Sun-Star Pencil Caps and Extenders.

I am normally a big proponent of the General’s Sav-A-Point* for the Prevention of Pencil Impalement (PPI). Jetpens sent us a four-pack of these cool little Sect cap/extenders from Sun-Star, and they definitely give the Sav-A-Point a run for it’s money. These are made of rigid and relatively thick plastic, resulting in much great durability. As I mentioned on our podcast once, I might break or crack one Sav-A-Point a week. It’s been weeks with this guy in my pocket, and it’s still going strong.

In the PPI department, this cap actually does a little better of a job than the Sav-A-Point because pencils which are smaller in diameter but with long points don’t protrude from the end. Yes, you can carry a nice Castell 9000 sharpened to something scary in your pocket with impunity. I have found that Ticonderoga and USA Gold pencils do not work well, however, since they are extraordinarily thin and will poke you if they are long-pointed. Another notch in performance comes from the addition of a small, square tab. This helps to prevent Pencil Roll Off (PRO), since the round shape of the device otherwise negates the stabilizing effects of a hexagonal or triangular pencil.

Where the Sav-A-Point might have a leg up on the Sun-Star Cap/Extender is that it adds very little weight or volume to the pencil, resulting in greater Pocketability, the very reason that some of us like pencil caps. The Sun-Star definitely makes a pencil noticeably larger.

But it also performs another function. This cap is also an extender.** It’s not going to add 4-5 inches onto a little stub the way that some pencil extenders can, but it adds that inch or two that can extend the life of a well-loved and well-used pencil. It’s become my favorite Pocket Pencil Carry Device (PPCD) lately, if I have a sharpener or knife on me — or if I am going to a well-stocked house, outpost or cafe’.***

Now we all know that different pencils have different diameters, and these sorts of devices shine a light on such differences. Below is a list of pencils I tried with this device, along with the results.

Dixon Ticonderoga, USA Gold: Too thin to house with a long point.

Tombow Ippo, Staedtler Mars Lumograph, Castell 9000, Palomino “original”, General’s Kimberly: Perfect for capping and extending.

Prospector, Wopex: Good for capping, though the extender can’t get over the ferrule.

Thanks to Jetpens for a really handy little Pencil Accessory, which extends the usefulness of pencils in general as a cap and of short pencils specifically as an extender. They can be had for the low price of $2 for a pack of four at Jetpens. And did I mention that they are stackable?

*The missing E went onto the end of Cedar Pointe?
**And the extender is also a cap…
***Yesterday, a Comrade’s pencil point broke as he might a note about spring home maintenance. He looked alarmed until I reminded him of where he was. He chose a pencil knife which I will review shortly.