Finally - a modern design aesthetic applied to the desktop pencil sharpener!
The Bungu Ryodo BR-05 from Carl is a marvel - it costs less than some handheld sharpeners from Faber-Castell and KUM - and it performs amazingly well and has a compelling modern design.
The mechanism is easily understood, and offers two point choices - blunt […]
Next in our “Perfect Pencil” series, we are going to look at the Design Perfect Pencil, which features an aluminum pencil extender.
It is typically sold in a paper and plastic box with the extender and three of the refill pencils.
The product is interesting in itself, and also an intermediate step between the plastic and precious […]
This article is the first in a series on Faber-Castell’s “Perfect Pencil” line.
The Perfect Pencil is a pencil extender with a clip. Newer versions also have a built in sharpener. The mechanisms and materials vary through the product range.
Today we’ll look at the basic model, the Castell Perfect Pencil.
Sold loose or in a blister […]
KUM is a well known pencil sharpener manufacturer. Though inhabiting a very specialized market, they have an enviable reputation as a quality manufacturer with international distribution.
What may not be as well known is that KUM sells pencils - three by my count, all part of larger product offerings.
Today we’ll look at the KUM Blue Ocean. […]
I can’t read much of it, yet it seems to speak very well to many interests of mine.
Red and blue pencils, leadholders, quirky office accessories - they’re all here, and featured prominently.
The magazine is in Japanese, with about 150 glossy pages crammed full of photos of woodcase pencils, mechanical pencils, leadholders, erasers, sharpeners, staplers, hole […]
Image used courtesy of isu at the uncomfortable chair.
The Tortoise Lead Pointer is a remarkable all-in-one unit for blade sharpening of leads. It can handle:
1.18mm: Traditional mechanical pencils (pre-1950?), and today, Yard-O-Led, some Autopoint, and some Retro 51 pencils.
2.0mm: A standard lead diameter.
3.15mm: A standard lead diameter.
3.8mm: Less common - used by the Pilot Croquis, […]
This site now has an index page. I’ve tried to put links to most of the past pencil and stationery content, organized by topic. I also created links to the most popular posts (so far). Please let me know if there are any problems.
Link: pencil talk index
Thanks to those who voted or left comments in this informal poll.
Unsharpened pencils were preferred, with the final tally being 35 for unsharpened, 17 for sharpened.
fixedgearfiend asked, “How are the pencils that come pre-sharpened, sharpened?” Staedtler’s Pencil Facts website has a video that very briefly shows factory sharpening. The machine is moving quickly, […]