Chocolate Teapot ?

[Sideways]

I was gifted a few unused carpenters pencils and sharpener the other day and have just used this sharpener for the very first time.
You can see the result below next to some sharpened by hand with a stanley knife as usual.

I can't help but think whoever invented the daft gadget didn't understand why a carpenter's pencil is made with a rectangular lead in the first place. To me at least, it is genuinely as useful as a chocolate teapot and has just gone straight in the bin.

A square lead can be sharpened in many different ways from razor edged to durable, but if you need a point like a round lead, just carry a round pencil instead of a not very good sharpener to fake one.

Am I missing something ?
And are there any other chocolate teapots out there ?

 

[Terry - Somerset]

The ultimate in versatility - anything from a (sort of) precision line to this is where the chainsaw goes.

Try doing that with a round pencil.

 

[Amplidyne]

I'd wondered how these sharpeners sharpened a carpenter's pencil.
I must have been very young when dad showed me how to do that with his penknife.
I had one of those posh carpenter's sets in a wooden box back then.
I think I knocked a lot of nails into scrap wood!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I never got on with carpenter's pencils, I always binned them when I came across them.

 

[Amplidyne]

here's one I did earlier. Others are available. (Nearly everywhere round here it sometimes seems!)

 

[Ollie78]

Definitely rubbish, I used to just use the nearest chisel, stanley knife , marking knife, belt sander, bit of sandpaper, rough brick or paving slab, razor blade, block plane, etc. etc. all probably better than those sharpeners.
Now I use a Pica pencil which I somehow don`t loose.

 

[Sideways]

I like the Pica (and Hultafors) long nose pens and pencils too, but you don't look a gift horse in the mouth They'll come in handy sometime.
A belt or disc sanding machine IS great for carpenters pencils

 

[kinverkid]

You can sharpen your Carpenters pencils at both ends. A sharpened pencil will give you a point at around 1/4" x 1/8" when scribing. Use the flat end to mark along a rule or edge.

 

[Inspector]

I have a carpenter pencil sharpener someplace in the shop that sharpens them correctly, that is with a flat wide point. Naturally I can't find it at the moment but it's the same as the one in this review. https://www.penciltalk.org/2009/04/keson-cp2-carpenter-pencil-sharpener It works and consistently from sharpening to sharpening. I got it from Lee Valley ages ago and they don''t sell them anymore.

Pete

 

[TheUnicorn]

I never use the sharpeners, but to play Devil's advocate, they are just a tool to give you a pointed tip on a pencil that won't roll away on a roof etc, I'd rather use a knife, but it's a personal choice

 

[deema]

I’ve tried a number of different sharpening systems, and now use a Faber-Castell sharpening jig (£126 Amazon) on 6000 grit pencil media which gives me a point I’m happy with……..I’m getting my coat

 

[Sideways]

You got me !
A guy can't even sneak a sharpening thread in here in disguise ))

 

[Vulcan]

I like the Pica (and Hultafors) long nose pens and pencils too, but you don't look a gift horse in the mouth They'll come in handy sometime.
A belt or disc sanding machine IS great for carpenters pencils

Out of interest I bought the Hultafors. It’s handy having a sharpener in the cap and the Red and Yellow refills have come in handy a few times.

 

[Sideways]

I tried the "tracer" grey and green types first but the lead would slide back into the pencil whenever I tried to use it. The other two brands seem much better.
Likewise I find red and yellow leads for any of these are handy e.g. if you need to mark structural steel for the saw or angle grinder.

 

[Fergie 307]

I tried the "tracer" grey and green types first but the lead would slide back into the pencil whenever I tried to use it. The other two brands seem much better.
Likewise I find red and yellow leads for any of these are handy e.g. if you need to mark structural steel for the saw or angle grinder.

Have to say for marking steel etc I just use a Sharpie, silver one if it's black.