Comments on: How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical and Theoretical Treatise on the Artisinal Craft of Pencil Sharpening http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 23:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: DevinC http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1395236 DevinC Sat, 14 Apr 2012 03:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1395236 I too am a fellow barbarian.  But mechanical pencils are only so good.  They're never quite as sharp as one can get.  For me, that makes no difference, but  someone really caring about something is a Good Thing, no matter how trivial that thing may seem to me.   I too am a fellow barbarian.  But mechanical pencils are only so good.  They’re never quite as sharp as one can get.  For me, that makes no difference, but  someone really caring about something is a Good Thing, no matter how trivial that thing may seem to me.  

]]> By: timquinn http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1395178 timquinn Sat, 14 Apr 2012 01:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1395178 Artists do, do they? Glad to know that. It might explain my problem all these years. Artists do, do they? Glad to know that. It might explain my problem all these years.

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1395133 oasisob1 Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1395133  Derwent Factory and Pencil Museum: Did it, got the photos, put the check in the block (in pencil, of course).  Derwent Factory and Pencil Museum: Did it, got the photos, put the check in the block (in pencil, of course).

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1395132 oasisob1 Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1395132 I bought this book and ripped out the bullcrap in the back which ruined this otherwise fine tome. This book, the LAST WORD on pencil sharpening occupies a prominent shelf in my home. I learned much and gave maximum stars on every website that would accept my review. I tattooed my back with chapter two. I bought this book and ripped out the bullcrap in the back which ruined this otherwise fine tome. This book, the LAST WORD on pencil sharpening occupies a prominent shelf in my home. I learned much and gave maximum stars on every website that would accept my review. I tattooed my back with chapter two.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394982 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394982 Artists draw with the side of the lead as well as the point.  A cylinder is never going to do what a cone does. Artists draw with the side of the lead as well as the point.  A cylinder is never going to do what a cone does.

]]> By: timquinn http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394977 timquinn Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394977 The pencils with .5 .7 or .9 mm leads are awesome! Click click new point, and that is sharp! The pencils with .5 .7 or .9 mm leads are awesome! Click click new point, and that is sharp!

]]> By: Peter http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394971 Peter Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394971 It's a shame he went straight to the French without reference to the Brits, http://www.pencilmuseum.co.uk/history/ the UK had a few hundred years start on them.  But this article enabled me to find a new site http://www.collectorsweekly.com/office/pencils Anyway I like my mechanical pencils and I now also have this site to admire http://leadholder.com/ thanks boingboing It’s a shame he went straight to the French without reference to the Brits, http://www.pencilmuseum.co.uk/history/ the UK had a few hundred years start on them.  But this article enabled me to find a new site http://www.collectorsweekly.com/office/pencils Anyway I like my mechanical pencils and I now also have this site to admire http://leadholder.com/ thanks boingboing

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394904 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394904 Also never sharp. Also never sharp.

]]> By: rollerskater http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394886 rollerskater Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394886  that cover is a thing of beauty.  that cover is a thing of beauty.

]]> By: mike http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394763 mike Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394763 Rees lives in <a href="http://osm.org/go/Zc8okY6y-" rel="nofollow">Beacon, NY</a>, not Brooklyn. Rees lives in Beacon, NY, not Brooklyn.

]]> By: Kier http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394733 Kier Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394733 Like wow, dude.  Even if he was joking, nice design of printed matter matters, you know? joeschwerein:  You're very close.  Futura Bold with a healthy dose of tracking added. Like wow, dude.  Even if he was joking, nice design of printed matter matters, you know?

joeschwerein:  You’re very close.  Futura Bold with a healthy dose of tracking added.

]]> By: Patti Sundstrom http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394724 Patti Sundstrom Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394724 They have these cool things called "mechanical pencils" - no sharpener needed!  : P They have these cool things called “mechanical pencils” – no sharpener needed!  : P

]]> By: Rickenbacker4001 http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394701 Rickenbacker4001 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394701 When I worked in construction, I would watch carpenters pull out their knives to sharpen their pencils. Then a young kid working with us dropped down to the concrete and sharpened the pencil by rubbing it against the floor.He commented that was how they sharpened the popsicle sticks in his troubled teenager camp he went to. Smartest guy on the job site..... When I worked in construction, I would watch carpenters pull out their knives to sharpen their pencils.
Then a young kid working with us dropped down to the concrete and sharpened the pencil by rubbing it against the floor.He commented that was how they sharpened the popsicle sticks in his troubled teenager camp he went to.

Smartest guy on the job site…..

