Prismacolor Sharpener Recommendation.

[aspiring artist]

The Prismacolor brand Sharpener (black plastic with silver band in the center) is worth checking out. It sharpens colored pencil lead to a VERY sharp point, almost needle-like. Price is good, too: $3.49 at my local craft store.

[RobinZ]

I've never even seen it! Thanks for the headsup!!

[JayD]

I have a couple of them--they are indeed nice sharpeners.

[Flame Lily]

Thank you for the info, this is good to know

[pinkrybns]

Can someone scan an image of one? or tell me where I might see a pic of it online?

Visuals! I need visuals!


~Judy

[Chisaii]

They are very good--I have 4 of them. My only negative comment is when the pencil is being sharpened, the shavings have a tendency to stay bunch up around the sharpener instead of falling into the container.

[Flame Lily]

Judy, The sharpener at Dick Blick much cheaper than at our local art store. I've put one on my wish list now, I don't like my battery operated sharpener, so one of these Prisma one's would be better to carry around when away from home.

[pinkrybns]

Thanks Liesl!
I love my Panasonic KP-4A ... but this would be so much easier to stash in a pocket or purse!

and yeah Chisaii, I'd probably buy a few of them too ...rofl. never enough art tools! lol

[gordoiye]

thanks for the tip on this product - will have to pick one up of course!

cheers,
gord

[FaeLynn]

I have one of those. Maybe I'm the odd one out, but I wasn't that impressed.
Of course, it may have been because my pencil kept breaking while I tried to sharpen it, and I got frustrated and used my battery-powered sharpener instead. So maybe I am premature in saying it was the sharpener's fault, lol!
-Fae Lynn

[aspiring artist]

FaeLynn, I'm sorry you didn't have luck with the sharpener. Did you check the end of the pencil to make sure the lead was centered? I'm often surprised at how many colored pencils have lead that is off center. When that happens, it makes sharpening the pencil pretty difficult. Generally, that results in broken leads. That, and dropping the pencil.
Chisaii, I noticed the same problem that you did ... the shavings do get clogged up behind the blade.
I went back to the same craft store and bought the three remaining sharpeners they had left ... of all the sharpeners I have, (even the battery operated one and the electric one), none put a needle-like point on my pencil like this Prismacolor one does.

[Noadi]

FaeLynn: I've also notices that leads sometimes break when switching sharpeners if they each sharpen the pencil to a different shape. I have no problems with either my electric or hand sharpener until I switch between the two.

[Lucio]

Originally Posted by pinkrybns

Can someone scan an image of one?

Visuals! I need visuals!


~Judy

Hey Judy! I think this is not what you want to see but you said:
I need visuals!
I use a student grade sharpener and I have no problems with my oil based pencils, but with the soft wax based Stabilo...
you can see the difference! I having the same problem Pamela has with her white prismacolor pencil.
Lucio

[Meisie]

oooooooooo I'll have to look out for one of these sharpeners! Thanks for the info!

Meisie (who has never used a battery/ electric sharpener )

[Katherine T]

The wax/oil base of coloured pencils tends to leave a deposit on the blades of sharpeners (handheld and battery powered). In effect this blunts the blade and makes it more difficult to cut into the wood. Sharpening a graphite stick seems to get the blade back in good condition before it finally blunts for all time.

My electric sharpener states categorically that it is not for use with coloured pencils - and the same problem occurs - this time on the twizzley barrel things. Again feeding it a graphite stick gets it running sweet again.

In one of the threads in the CP Library referred to above - there is a discussion about rubber cement thinner which I understand cleans up sharpeners - not that I could find any!