Faro Tools recently released a new Saber paint RT marker pen and Mason 6in1 builders tool pencil. We will be reviewing them in this article. Faro Tools provided product samples for me to review. I will give my honest and unbiased feedback as usual. I am not paid or swayed in any way to give a positive review.
Mason 6 in Builders Tool (Mechanical Pencil)
Let’s first take a look Mason 6 in 1 builders tools. This is a sturdy mechanical pencil that looks like a tank. It has a metal body which makes it suitable for use on the jobsite. Has a six sided shape just like a school pencil so it doesnt roll. It uses thick and durable 5.6mm oversized lead and comes pre sharpened. It is not difficult to see that such a thick lead piece will lose its point quickly after regular usage so the manufacturer included a built-in sharper under the screw cap. Removing the screw cap exposes a tungsten carbide scribe. To feed more lead, twist the rotating tip plastic to retract or feed it. Retracting the lead is good for storage and so the lead doesnt break if dropped when not in use.
So far weve mentioned 3 built in features pencil, sharpener and scribe so what are the other three? A built in bubble level and two built in ruler markings in CM and inches. The last feature is a clip for easy pocket storage but I wouldnt go as far as count that as a 7th use as that would be silly.
It gets the job done and came in handy as I was installing trim and had no complaints. It is available now, comes with three additional lead stick refills, and is priced at which I would not be willing to spend on a mechanical pencil. There are other options like the Fatboy or Striker Mechanical pencils for less than the price of the Mason pencil. However, the Mason pencil has an edge over other pencils. But for a little more, which could mean that one Faro Mason pencil could reduce the number of tools required to complete a job.
- Anti-roll barrel for heavy-duty use
- Oversized #2 Pencil Lead (5.6mm)
- Built-in Level
- Pencil & Scriber Tools
- 1/10 cm and 1/20 cm Architect Ruler and Metric Ruler
- Built-in Pencil Sharpener under Cap
- Convenient Clip
- Measure & Mark
Saber Paint RT Pen (Paint Marker)
The Faro Tools Saber Paint RT Pen is next on the list. These are a range of paint markers available in a variety colors. They sent me the 6 pack which comes in black, white, yellow, blue, green and red. They offer permanent ink, paint, and are best known for being one-handed. This is completely true because they offer tips that retract with a simple click. This means you dont need your other hand to remove and reinstall the cap after use and makes these perfect for when youre only option is one handed use. These are xylene free alcohol based ink and are said to be opaque and fast drying and can be applied to damp and oily surfaces. Metal, plastic, vinyl, paper, rubber and tile wood are all possible working surfaces.
I tried the markers out and all are opaque although some more than others. The colors are opaque and leave a thick, opaque ink. However, the black and white markers are opaque in the middle with some thinning at the edges. When they dry, their ink is permanent however arent what I would call fast drying. The black and white markers are the quickest to dry but still have to wait many seconds (longer than regular permanent markers) to make sure they dont smudge and the colors take a very long time to dry (ages) to the point that they dont smudge.
They can paint on clear and glass surfaces, which I liked. The results are great! They write well on other items like wood, concrete and tile. They are strong enough to be used on regular surfaces, but they will wear quicker if you use them over concrete. I also like the system used to protect the tips from drying out which is done by storing the tips in a closed chamber when not in use. When you click, it opens a door as the tips slide out and when clicked again, retracts the tips and closes the chamber door. Very nice design!
I went ahead and tested the other claims about being able to write on damp and oily surfaces. I tested the tile with two sections of it. One was dampened with good ole water and one was dampened with cooking oils. I started by placing the tip on a dry portion and sliding the marker across each section several times. The markers do not mark the water section but slide across it leaving a faint mark. However, once they have gone over a dry section again they will resume inking. This test was repeated over an oily section. The markers were able to mark over the oily sections with very little visibility and inking loss. They were able to mark over an oily surface, but failed to mark on damp water surfaces.
- Retractable
- General Purpose
- Alcohol-based
- Fast-drying
- Opaque Mark
- Non-Toxic
DISCLOSURE:
