Interesting thread!

Another source of small pencils: a local artist.

Good quality sketching pencils have wide, soft leads and because of their high price they are used almost all the way up, using a pencil extension holder. (Sort of like an old-fashioned cigarette holder) You can ask for the stubbie leftover bit and it will still have a considerable amount of lead in it. Not enough to write a novel, but enough for basic directions, etc.

As seen in the pocket kit I posted earlier:

http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showgallery&Number=241840



If you don't know someone who still works in traditional mediums (so many are going digital these days) you can purchase one of these pencils yourself*, and, after whittling it down (or doodling for about 60+ hours) you'll have an amazing tool that will be MUCH more reliable than any golf pencil or ballpoint pen. Seriously.




*Derwent's 4B sketching pencil especially recommended.
http://www.dickblick.com/items/22040-1050/?wmcp=google&wmcid=items&wmckw=22040-1050