SewingMom2many Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 For the life of me, I can't get a pencil sharpened properly! I have an electric sharpener, a bunch of hand ones where you turn the pencil and I just bought a crank one. I can't get the pencils sharpened!! I've also tried lots of different kinds of pencils so it's not the pencil brand. Either it just grinds the whole pencil down to nothing, or it sharpens it unevenly so that there is both wood and lead at the point, or it does something to it where the lead just falls out. Am I just inept? What in the world... :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 For the life of me, I can't get a pencil sharpened properly! I have an electric sharpener, a bunch of hand ones where you turn the pencil and I just bought a crank one. I can't get the pencils sharpened!! I've also tried lots of different kinds of pencils so it's not the pencil brand. Either it just grinds the whole pencil down to nothing, or it sharpens it unevenly so that there is both wood and lead at the point, or it does something to it where the lead just falls out.Am I just inept? What in the world... :tongue_smilie: happens to me too. I just got some Ticonderoga pencils and had a much easier time of it. I think it was because they came pre-sharpened. Starting with a blank slate is a recipe for disaster here. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee in NC Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 happens to me too. I just got some Ticonderoga pencils and had a much easier time of it. I think it was because they came pre-sharpened. Starting with a blank slate is a recipe for disaster here. :D They are just better pencils. Other pencils are worthless, especially the ones you get at Walmart or other box stores. I won't buy anything other than Ticonderoga's anymore. At least when you sharpen them the leads don't fall out.:glare: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 Hanging my head in shame, I have not been able to sharpen a pencil evenly all the way around since I left college. There, I said it. I"ve owned up....I don't like mechanical pencils but I have learned to embrace them as part of my disability. Faith 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bairnmama Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 They are just better pencils. Other pencils are worthless, especially the ones you get at Walmart or other box stores. I won't buy anything other than Ticonderoga's anymore. At least when you sharpen them the leads don't fall out.:glare: Then your Ticonderoga's must be better quality than mine. I bought some, both the black ones and the yellow, and I STILL can't get the blooming things sharpened properly! :glare: I have the exact same problems as the op. I.don't.understand. I just want to give up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 I went through 3 electric sharpeners in 2 years. They all sharpened crooked and eventually something would break off inside and they stopped working. I bought an X-acto wall-mount sharpener at the '$.99 Only' store. One day I finally installed it on the wall in the laundry room and it is amazing! It sharpens to a super fine point that is the same all around! It looks about like this one.http://www.amazon.com/X-ACTO-1083-Sharpener-Wall-Mount-Translucent/dp/B0057VIEY6/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1312573766&sr=8-11 When it breaks (for $.99, I don't think it's going to last too long), I will get another X-acto sharpener. Probably one that is steel instead of plastic. My favorite pencils are Papermate but my sharpener even does well on the cheap pencils that I buy DD as prizes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 Are you a lefty, by any chance? I, a lefty, recently figured out that I need to use my right hand to get a decently sharpened pencil. Something about pressure and blade placement, I guess. Switching hands made a huge difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RegularMom Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 Then your Ticonderoga's must be better quality than mine. I bought some, both the black ones and the yellow, and I STILL can't get the blooming things sharpened properly! :glare: I have the exact same problems as the op. I.don't.understand. I just want to give up. Same here. RegularDad bought a huge pack of Ticonderogas for us last year and we couldn't sharpen them properly at all. They'd be crooked, or the leads would fall out.... drove us crazy. I'll try that right handed trick. My dd10 and I are both lefties. Here's hoping.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraeden Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 Some pencils are just terrible! We have had good luck with Ticonderoga pencils and the hand held sharpeners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 Sadly, it's the cheap pencils. I love cheap pencils...... I only want to buy cheap pencils.... I have to buy the good ones - Ticonderoga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatD Posted February 12, 2021 Share Posted February 12, 2021 On 8/5/2011 at 3:20 PM, Renee in NC said: They are just better pencils. Other pencils are worthless, especially the ones you get at Walmart or other box stores. I won't buy anything other than Ticonderoga's anymore. At least when you sharpen them the leads don't fall out.:glare: I honestly don’t know why they even make these cheap pencils. I honestly can’t stand it when my kids get these cheap pencils in their Halloween baskets or valentines gifts. They are complete garbage that and the lead is always falling out no matter how well you sharpen them. Such a waste in our environment and what a waste of money! They should be banned!! Ticerondogas are truly the only pencils that work! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4atHome Posted February 12, 2021 Share Posted February 12, 2021 Zombie! But I must say, I am now boycotting Ticonderoga pencils because they are made in China. I bought American pencils this year😊 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristine 2020 Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 On 2/12/2021 at 10:54 AM, 4atHome said: Zombie! But I must say, I am now boycotting Ticonderoga pencils because they are made in China. I bought American pencils this year😊 I didn't know that. Good to know — thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mona Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 (edited) Ticonderoga weren’t always made in China, but the quality has gone downhill since. I use The Write Dudes pencils made in the USA. You can find them at WM actually. My favorite pencil sharpener can sharpen any pencil even the cheap ones. The downside is that it sharpens them too well. The points are super sharp. https://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/ The sharpener lasts a long time. I haven’t needed to replace any parts yet. Edited February 25, 2021 by Mona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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