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Home & Kitchen
Pica-Dry Longlife Automatic Pen — the marking pencil that reaches into holes
Pica-Dry Longlife Automatic Pen (3030)
Reviewed by the WhyToBuyThis team · Updated September 2026 · How we choose
Perfect for
- Woodworkers & carpenters
- Marking in drilled holes
- Under $25
- Pocket tool
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Price: $13.99
Price may change on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This won't cost you anything extra.
- Great gift ideaChosen for real-world gifting
- Hand-pickedCurated, not scraped
- Honest reviewThe catch, not just the hype
Why this gift works
The Pica-Dry 3030 is a German-made automatic marking pencil with a long deep-hole tip that reaches into drilled holes and corners. It holds a 2.8 mm graphite lead (2B by default), marks dry, damp, smooth, rough and dusty surfaces - wood, metal, tile and concrete - and has a sharpener built into its cap, which also has a clip. Refill leads come in graphite, colored, permanent and carpenter sets.
Every woodworker loses flat carpenter pencils and blunt pens. The Pica-Dry clips in a pocket, sharpens itself in the cap and marks where a pencil will not reach, which makes it one of those small tools people end up buying for all their friends.
Who is this gift for?
Great for
- A woodworker forever losing carpenter pencils
- Someone who also does tile or metal work
Think twice if
- They lay out with a marking knife only
The catch
Spare leads are sold separately, and the 2.8 mm lead gives a bolder line than a fine mechanical pencil - for very precise layout, a marking knife is better.
Skip for someone who marks everything with a marking knife and never uses pencils.
Key specs
| Brand | Pica-Marker |
|---|---|
| Model | Pica-Dry Longlife Automatic Pen 3030 |
| Lead | 2.8 mm, 2B graphite (preloaded) |
| Tip | Deep-hole design |
| Sharpener | Built into the cap, with clip |
| Surfaces | Wood, metal, tile, concrete - dry, wet or dusty |
| Made in | Germany |
Worth knowing before you buy
- It ships with one 2B graphite lead; refills are extra.
- It is made in Germany.
Why we like it
- Reaches into drilled holes and corners
- Sharpener built into the cap
- Marks damp and dusty surfaces
What to look for in a marking pencil
- Deep-hole reach. A long tip marks inside drilled holes and tight corners.
- Surfaces. A marker that works on damp or dusty wood saves wiping every time.
- Refills. Check refill leads are easy to buy.
Questions people ask
Dry, wet, glossy, dusty and oily surfaces including wood, metal, tile and concrete, per retailers.
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