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I'm fairly good at sharpening graphite pencils with a knife using the technique in the answer in What is the proper way to sharpen a pencil?

But I'm always breaking the points when I try to sharpen charcoal pencils.

How do I expose the charcoal from the wood when sharpening with a knife without breaking it?

What techniques can I use to sharpen charcoal pencils without breaking the points?

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  • Do you get the same problem when you use a fresh blade? How much of the tip is breaking off? (A simple diagram of picture would really help)
    – user24
    Commented Sep 6, 2017 at 14:24
  • @CreationEdge the points break where the point meets the wood.
    – empty
    Commented Sep 6, 2017 at 17:08

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Sandpaper.

Really, IMHO the best way to sharpen charcoal pencils is by using sandpaper (100 grit). Works really, really well and the result is perfect.

I start by just rough-shaping it slowly and with a lot of caution with a good sharpener. I usually keep a very small layer of wood over the tip and then move the pencil over the sandpaper which I place on a blanket on my desk. I remove the last little bit of wood like that.

This is demonstrated in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df6L-2sB9Ow

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  • How to release the point from the wood when sharpening with a knife without breaking it?
    – empty
    Commented Aug 31, 2017 at 16:24
  • Well, I am just doing it slowly and with a lot of caution with a good sharpener. And I usually keep a very small layer of wood over the tip and then move the pencil over the sandpaper which I place on a blanket on my desk. And remove the last little bit of wood like that. Take a look at this video: youtube.com/watch?v=Df6L-2sB9Ow
    – Tony Delaney
    Commented Aug 31, 2017 at 18:04
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    @kevin - you would expose the charcoal amount you want shaving off the outer wood with the knife, then shape the point how you like with the sand paper.
    – rebusB
    Commented Oct 22, 2019 at 21:59

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