Though fountain pens have received the most attention in the "analog revolution" that's taken place during the past decade, the humble woodcase pencil has also seen a resurgence in popularity. Wooden pencils require their own set of "gear", ranging from pencil cases that can accommodate longer pencils like Blackwings, to portable handheld sharpeners, to what I plan to talk about today: the desktop pencil sharpener.
In addition to the satisfying, tactile sensation of writing with a freshly sharpened pencil, many people love the inherent customizability. Depending on whether you are writing, drawing, or even highlighting, you can change the point on your pencil to suit your purpose and/or preference, and a versatile desktop pencil sharpener can make this process a lot easier. That said, there's a wide range of excellent desktop sharpeners available on the market, priced from as little as $20 all the way up to $500+ for a handmade El Casco sharpener from Spain. Here are a few things to consider when looking at desktop sharpeners.
Note: I’m only considering manual sharpeners in this review. Electric sharpeners, in my experience, do not last as long, and I’ve not found one that I’m happy with.
My El Casco sharpener has four different pre-set point style options. I generally leave it set to “as long as possible.”
How do you use your pencils?
Specifically, do you want a longer point for writing, or do you need some versatility for softer graphite or colored pencils used for art or highlighting? Some sharpeners are primarily intended for basic school or office use, and therefore offer just a single point style (typically a long, sharp point). Others have more options, such as shorter blunt tips that many artists prefer for sketching and coloring.
Even within the “long point” style, there’s a lot of variation. Here, you can see four long-points, from left: El Casco, Caran d’Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine (Mini), Caran d’Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine (Standard), and Uni Mitsubish KH-20. The long El Casco tip allows you to write for a very long time, and the point is very durable, but at the same time it’s blunt and won’t give you an ultra fine line unless you file the point down further. (El Casco incorporates a file into the shavings drawer.)
Do you like curved or needle tips, and do you care whether the sharpener leaves marks on your pencil?
Even if you know that a single-length, long-point sharpener works for you, there's a lot of variation within that category. Certain sharpeners, such as the Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine (mini version) and the El Casco, create a curved, almost concave point similar to handheld sharpeners like the M+R Pollux and Blackwing One-Step. Others will sharpen to an equally long "straight" point that ends in a needle tip. Personal preference determines what works best for you, and factors such as handwriting size and style, writing pressure, and aesthetic preferences all come in to play. For example, many people feel that a slightly curved point is stronger, and therefore reduces breakage for those who write with a heavy hand.
Baring their teeth and waiting to chew up your pencils.
And, yes, certain desktop sharpeners leave "teeth marks". While the Carl Angel 5/Classroom friendly sharpener is the most notorious in this regard, the Caran d'Ache sharpeners will also mark the barrel of your pencils. This isn't something I really care about - pencils are a consumable product and the marks will get sharpened away eventually with the rest of the pencil - but it really bothers some people. Sharpeners like the Carl CC-2000, the Uni-Mitsubishi KH-20, and, yes, the El Casco all feature a "toothless" chuck with a rubber grip instead.
The standard Caran d’Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine makes what I would consider a “classic” conical long point.
How much desk space do you have? Are you looking for a design piece or heirloom that you can pass along to your children?
An El Casco or a larger Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine is intended to serve as a design centerpiece for your desk as much as a sharpener. These things are very large, heavy, and plainly intended to serve as an office focal point. (Trust me, a bright yellow El Casco is a conversation starter.) On the other hand, the "mini" version of the Caran d'Ache sharpener is lightweight, portable, and can easily be tucked into a desk drawer. The Carl Angel 5 and Uni-Mitsubish UH-20 sit somewhere in between.
From left, the El Casco, the Uni Mitsubishi KH-20, the Classroom Friendly/Angel-5, and the Caran d’Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine (Mini).
The more expensive desktop sharpeners are handcrafted and built to last for many years. The primary example here is the El Casco sharpener, which is handmade in Spain and can command prices of up to $600. As I noted above, they're incredibly versatile, capable of the longest concave points possible, but not everyone needs this level of customization or quality. That said, if you're a pencil enthusiast or a serious artist who wants to invest in a quality tool that your kids can use, you may view it as a worthy investment. Another sharpener reminiscent of the El Casco but at a lower price point is the metal version of the Caran d'Ache pencil sharpening machine. You get a similarly substantial metal construction at a lower price point, but you don't get the point variation options of the El Casco.
No, I’m not selling my yellow El Casco.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
You don't need to spend a lot of money to get a consistently good experience with a desktop sharpener. It all depends on what you need the sharpener to do functionality-wise, and whether you want to pay extra for things like history, handcrafted construction, and iconic design. On the lower end of the price spectrum, I've had excellent experiences with the Carl Angel 5 / Classroom Friendly Sharpener, as well as the Uni Mitsubishi KH-20. These sharpeners fall in the $20-30 range (with some more expensive specialty colors), and are extremely serviceable. The Uni sharpener even offers a basic point adjustment function. Slightly more expensive ($50) is the mini Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine. Finally, as noted above, you have the top end of the pricing scale, with the Caran d'Ache Pencil Sharpening Machine at $150-200 and the El Casco as high as $600.
There are many different manual desktop sharpeners available on the market, and I can only write about the 4-5 I have in my possession. (I can't really justify buying more as they take up a fair bit of space.) Once we take possession of our new brick-and-mortar space later this month, I hope to be able to make more sharpeners available for in person testing and purchase!
UPDATE: For those of you who can’t visit in person, check out this demonstration video I did for YouTube, featuring the sharpeners discussed here.
Don’t miss our current 4th of July Weekend Sale, which can net you an extra 10% off pencils and a sharpener of your choice (some exclusions apply) with the coupon code FIREWORKS at checkout. See the full details here.