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To date I have never heard anyone mention a specific pencil sharpener used to sharpen color pencils that we paint/draw with. Is there a sharpener or brand I should know about OR should I just continue to use my eyebrow pencil sharpener ;);)?
Hi,
When I first bought my Prisma pencils I was told by different people to either use the manual sharpener by Prisma or the electric one from Exacto. I have had both and they were both great although the electric one always intimidated me so I ended up giving that one to my mom, manual is more my speed. I also tried a few simple ones bought at the art supply store and most worked fine except the ones intended for school kids. Those student sharpeners always tear up my Prismas. The 2 best ones are both made in Germany, one is labled KUM and can't tell what the other one says. HTHs
I'm curious about this as well. I don't use colored pencils very often, probably at least partly because I'm always wrecking the points when I sharpen them. Under-sharpening, over-sharpening, I never seem to get it right!
I use a small manual silver sharpener. I actually bought a 3-pack in Staples a few years ago when shopping for school supplies for my children. I find that it works very well on all of my colored pencils.
It's probably some kind of colored pencil heresy, but I use a very cheap battery-operated sharpener that I got at Staples for $5 at back-to-school time. I think it's Staples own brand and I think it normally sells for around $10. I love how it works - it never chews up the wood of the pencil like I've had manual sharpeners do.
From some reading I did back in the day, I knew to look for one with the blades that look like two cylinders and not one that looked like a manual sharpener mounted on a spinning post. I also make sure to sharpen a regular graphite pencil in it every so often to keep wax from building up on the blades.
It's probably some kind of colored pencil heresy, but I use a very cheap battery-operated sharpener that I got at Staples for $5 at back-to-school time. I think it's Staples own brand and I think it normally sells for around $10. I love how it works - it never chews up the wood of the pencil like I've had manual sharpeners do.
From some reading I did back in the day, I knew to look for one with the blades that look like two cylinders and not one that looked like a manual sharpener mounted on a spinning post. I also make sure to sharpen a regular graphite pencil in it every so often to keep wax from building up on the blades.
It's good to know that the electric ones can work without chewing apart the pencils! When I was in high school, my mother got an electric sharpener, and I never stopped enjoying using that thing. They say it's the little things in life that make you happy � maybe I'll start coloring more, just so that I can enjoy using the new electric sharpener I'll have to buy!
Oh, and thanks for the tips about the cylindrical blades and the graphite pencil!
CBET, thank you for the information about the 'two cylinder' blade & to use a graphite pencil. Next time I'm at Staples or Walmart I'll check for electric sharpener. I had one many years ago but it broke.
I use a Staedtler manual sharpener. Its very small silver one and you can buy replacement blades for it. I've had it for about 20 years and its still as sharp as the day I got it. I got it when I was taking drafting and it wasn't computer drafting yet (I know I'm really dating myself). I haven't had any problems with it messing up my pencils. This is the one I have: http://www.staedtler.com/metal_sharpeners_gb
I just got my 72 piece set of Prismacolor colored pencils last week and I'm having so much fun playing with them. I read lots of input on how to sharpen them so I just use my Panasonic electric sharpener. It is amazing! Haven't had one problem!!
I too was also cautioned on an electric one. I do have a small hand silver metal one. It does work great however my hand and wrist hurt for a month after sharpening the whole 132ct. prisma set.
I did try the Dick Blick brand and I was so very happy that they all came pre sharpened!!!
I use a Staedtler manual sharpener. Its very small silver one and you can buy replacement blades for it. I've had it for about 20 years and its still as sharp as the day I got it. I got it when I was taking drafting and it wasn't computer drafting yet (I know I'm really dating myself). I haven't had any problems with it messing up my pencils. This is the one I have: STAEDTLER metal sharpeners
ditto on the Staedtler manual sharperner. It keeps my pencils with a great a point as when I got my pencils and I love it because mine has an attached cup to catch the shavings.
I bought the Prismacolor sharpener. Black plastic "capsule" looking thing for about $3 it's a manual sharpener, and the bottom detatches so you can empty the shavings. No more holding the sharpener over the trash can. Works well, but the most important thing I learned about manual sharpeners is that you turn the sharpener NOT the pencil when you sharpen...less lead breakage
I bought the Prismacolor sharpener. Black plastic "capsule" looking thing for about $3 it's a manual sharpener, and the bottom detatches so you can empty the shavings. No more holding the sharpener over the trash can. Works well, but the most important thing I learned about manual sharpeners is that you turn the sharpener NOT the pencil when you sharpen...less lead breakage
That's good to know about turning the sharpener � I'm always learning great stuff here!
Wow... so much information to absorb. I was hesitant to put the question out there thinking it's a really dumb question, now I'm glad I asked. THANK YOU ALL very much for this great information. I'm printing the thread for myself for when I go shopping for my sharpener. Due to arthritis, I'm leaning towards an electric sharpener bet I buy two different types ;).
I think it came with something that would secure it to my table, but I just use two hands. It is a very easy turn of the handle.
Thanks for the info. A long time ago, I had a manual sharpener with no clamp, and it was so bulky that I never could grasp it properly while sharpening the pencil. I hated it. If I'm going to try using colored pencils again, I need to know I can sharpen them without sawing through half of the pencil before I get a point!
I like the little metal ones you hold in your hand (some German company). The best one has 2 sizes of holes. The larger hole sharpens them like golf pencils. It's good if you keep breaking soft leads, and to start sharpening a brand new pencil. There's a screw to replace the blades. If you sharpen a very large number of pencils at one time you'll get blisters though.
I use the mounted crank-style pencil sharpeners and they usually work fine, but I don't have anything solid enough to mount one to at home. They are better for sharpening a lot of pencils at once (don't kill your hand).
I use a hand operated one, from Michael's, in the Fine Arts dept. It was .99 cents several years ago. I think the brand name is Helix, it has a plastic housing (comes in several different colors) and then a two hole part for different size pencils
Best Sharpener for coloring pencils