]]> By: Mark Dow http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394671 Mark Dow Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394671 I wonder why H. D. Thoreau never commented on pencils. He spent a lot of time using, making, and even improving on them, and was a keen observer of all sorts of technology. But never a word about the stick in his hand. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau "Thoreau returned to Concord and worked in his family's pencil factory, which he continued to do for most of his adult life. He rediscovered the process to make a good pencil out of inferior graphite by using clay as the binder; this invention improved upon graphite found in New Hampshire and bought in 1821 by relative Charles Dunbar. (The process of mixing graphite and clay, known as the Conté process, was patented by Nicolas-Jacques Conté in 1795). His other source had been Tantiusques, an Indian operated mine in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Later, Thoreau converted the factory to produce plumbago (graphite), which was used to ink typesetting machines." I wonder why H. D. Thoreau never commented on pencils. He spent a lot of time using, making, and even improving on them, and was a keen observer of all sorts of technology. But never a word about the stick in his hand.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau
“Thoreau returned to Concord and worked in his family’s pencil factory, which he continued to do for most of his adult life. He rediscovered the process to make a good pencil out of inferior graphite by using clay as the binder; this invention improved upon graphite found in New Hampshire and bought in 1821 by relative Charles Dunbar. (The process of mixing graphite and clay, known as the Conté process, was patented by Nicolas-Jacques Conté in 1795). His other source had been Tantiusques, an Indian operated mine in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Later, Thoreau converted the factory to produce plumbago (graphite), which was used to ink typesetting machines.”

]]> By: Charles H. http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394665 Charles H. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394665 If we're correcting mistakes, the publisher's name is also wrong: it's Melville House Publishing, not MHP. (As someone who owns both books and non-book products from them, the only place you'll find them using "MHP" is in <a href="http://mhpbooks.com/" rel="nofollow">their domain name</a>, likely as it's shorter and therefore easier to remember.) If we’re correcting mistakes, the publisher’s name is also wrong: it’s Melville House Publishing, not MHP. (As someone who owns both books and non-book products from them, the only place you’ll find them using “MHP” is in their domain name, likely as it’s shorter and therefore easier to remember.)

]]> By: millie fink http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394621 millie fink Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394621 Reminds me of the guy in Baker's <i>The Mezzanine</i>. Lovely book for opening my eyes to the glories of the mundane. Like escalators, and straws.  http://www.amazon.com/The-Mezzanine-Nicholson-Baker/dp/0679725768 And is that a photo of Rees? Reminds me of the guy in Baker’s The Mezzanine. Lovely book for opening my eyes to the glories of the mundane. Like escalators, and straws. 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mezzanine-Nicholson-Baker/dp/0679725768

And is that a photo of Rees?

]]> By: bklynchris http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394584 bklynchris Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394584 My inability to get a proper point on a pencil without breaking the lead, led me to spend hours on eBay searching for old school, screw into wall, vintage pencil sharpener. I even considered physical therapy as I felt that maybe the angle of my wrist was breaking the point before I took it out of the sharpener. Finally, I would just buy very expensive Blackwings, and other exotics.  And then behold, I was introduced to a proper pencil sharpener here: http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/clive-thompson-on-th.html That shit saved my marriage. My inability to get a proper point on a pencil without breaking the lead, led me to spend hours on eBay searching for old school, screw into wall, vintage pencil sharpener. I even considered physical therapy as I felt that maybe the angle of my wrist was breaking the point before I took it out of the sharpener.

Finally, I would just buy very expensive Blackwings, and other exotics.  And then behold, I was introduced to a proper pencil sharpener here:

http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/clive-thompson-on-th.html

That shit saved my marriage.

]]> By: bklynchris http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394578 bklynchris Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394578 TI is cool, we would all agree, but I think he was joking.  Not that he isn't going to all of his handouts in it, but the joke was mutually inclusive of active interest. TI is cool, we would all agree, but I think he was joking.  Not that he isn’t going to all of his handouts in it, but the joke was mutually inclusive of active interest.

]]> By: Kevin Pierce http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394576 Kevin Pierce Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394576 Golf courses (miniature and full size) have free pencils!   IKEA too! Golf courses (miniature and full size) have free pencils!   IKEA too!

]]> By: Kevin Pierce http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394572 Kevin Pierce Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394572 <b><i>David Dreams of Pencils</i></b> David Dreams of Pencils

]]> By: joeschwerein http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394571 joeschwerein Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394571  I am not an expert, so take with a grain of salt, but the overall look and the J seem like Futura Heavy to me, if that's any help.  I am not an expert, so take with a grain of salt, but the overall look and the J seem like Futura Heavy to me, if that’s any help.

]]> By: Paul Renault http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394570 Paul Renault Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394570 Really?  The eraser is on the bottom of a pencil?  Are pencils only used to write on ceilings? Really?  The eraser is on the bottom of a pencil? 

Are pencils only used to write on ceilings?

