Breaking Lead...

[hrothgarr]

Just curious...I recently started drawing again but I keep shattering my lead while sharpening, so my pencils are disappearing a lot faster than they need to. I bought one of those cheap metal sharpeners:


Is that the problem? Or is it my "technique"? Or is this just a common thing? I'm using Derwent sketching and graphic pencils, HB and 2Bs

Thanks

[Artimatum]

Its a serious problem you should see a doctor about.
---------------------------------------------------

It happens,just be more careful.

[blogmatix]

Real artists sharpen with a craft knife. :-)

[tobbA]

If you want a good sharpener I'd suggest get high quality hand cranked one. (If they exist anymore, I don't know. The one I have I got from my dad and it's pretty awesome. But the ones you have in schools and such these days are pretty crappy....)

[Shorinji_Knight]

I use a pocket knife or anything else on hand. Most sharpeners don't work well.

[Jason Rainville]

I went and bought a lead holder for that very reason. Even if it snaps you can still use it until it becomes to blunt.

[conte]

I'll just leave it here

[Elwell]

Also, try not to drop your pencils! The lead can break within the wooden casing, causing those annoying tips that seem sharp but then fall out.

[Shorinji_Knight]

Also, try not to drop your pencils! The lead can break within the wooden casing, causing those annoying tips that seem sharp but then fall out.

All this time I always blamed the quality of the pencil when this happened. I never once thought that it might be my own fault. Gonna have to be more careful now.

[Zenith_]

Depending on how sharp you like your pencils, these bad boys are pretty good.


Alvin Kum Long Point Pencil Sharpener


Sharpens the wood casing first, then the second hole sharpens the lead.
I've had one for about year now and I've very rarely had any problem with breaking leads, even softer ones.

You can buy them here on DickBlick

[dennis.k]

I went and bought a lead holder for that very reason. Even if it snaps you can still use it until it becomes to blunt.

I second that. Sharpen pencils with a knife is too time consuming for my taste. Just get one of these:

[Raoul Duke]

The razor and sandpaper method does get the best results, but it's a fun killer. I found myself drawing less, because of all the prep work for large drawings I would never scan in.

I go with the drafting pencil too. They don't look as good as a tapered charcoal pencil, but still gets the job done.

[Velocity Kendall]

"All this time I always blamed the quality of the pencil when this happened. I never once thought that it might be my own fault. Gonna have to be more careful now."

some seem to do it more than others, or come with the leads presnapped all the way down because theyve been crushed in transit or something. i guess they cant dope the graphite with other chemicals to make it more forgiving and less shatterprone without ruining its performance as lead.
personally i like drawing with a biro, but watch out for the crappy ones that get ink blobules forming that totally ruin your work..

[egerie]

Also, try to find a hardness/brand you like and buy your pencils BY THE BOX. That's what I did with col-erase as we were going trough them like sandbelts and broken lead cores suck.

[Elwell]

Softer, thicker leads seem more prone to interior breakage. Colored pencils are especially vulnerable.

[Imrooniel]

Well generally speaking throwing your pencils left and right aint good idea as it breaks the graphite...

And just have sharp sharpener. After a while they tend to get dull and are rather scratching pencil than sharpen it

[QueenGwenevere]

And just have sharp sharpener. After a while they tend to get dull and are rather scratching pencil than sharpen it

Yeah, if you're using those cheap little sharpeners, you need to change them often... And sometimes they get a tiny nick in the blade which is pretty much guaranteed to break your lead every time, very annoying and the only cure is to switch to a new sharpener...

I sometimes use those cheapo sharpeners when I'm on the go. I use an electric sharpener at home and have no problems with leads breaking when I use that... fast and convenient, but boy, does it chew up pencils.

[Elwell]

I use an electric sharpener at home and have no problems with leads breaking when I use that... fast and convenient, but boy, does it chew up pencils.

If you do a lot of pencil work, especially colored pencil work, a good, professional office quality electric sharpener with auto-stop is well worth the money.

[Imrooniel]

If you do a lot of pencil work, especially colored pencil work, a good, professional office quality electric sharpener with auto-stop is well worth the money.

Oh man I just remember when I once put pencil into BOSH driller and tried to sharpen it... I can tell you for a fact, NOTHING BEATS THE EFFICIENCY

[Arshes Nei]

Softer, thicker leads seem more prone to interior breakage. Colored pencils are especially vulnerable.

That's why when I sharpen colored pencils and have those 2 holed sharpeners, I use the "Kindergarten" tip. Making a pencil with a short fat point supported with a wider base is prone to less breakage.

I see people make real long skinny points and cringe. I know it's because people want to use it similar to a pencil, but if you got to cover large areas, I recommend Art Stix http://www.bindersart.com/store/prod...a-Set-48-Colo/ over the skinny long points that are prone to breaking.