So how do you sharpen pencils?

[Phil Pritchard]

Am I the only one who uses an utility knife or my trusty old Gerber pocket knife??

No, but I find a side axe is much more macho! I rarely mark panel materials at all, though, the scales on the saw take care oif that for me.

Phil

[Jim Becker]

I think that Bill Huber gets the prize for most creative adaptation! Wow!

[Ron Hedrick]

Brian have you tried the Veritas MK XII pencil sharpening system?

[Byron Trantham]

Electric here.

[Rod Sheridan]

I use the Veritas Mark 1 sharpening system, item "D" for carpenters pencils as illustrated below.


http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...131,43408&ap=1

[John Schreiber]

This has got years of use, I make this 35 years ago just messing around in the shop one night. It has gone though 3 kids and all the sharpening they did plus all that I have done.
I will say it is not used much any more I have gone to a .05 but it is still there if I need it.

So do you think that 1/40th horse motor is a little overkill......

That's nice, but I was sure somebody here would have theirs set up with automatic dust collection.

[Steve Sawyer]

I'm surprised no one else mentioned what I use.

A classic drafting pencil - the kind with the big honkin' 2mm leads. Sometimes called a "lead holder".



you can still get them at art supply stores. Berol I think is the most common brand, along with the leads. I have an old drafting pencil sharpener left over from my college days.




It sits on the bench top with a hollow sleeve in a rotating horizontal top, and has a little cup inside with some kind of abrasive on the inside surface. You advance the lead by pressing on a button at the top of the pencil (gravity feed - nothing fancy), insert it in the sleeve and crank the top around. The lead rides on the inside of the abrasive cup and is ground to a perfect point. This is called a "Tru-Point" sharpener made by a Michigan company. Buy one here for $10

Does nice double-duty as a holder for the pencil on the back of the bench that the newer lightweight plastic lead pointers can't manage.

I usually like to use a marking knife, but when I need a pencil, this really does the trick.

[Brian Kent]

Steve - that is amazing. I can't believe that after 51 posts on pencil sharpening, you actually came up with something I can use.

[jeremy levine]

First I fire up my belt sander, starting with 80 grit, then working over to about 220. Then I set up the beals buffing system, stopping just short of the waxing step. A couple of touch-up swashes on the .5 micron abrasive film puts on the fine chisel-edge for accuracy and the pure beauty of a hand-made pencil point.

Following this, I use my big sand-paper cleaner stick, launder the buffing wheels, and wipe down the abrasive film with oil so I don't mark up my wood. I figure it's a lot easier than having a special tool just to sharpen a pencil.

LOL

[Steve Clardy]

2 old Boston school crankers.
mounted front and rear of shop so I don't have too far to travel to get to one of them.

All my fastcap tapes have sharpeners built in.

Last resort, utility or pocket knife

[Steve Sawyer]

Steve - that is amazing. I can't believe that after 51 posts on pencil sharpening, you actually came up with something I can use.

Nice to be rewarded for wading through all the silliness, huh?

Actually some of these posts were priceless!

[Jim Becker]

I wouldn't call this thread "silly", Steve...it's been extremely interesting to hear about/see some of the innovative ways (and not so innovative ways) that folks do a very essential and basic task. And no "mine is better/bigger than yours" arguments, either!!!

[John Ricci]

I wouldn't call this thread "silly", Steve...it's been extremely interesting to hear about/see some of the innovative ways (and not so innovative ways) that folks do a very essential and basic task. And no "mine is better/bigger than yours" arguments, either!!!

I'm surprised that since I started this thread that I am the only one who mentioned the "cordless drill & hand sharpener" trick

J.R.

[Chris McKimson]

Should I wait for the Tormek pencil sharpening jig or settle for the Jet should it come out first?

Chris

[Jim Becker]

I'm surprised that since I started this thread that I am the only one who mentioned the "cordless drill & hand sharpener" trick

Hmmm....I have modified a knitting needle on my Stubby 750 lathe for Professor Dr. SWMBO. I suspect it would work equally well for pencils using the #1 spigot jaws in my Talon chuck. I would guess that would at least make for one of the more, umm...pricey...solutions to sharpening pencils!