Our range of sharpeners can be split broadly into four categories: simple manual sharpeners, reservoir sharpeners, crank sharpeners, electric sharpeners and other sharpening accessories. Aside from our sharpening accessories, these groups of sharpeners will work using either a single blade or helical sharpening mechanism. Single Blade Sharpeners M&R’s Pollux Long Point Brass Pencil Sharpener has a unique concave design that sharpens pencils to an extra long, super fine point.

Bic and Staedtler keep battling it out for the record of the world’s longest pencil. The record is currently held by Bic and was set in October 2017 at their factory in the French city Samer. The pencil measures an incredible 1091.99 m and was made from polystyrene and graphite. There were 133 volunteers and employees involved in the world record attempt. 9. Staedtler Longest Pencil World Record Some types of pencil require different types of pencil sharpeners. If you’re using larger or smaller than standard pencils you might need to get a sharpener with a different size hole. Some soft lead pencils may also require a blade that is a more gentle to avoid chips and broken leads. Soft leaded pencils, like pastel pencils, require a delicate touch. Use a standard sharpener and you could end up with a chewed up pencil and a pile of pastel powder.The world’s largest coloring pencil is located in the UK at the Derwent Pencil Museum which opened in 1981. Their star attraction the giant yellow coloring pencil was made by the Derwent Pencil factory for the museum in 2oo1. Electric Sharpeners can use either a blade or helical sharpening mechanism, but the whole process is powered by electricity. These sharpeners require very little in the way of manual work – all you need to do is insert your pencil and let the machine do the rest. These heavy duty sharpeners are perfect for artists who use pencils daily, or for those who just don’t want to waste time manually sharpening their pencils. It’s pretty easy to sharpen a high volume of pencils with these sharpeners. Some crank sharpeners also include a tool to adjust the length of the point on your pencil – so you can choose anything from a super sharp, long point to a short, more blunt point. This mechanism is usually controlled through an adjustable screw at the base of the handle. Manual crank sharpeners, also sometimes referred to as helical sharpeners, have a completely different sharpening mechanism to pencil sharpeners with a single blade. These pencil sharpeners tend to be large and often bulky, so not very portable or suitable for outdoor work. You’re best keeping them in the studio, or in a room where you prefer to create your artwork. You can also mount most of our models onto a desk, giving them a bit more stability during sharpening. Detail of the pincer mechanism on a manual crank sharpener. With manual sharpener it’s pretty easy to locate and get rid of any shards of lead or wood trapped in the blade. If there are any indications that your sharpener is dulling, most artists just choose to dipose of the old sharpener and replace with a new one. Especially given that most are fairly inexpensive. With more expensive models (like most of our M&R brass sharpeners) there are often replacement blades available. Using replacement blades is a great way to cut down on waste and keep your sharpener in tip top condition.

On the face of it sharpening a pencil couldn’t be easier. Just insert the pencil into the hole and rotate the pencil in your hand. Making sure the pencil and sharpener are inline – not at an angle – will ensure the cleanest possible sharpening. It’s also important not to apply too much pressure or your pencil lead may break. If you’re finding sharpening your pencils frustrating try some of these tips. Make Sure Your Sharpener isn’t BluntA handheld, manual sharpener is the simplest of all artists’ sharpening tools. These basic sharpeners are usually made from metal, plastic or wood and are likely to be the types of sharpeners you might have first enountered at school. This type of sharpener is commonly available with either a single or double hole. Single hole sharpeners have one aperture – usually this will fit a standard pencil. However, there are single hole sharpeners that have a larger hole suitable for jumbo pencils (like the M+R Giant Pencil Sharpener) or for uniquely shaped pencils (like the Lyra Groove Sharpeners). Double hole sharpeners usually have one aperture for standard pencils and another for larger than standard pencils. Reservoir Pencil Sharpeners

