Sand Block

[timeshadowed]

How does one go about sharpening cps with a sand block?

Do you roll the cp lead on the block? Or . . .How do you all do it?

This is a real 'newbie' question!

TimeShadowed

[Arlene]

my question to you is why would you want to use a sand block instead of a good sharpener?

[timeshadowed]

Arlene:
"My question to you is why would you want to use a sand block instead of a good sharpener?"



I have read about the use of a sandpaper block and was wondering if it would save leads from breaking off in the hand held sharpener. I've been experiencing a lot of lead-breakage using the sharpener. It seems that some of the pencils are hiding broken leads within the wood casings. And yes, I have had trouble with this happening with PrismaColor pencils as well as the cheaper brands.

I just could not figure out how to get a sharp point using the block method. Hence the question.

TimeShadowed

[Arlene]

Your question is a good one.

What i've found is using an excellent electric sharpener avoids the problems you're having...unless the pencils have been dropped. In that case it's likely the leads have broken in the casing, but overall I rarely have that problem. Matter of fact the only time I had that problem was when I bought off of ebay.

I use the panasonic kp310 I think it is. I've had nothing but trouble sharpening with hand held sharpeners. Another good sharpener is the staples brand battery operated sharpener and it's only $12 I believe.

[timeshadowed]

Hi,

Thanks for the advise about using an electric sharpener, but I still would like to know how to use the sandpaper block. I practice drawing while I'm away from home and don't want to have to bring an electric sharpener with me. I still think that using the block may save lead.

Can someone please tell me how to use it to achive a sharp point on the cp.

Thanks.

[Amazingreys]

Hi,

Thanks for the advise about using an electric sharpener, but I still would like to know how to use the sandpaper block. I practice drawing while I'm away from home and don't want to have to bring an electric sharpener with me. I still think that using the block may save lead.

Can someone please tell me how to use it to achive a sharp point on the cp.

Thanks.

I use sandpaper if I still have plenty of "lead" but need to resharpen to a very fine point. I just roll it around a bit on the sand paper pad. Then when I use most of the lead, I re-sharpen the whole thing with an electric sharpener. It depends on what I'm working on, I use a bit of both.
I also have a nice hand held sharpener for travel.
Myself, I have not had a problem with my pencil leads breaking. I have Prismacolors.
I hope this helps some. :)

[timeshadowed]

Thanks for the reply, Amazingreys. I'll try that method. I was trying to use the sandpaper as you would to 'sand an object' and that didn't seem to work very well for me.

[Arlene]

you are correct in that it will save you some lead, and is fine to bring a point back to sharp while you're working, but for overall sharpening, i still think you're better with a regular sharpener.

for travel i always have my staples brand battery operated sharpener. size is 5 1/4" w x 3"h x 1 1/2" d. works great on four Double A batteries...and the batterys last forever in it.