Hi,

Anyone know of a compact pencil sharpener that will make the longer type point like the one on the bottom in the picture?

I am tempted to put a Boston sharpener in my tool kit but it takes space and needs to be clamped somewhere. All the little hand held ones that I have tried make the short type points.

Seth

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Seth,

Have you thought about a lead holder? I have two of these 2mm lead holders from Staedtler: Amazon.com: STD780C - Mars Technico Lead Holder,... . I've tried a variety of pens and pencils, this is by far the best option.

I keep them in my work belt for quick access. One is kept very sharp for precise marking. The other is never sharpened and is used for writing bold measurements, marking waste sides, etc.

A major benefit of lead holders is that the lead is solidly gripped by teeth. So it's like a wood pencil - the lead does NOT move. A major benefit of 2mm lead is that it breaks much less frequently than pencil lead. And the lead can be sharpened to a point that can do damage to you if you're not careful - almost needle point.

To sharpen them you use a lead pointer, not a sharpener. I have this one: Staedtler Mars Lead Pointer.

It has two guide holes for needle or regular point. You stick the lead in one of the guide holes, press the button on the top of the pencil to release the lead, and release the button. The lead is then set at the right length for sharpening - sharp or really, really, sharp. You shove the lead in the sharpening hole and rotate the pencil around the pointer. Bingo... Perfect point!

It's even got a lead cleaner (the little white thing in the pic) to clean off the lead after shapening it.

Here's another option for desktop use: http://www.draftingsuppliesdew.com/m...&GroupID=10506.

You can get lead pointers and sharpeners at Office Max or Office Depot. An art supply house is also a good bet and may be a better option for getting quality lead. One caveat...

Make SURE that you get one packaged individually. These are the original ones made in Germany. Do NOT get the ones packaged in a kit. These are Chinese junk. Read the label carefully.

You'll also want the good quality lead. I tried some cheaper brands and then went back to Staedtler leads. I found that the softer leads worked best for me. I think I'm using either 2B or 4B (very soft). You might want to try them in several softnesses by getting them in a 2-3 pack: Lead Holder Refill Leads by Staedtler - Architecture & Engineering - Drafting Pencils at Utrecht. You can get larger, bulk quantities cheaper.

Regards,

Dan.

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Dan, you are really bringing back memories from the old days on the drawing board. I guess I didn't realize they still made the lead holders & pointers -- I probably have a few holders stuck in one of my garage desk drawers along with some slide rules, drafting instruments, drafting scales, etc. I guess there is still a need by artists, etc.

I bought a Lee Valley # 50K1301 belt clip pencil sharpener that accepts two wooden pencil diameters (regular & large). It still makes the "short" points that Seth doesn't want but really makes nice points. The package says made in China but the sharpener itself has made in Germany stamped on it. At any rate it works better than any of that style that I have found.

I'll have to dig around & maybe give the lead holder idea a try. In the early 80's when we started using CAD most of that drafting tools got pitched.

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I'm with Dan, I learned about lead holders at the Center for Furniture Craftsman when I took a two week beginner course.

They are great, except when you drop the holder; my experience is that I have several short pieces of lead lurking inside the holder, but aside from that they work fine.

I couldn't find them in our little town, but Amazon has some



And Lee's Art Studio in NYC has them as well, but you'll have to go there, or give them a call, their website isn't up yet

Jay

Dan,

Thanks for the write up, and I have / still am thinking about using the holders and pointer. I already have them from drafting way back when.

I also found that I really like the Lee Valley pencils and have a bunch of them.

Hmmmm...........

Perhaps the holders and pointer for the tool box and the pencils for the shop!

Still interested in ideas on sharpeners.

Seth

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Seth,

Give the holders a try in the shop. The problem I found with pencils is that there's no way I can get a point sharp enough. My sharp holder is so sharp that I've drawn blood several times. (Unfortunately, I'm not joking.)

Regards,

Dan.

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"You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?’" George Bernard Shaw

Seth,

I occurred to me that what you have in a lead holder and what I have might be different. Below is a pic of my holders and below that is a pic of the point.

I understand that you want a long (and presumably sharp) point. I've never seen a regular pencil that gives a longer, sharper point than my lead holder.

In an case, I hope you find what you want.

Regards,

Dan.

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"You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?’" George Bernard Shaw

Yup, Dan

That is what I have, exactly the same brand too. I also have .5mm mechanical pencils from Staedtler for my Incra rules.

Do you have a favorite brand of lead? I need to get some.

I can get a really sharp point on the Lee Valley pencils in my classic Boston wall mount sharpener. Pretty close to the sharpness of the pointer.

Seth

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If you know where it's comin' from ...... You can tell where it's goin'. ========> ======> =====> ====> ===> ==> => > > >>>

Seth,

I tried some off-brands and then went back to Staedtler. It's expensive, but more consistent and a bit harder to break.

Regards,

Dan.

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"You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?’" George Bernard Shaw

Why don't you just use these?