Does anybody make a decent round soapstone holder???

[Sberry]

I still have remnants. I forgot it in my pockets for a couple years and must have had a quart box or so full, then i bought a whole box which was a good thing. Today a little goes a long way, i still find enough around.
I use so much less but if i was earlier im my career would buy a box of flat and be done with it. I bought box of 100 Sharpies at one point, need another. I tried round and dont care for it,

[N2 Welding]

I have been using the markall silver streak wooden pencils for a while now and my only complaint is they don’t last long enough and cost too much. If anyone has a place that sells them cheap send me a pm so I can get some more.

[tapwelder]

I prefer rectangle soapstone. Silver streak too fancy, potentially too many parts, sensitive to heat and water and relatively expensive. I also, do not sharpen to round point, i sharpen a flat edge. Pretty easy to adjust if the cheap holder becomes loose.

Why do folk prefer round?

[smithdoor]

I use buy box about every six months.
My employees most had box's at home.
I broken the soap stone ⅓ pices for employees .
For some unkon reason a box would last 5 or more years. I was thinking the would last a year 1 ½. They leave the small pieces in pocket and full size soap stone would be taken out after getting home.

Dave

I still have remnants. I forgot it in my pockets for a couple years and must have had a quart box or so full, then i bought a whole box which was a good thing. Today a little goes a long way, i still find enough around.
I use so much less but if i was earlier im my career would buy a box of flat and be done with it. I bought box of 100 Sharpies at one point, need another. I tried round and dont care for it,

[tapwelder]

Nice idea. I like the idea if cutting them in half. Throw the box on tge bandsaw.

[smithdoor]

I found using both works well for all jobs.
At time I was think using a drafting mechanical pencil. But did not think the pencil would live long and cost was great too.
I like round it was easier to keep a sharp point. But cost was to great for me

Dave

I prefer rectangle soapstone. Silver streak too fancy, potentially too many parts, sensitive to heat and water and relatively expensive. I also, do not sharpen to round point, i sharpen a flat edge. Pretty easy to adjust if the cheap holder becomes loose.

Why do folk prefer round?

[shortfuse]

For the round aluminum soapstone holders, the leading edge of the collet should be sharp to hold the chalk in place. If it's not, put a piece of 1/4-in steel rod in place of the chalk, and held in so it's just shy of the leading edge. Lightly peen the leading edge inward, so it has a new sharp edge to bite the chalk.

Sounds reasonable...I might just give that a try. The slipping stones really p!ss me off.

[smithdoor]

Just remember
My holder a cut the collet slots with jewelry saw for better grip.

Dave

Sounds reasonable...I might just give that a try. The slipping stones really p!ss me off.

[M J D]

I prefer rectangle soapstone. Silver streak too fancy, potentially too many parts, sensitive to heat and water and relatively expensive. I also, do not sharpen to round point, i sharpen a flat edge. Pretty easy to adjust if the cheap holder becomes loose.

Why do folk prefer round?

Because of among many things, it fits into smaller holes for marking things out.

[Bob]

I've had this one for about 38 years now. It was well from new when it was given to me by another weldor. I've changed out the pocket clip with one from a ball point pen. It does hold the round soap stone really good. Unfortunately I don't know where you could get one.

[123weld]

well looks like bob wins the contest. i only use rtectangular, and i got a certtain way i sharpen it. every morning a piece goes into my change pocket of my pants. well, over the yrs, one of them days i got frisked. i think the cop thought he may of discovered some new kinda drug, as it did kinda look like a bone of coke. then he took the lid off my chapstick to look inside

[CAVEMANN]

well looks like bob wins the contest. i only use rtectangular, and i got a certtain way i sharpen it. every morning a piece goes into my change pocket of my pants. well, over the yrs, one of them days i got frisked. i think the cop thought he may of discovered some new kinda drug, as it did kinda look like a bone of coke. then he took the lid off my chapstick to look inside

You musta had "that" look! The picture bob posted is very similar to what I had, but I think mine was silver anodized.

[Meltedmetal]

well looks like bob wins the contest. i only use rtectangular, and i got a certtain way i sharpen it. every morning a piece goes into my change pocket of my pants. well, over the yrs, one of them days i got frisked. i think the cop thought he may of discovered some new kinda drug, as it did kinda look like a bone of coke. then he took the lid off my chapstick to look inside

I had a similar experience at US Customs one night. The officer decided to search my car and he found a plastic film canister that rattled when he shook it. I used to carry a lot of crap in my cars to get me home if need be, sometimes I needed it. "What's in here?" He says. "I don't know" says I "Open it and see." It was spare fuses. He looked disappointed.

[123weld]

You musta had "that" look! The picture bob posted is very similar to what I had, but I think mine was silver anodized.

lol, no, just the opposite. i had the clean/innocent look. back in them days, in some situations, i worried some i didnt know well, that i might be a cop.
now im old, gray and boring, so it not a issue

[123weld]

I had a similar experience at US Customs one night. The officer decided to search my car and he found a plastic film canister that rattled when he shook it. I used to carry a lot of crap in my cars to get me home if need be, sometimes I needed it. "What's in here?" He says. "I don't know" says I "Open it and see." It was spare fuses. He looked disappointed.

lol,lol, o ya, back in the 80's they were popular, and it was almost a given, what was in them besides 35mm film. i bet he was dissapointed. those black trash can shaped w/ a grey lid. they were pretty much smell/water proof. i also knew the need for crap in cars/trucks, as i used to keep tools in my vehicles too, as a just a 9/16 wrench could help u limp home. i kept a mini tool box under the hood of my truck. i bought 79 or 80 chevy 350 diesel, it had two batterries. i yanked the motor, put a good 403 olds, from junkyard in it, and mounted mini tool box where extra battery went.

[Stick-man]

I use the flat soapstone when I use it. I use Sharpies, number 2 lead pencils, for a thin line I love a scribe and keep many around. I have tried the Silver pencils, but the silver is so soft, it requires way too much sharpening time.

[Twisted]

As someone else mentioned I trimmed down the collet but they don't hold like the old ones. Bare soapstone for rough work. Silver (red for shiny) pencils for finer and a scribe for machine work. The pencils will mark through grease, under water, or wherever you want. I get mine on Amazon. There's also a few boxes of sharpies laying around the shop.

[biguglydave]

I think I might have found what I was looking for. I ordered a Commando brand soapstone holder. I got mine off Amazon, but you can order direct from them: https://www.commandoproducts.com/soa...soapstone.aspx

Im a week in with this one and all seems good. No slippage and when you tighten the collar to lock the soapstone it just feels right. No affiliation with this company, just happy I found a working version.

[Bob]

Well Dave, I think you found the one I have. I didn't even know the brand name of the one I have as it was given to me. It has been a good one except for the pocket clip. The one that is on mine is the best clip I've found and I have to buy a pen to get it. I have the same clip on a pencil as well. I think you will like it.

[ArcTan]

I use one of these when I don't need a fine line.

https://gomrpen.com/product/mr-pen-w...halkboard-pen/

[Old Doug]

One thing i dont like about the round soapstone holder is if you drop it the stone will break. I tryed rapping the stone in paper but it still didnt work.

[smithdoor]

I use soapstone for torch work.
The problem I found was did not hold a sharp edge for layout.

Dave

One thing i dont like about the round soapstone holder is if you drop it the stone will break. I tryed rapping the stone in paper but it still didnt work.