Despite living in a world full of gadgets, people still need pencil sharpeners.
The good old pencil sharpener has been around for years, even though Bernard Lassimone was issued a patent in 1828, the Parisian mathematician’s invention didn’t prove to be much faster than using a knife. Some ten years later the “patent pencil pointer” came along. This was given the name Styloxynon & although it was advertised as an ingenious little instrument the fact that it was suggested “When a new pencil is first used, it should be roughly pointed with a knife before employing the Styloxynon” proved there was still room for improvement.
Finally in 1847 along came a device invented by Thierry des Estivaux, a design we still use today.
When it comes to choosing a pencil sharpener you may want to take a few points (if you’ll pardon the pun) from David Rees the author of How to Sharpen Pencils.
Alternatively you could make your choice from a range of basic sharpeners, the type you use over a bin, if you are prepared to spend a little more there are those that come in a canister & collect the shavings until you are ready to empty them.
Staedtler Mars Rotary Pencil Sharpener
This little gadget brings back memories of the classroom with recollections of standing in an orderly queue watching the shavings litter the floor many things have changed since then, not it seems the need for a Rotary Pencil Sharpener.
The Staedtler Mars Rotary pencil sharpener will hone any shape of pencil up to 12mm diameter to a fine point. With a metal rotary blade it has an automatic sharpening stop, a desk clamp & point adjuster that can be set long & sharp or short & blunt ideal for coloured pencils.
Stabilo Woody Pencil Sharpener
As well as being used to sharpen Woody Pencils this sharpener is ideal for other pencils with a wider than average diameter. They have a red, blue or green translucent plastic finish.
Faber-Castell Trio Sharpener
These sharpening boxes will allow you to sharpen regular graphite, color or jumbo pencils to a fine point using the sharp steel blades. Convenient to use on the go as you can empty the shavings when you’re ready.
If you are looking for a top-of-the-range sharpener then check out our Ultimate Guide to Kum Pencil Sharpeners for more Information.
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