How To Sharpen A Charcoal Pencil

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Knowing what to practise when sharpening charcoal pencils can be a mystery when starting out. Do yous use a regular old sharpener, a blade, sandpaper? In this article we respond that question and give step-by-step instructions on the best means to sharpen like a pro.
(Note: sharpening charcoal pencils should only be done by an adult or under adult supervision!)

Can you or can't you use a regular sharpener?

In short, you can sharpen a charcoal pencil with a regular sharpener, but yous will be eliminating nigh of the benefits that come from using charcoal. The best mode to sharpen a charcoal pencil is by using a blade/knife and sandpaper, making the tip of the charcoal every bit long as can be without it hands snapping off.

The great news is, it's actually super fun and satisfying to sharpen charcoal pencils! Equally long a yous know the elementary steps, you'll be near hoping your tip snaps and so y'all can become to sharpening again! (If you're weird like me).

Why do you demand to sharpen charcoal pencils differently?

Unlike graphite pencils, charcoal pencils are sharpened so that they take a very long nib.

This allows you to cover large areas such as backgrounds very fast, and to besides exercise details with the tip.

This different shape supports the loose, free cartoon motions that are used in charcoal drawing.

Supplies needed to sharpen charcoal pencils

• A stanley knife/arts and crafts knife, or whatever sharp knife
• Sandpaper or a sanding block
• A practiced ready of charcoal pencils. This set has 4.8 stars on Amazon.

Safe

Again, this should exist done only by adults, or under strict developed supervision. Blades are abrupt and dangerous. While sharpening, always acuminate away from yourself and your fingers/mitt. Never have any role of your body (or anyone else's) in front of the blade or anywhere the blade can be while moving. Always think about where the blade would become if it slipped, and make certain it would not come up in contact with yourself or anyone else if information technology did.

Proceed this in heed during the entire process, making sure that no parts of your hands, thumbs, fingers or body are in the way of the blade or its path. Ever put away sharp blades in a rubber place when finished using them.

The Sharpening Steps

Footstep ane: Shaving the Pencil

Making sure you're holding the pencil with all fingers out of the bract's path, hold the pencil firmly in your non-dominant hand, and the blade in your dominant hand.

Double-check that the bract is the right direction (sharp side pointing abroad from you), and with your pollex push the tedious side of the blade against the pencil, about an inch down from the tip.

You want to become the tip as long every bit possible, then shave information technology at a very pocket-size bending when starting.

Footstep 2: Sanding it Down

In one case the tip is about an inch in size, put the blade away safely and leave your sandpaper/sanding block.

Holding the pencil most parallel to the sandpaper, gently motility the it forrard and back, while as well rotating it with your thumb and alphabetize finger.

Your goal here is to go the tip smoothen and even all the fashion effectually.

Exist sure to not put too much pressure on it, or you'll be back to square ane.

Focus on sanding the wooden role of the pencil mainly, and but gently letting the charcoal part touch the sandpaper, as shown in the photo.

I find it much easier if you sand with the pencil at the edge of a table (see photo).

The sandpaper tends to move effectually as y'all do this, then make sure you have a good, solid grip on it with your other hand.

In one case the tip is nigh an inch in size, put the bract abroad safely and get out your sandpaper/sanding block.

Holding the pencil almost parallel to the sandpaper, gently move the it forwards and back, while also rotating it with your thumb and alphabetize finger.

Your goal here is to get the tip smoothen and even all the way around.

Exist certain to non put too much pressure on it, or you lot'll be back to foursquare one.

Focus on sanding the wooden part of the pencil mainly, and just gently letting the charcoal part bear on the sandpaper, every bit shown in the photo.

I find it much easier if you lot sand with the pencil at the edge of a table (come across photo).

The sandpaper tends to move effectually as you do this, so make sure you lot have a practiced, solid grip on information technology with your other mitt.

Step 3: Draw on Paper to Smoothen Out the Kinks

Sanding tin only do so much, and then you need to use the charcoal pencil for a while to smooth out all the bumps.

On a blank canvass of paper, make all sorts of strokes, with the pencil at many different angles.

Y'all should be aiming for a thick, uniform stroke. If merely some parts are hitting the page, keep making marks until it smooths out.

After a few minutes, the shape will adjust to y'all own unique fashion of drawing and y'all'll have a perfectly sharpened charcoal pencil!

And that's all there is to it!

Information technology can take a bit of practice at the get-go, especially if you're non used to using a bract, but I hope you'll exist sharpening with ease in no time!
Have fun and stay safe!

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Source: https://smashingpencilsart.com/do-you-sharpen-charcoal-pencils-a-how-to-tutorial/

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