We need to buy a new pencil sharpener (again!) & I was wondering if there are any sturdy ones made anymore? I have never purchased an electric one because a friend said that the decorated pencils with the plastic-like coating would break it. We have lots of those pencils. I wonder if that’s why we can’t keep a sharpener? 🙂
July 12, 2013 at 3:52 am
Anonymous
Inactive
My dh and I were just talking about the poor quality of pencil sharpeners yesterday!
What has happened to all the pencil sharpeners that actually work?
We have two electric ones that barely work – if you hold the pencil just the right way.
I remember using pencil sharpeners in grade school, and they worked perfect every time. And then there was the kind we had at home with suction cups on the bottom I think – always worked.
I would love to know if anyone has a certain brand of pencil sharpener that does what it claims to do.
Bethanna I don’t think the problem is so much the sharpener breaking the plastic covered pensil as it is those pensils breaking the sharpener. I do not use those pensils anymore and find the sharpener been lasting longer.
I have bought several ones, kept the boxes and receipts and exchanged them when I could.
We have been using the one from Target for a while now.
I agree what happened to good pencils and sharpeners. We go through about 2 a year. Constantly taking them back for they never last. Office Max has one like Janell mentioned but I am always like that’s crazy for a sharpener. But it might be time to just bite the bullet and do it!
I have the sharpener that janell mentioned. It is FABULOUS! I don’t think I’ll ever need another. And it doesn’t chew up entire pencils in an effort to sharpen one.
July 12, 2013 at 1:33 pm
Anonymous
Inactive
Janelle, you have made my day! My dh will be very happy too – we are getting one of these ASAP.
Glad to hear this discussion on pencil sharpeners. Very interesting.. My friend told me that if you drop a pencil then the lead can break inside the pencil and even if you sharpen it The lead is broken within the pencil.. This happens mores so with colored pencils. I thought that was an interesting fact I thought I would pass on just in case the lead is broke and you were wondering why…..
Could be just from being tapped so hard on the table (While thinking is in process)…. Tehe he
Staedtler makes coloured pencils that have a little white coatng around the lead that protects it from breaking! (They also have ones without it…) – I love them. I also started using the Staedtler pencils almost exclusively because they were just better – they seemed to sharpen better (the lead is properly centered in them) , and stay good better…. I hate cheap pencils!
Not sure if you can even get them in the States. I was introduced to Staedtler products when I took drafting in High School….
Janell and missceegee you ae NOT FAIR!! I was finally looking forward to a good sharpener – but they only ship within the US. Next time, please recommend something for everyone (Canadians too)!!
The lead can definitely break when you drop pencils, I have a BFA and all those drawing classes are tough when you lr pencil is 2″ long because they kept rolling off the drafting table to their demise. My favorite pencils are Ticonderoga, not cheap, but the erasers work great as well as the pencil.
@3fallingleaves: The waxy lead from high quality colored pencils like Prismacolor clog our Classroom Friendly sharpener. Crayola quality colored pencils do fine in it. We like the little metal sharpeners by KUM for our Prismacolors. Like these: