The humble pencil sharpener .

[formariz 11,968]

A very important thing in the shop that is not thought of often enough are sharp pencils . They are essential in about every single task and their sharpness is critical if accuracy is to be achieved. There are many ways of achieving that but none more efficient and consistently accurate than a proper pencil sharpener. Nothing fancy is needed. The simple vintage ones are always the best readily available and inexpensive. My favorite of all of them is the Dixon Enduro No. 20. Because of its swiveling container it can be mounted in any position, container also being easily removed for emptying. However it’s best feature is it’s ability to automatically except any diameter pencil and automatically stopping cutting when pencil is done. 
 

 

 

 

 

[squonk 40,663]

I moved in to my house in 88. There is a pencil sharpener in the kitchen and one in the garage. I have emptied the kitchen one but the garage one has a clear bin and there was shavings in it. I knew the guy who had lived there died in the 70's. I said I wouldn't dump it out until it's too full to accept any more shavings. It's still going. Pics to follow.

 

Kitchen unit.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2022 by squonk

[formariz 11,968]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

I knew the guy who had lived there died in the 70's. I said I wouldn't dump it out until it's too full to accept any more shavings. It's still going. Pics to follow

I don’t know. 50 years and not full yet? Seems to me you are not sharpening your pencil often enough. What seems to be the problem?

[SylvanLakeWH 25,043]

1 hour ago, formariz said:

I don’t know. 50 years and not full yet? Seems to me you are not sharpening your pencil often enough. What seems to be the problem?

Don’t know about @squonk, but I’ve always been told I’m not the sharpest pencil in the holder… 

[ebinmaine 66,312]

We have the same one as @squonk. Likely was a part of my maternal grandparent's estate. 

[Horse Newbie 7,002]

I have the same one as @squonk also, but I don’t believe mine has “US PROPERTY” written on it.

These we’re widely used in school districts down south, and probably everywhere else too. Of course I bet “all” pencil sharpeners were widely used in school districts.

[squonk 40,663]

13 hours ago, formariz said:

I don’t know. 50 years and not full yet? Seems to me you are not sharpening your pencil often enough. What seems to be the problem?

Garage sharpener. I use mainly Sharpies and pens. I still have Wheel Horse pencils from Glen I got at the show years ago.

 

 

I even have an old school masking tape dispenser!

 

 

[dclarke 4,019]

I picked this one up a few months ago. 

[rjg854 11,211]

15 hours ago, squonk said:

 

 

 

 

Did you take that out of my barn 

[squonk 40,663]

1 minute ago, rjg854 said:

Did you take that out of my barn 

I think that sharpener was hanging there when you and I were chasing girls on our bikes! 

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,227]

13 hours ago, formariz said:

I don’t know. 50 years and not full yet? Seems to me you are not sharpening your pencil often enough. What seems to be the problem?

Squonk does not have lead in his pencil.

Edited July 24, 2022 by elcamino/wheelhorse

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,156]

I’ve got one too…upgraded model with the wood grain accent…lol

[squonk 40,663]

2 hours ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

Squonk does not have lead in his pencil.

Do you even know where your "pencil " is?  

[formariz 11,968]

2 hours ago, dclarke said:

I picked this one up a few months ago. 

Got one of those also.

[formariz 11,968]

If you use them a lot try to find new cutters for them. They are increasingly becoming hard to find. A lot of sharpeners found are rather dull already.

[ri702bill 8,039]

20 hours ago, squonk said:

I moved in to my house in 88. There is a pencil sharpener in the kitchen and one in the garage. I have emptied the kitchen one but the garage one has a clear bin and there was shavings in it. I knew the guy who had lived there died in the 70's. I said I wouldn't dump it out until it's too full to accept any more shavings. It's still going. Pics to follow.

 

Kitchen unit.

 

 

 

 

As Mike, I have a Boston Hand crank pencil sharpener that was Dad's, perhaps older than that. Still works well, once I cleaned the two tapered cutters. Seems that ONE of us 3 kids got the bright idea that it would work well to sharpen crayons about 60 years ago - NOT!!!

Edited July 24, 2022 by ri702bill

[SylvanLakeWH 25,043]

18 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

I’ve always been told I’m not the sharpest pencil in the holder… 

 

2 hours ago, formariz said:

are rather dull already.

Been told that too… 

 

Stop rubbing it in… 

 

[formariz 11,968]

 

  That is actually a rare one.

[formariz 11,968]

4 hours ago, squonk said:

Do you even know where your "pencil " is?  

He may not be the only one with that problem. Here is my solution to that here.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,043]

Just wondering if there is a high correlation between  hoard… er, um, “collecting”, and pencil hoarding…

 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2022 by SylvanLakeWH

[rjg854 11,211]

You can never have enough pencils  

[formariz 11,968]

18 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Just wondering if there is a high correlation between  hoard… er, um, “collecting”, and pencil hoarding…

 

 

 

LOL . Let’s analyze it .I guess one could always assume that there is some type of correlation . One can always look at someone who collects lots of different stuff and make that assumption. The word “hoard “ however generally takes into account individuals who’s collecting has a negative impact on not only their lives but also the lives of others around them. If I am to be considered a hoarder,  and I have indeed been affectionately called “ a very organized hoarder “ in the past , the difference is that my hoarding actually has the opposite effect on my life and on the others surrounding me. It is a positive effect whether it be by the tractors, tools,artifacts,etc. I am sure that many who collect  many different types of items occasionally pose the question to themselves , wether they are hoarders. I know that I do. However when often visitors enjoy walking through the place classify it as a museum or that it is like taking a step back in time I feel assured that I am still under control. I do enjoy and use every single item  that I have, learn from them and work to pass them and their history on to the next generations. 
 As for the pencils , I do go through a lot of them since they are always kept with a sharp point, and luckily my wife was a school teacher who literally bought thousands of them every year to give to the kids in school. When she retired I was left with a heathy supply of them. 

[The Freightliner Guy 1,327]

On 7/24/2022 at 2:37 PM, formariz said:

 

  That is actually a rare one.

My grandpa had one just like that in his garage fyi the grandpa with my rj in his backyard 

[hotajax 222]

Hi fellas.  I know this is for sharpeners.  But do you know where I can get soft lead Ticonderoga or Mongol pencils with an eraser?  Thanks

[formariz 11,968]

22 hours ago, hotajax said:

Hi fellas.  I know this is for sharpeners.  But do you know where I can get soft lead Ticonderoga or Mongol pencils with an eraser?  Thanks

You can buy the Ticonderoga pencils at Target. They are not however US made. 
 The Mongol brand has not been available in the US for a while. Another industry virtually gone from the US.

  Big difference in quality from the US made pencils. Wood in Chinese pencils is garbage and leads are broken inside already many times. Erasers are many times useless since all they do is smear and spread the lead on the paper rather than erase. I still have a hefty supply of US made pencils.