My electric sharpener is eating all my pencils up. I get a beautiful sharp point, but then the lead falls off. I don't remember having this much trouble with my last Boston sharpener (had it for 5 years.) Lead even breaks off in my little hand held one. I use mostly Prisma. Is there a trick I don't know about. It is getting very frustrating. Any ideas.

Judyvan

My experience is that handheld sharpeners just break Prisma leads, but my electric sharpener does not. If you have a new electric sharpener that breaks leads, well, maybe donate it to a school and buy another one

Judy, unfortunately it could also very well be you got a bad set of Prismas. They are known for their breakage and its a major downfall with the pencils. I have switched my sharpener to a non-electrical pencil sharpener. But its not a little handheld either. It has a special grip for different size pencils and pulls the pencil in to sharpen it at the setting you want your point. Its called Multipoint Professional Creative Point Pencil Sharpener. I believe Blicks has it but last time I checked they were sold out. If I have time today I will look and see if I can find a link for it. The points do not come out as sharp as an electric sharpener but it still comes to a good point. Hope that helps. Plus another reason why I now prefer my Derwent Colorsofts over Prisma's.

Sorry you're having problems with your pencils Judy. As Venus said, you may have a problem with the pencils, not the sharpener. If coloured pencils are dropped they can break the lead inside and when you sharpen them the lead just continues to crumble. Very frustrating.

Personally I use an electric pencil sharpener for my coloured pencils and haven't had any problems with them. THe handheld is another story, with lots of leads getting stuck and breaking, so I use handhelds only if I have no other choice.

I've heard that you can re-form the core in wax based colored pencils by sticking them in the microwave oven for a short time to melt/solidify the core again. I've personally never tried it as I don't have a microwave. I've also heard you can send the pencils that are breaking to the manufacturer and they will replace them. Also don't have personal experience with this.

Debby

I have had the same problem with two of my Prisma's Judy, so I am following this with interest. I hate to think of buying another set right now. I found that my small battery powered electric sharpener works best and I keep it sharp by using it to sharpen graphite pencils every now and then.
Would like to know more about using the microwave to "remold" the pencils' core!

Thanks for all your replies. I will check out Dick Blick and may go out and buy another electric. Will keep you updated.

Judyvan

Judyvan


I now how your feeling my pencils are the same as yours the leads keep bracking or falling out after they are sharpe . I guss i got bad bach of colored pencils.

I got a big set of prismas and I found that about 10 of them the leads break so I end up with a much smaller pencil .. when I buy them at the store there is no way of checking them out ....but I think when they are stocked they get dropped or just plan abused .