![]() If you just want to lighten your colors, use your kneaded eraser. This gives you more flexibility to undo your mistakes or create bright highlights. They can sometimes erase back to the white of the paper, although some pigments do stain. The nibs are generally made from white plastic eraser, and are easily replaceable and quite inexpensive.Įlectric erasers do most of the work for you, which is especially useful if you have arthritis or do a lot of erasing. Most are battery-operated (rather than wired) and work by spinning the little nib when you press the button. If you want more erasing power, electric erasers are your best bet. This keeps it clean and prevents you from transferring unwanted pigment. Tip: keep some scrap paper or sandpaper nearby to rub your eraser on in between uses. However, it can be cleaned, and running a graphite pencil through it from time to time will help grease the blades. ![]() The X-Acto School Pro Electric Sharpener is a more affordable model, but not as well suited to colored pencils. The Bostitch Super Pro Electric Sharpener is made to handle colored pencils, and with regular cleaning it should last for years. Some manufacturers warn about using them with colored pencils because the wax can gum up the blades. If you make a purchase via the links below we receive a small commission, which helps support this site. Even with the autostop feature, they can still wear down your pencils more quickly, which is something to keep in mind if you have an expensive set. You just poke the pencil in and hope for the best. This can be useful because if you have a pencil that is prone to breakage, you can use the oversize slot, which will take off less wood and be a bit gentler on the pencil.Įlectric sharpeners can be expensive, and you have less control than you do with a handheld sharpener. Make sure you get one with slots for regular and oversize pencils. If portability is an issue, you can also get battery-powered models. A decent model will give you a long, sharp point, and also have an auto-stop feature to prevent wasteful oversharpening. If your hands get tired with handheld sharpeners or you want to save time, it's worth considering an electric sharpener. ![]() This has become my favorite pencil sharpener to take with me when I'm traveling, and I also use it when I'm at home and want to draw or color outside, or while comfortably curled up on the couch. I also appreciate the built-in containers to catch the shavings, so I don't make a mess when I'm not near a trash can. The blades aren’t replaceable, but they’re sharp and long-lasting. I also frequently use General's 3-in-1 Sharpener, which has separate openings for graphite and colored pencils. The Kum Pencil Sharpener is very sturdy and offers replaceable blades. To learn more about how to properly use a handheld sharpener, see my article How to Sharpen a Colored Pencil. They’re slower than electric sharpeners, but you have more control. They're reasonably priced, portable, and shouldn't damage your pencils if you use them properly. Handheld sharpenersīecause I like to work in different locations, I’ve always favored handheld sharpeners. Your purchase helps support this site and keeps it free of ads. I'm a member of Blick's affiliate program, which means if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I'll receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). I've provided links below to the relevant products so that you can easily find them on Blick Art Materials, my favorite online art supplier. Even if you only use standard pencils, the larger hole can be useful. It's best to seek out sharpeners with at least 2 holes (for regular and fat pencils). If your hands are arthritic or you hate being delayed by tedious sharpening, consider an electric or hand crank sharpener. There are several types of sharpeners, so let’s discuss some important factors that will affect your decision when choosing which colored pencil sharpener to buy. This is something to keep in mind when you're buying your colored pencils, and check out this article I wrote about how to prevent breakage in your colored pencils. If the lead is prone to breakage or it’s misaligned within the wooden shaft, you're going to have issues with sharpening and using them. Tip: Even the best sharpener can't make up for a cheap set of pencils. ![]() Buying the right pencil sharpener is important because an inferior sharpener will slow you down, produce a dull point, and could even damage your pencils-and you definitely don’t want that!
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