]]> By: db http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394569 db Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394569 Sorry to be that guy but artisanal, only one I. The RSS feed is wrong and there is a misspelling in your text as well, Cory. Sorry to be that guy but artisanal, only one I. The RSS feed is wrong and there is a misspelling in your text as well, Cory.

]]> By: kernkraftwerks http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394566 kernkraftwerks Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394566 Recursive commenting is reflexive! http://boingboing.net/www.businessweek.com/howto/weaponize  Recursive commenting is reflexive! http://boingboing.net/www.businessweek.com/howto/weaponize 

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394562 Preston Sturges Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394562 In college I liked a #2.5 Wallace Lockbound sharpened with a box cutter, and there was a a funky little office supply store that sold pencils in bins.  The Chinese dollar store wooden pencils can have a decent lead, but you must supply your own eraser.  In college I liked a #2.5 Wallace Lockbound sharpened with a box cutter, and there was a a funky little office supply store that sold pencils in bins. 

The Chinese dollar store wooden pencils can have a decent lead, but you must supply your own eraser. 

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394557 Preston Sturges Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394557 "......There's no need to sharpen my pencils any more. My pencils are sharp enough.  Even the dull ones will make a mark...." http://youtu.be/RYlCVwxoL_g “……There’s no need to sharpen my pencils any more. My pencils are sharp enough.  Even the dull ones will make a mark….”

http://youtu.be/RYlCVwxoL_g

]]> By: Anne Onimos http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394550 Anne Onimos Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394550 Cf.: http://boingboing.net/2008/02/26/reg-barber-custom-es.html "I recently sprang for a huge, beautiful, kick-ass KitchenAid espresso machine and I love it, but I was disappointed with the junky plastic tamper that came with it. [...] I ordered a brass tamper [...] a Canadian artisanal espresso tamper with a global reputation." Cf.: http://boingboing.net/2008/02/26/reg-barber-custom-es.html “I recently sprang for a huge, beautiful, kick-ass KitchenAid espresso machine and I love it, but I was disappointed with the junky plastic tamper that came with it. [...] I ordered a brass tamper [...] a Canadian artisanal espresso tamper with a global reputation.”

]]> By: Deidzoeb http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394545 Deidzoeb Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394545 Most really good parodies or satires are done by someone with at least a grain of actual enjoyment or admiration for the subject they're mocking. See also Ween's country album. Most really good parodies or satires are done by someone with at least a grain of actual enjoyment or admiration for the subject they’re mocking. See also Ween’s country album.

]]> By: Ben Ehlers http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394535 Ben Ehlers Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394535 OH!!! And while I am here, WHAT FONT IS THAT ON THE COVER? I haven't been able to identify it yet, and I really want to do all my Middle school science handouts in a classy 50s engineering font.  ....it's just so detached and calming. Like falling asleep to an old newsreel... OH!!! And while I am here, WHAT FONT IS THAT ON THE COVER? I haven’t been able to identify it yet, and I really want to do all my Middle school science handouts in a classy 50s engineering font. 

….it’s just so detached and calming. Like falling asleep to an old newsreel…

]]> By: Bookburn http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/how-to-sharpen-pencils-a-prac.html#comment-1394531 Bookburn Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=145698#comment-1394531 Nearly everyday I watch as frustrated middle school students try to put a fine point on a cheap crap pencil that they're dad bought in a discounted bulk pack at the beginning of the school year.  Most days I can get by with cringing and offering some suggestions from across the room.  Other days I'll offer my German hand sharpener over the junk school crank sharpener that has had everything from pens, crayons, dowels, spaghetti,  and glue-sticks through it.  But when I'm most irked, I yank the pencil out of the kids hands, snap it in half, and hand them a new Black Warrior (my teaching salary simply does not allow for me to be handing out Palominos). After reading that excerpt, I think that I'm going to make <i>How To Sharpen Pencils</i> required reading for all eighth graders and having a big poster of the figure <i> Irregular Pencil Points - a Taxonomy </i> printed and pasted above that whore of a crank sharpener. Nearly everyday I watch as frustrated middle school students try to put a fine point on a cheap crap pencil that they’re dad bought in a discounted bulk pack at the beginning of the school year.  Most days I can get by with cringing and offering some suggestions from across the room.  Other days I’ll offer my German hand sharpener over the junk school crank sharpener that has had everything from pens, crayons, dowels, spaghetti,  and glue-sticks through it.  But when I’m most irked, I yank the pencil out of the kids hands, snap it in half, and hand them a new Black Warrior (my teaching salary simply does not allow for me to be handing out Palominos).

After reading that excerpt, I think that I’m going to make How To Sharpen Pencils required reading for all eighth graders and having a big poster of the figure Irregular Pencil Points – a Taxonomy printed and pasted above that whore of a crank sharpener.

]]>