The M&R Triple Function Three Hole Pencil Sharpener has three separate holes for sharpening standard pencils. Each hole has a different length of blade for different sharpening methods. One hole works like a standard sharpener, while the second removes just the wood and the third sharpens just the lead. It allows you full control over the point on your pencils. If there are signs the blade isn’t sharp enough then it means it’s probably time to replace your sharpener or just replace the blade if there are replacements available for your model. You’re Using the Wrong Type of Sharpener The World Record for the biggest pencil was set in New York in August 2007. This pencil has some incredible stats that are unlikely to be broken for a very long time. Helical Sharpeners don’t really have a ‘blade’ as such. Instead they have a cylindrical barrel cut with a spiral pattern. This barrel moves around your pencil when you turn the crank, griding against pencil to remove the wood casing and sharpen the tip to a fine point. They’re a lot more heavy duty than a single blade sharpener, and much better for sharpening high volumes of pencils. Simple Manual Pencil Sharpeners The Derwent Pastel Pencil Sharpener is perfect for artists working with pastel, charcoal or other soft pencils. If you work with these materials you’ll probably find that most standard sharpeners are too harsh and will break their soft lead.

So how do you choose the right type of sharpener? There’s a few things you’ll have to consider. Take note of the diameter of your pencils and how soft the lead is. Do you need a sharpener you can take on your travels or are you looking for something more heavy duty to use in the studio? What kind of usage will the sharpener get? Are you just sharpening the occasional pencil or are you an avid pencil user that goes through them at an alarming rate? Our other sharpening tools include sharpeners and accessories suitable for non-standard pencils or specialist sharpening techniques.

There’s a more complex mechanism in a helical sharpener, so they can be a bit more difficult to maintain. If you find that a helical sharpener isn’t working as it should it’s quite possible that there is loose lead caught in the blade. You should be able to release the helical blade by unscrewing it via the crank. Remove the blade and dust it gently with a paint brush or other brush to get rid of any loose fragments. Some debris can be more difficult to shift. If you find a brush isn’t getting rid of it, try tapping the sharpener firmly on a solid surface. This should jolt the debris free. If your blade is clean but no longer sharpening well it’s probably time to replace the machine or buy a new blade where available. For canister sharpeners the only other maintainance will be making sure that you empty the removable bin regularly. Helical Pencil Sharpeners Read below to see a comparison of all our sharpeners and it should help you find the perfect sharpener for you. What are the different types of pencil sharpener? Like with most other sharpeners, you’ll begin sharpening your pencil by placing it in the aperture at the front. With a crank sharpener the pencil is held in the hole using a clip mechanism that releases from the front of the machine. You can usually activate this via a pincer grip that protrudes slightly from the top of the sharpener. As you turn the crank the pencil will feed into the sharpener. In some models the feeding mechanism will stop automatically once the pencil is sharp. Detail of the point adjustment tool on a manual crank sharpener.Pencil Shavings should be long and continuous from a sharpener with a good blade. If you find that your sharpenings are breaking off into small, jagged shards then your blade will probably need replacing. The humble pencil sharpener is an age-old accessory that no artist should be without. Some artists prefer the hands on approach of a manual sharpener that puts you firmly in control. Other artists, especially prolific pencil users, may prefer to save time and use an electric sharpening machine. There’s so much choice available, and so many different types of pencils, that it can be mind boggling trying to find the best sharpener for your materials. Here we compare our sharpeners side by side to help you select the perfect one. In the photo, you can see Count Anton Wolfgang von Faber-Castell with a giant triangular shaped Faber-Castell Grip 2001 pencil. The pencil’s wood case is made from Weymouth Pine and it was photographed with the count in front of the family castle at Stein near Nuremberg. An effective pencil sharpener is a worthy investment that any artist should make. After all, pencils can be expensive and you don’t want a poor sharpener to chew up the wood and damage the leads. At their most basic, they’re one of the most simple tools you’ll have lying around in your studio. You might even give little thought to the vast amount of sharpeners available. While your standard two hole manual sharpener can do a fantastic job, there’s a whole world of other sharpeners to try. Choosing the right one can completely transform the way you use your materials. Read below to find out more or use the links below to navigate to a particular topic. It may not be a world record holder but the folks at Casey Illinois are certainly proud of their giant size pencil. It is proudly displayed at 19 W Main St, Casey, Illinois 62420 USA. The tip of the pencil is sealed in a see-through reinforced cone to protect it.