This is from Eliot at Drifting Whims:

I attached a pic of my pencil keeper in the garage. Of the “beat-em-up” varietal, I am particularly fond of the ones that write with almost a waxy feeling from the “graphite” being so cheap. Like the Empire Gold Seal #2 shown below. It can write on anything and show up really well, even cast iron or dark Mahogany. It leaves a mirror finish to it’s markings, so that they reflect the shop light really well so I can see where I am cutting or grinding. But I would never do anything of great importance with them.

Although adept at cleaning my mistakes, my favorite attribute of the pencil is it’s ability to scribe my thoughts at any angle. I am heading to the couch for some doodling while I lay back and watch a movie. No fountain instrument would last more than a sentence where we are going.

Engineering the pencil for the flybox:

I drilled a small hole in the metal banding through which I threaded a twist tie. It creates a firm loop that allows the pencil to hang from a substantial fly like the Stonefly nymph it is currently attached to. When I open the fly box while standing in knee deep water I am not afraid of losing my journalling companion.

[Text and images, D.W. Used with permission.]