<p>Sandpaper.</p>
<p>Really, IMHO the best way to sharpen charcoal pencils is by using sandpaper (100 grit). Works really, really well and the result is perfect.</p>
<p>I start by just rough-shaping it slowly and with a lot of caution with a good sharpener. I usually keep a very small layer of wood over the tip and then move the pencil over the sandpaper which I place on a blanket on my desk. I remove the last little bit of wood like that.</p>
<p>This is demonstrated in this video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df6L-2sB9Ow" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df6L-2sB9Ow</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T16:24:40.597Z
How to release the point from the wood when sharpening with a knife without breaking it?
empty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T18:04:09.660Z
Well, I am just doing it slowly and with a lot of caution with a good sharpener. And I usually keep a very small layer of wood over the tip and then move the pencil over the sandpaper which I place on a blanket on my desk. And remove the last little bit of wood like that.

Take a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df6L-2sB9Ow
Tony Delaney
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-22T21:59:17.473Z
@kevin - you would expose the charcoal amount you want shaving off the outer wood with the knife, then shape the point how you like with the sand paper.
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-08-31T10:42:21.637Z
2022-11-03T18:04:35.687Z
2022-11-03T18:04:35.687Z
Tony Delaney
<p>I'm fairly good at sharpening graphite pencils with a knife using the technique in the answer in <a href="https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/457/what-is-the-proper-way-to-sharpen-a-pencil">What is the proper way to sharpen a pencil?</a></p>
<p>But I'm always breaking the points when I try to sharpen charcoal pencils.</p>
<p>How do I expose the charcoal from the wood when sharpening with a knife without breaking it?</p>
<p>What techniques can I use to sharpen charcoal pencils without breaking the points?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-09-06T17:08:35.053Z
@CreationEdge the points break where the point meets the wood.
empty
<drawing><charcoal><sharpening>
How do I keep from breaking charcoal pencil leads when I sharpen them with a knife?
empty
# How do I keep from breaking charcoal pencil leads when I sharpen them with a knife?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-31)

I'm fairly good at sharpening graphite pencils with a knife using the technique in the answer in [What is the proper way to sharpen a pencil?](https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/457/what-is-the-proper-way-to-sharpen-a-pencil)

But I'm always breaking the points when I try to sharpen charcoal pencils.

How do I expose the charcoal from the wood when sharpening with a knife without breaking it?

What techniques can I use to sharpen charcoal pencils without breaking the points?

**Tags:** drawing, charcoal, sharpening

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @CreationEdge the points break where the point meets the wood.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-08-31. Score: 3

Sandpaper.

Really, IMHO the best way to sharpen charcoal pencils is by using sandpaper (100 grit). Works really, really well and the result is perfect.

I start by just rough-shaping it slowly and with a lot of caution with a good sharpener. I usually keep a very small layer of wood over the tip and then move the pencil over the sandpaper which I place on a blanket on my desk. I remove the last little bit of wood like that.

This is demonstrated in this video: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df6L-2sB9Ow>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: How to release the point from the wood when sharpening with a knife without breaking it?  
> **username_1**: Well, I am just doing it slowly and with a lot of caution with a good sharpener. And I usually keep a very small layer of wood over the tip and then move the pencil over the sandpaper which I place on a blanket on my desk. And remove the last little bit of wood like that.  Take a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df6L-2sB9Ow  
> **username_2**: @kevin - you would expose the charcoal amount you want shaving off the outer wood with the knife, then shape the point how you like with the sand paper.  

---

