Seth,
Have you thought about a lead holder? I have two of these 2mm lead holders from Staedtler:
Amazon.com: STD780C - Mars Technico Lead Holder,... . I've tried a variety of pens and pencils, this is by far the best option.
I keep them in my work belt for quick access. One is kept very sharp for precise marking. The other is never sharpened and is used for writing bold measurements, marking waste sides, etc.
A major benefit of lead holders is that the lead is solidly gripped by teeth. So it's like a wood pencil - the lead does NOT move. A major benefit of 2mm lead is that it breaks much less frequently than pencil lead. And the lead can be sharpened to a point that can do damage to you if you're not careful - almost needle point.
To sharpen them you use a lead pointer, not a sharpener. I have this one:
Staedtler Mars Lead Pointer.
It has two guide holes for needle or regular point. You stick the lead in one of the guide holes, press the button on the top of the pencil to release the lead, and release the button. The lead is then set at the right length for sharpening - sharp or really, really, sharp. You shove the lead in the sharpening hole and rotate the pencil around the pointer. Bingo... Perfect point!
It's even got a lead cleaner (the little white thing in the pic) to clean off the lead after shapening it.
Here's another option for desktop use:
http://www.draftingsuppliesdew.com/m...&GroupID=10506.
You can get lead pointers and sharpeners at Office Max or Office Depot. An art supply house is also a good bet and may be a better option for getting quality lead. One caveat...
Make SURE that you get one packaged individually. These are the original ones made in Germany. Do NOT get the ones packaged in a kit. These are Chinese junk. Read the label carefully.
You'll also want the good quality lead. I tried some cheaper brands and then went back to Staedtler leads. I found that the softer leads worked best for me. I think I'm using either 2B or 4B (very soft). You might want to try them in several softnesses by getting them in a 2-3 pack:
Lead Holder Refill Leads by Staedtler - Architecture & Engineering - Drafting Pencils at Utrecht. You can get larger, bulk quantities cheaper.
Regards,
Dan.