Abstract: A separator and/or stack stabilizer (referred to as a sticker) used to stack materials for drying and/or curing. The sticker has support members that extend radially outwardly from a central portion. An open-ended channel configured to allow air to flow therethrough is defined between each adjacent pair of support members. Together, the central portion and at least a portion of the support members may have an X-shaped cross-sectional shape. A different support platform having a support surface may be connected to each of the support members. Optionally, the support surfaces include airflow grooves. The sticker may be constructed entirely of a material that includes aluminum.

Abstract: A pencil that includes a polymer-bonded lead, a polymerbonded wood substitute material that includes an organic filler and covers or surrounds the lead along its length, and an adhesion promoter layer disposed between the lead and the wood substitute material. The lead and the wood substitute material each have a polymer. The polymer in the lead being incompatible with the polymer in the wood substitute material so that the polymer of the lead and the polymer of the wood substitute material do not create any connection with one another. The adhesion promoter layer is connected to the polymer in the lead and to the polymer in the wood substitute material so that the adhesion promoter layer forms a connection with the polymer in the lead and with the polymer of the substitute material. The organic filler is formed by particles having a maximum particle size of 250 ?m.

Abstract: A turner holds a wood blank while positioning it adjacent a cutting bit of a router to cut the blank into a shaped cylindrical object. The turner includes a mandrel and two mandrel wheels attachable to ends of the mandrel, which each have finger gripping portions. A wood block is disposed on the mandrel and the wheels are attached to the mandrel. Spacers may be used to position the wood block. The mandrel/wood block assembly is then moved adjacent a cutting bit, such as a router bit, to remove wood from the wood block. This enables generally cylindrically shaped objects to be formed which may then be polished and finished and used in pens, mechanical pencils, handles and like holders.

Abstract: A process for the continuous manufacture of pencils comprises the steps of laying pencils leads between two half small boards which are longitudinally grooved and fixed together by gluing and pressing to form small board sandwiches, of trimming the transverse ends of these small boards, and then of cutting them between the lead located within the logitudinal grooves. After having clipped the ends of the small boards to trim them, a protecting layer is applied onto the thus formed edges, on which layer an identification mark is thereafter printed, the deposition of the protecting layer and the printing of the identification mark being carried out by means of a projecting device under pressure of protecting liquid drops and printing liquid drops, respectively, which device comprises projecting heads.

Abstract: A pencil, in particular for cosmetic purposes, is made by casting a stick composition into a tubular body, which forms the shaft of the pencil and is preferably seamless, in such a way that a ready-to-use exposed stick point is formed during casting.The shaft may be of wood or plastics. In the case of a wooden shaft, a solid wooden rod of twice the shaft length may be bored out and otherwise worked and then separated along a central plane transverse to the axis of the rod to form a pair of shafts into which the stick composition can subsequently be cast.