Which are your favorite lead pointers and pencil sharpeners?

[TheRealOG]

I was a mechanical pencil and lead holder hoarder long before I started hoarding fountain pens. Unrelated to that, some fifteen years ago or so, I purchased a machinist's chest from a retired machinist that was chock full of very nice measuring and hand tools. One drawer was full of lead holders, mostly Koh-I-Noor, and in it was an old A.W. Faber "precision point" lead pointer. I've never found a lead holder I like more than that one. 

[Anne-Sophie]

40 minutes ago, Lithium466 said:

Fixpencil 22 and 884 use 2mm leads, and the 3, well 3mm leads.

 

Ah! The ones with the color push button are 3 mm? The 22 looks like the exact replica but has 22 in one of the facet.

 

How short is the 22, can I get it with a blue push button? I went to the Caran d'Ache website, all I could see is a 22 with a black push button.

 

I don't see anything about the 884.

 

 

[Anne-Sophie]

39 minutes ago, TheRealOG said:

I was a mechanical pencil and lead holder hoarder long before I started hoarding fountain pens. Unrelated to that, some fifteen years ago or so, I purchased a machinist's chest from a retired machinist that was chock full of very nice measuring and hand tools. One drawer was full of lead holders, mostly Koh-I-Noor, and in it was an old A.W. Faber "precision point" lead pointer. I've never found a lead holder I like more than that one. 

 

Which models of Koh-I-Noors?

[TheRealOG]

I think all of the Koh-I-Noors are 5611s. Some are marked "adapto" some aren't. 

[Lithium466]

2 hours ago, Anne-Sophie said:

 

Ah! The ones with the color push button are 3 mm? The 22 looks like the exact replica but has 22 in one of the facet.

 

How short is the 22, can I get it with a blue push button? I went to the Caran d'Ache website, all I could see is a 22 with a black push button.

 

I don't see anything about the 884.

 

 

The Fixpencil 22 is 14cm long and you can get it with black/red/blue/green button. The buttons are also available individually.

 

For ex https://cultpens.com/products/caran-dache-fixpencil-22

 

884 is called junior but apart from the different finish (paint instead of anodized aluminum?) it's just the same as the 22

 

https://cultpens.com/products/caran-dache-fixpencil-884

 

Oh and the CdA website notoriously sucks for everything except their flagship colour pencils or luxury writing instruments. Based on the promotional emails I receive I wonder if the marketing is done by trainee or just as second thought (yes, grammar mistakes included sometimes). They really rarely push anything graphite and barely their colour pencils.

 

I'm assuming ballpoints and more expensive pens make the bulk of their business outside of Switzerland. 

[Zookie]

I use a large amount of wood cased pencils. My favorite sharpeners are apsara long point and nataraj regular point sharpeners.

[txomsy]

In my grand parent's carpenter's shop they would always use a knife to sharpen pencils. So I grew used to it.

 

When I discovered the turning sharpeners in primary school, they seemed more practical and less dangerous, but more difficult to get the point you wanted. The simple pulling-blade ones, though less comfortable, gave better control and faster results. And we did also use sandpaper.

 

NOTE: I know they do not give better results for the beginner, they require some firm hand and mastering, but once you do, then they do. BTW, using a knife in primary school was normal in those times.

 

And I grew in a town famous for its knife making industry, so there was a pervasive culture of using a knife for almost everything (and I don't mean a Swiss Army knife). It has always looked to me as the most natural.

 

I was already used and preferred the knife when I was learning Arts in secondary school (when they were compulsory), and was taught that the recommended way to sharpen a pencil for artists and draftspersons is to use a knife and sandpaper. I understand it still is.

 

Yet, I do keep a typical simple turning sharpener in metal without reservoir, with two widths at hand for when I do not want to make too much of a mess and I do not care much about the point.

 

Traveling, I use the built-in sharpener in the push button of the Kaweco 5.6mm Sketch-in holder when I am sketching with it in the open. I prefer to carry the less tools possible so it is most handy. Specially now that you cannot bring a knife with you on board a plane any more.

 

Like with FPs, I favor all metal ones and the simplest the better. I've broken too many plastic/resin ones in my life and know how careless I can be. That's why I do not like sharpeners with reservoir (and even less, non portable desk pencil sharpeners).

 

[Estycollector]

I's surprised no one has mentioned KUM sharpeners. 

[PPPR]

27 minutes ago, Estycollector said:

I's surprised no one has mentioned KUM sharpeners. 

It's my go to. There's always a two-holer within easy reach.

[bsenn]

I like the older drafting pencils and sharpeners. The Eagle/Castell/Berol plastic sharpeners are similar to each other. They clamp to a desk if desired, have different inserts to fit different pencils, and do a good job. I always have one on my workbench and one on my drafting table.

