Adam Savage’s Favorite Tools: Pica Marker

9 thoughts on “Adam Savage’s Favorite Tools: Pica Marker”

1. first video i have seen Adam use this i freeze framed to see what it was, and then ordered one right away.

   it’s a game changer. so get this right away, it’s just that good.

   as a bonus tip, what you can’t see in the video is you can move the bottom tube up, so that when you trace exact against a object the tip touches and not the metal tube. This has been a handy feature for me.

   Also, i think they only have 2 in the USA, but here in Europe you can get them in more colors, but they also have them with ball point and replaceable pencil tips, to mark stuff you need to erase later.

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2. I will have to pick one up. I am surprised I haven seen Adam using a Markal Pro yet. Any carpentry or metal fabrication job will find you in want of the Markal Pro. It is my go to Marking device. Will be nice to add essentially the same style of holder with a felt tip the arsenal as well (up to now it has be various Sharpie markers).

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3. They now also have it in Blue: https://www.amazon.com/Pica-150-41-SB-Deep-Hole/dp/B07KPM597P/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Pica+150%2F46%2FSB+Ink+Deep-Hole+Marker&qid=1579736373&s=industrial&sr=1-1

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4. If you’re the kind of person who mounts heavy things to walls, I’ve found these little aerosol chalk “markers” to be similarly life-changing:

   https://www.gripitfixings.com/products/marxmate

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5. Hey Adam,

   They also have a blue one, and a pencil one withered different colors for the pencil. If you send me the address I’ll mail one to you. Here in Belgium they are very common every technician I know has them. Carefull with the point. They break easily

   Greeting from Belgium

   Bart

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6. I’ve been using the black and silver versions of this marker for a few years now, before I ever heard of the Pica. They’re for just what Adam said: transferring patterns to a thing. Specifically, I use it for custom foam design for protecting gear in our rental facility. They’re fantastic. And they only seem to run out when you allow someone in another department to use them, so do with that what you will…

   https://www.fastcap.com/product/long-nose-marker

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7. Ooh that’s super nifty! Much better than looking for something long and pokey to jam through and hope you’re choosing the right pit.

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8. As a former newspaper copy editor and designer, I can’t help but call them Pica with a long “i”. But they seem great, especially for marking small items like thumb drives.

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9. Thanks for the info ordered one to try out.

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