Lead Shapeners

       Graphite leads used in lead holders need to be sharpened from time to time. There are several ways to do it and some techniques to use.

 Unsharpened graphite lead

  Sharpened graphite lead

        The one i most use is the rotary sharpener made for this kind of leads, Some lead holders also include a top button sharpener that can be used to sharpen the lead, also a sand paper block or even a piece of sand paper can be used to sharpen the lead to give it a desire shape, a sharp knife can as well be used to sharpen the graphite lead. I also have seen some kind of little traditional pencil sharpeners adapted for the size of the lead, but never try anyone.

 Rotary Sharpener

 

       The rotary sharpener is made of a cylinder and has 2 holes with different lengths  to measure the size of the lead to be sharpened, a cotton cylinder to clean up the lead after sharpening and a main hole where the lead holder with the lead is placed to be sharpened.

       The 2 Holes define 2 different lengths for the lead, A big one for drawing and a littler one for writing and other softer activities.

       So in order to sharpen a graphite lead with this rotary sharpener you would first select a lead length, then release enough lead on the lead holder and insert the lead in the chosen hole, so the lead reaches the bottom of the hole, then release the holder and let it move in direction of the sharpener surface. 

 Two sizes of graphite lead to be sharpened

       After a size have been selected and the lead holds the correct length as shown in the above picture, insert the lead holder in the upper big hole and while holding the sharpener with one hand and the lead holder with the other hand, start rotating the lead holder around the sharpener until no resistance is sensed. You must be careful, when rotating the lead holder not to apply too much force, or the lead can break, this is more noticeable in the softer/blacker degrees of graphite (B to 6B).

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Two different lead  tips: for drawing (top) and for writing (bottom)

Replacing the Cotton Cylinder

       One of the things i first thought the first time i saw my rotary sharpener was that the little cotton cylinder that is used to clean the graphite lead tip after it has been sharpened, was not going to last long and would not be easy to replace so it would be a one time use only. Until i noticed that a local store was selling cigarettes filters that could replace them, So i got several types of filters and found one that is the same diameter, only a bit higher that the original one.

Close view of the cotton cylinders. Left to right: Original one, heavily used,  a used  cigarette filter and a clean cigarette filter

 As can be seen, the diameter of the cigarette filter is the same, only the height is a bit bigger

 Using a sharp knife, is just a matter of seconds until we have a new clean cotton cylinder

The final result, looks even better then the original one. :)

Now i have an almost inesgotable source of cotton cylinders for my sharpener :)

Types of lead tips

The lead tip can have several shapes, each one giving a different mark on the paper

 

 Three different lead tip shapes, from left to right: flat, sharp and dull

        The three tips give different marks in the paper, the sharp tip is good for drawing detail as it allows drawing fine lines, the dull tip is good for applying value to an area and the flat tip can be used for both, the flat part can be used as a dull tip for applying value, and the sharp part to draw fine lines.

 

       When using the sharp tip, it is a good practice to keep rotating the lead holder, as it keeps the tip sharpen. It makes the wearing of the graphite more even around the tip. If you do not rotate it constantly it will wear off faster and become a dull or flat tip.

Using sandpaper to sharpen leads

      A sandpaper pad or a little piece of sandpaper can be used to sharpen the leads, specially if you want a flat lead tip. As simple as it can be you just have to move the lead against the sandpaper to get it sharpened, and it can shape different tips  if you keep the lead stationary of if you rotate it.

 Aspect of the used sandpaper pad to sharpen a graphite lead

 Example of a flat graphite tip obtained using a sandpaper pad

 End Cap Lead Sharpener 

 

       Some lead holders have a end cap lead sharpener, quite useful in a place where you cant get a normal sharpener.

 An end cap lead sharpener and a graphite lead ready to be sharpen

 Inserting the lead into the sharpener and rotate it, Retire the lead for visual inspection and stop rotating it when you feel it is sharpen.

Result of the sharpening operation, a sharpen lead and lots of graphite powder.

        Do not through away the graphite powder that results from the several sharpening operations described above, The rotary sharpener collects the graphite powder in his body, you just have to take off the superior part to get access to the graphite powder. It can be collected in little photographic film plastic containers and later can be used to tone a background of a drawing. With time you will be able to collect a good quantity of graphite powder and save you some money as commercial graphite graphite powder pots can be a bit expensive.

Enjoy drawing!

How to get a good lead from a pencil

       As we talked in a previous article, it is difficult for me to get good leads for drawing in the local stores, I have used a procedure to get leads easily. If I have access to good drawing wood cased pencils, then I already have graphite leads available, i just have to take off the wood case. It also enable me to get a wider range of degrees to work with using lead holders, 

So we will describe how to get get the leads from the pencils.

      Before you buy a pencil, make sure that the pencil lead is about 2mm in diameter, otherwise the lead holder may not be able to use that lead.

What you need: a pencil and a sharp utility knife

WARNING: Be very careful with the knife!!! It is very sharp and cuts through skin easily. Never use too much force to cut with it, to minimize possible accidents.

       So we would start to carve the top of the pencil with the knife. Put the end of the pencil on the paper and with the knife start to carefully carve sections of the wood of the pencil, with vertical top-down movements.

The first cut

The top end of the pencil carved

       After carving the top end of the pencil, we will proceed with carving the other end of the pencil.So now we put the tip of the pencil on the paper in a vertical position and again carve form top to bottom in the paper direction.

Now start with the other end

The pencil with the top and bottom carved

Detailed views

       Always use an outward movement when carving, from inside to outside, so to avoid any incident that may arise from the knife movement. Use little force to cut the wood, never force it too deep, or it may break the lead. In this case move the knife back, rotate the pencil and start carving in another place.

       Now carve the middle section of the pencil with the same soft smooth knife movement. It should be easier cause we already carved the top and bottom end of the pencil.

First phase completed, most of the wood has been removed

      Now on the second phase we will remove most of the wood from the lead. Using the same approach as the first phase we will carve the top, then the bottom and then the middle section.

Almost finished

       So now, in the last phase, it is a matter of time until you take away all the little remains of wood in the lead. With very smooth and soft little cuts refine the lead until it has no wood. Try not to cut the graphite lead, You may use the back of the knife instead of the cutting edge so to minimize the cuts in the lead.

As you can see the closer to the lead, the littler the wood cuts

Almost finished

       As a final step, you can roll the final lead on a sheet of paper to clean the lead of possible remains.

The final lead

 Close view of the final lead

       Now we have a new graphite lead of the required degree, 2B in this case,  But the lead size is bigger than what the lead holder can use, so we break the lead in halves and use one in the lead holder and the other is tagged and saved for future use.

Too big for the lead holder

Two half's of the original lead

One Half is ready to use and the other is tagged and saved for future use.

       So all; it took was 10 minutes and voila!, we have 2 new leads to draw with the lead holder!

       Do not throw away the bigger wood chops from the first phase, cause i think they can be used to make some little charcoal sticks. ;-)

Enjoy drawing!!