Prismacolor quality

[fondie]

I am new to coloured pencil art (and to wet canvas) and I have a question regarding the quality of prismacolor pencils. I recently purchased a set of 36 pencils to try them out and while I was impressed with the "feel" of using the pencils (soft, buttery and beautiful colour) I have to say the pencils themselves seem to be very poor quality. Some of the pencils feel slightly bent of bowed, others have leads that are not centered correctly.

Are these issues normal with prismacolor pencils?

I really enjoyed the feel of using the prismas and I am toying with the idea of buying a full set of 150 and I wondered if I was just unlucky and got a bad set.

Thanks in advance

[kittymeow]

Hi there fondie! Like you I am new to this forum and relatively new to the media but I will share my experiences anyway!

I bought a 12 pack of prismas back in the day as I had heard great things about them. Not knowing the first thing about them, I used a dodgy old sharpener to sharpen them and let me just say that THAT was frustrating... after many broken leads and vastly shortened pencils I got myself a good quality sharpener from an art shop and have never looked back!

I love my prismas but I have never used much else so can't really compare the quality, but I only buy them in open stock now which allows me to choose the pencils with the most centred leads, which allows even sharpening and less lead breakages.

Gosh that was longwinded...sorry! Hope it helps a little bit though!

[Jayde]

I have never used Prismas, but from what others have said on this site the faults that you've noticed (bowed, off centred leads) have occurred since Prismacolor started manufacturing their pencils in Mexico. Apparently these problems did not exist before then. I checked out the open stock Prismas at my local art shop and noticed they were all made in Mexico, so I didn't bother buying any to try. If I were you I wouldn't invest in a large set if it is manufactured in Mexico.

[faula]

the problems started long before the production moved to mexico

[douglass]

My new Prismas are all perfect...and made in Mexico!

[jcpope]

I have been using Prisma for many years. The quality in the last 2 or 3 years is really slipping. I have pencils with loose cores that require the use of super glue to keep the core in place. I have pencils with "grit" or some other foreign substance in the color core. I have actually ruined a few pieces due to scratching of the paper. I have pencils that are not straight. And yes, in my opinion, the problems started when production was moved to Mexico. I have been slowing changing over to the Dick Blick brand and Derwent Coloursofts. I find the Dick Blick brand to be as good and maybe better that the older Prismas - soft and creamy on the paper, good colors and coverage, blends easily. They also sharpen easily and the point doesn't break off as often as my prismas.

[KarenESP]

I have to admit that I can see what George was talking about in his "Done with Mexican Prismacolors" thread... but that's all my art store sells. What I do is use the sides a lot. Flattish top, then sharpen just a bit, then use the sharp side instead of using a sharp point. That way they don't break. Some colors, the tips break off easier than others, the black breaks all the time if I try to use a sharp point. I might have to find another store someday as it is annoying to go through a brand new pencil, sharpening it down in no time cause the dang point keeps breaking.

[fondie]

Thanks for all the replies

I am in Perth Western Australia and I haven't been able to find any open stock so I really have to buy sets. The set of 36 that I bought had both Mexican and US made pencils in it and to be honest I really could see much difference between the two.

I did buy a prismacolor sharpener and I have managed to get a nice point on some of the pencils; maybe an electric/ battery sharpener will do a better job?

I really do love the feel or using the pencils, they have such a nice vibrant colour and I love the creamy texture, but they are not cheap pencils here in Australia( although I would order the 150 set from the US) and I am starting to think I should look at a different brand- if there are any out there that compare with the smoothness of the prismas?

[TessDB]

Try with an electric sharpener-- you want the kind that has grinder wheels inside, not a rotating blade. The rotating blade will put the same sort of stress on the cores as a hand-held and you'll have just as much trouble with breakage.

Another thing to do is sharpen with a knife instead of a sharpener of any sort. Some swear by it. Me, I'm accident prone and prefer not to slice myself to ribbons!

If you aren't able to get prismas in open stock, I *strongly* suggest trying some pencils that are available in open stock where you are. Many times you need multiples of the same pencil to complete a piece. Nothing more frustrating than needing to buy an entire set just for one or two pencils! So see what you can get locally and start there.

Rosemary

[George924]

They say they are working on the problems...I still use Prismacolor and will always use them, the core is still the same great quality it is just the casing causing most of the problems. Although I have been using several other brands in conjunction with Prisama...Prisma's white is by far the very best white on the market and will never use anything else. I always tell my students to purchase the entire set and then restock the pencil they use most...

also, I have been trying to get them to just make and sell the core as to fit within a lead holder or technical pencil so as to do away with the wood...

[gale Prosser Shuba]

I agree about prismas and pencil sharpners. Since I bought a good electric sharpener, I can get a good point on the prismas without breakage. There are many good brands of pencils out there and there are others I like as much, but the prismas are in a class of their own. No other brand has the smooth, buttery quality of the prismas. It is all about the sharpener you are using.

[George924]

Originally Posted by gale Prosser Shuba

It is all about the sharpener you are using.

Agree, somewhat...but the issues of off center cores, casing breaking, cores dislodging from the casing and brittle casing is still causing a lot of problems

[fondie]

Thanks again for all the replies,

TessDB- I see what you mean about being able to get open stock and I can buy open stock from an art store in the Eastern States of Australia so if I need to get replacements or multiples of certain colours I can; what I can't do is pick and choose the best pencils.

George924- you said exactly what I was trying to say, the cores are lovely but the casings leave a lot to be desired. I think will buy an electric pencil sharpener, since it seems I am sharpening a lot of pencils since I have been thoroughly bitten by the CP bug

Thanks again for all the replies, I think I will take the risk and buy the 150 set

[Candle]

I have a set of 130 and have not had any issues. I use an electric sharpener, and they have sharpened just fine.