Maybe one of your friends likes to sharpen pencils with a knife.Maybe you need a pencil but don't have a sharpener.Sharpening pencils with a knife is not only practical, it is also an art.The shape and utility of the pencil's tip can be changed by knife-sharpened pencils.You can learn to sharpen a pencil with a knife even if you have never carved anything before.
Step 1: There is a pencil.
The #2 pencil can be sharpened just as well as any other pencil.Artists who draw with pencils that are very similar to the standard pencils, with different hardness ratings, are the most notorious knife-wielding pencil sharpeners.The higher the rating, the harder the core and the lighter it is.
Step 2: Choose a knife that is sharp.
The best tool for sharpening pencils is a very shape knife.There are knives that can be used tosharpen pencils.A standard pen knife will do.You can use a knife with a fixed blade, a utility knife, or a razor blade that fits into a handle.The blade is very sharp.Regardless of the knife you choose, make sure it is sharp enough to cut through the wood of a pencil.
Step 3: The pencil must be held correctly.
The writing tip is pointed away from you, so hold the pencil with your non-dominant hand.Hold the pencil in your left hand if you are right-handed.The tip of the pencil should be about 2 inches from your hand.
Step 4: The knife needs to be held in a certain way.
To hold the knife, use your dominant hand.The sharp edge of the blade on the pencil can be seen if you hold the handle horizontally in your palm.If you want tosharpen the pencil in front of the sharp edge, point the blade away from you.Don't pull the blade towards your fingers.Don't pull the blade towards your body.
Step 5: Place the blade at a shallow angle.
The pencil should be held against the sharp edge of the blade.The back side of the blade should be closer to you if you hold the knife so that it is horizontal to the pencil.
Step 6: Cut the wood with a pencil.
To push the blade through the wood, use the thumb on the hand that is holding the pencil.As the marking core is met, reduce the pressure on the blade.Don't use the knife hand to force the blade.With each stroke of the blade, turn the pencil slowly and consistently.The angle of the blade should be maintained.If you need to push on the back of the blade, use both thumbs.Push with care when using two thumbs.As the wood separates from the pencil, it should be thin enough to be ribbon or curl.
Step 7: The blade should be on the pencil.
The pencil should be moved forward after you complete a cut.This may be more comfortable.In between cuts, position the knife and pencil relative to one another, but in a consistent manner.The blade should be the same distance from the tip as before.
Step 8: Take the wood up to the core
You want a long point that goes from the beginning of your cuts to a very sharp point at the tip of the marking material.The tip is stronger the longer the taper is.The shorter the angle of the blade, the longer it is.
Step 9: Take the pencil out of its core.
The tip of the pencil needs to be touched up if you have reduced pressure as you reach the writing core.The blade should be horizontal to the pencil.With each stroke, brush against the pencil tip.
Step 10: It's a good idea to sharpen a pencil.
Remove the wood first, rotating as you cut off pieces of wood, and then leave the rod of charcoal intact and exposed.Sand the charcoal to a sharper point when you have at least a 12 inch of it.Rub the pencil at a consistent angle with a sanding block.Hold the angle consistently if you prefer it.For a sharper tip, use a shallow angle.As charcoal is fragile, the sand is very lightly.As you are sanding for a smooth, sharp tip, make sure to rotation the pencil.
Step 11: It's a good idea to practice.
Practice your technique.Different techniques are used tosharpen multiple pencils.You can use different shaped tips for different types of writing and drawing.
Step 12: The carpenter has a pencil.
A carpenter's pencil cannot be sharpened with a traditional pencil sharpener because it has a wide, rectangular shaft.The shape and strength of the pencils make it impossible for a conical tip to be used.To remove wood from the end of a pencil, use a utility knife.Push the blade through the wood with the thumb of the hand.To maintain a consistent blade angle, use your knife hand.Don't worry about the consistency of carpenter's pencils.The wood and the core of the pencils are thicker than other pencils, and they can handle different strokes.