After we started selling pencils designed for woodworking, several customers asked why don’t make a pencil sharpener as well.
Two words: Mobius+Ruppert.
These German-made sharpeners are exactly what we would make. They are brass, nicely machined and you can purchase replacement blades so the tool will last a lifetime. Plus the price is great, from $8 to $11, depending on the seller.
I love the Mobius+Ruppert 602. It’s a heavy disc of brass that has two holes: one for oversized pencils like ours and another for the more standard-size pencil. The blades come sharp, and the knurled exterior makes it nice to hold while you work.
I also have the M+R 604, which makes a beautiful long bevel on slender pencils (it won’t accept our 3/8”-diameter pencils).
I bought mine from Thackery LLC, though you can find them at many artist supply stores, including Blick, which is also a great place to buy replacement blades.
As always, we are not sponsored by any of these companies. They don’t even know we exist.
— Christopher Schwarz
I prefer artisanally sharpened pencils.
Have you sent any off to David Rees for sharpening?
Where’s Megan? We need her customary “snort”
I cannot snort at this one. I own an artisinally sharpened pencil.
I’ll buy that for my best friend! And one for me, maybe.
Any recommendations on crank operated pencil sharpeners? Funny, that I’ve always preferred those to electric pencil sharpeners since I was a child. I guess I’ve always had the hand tool bug.
It appears that M+R makes a crank sharpener that they call a sharpening machine: https://www.moebius-ruppert.com/spitzer/sp_maschine_en.html
For old-school crank style pencil sharpeners I have been very happy with the x-acto Ranger 55
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ranger+55+pencil+sharpener&crid=2JIB3T1EE3Y0U&sprefix=ranger+55%2Caps%2C211&ref=nb_sb_ss_midas-iss-sm_3_9
Sam,
My absolute favourite hand cranked sharpening machine (those are also my druthers for sharpening pencils) is without doubt the metal-bodied ones from Caran d’Ache. They are as good as they’re expensive. And boy, they’re expensive! I don’t know who might carry them in the US, but google and ye shall (hopefully) find.
Given the context, I shoud perhaps also say that yes: the LAP shop pencils fit! Well, at least the first iteration (the ‘Never Despair. Nothing Without Labour’ ones, I mean) does. I haven’t got any of the current version to test, but I think they’re the same thickness anyway …
Cheers,
Mattias
I purchased a Dahle pencil sharpener many years ago and it still functions as smoothly and cleanly as it did new (I’m an artist as well as woodworker, so I sharpen a lot, when there is a sharpener around. Otherwise I use a knife). At the time they were considered the Cadillac of sharpeners. The M+R “pocket” sharpeners might just be the ticket when a sharpening machine isn’t around.
3,90€ 🤩
You’ve inspired me to get one of these little brass wonders to treat my blacking pencils to a proper sharpening. Thank you Chris.
Ha – I have two of these M+B sharpeners. And I also have three old-school coffee grinder grade school style pencil sharpeners all over the house and shop. As for my two M+B sharpeners I leave one on my bench and one in my tool box. The M+B pencil sharpeners just have the right feel in your hands. Makes you feel like you just discovered a tool that’s been around a long time you never knew existed.
p.s. this is twice in a week that I’ve stumbled on a thread about the M+B sharpeners on my favorite blogs or you-tube. Go to the following link and fast forward to about 30 minutes to watch Chris and Sean discover M+B for teh first time on their woodworking channel.
For old-school crank style pencil sharpeners I have been very happy with the x-acto Ranger 55
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ranger+55+pencil+sharpener&crid=2JIB3T1EE3Y0U&sprefix=ranger+55%2Caps%2C211&ref=nb_sb_ss_midas-iss-sm_3_9
Well, the sharper offered at the makers cabinet isn’t too shabby either… still waiting for mine nevertheless
Well, there’s this one too:
https://www.makerscabinet.com/collections/all-flagship-products/products/hovel
Can’t tell if I love it or hate it.
I certainly don’t like seeing so many ads for it on instagram. But the product itself is probably not bad (though expensive).
A ratty old block plane would be cheaper and serve a dual (or more) purpose.
Yes, certainly.
Nothing wrong with using a belt sander.
Only if you chuck it up in a drill.
I bought an Alvin pencil sharpener several years ago that I absolutely loved and was bummed when they went out of business. I wanted another but didn’t know why my Alvin sharpener had an M+R on it. After some quick “google image” research I figured out why. https://static2.jetpens.com/images/a/000/035/35682.jpg?ba=middle%2Ccenter&balph=3&blend64=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5qZXRwZW5zLmNvbS9pbWFnZXMvYXNzZXRzL3dhdGVybWFyazIucG5n&bm=difference&bs=inherit&mark64=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5qZXRwZW5zLmNvbS9pbWFnZXMvYXNzZXRzL3dhdGVybWFyazEucG5n&markalign=top%2Cright&markalpha=30&markscale=16&q=90&w=600&s=bc2592f2a19879a73c35840ece0bc2ba
Work amazing.