{"id":4891,"date":"2021-08-13T08:00:59","date_gmt":"2021-08-13T07:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/?p=4891"},"modified":"2021-08-05T10:37:10","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T09:37:10","slug":"five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/","title":{"rendered":"Five ways to sharpen a pencil"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/p>\n

You might be reading this and thinking, \u2018surely there\u2019s only one way to sharpen a pencil?\u2019 \u2014 in which case, prepare for your eyes to be opened to a whole new world!<\/p>\n

Otherwise, the chances are you are reading this because you know there are various ways to sharpen a pencil, and you would love to know which will work best for the pencils you use most often.<\/p>\n

Either way, let\u2019s jump in and explore how to sharpen a pencil<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A handheld sharpener<\/h2>\n

A handheld sharpener is probably what pops into your mind when someone mentions sharpening a pencil.<\/p>\n

Handheld sharpeners are small and therefore convenient to carry around in a pencil case for quick and easy sharpening jobs on the go.<\/p>\n

This type of sharpener is no good for pastel pencils, but a quality handheld sharpener is ideal for the quick sharpening of graphite and colouring pencils when you’re away from your desk.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be tempted by 10p plastic sharpeners though; invest a little more in a high-quality sharpener for a tool you can rely on.<\/p>\n

A good handheld sharpener to own is the Staedtler Metal Double Hole Pencil Sharpener<\/a>. It has sharp blades and performs well; when the blades become duller, you can replace them to keep the sharpener performing at its best.<\/p>\n

We\u2019d recommend only purchasing sharpeners you can replace the blades of because a blunt blade is useless for sharpening and can cause more harm than good.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A mechanical pencil sharpener<\/h2>\n

When you\u2019re at home, a mechanical pencil sharpener is ideal for the successful sharpening of graphite and coloured pencils.<\/p>\n

Due to their size, mechanical pencil sharpeners aren\u2019t ideal for carrying with you when drawing or writing outside of the home, but they do an excellent job in the home.<\/p>\n

Many artists and creatives enjoy using mechanical sharpeners because they feel in control of the process \u2014 they can stop turning the handle when they like, and there is often a way to choose the type of point required.<\/p>\n

Another benefit to this sharpener type is the lack of mess, as the curls of wood and graphite are caught in the collection box.<\/p>\n

Favourites from our range of mechanical pencil sharpeners include the Staedtler Mars 502 Lead Pointer<\/a> (which you can read a review of here<\/a>) and the Caran d\u2019Ache Sharpening Machine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 An electric pencil sharpener<\/h2>\n

Similar in looks and size to a mechanical pencil sharpener, electric pencil sharpeners are a faster alternative for graphite and colouring pencils; insert the end of the pencil into the machine, and the job is done for you.<\/p>\n

Some pencil users love electric sharpeners, but some don\u2019t enjoy the speed and lack of control they have over the process.<\/p>\n

There are two types of electric sharpener: battery-operated and plug-in.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A craft knife<\/h2>\n

A craft knife is recommended for the sharpening of charcoal pencils, pastel pencils, and carbon pencils.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re wondering how to sharpen a pencil with a knife, you start by exposing the lead, and you do this lower down the pencil than you would think \u2014 around an inch should work well.<\/p>\n

Once the lead is fully exposed, you can either refine it with the knife if that\u2019s all you have to hand (which can take a long time) or use a sanding block to achieve the perfect pencil tip in seconds.<\/p>\n

While less convenient than the alternatives, the craft knife method is preferred by many because it is a hands-on method that enables the user to create the perfect point for their specific task \u2014 whether it needs to be fine and pointed or long and tapered.<\/p>\n

A craft knife is a great example of how to sharpen a pencil without a sharpener and is, therefore, the preferred method of many a tradesperson and adventurer, too.<\/p>\n

Please note that this method produces a fine mess, so be ready to clean your blade and pencil afterwards.<\/p>\n

If you would like to give this method a go, then start with cheap pencils \u2014 it can be easy to break pencils until you get the hang of it.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 An integrated sharpener<\/h2>\n

Some pencils have an integrated sharpener, such as the Graf von Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil<\/a> range, which conceals a sharpener within the pencil extender section.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a fan of pencils, you might enjoy reading our guide to pencil lead grades<\/a> next.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You might be reading this and thinking, \u2018surely there\u2019s only one way to sharpen a pencil?\u2019 \u2014 in which case, prepare for your eyes to be opened to a whole new world! Otherwise, the chances are you are reading this because you know there are various ways to sharpen a pencil, and you would love…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4893,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nFive ways to sharpen a pencil - The Pen Company Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Want to know what the best method is for sharpening the pencils you use the most in your artwork or writing? This blog post has your covered!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Five ways to sharpen a pencil - The Pen Company Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Want to know what the best method is for sharpening the pencils you use the most in your artwork or writing? This blog post has your covered!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Pen Company Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ThePenCompany\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-08-13T07:00:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-08-05T09:37:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharpened-yellow-pencil-shavings.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lucy Williams\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@thepencompany\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@thepencompany\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lucy Williams\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/\",\"name\":\"Five ways to sharpen a pencil - The Pen Company Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-08-13T07:00:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-08-05T09:37:10+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b621584a04332c39a493182f2dca6376\"},\"description\":\"Want to know what the best method is for sharpening the pencils you use the most in your artwork or writing? This blog post has your covered!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Five ways to sharpen a pencil\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"The Pen Company Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b621584a04332c39a493182f2dca6376\",\"name\":\"Lucy Williams\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f251747ed7a120404b73c37c381c4c96?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f251747ed7a120404b73c37c381c4c96?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Lucy Williams\"},\"description\":\"Lucy is our lead editor and has been passionate about stationery since childhood. She has a particular fondness for rollerball and calligraphy pens and is a keen advocate of snail mail.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/author\/lucy\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Five ways to sharpen a pencil - The Pen Company Blog","description":"Want to know what the best method is for sharpening the pencils you use the most in your artwork or writing? This blog post has your covered!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Five ways to sharpen a pencil - The Pen Company Blog","og_description":"Want to know what the best method is for sharpening the pencils you use the most in your artwork or writing? This blog post has your covered!","og_url":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/","og_site_name":"The Pen Company Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ThePenCompany","article_published_time":"2021-08-13T07:00:59+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-08-05T09:37:10+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":1024,"url":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharpened-yellow-pencil-shavings.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Lucy Williams","twitter_card":"summary","twitter_creator":"@thepencompany","twitter_site":"@thepencompany","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Lucy Williams","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/","name":"Five ways to sharpen a pencil - The Pen Company Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2021-08-13T07:00:59+00:00","dateModified":"2021-08-05T09:37:10+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b621584a04332c39a493182f2dca6376"},"description":"Want to know what the best method is for sharpening the pencils you use the most in your artwork or writing? This blog post has your covered!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/pencils\/five-ways-to-sharpen-a-pencil\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Five ways to sharpen a pencil"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/","name":"The Pen Company Blog","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/b621584a04332c39a493182f2dca6376","name":"Lucy Williams","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f251747ed7a120404b73c37c381c4c96?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f251747ed7a120404b73c37c381c4c96?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Lucy Williams"},"description":"Lucy is our lead editor and has been passionate about stationery since childhood. She has a particular fondness for rollerball and calligraphy pens and is a keen advocate of snail mail.","url":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/author\/lucy\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4891"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4891"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4891\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4901,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4891\/revisions\/4901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}