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The Sharpest Tool in the Shed

2020-04-24 · review / recommendation · Hank · 3:58 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Everyday life (also: Books & writing) · mode: Advice & reviews · tags: self promotion

Having signed thousands of sheets for the signed edition of A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor, Hank reports his unscientific test of the permanent markers he bought: the Ticonderoga ReadySharp Plus feels best, the Pocket Shark is worst, and, as John had told him, Sharpie lasts longest, with a final twist that the metal Sharpie beat them all.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — Signing for A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor, buying every marker, and the caveats of the test

  • ★★ Hank says he has signed a lot of sheets for the signed edition of his new book A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor, out July 7th, which can be ordered now via links in the description. — 00:00:00 · A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor
  • ★★ Hank says he spent an irresponsibly large amount on permanent markers on Amazon, often having to buy the whole rainbow to get one black marker, and really enjoyed the process. (playful) — 00:00:00 · Amazon
  • ★★ Hank says he will spend way more than four minutes on this, so there is a long version on Hank's channel. — 00:00:29 · hankschannel, Four-minute rule
  • ★★ Hank cautions that the test is not comprehensive, covering only markers he found easily, and not really scientific: one of each marker, stopped when he subjectively judged it done. — 00:00:29

00:00:58 — Best-feeling pen (Ticonderoga ReadySharp Plus) and the worst experiences (U.S. supply, Pocket Shark)

  • ★★ Hank says the Ticonderoga ReadySharp Plus is his favourite-feeling pen: a thumb divot to push off the cap, a soft rubber grip and almost no smell. — 00:00:58
  • ★★ Hank says the Ticonderoga uses a different chemistry, less damaging to plastics, that apparently holds less ink: it signed about a third of what the leaders did. — 00:00:58
  • ★ Hank names a U.S. supply marker the second-worst experience because its cap fits badly, wiggles and falls off. — 00:01:27
  • ★★ Hank says the worst experience is the Pocket Shark: a screw-on cap built to withstand war on a pen that doesn't last and is extremely unpleasant to sign with. (playful) — 00:01:27
  • ★★ Hank says the Pocket Shark signed only about 75 sheets of paper. — 00:01:27

00:02:03 — Why thin and sharp tips last longer; the Milwaukee Inkzall as Sharpie's main contender

  • ★★ Hank says two of the longest-lasting markers have very thin tips, because a thinner point lets less ink out per signature. — 00:02:03
  • ★★ Hank explains that a Sharpie is sharp at the tip, so it starts with little ink per signature, dulls and lays down more, and as ink runs low fast strokes leave gaps. — 00:02:03 · Sharpie
  • ★★ Hank says the Milwaukee Inkzall, the main contender to Sharpie, has a thinner tip, wrote smoothly, lasted long and was well designed, but was not the longevity winner. — 00:02:32 · Sharpie
  • ★★ John Green (quoted): Hank recalls John telling him he has tried every permanent marker there is and that Sharpie makes the best marker. — 00:02:32 · Sharpie

00:03:01 — Sharpie wins on longevity, as John said; the metal Sharpie twist; sign-off

  • ★★★ Hank concludes that some companies do better on ergonomics, but Sharpie, not by a huge margin, had the most longevity of any pen he tried. — 00:03:01 · Sharpie
  • ★★ Hank reveals a final stack, 50% higher than the traditional Sharpie's, signed by the metal Sharpie, whose less sharp tip still lasted longest. — 00:03:01 · Sharpie
  • ★★ Hank says he thought he might find some diamond somewhere, but Sharpie really does have it figured out. — 00:03:33 · Sharpie

In the description and comments

Threads in this video

Where the stories that moved here went next

Mentioned

Central: Sharpie (“The Sharpest Tool in the Shed”)

Also: A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor · Amazon · Four-minute rule · hankschannel · Milwaukee Inkzall · Pocket Shark · Ticonderoga ReadySharp Plus

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