You too can write obscenities on the shell of a tortoise (Royal Sovereign Chinagraph Pencils)

Member Name: JJJJ

Product:	Royal Sovereign Chinagraph Pencils
Date:	12/04/09 (395 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Write on loads of things.

Disadvantages: Pricey

Ok, quick survey - how many of you know what a 'Chinagraph' pencil is? - of course, being the educated and beautiful readers that you are, I reckon the majority of you do. The only reason I know, is because for some reason there seems to be hundreds of them in the house, and I have no idea how they got there. So what are they, and where have all the real pencils gone?

Also known as a 'grease pencil', the chinagraph looks exactly like a normal pencil although it uses coloured hardened wax instead of graphite. So what is the point of all this waxy centered nonsense you may ask? well, having a wax interior means that the pencil can write on surfaces that normal pencils cannot. Want to write on a window?... no probs! a metal sheet?... easy! the forehead of a goat?...well, that's going a bit too far, but the chinagraph would probably do the trick. Due to its incredible versatility, this particular pencil is ideal for a plumber (to mark metal pipes), a photographer (who needs to write on glossy or even damp photographic paper), and a range of other professionals who I image would find a range of mind-boggling and completely non-sexual uses for it.

Available in a range of colours, you can sharpen a chinagraph with a regular pencil sharpener or a knife, and if you own one you'll gain an amazing amount of respect from your peers (ok, that was a lie - but you just might).

Once you have written on something with a chinagraph pencil, the marks you have made should survive the elements and are actually waterproof. If you have written on a shiny or metallic surface, then you can usually remove your scribbles by scratching away the wax with a flat headed tool or a fingernail - a bit like you would with a scratch-card.

Royal Sovereign seem to be the leading manufacturer of chinagraph pencils, and certainly all of the ones that have mysteriously popped up in the house have been made by them. The quality seems to be good, although my experience of what makes a decent cinagraph pencil is rather limited, so they may well be cr** - nevertheless, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

How much do they cost?
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Depending on the retailer, Royal Soveriegn Chinagraph pencils greatly vary in price. Amazon, for example, sell them at a whopping £9 each!, whereas mayfairstationers.co.uk has them priced at a much more reasonable £1.27.

Due to their versatility (and novelty value), I would highly recommend the Royal Sovereign Chinagraph as an essential tool for a range of professionals.

So... now you know what do if you ever feel the need to scribble all over a radiator, or grafitti on a shellfish - the world is your oyster (pardon the pun).

Use your new found scribing powers wisely :)

Summary: Multi surface markers