Contributing editor Tim Uhler (@awesomeframers on Instagram) prefers the RevMark, PicaDry, and fatty Sharpie to the traditional carpenter’s pencil and crayons.
Uhler says in his post: “The big Sharpie is great for labeling in large blocks on Zip System Wall without grinding the ‘point’ down. RevMark is perfect for scratching layout on plates, and PicaDry for everything else.”
The RevMark writes from 0° to 110°, is made in the U.S.A., and won’t dry out if you forget to put the cap on. It’s also designed to write on wood, pipe, and tile. Cost: $3.50 for a 2-pack. $24 for a 12-pack.
The Pica BIG Dry is called a construction marker – but it’s really a refillable construction pencil that doesn’t require sharpening (though there’s a dedicated place to fine-tune the tip on the marker’s cap). Different leads are available for: dry lumber (Carpenter 2H), for dry and rough brickwork (Stonemason 10H), for most materials (graphite 2B), for most materials (lead white), or for wet timber (Aniline 2.0 lead).
The Pica Big Dry costs about $30 online. Lead refills cost about $20 for a 12-pack.
The Magnum Sharpie marks on wet and oily surfaces, and the ink is water resistant. Cost: about $4