 

The metal Post and K&E sharpeners are also decent, very heavy.

 

 

 

For wood pencils, I like the Boston self-feeder. It does a good job and I always enjoy a gadgety device.

  

[Zookie]

I do use KUM sharpeners, but prefer the points I get with the apsara ones.

[PAKMAN]

[Estycollector]

I've certainly used knives, but aesthetics of the point being important, the KUM checks all the boxes. 

[Surlyprof]

Wow!  I haven’t used a lead pointer in decades.  That pointer clamped to the side of a drafting table brings back memories.  Since I taught drawing for many years, there was always an excess of Xacto electric sharpeners around.  We have one in every room a workshop where we do arts, crafts and shopwork.  That means 6 or 7.  The electric is particularly valuable in the shop where I just need my pencil quickly sharp for more precise marking.  When drawing out and about, I carry a leather pencil case with pen and pencil supplies.  I’ve been using Blackwing pencils and really like their One-Step Longpoint sharpener.  Pretty heavy duty and handles most pencils.

[Anne-Sophie]

On 12/16/2023 at 11:03 AM, Estycollector said:

I's surprised no one has mentioned KUM sharpeners. 

 

I did, in the first post. 😇 I don't know if this is the appropriate emoji. 

 

 

"Lead pointer and pencil sharpener combo: the K U M  Automatic Long Point sharpens 2 mm & 3.15 mm lead holder, it has 2 a steps wood pencil sharpener that shapes the wood then the lead.

 

 

I recommend the last model for people who use lead holders and color and/or watercolor pencils in their artwork.

 

It is big enough that it is easy to find among all the items needed to draw and watercolor, it also contains replacement blades. I am very happy with it." 

 

It is a new brand for me, the one I bought was a significant investment for a pencil sharpener, anything coming from Europe, Japan or India is outrageously upmarked as overseas and exotic items. 

[Anne-Sophie]

On 12/16/2023 at 3:07 PM, Zookie said:

apsara

 

On 12/16/2023 at 3:07 PM, Zookie said:

I do use KUM sharpeners, but prefer the points I get with the apsara ones.

 

 

https://www.hindustanpencils.com/long-point-3/

 

Apology for the first quote, I copied and pasted  the name of the manufacturer to find their website.

 

I then, quoted the name instead of your entirel post.

[Anne-Sophie]

On 12/17/2023 at 8:54 AM, Surlyprof said:

Wow!  I haven’t used a lead pointer in decades.  That pointer clamped to the side of a drafting table brings back memories.  Since I taught drawing for many years, there was always an excess of Xacto electric sharpeners around.  We have one in every room a workshop where we do arts, crafts and shopwork.  That means 6 or 7.  The electric is particularly valuable in the shop where I just need my pencil quickly sharp for more precise marking.  When drawing out and about, I carry a leather pencil case with pen and pencil supplies.  I’ve been using Blackwing pencils and really like their One-Step Longpoint sharpener.  Pretty heavy duty and handles most pencils.

 

Are you talking about the one on this video?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1zvFu9GAMw

[Anne-Sophie]

On 12/15/2023 at 8:50 PM, Zookie said:

I use a large amount of wood cased pencils. My favorite sharpeners are apsara long point and nataraj regular point sharpeners.

 

I didn't realize that Apsara and Nataraj were from the same manufacturers, so I found a blog post. 

 

Polarpencilpusher blog/2019/04/09/pencil-review-nataraj-bold-bonus-sharpener-and-eraser/

 

 

Manufacturer's sharpeners page

https://www.hindustanpencils.com/category/products/nataraj/sharpeners/

 

 

[Estycollector]

3 hours ago, Anne-Sophie said:

 

I did, in the first post. 😇 I don't know if this is the appropriate emoji. 

 

 

 

"Lead pointer and pencil sharpener combo: the K U M  Automatic Long Point sharpens 2 mm & 3.15 mm lead holder, it has 2 a steps wood pencil sharpener that shapes the wood then the lead.

 

 

I recommend the last model for people who use lead holders and color and/or watercolor pencils in their artwork.

 

It is big enough that it is easy to find among all the items needed to draw and watercolor, it also contains replacement blades. I am very happy with it." 

 

It is a new brand for me, the one I bought was a significant investment for a pencil sharpener, anything coming from Europe, Japan or India is outrageously upmarked as overseas and exotic items. 

I am sorry to have missed your post. What eraser do you prefer? I've always used a Pink Pearl, but the white erasers that come on the Mitsubishi 9850 work nicely. 

[Surlyprof]

7 hours ago, Anne-Sophie said:

Are you talking about the one on this video?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1zvFu9GAMw

That’s the one!