional pencil. When I’m using it I do keep it clipped to the front of my nail bags, and the sheath clip will often enough catch on something and get pulled out of my bag, or at least loosened, which is rather annoying, but that’s probably mostly a function of the way my bag is designed and set up.
Still, at the price point, and with the number of lead refills, it’s hard to complain too much.
Nick S.
I have a set of these – not sure the brand name, but I’m convinced it doesn’t matter as they are basically identical across the offerings. I’m a big fan personally. Much easier to get lines in close to edges, and make marks in holes…easy to get more lead when needed. They’ve basically replaced the old school carpenter pencil for me.
Al-another-Al
For $16 Nicpro has an assortment that looks like a good gift. I’d rather get this from my kids than another magnetic wrist wrap. It has two marking pencils, two drawing pencils, a carbide scriber, and a spring-loaded center punch.
If that punch is decent, it’s a keeper. I showed my kid how to use one when we had to drill out some steering column bolts this month. They are much safer to use than a hammer and punch, especially when you’re inches away from the dashboard and windshield.
al
I’ve used Pica, Ox, Tracer, and one of the Amazon alphabet soup brands. Tracer is my favorite by far. The Ox is fine, but doesn’t “holster” as effortlessly because of the square shape. Pica is OK, but the sharpener at the bottom ruins it once you’ve tried another brand. Mine is rusted, and inevitably when you pull the sheath out of a pocket to sharpen the pencil, it is wet from sweat. Tracer has the sharpener at the top of the sheath, and oriented up so you can sharpen in place. Best design I’ve used
Stuart
This one? https://www.amazon.com/TRACER-Construction-Replacement-accompanying-Holsters/dp/B07DRLVHM2/?tag=toolguyd-20
Apparently the Tracer pencil is sold by Ox Tools.
Lyle
I have 3 Hultafors and liked the style a lot (vs traditional pencils). I saw the Nicpros while scrolling Amazon and tried them out. They seem to work just fine. Then went and bought a few more sets. I like to leave them everywhere that I’m working and they’re cheap enough now that I can do that.
CMF
This…cheap enough to have some everywhere
Alex
I love them, got some for my employees, got 3 friends to buy them, universally adored, but we never tried a pica to compare… i agree with previous comment that the color leads aren’t that good, they seem to be wax vs graphite, but still nice to keep a red on you for corrections and in a perfect world when everyone is marking, all have a diff color… or you know, blue cold water, red hot, black wood, yellow electric (since you can’t see it well and electricians won’t follow your instructions anyways;) green hvac, something something im making this color code up as i’m writing…
JoeR
Pencil looks very similar to Thorvald in design. I like both Pica and Thorvald, though I have to remember to remove sheath from Pica (which is not the case with Thorvald) before marking. Forgot once. “Where’s the lead? Duh!” From a budget perspective, I can see the appeal and almost bought this during last Prime Days.
CMF
I have had Pica for 20-25 years, first bought through Lee Valley. I thought they were a bit expensive, back then, but they have worked great and I like them very much.
Lately, I find they have become a bit too expensive. Seeing these NicPro today, I will definitely buy some. Like I mentioned above, I would like to have pencils everywhere at the ready.
Sola has one that is more expensive than the Pica. It has a thumb/finger holder to cover the narrow bottom, if you prefer. https://www.amazon.com/SOLA-Construction-Sharpener-Woodworking-Multi-Purpose/dp/B08L6SS1JJ?th=1
Rob H
I have a Pica and the Nicpro. You’d think they’re about the same, but the Pica seems much sturdier in the hand and draws a better line for me. The Nicpro was given to me as a gift when a friend bought a multipac. I use it when I’m going to be working with him, but that’s the only time I pick the Nicpro up.
Blocky
This is the review I needed. Thank you.
Tyler S
I had a set similar to nicpro and it didnt last a year because the sharpener kept unscrewing itself and being misplaced.
I recently switched to the tracer pencil with the sharpener in the holster and it so much quicker to sharpen. The holster itself makes it easier to take in and out of my pouches/pocket.
CMF
Yesterday afternoon I went to the local hardware store to pickup some wood for shelving. At the order desk they had a display with Tracer pencils. They may have been there for months or years but never noticed them. I had never heard of the Tracer pencils before reading this article and posts. About $5-$6 more than Pica, and this hardware store generally has OK pricing. Liking my Pica very much, I don’t think I would buy a Tracer at 25% more.
I haven’t received my NicPro, only having ordered them yesterday. I do expect them to be in some way a bit less than Pica, question is if it is something that I find a PIA or I hardly notice. One Pica costs like a 3 pack + 28 lead for about the same price.
Seth Goodson
Have a couple I bought from Temu. They works great. The lead holds up well. And sharpens easy. Can get a super sharp point when you need it too.
factory320
Have had the NicPro for about a year
Never have used a Pica so I can’t compare, but at this price point it’s a excellent way to test the extended nib feature.
Ive had zero issues with the function, I like the colored leads and the fact that they are a wax vs graphite is a bonus when you need to mark lumber, things exposed to the elements, or differentiate from another line.
My only complaint is the sharpening, but I think this is the downfall of all fat lead based pencils. Unscrewing the top piece is annoying and I could see how you could lose track of them.
But for $9 it’s a amazing way to get extended nib pencils, hands down a superior feature for craftsmen.
Pic
I have bought quite a few of these from TEMU. I got like ten of em with cases extra leads for like 12bucks. I gave to all the guys in my crew. All of which laughed at em and me. They work great the sharpener can’t be beat as long as ya don’t lose it. I still have a few but have switched to the Holtafors . Which I’ve had for over a year now . Only gripes I have is the clip on the case breaks easily and cuts down on wear ability. I stick my pencil in the back of my ball cap. Long as it’s not fitted. Also the sharpener is plastic which is not best but functions well until a lil piece of the back breaks and ya can no longer get the nice fine point. So I got the TEMU carpenter pencil set. Came with all kinds a shit. For the metal scribe. Punch and other accessories. Mainly I wanted the sharpeners. I keep them in my Bags. They’re the best .metal blade. Clean easy and they give the best point.