The correct way to sharpen your pencil

How to blade sharpen

Sketchifer Says,

“There’s also a correct way to hold a pencil - that’s called overhand grip.

But overhand grip simply doesn’t work if we don’t have a long point on our pencil. And the only way to get a long point on that draw-stick, is to 🎸 blade sharpen ⚡️.”

Supplies needed:

✓ Graphite pencils

✓ Hobby knife

✓ Extra blades

✓ Sanding block

Needs improvement

- Cannot be used with overhand grip

- Will become dull quickly

- The least hipster way to use a pencil. I mean like, how are people even supposed to know you’re an ARTISTE?

Here’s How

1. Hold the pencil & the knife

2. Shave the wood

3. Sand the graphite

Hold the pencil & the knife

2. Hold the knife in your dominant hand. Hold the pencil in your non-dominant hand

3. Position your thumb safely over the back of the knife blade

! Blade safety service announcement !

Always sharpen away from yourself, never toward.
Do not use a dull blade. A dull blade is more dangerous than a sharp blade. Change to a new blade when your current one becomes dull.
Ask someone for help if you’re not comfortable using knives

2. Shave the wood

Hold the blade near the top of the pencil, with your thumb over the back of the knife blade

2. *Lightly & carefully* shave away the wood, t
hen rotate the pencil

3. Repeat until the wood is completely smooth

3. Sand the graphite

Place the pencil against your sandpaper block

2. *Lightly* scrub left and right, then rotate the pencil

3. Repeat until the graphite is smoothed to a sharpened point

Bonus tips

Press lightly & go slowly when sharpening and sanding

Too much pressure will break the pencil.
Cut away the smallest amount possible at a time
Do not rush. Speed comes with accuracy, and you’ll become more accurate the more you practice.

Use your knife to cut the graphite down before sanding