[HN Gopher] The art of sharpening pencils (2007)
___________________________________________________________________
The art of sharpening pencils (2007)
Author : Tomte
Score : 97 points
Date : 2022-08-25 11:26 UTC (2 days ago)
(HTM) web link (matthewjamestaylor.com)
(TXT) w3m dump (matthewjamestaylor.com)
| avian wrote:
| > The Needle Point [...] The fine point is prone to breaking
|
| The fragile point can be a benefit.
|
| When I was taking my first drawing lectures I was constantly
| reminded that I use a too heavy hand and that I'm fixing the
| lines on my sketches too early. A pencil sharpened to a needle
| point kind of forces you to use a light hand because otherwise
| you're constantly breaking the graphite.
|
| I always thought that's the main reason why people use it. I
| guess less sharpening is nice benefit as well, but I never
| thought about it until now.
| Geonode wrote:
| It says mechanical pencil sharpeners are only available for the
| standard shape, but that's incorrect.
|
| I love my long point sharpener:
| https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W9JH4RV/
| wkjagt wrote:
| One day, I'll get myself an El Casco pencil sharpener. It gives
| a very special point shape, a long point, but ends in a blunt
| surface. Here's a review that describes it really well:
| https://www.penciltalk.org/2012/05/el-casco-pencil-sharpener
| bdn_ wrote:
| "How to Sharpen Pencils" [1] by David Rees is one of my favorite
| books. Highly recommend it for its perfect blend of satire,
| actual in-depth analysis, and absurdity.
|
| [1] https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/214252/how-to-
| sharp...
| trynewideas wrote:
| cf. the film version: https://vimeo.com/60718161
| becquerel wrote:
| I have a particular affection for the chapter where he teaches
| you how to sharpen pencils with your mind.
| [deleted]
| HPsquared wrote:
| Not exactly sharpening, but there's an artist who carved pencils
| into intricate sculptures, see this one of a train and tunnel:
|
| https://mymodernmet.com/cindy-chinn-pencil-carvings/
| lubujackson wrote:
| If drawing with a charcoal pencil, a long point is preferred. The
| idea isn't to have a sharp point as much as a wide side that
| enable wielding the pencil more like a paintbrush.
| zoomablemind wrote:
| Nice set of advices, save for a disturbing novelty sharpener.
|
| In some old school design bureau I once noticed a curious style
| of sharpening, where the shaved wood would be tapered at
| unusually extended length (over one inch) instead of just one cm.
| This style would be hand cut.
|
| I guess, the utility is probably two fold - this makes the bottom
| part of the pencil skinier so it's easier to handle it with those
| bulky drafter's rulers, also it saves time to keep the tip
| resharpened, as less wood needs to be shaved off during the work.
|
| Additionaly, with longer slope it's probably easier to keep the
| tip pointy by rolling it on the side.
|
| The ugliest sharpening job comes with those stubby Teconderoga
| school pencils, little core to use and steep tip.
| nabilhat wrote:
| You're not far off, it's so that the wood doesn't interfere
| when using a pencil pointer, and exposing more graphite does
| reduce time spent whittling. That's one big reason it's more
| common to find mechanical pencils at the drafting table, but
| they also do still go for a spin in the pointer now and then.
|
| https://www.draftingsuppliesdew.com/supplies/lead-pointers
| kang wrote:
| I use the normal point. When it blunts out a few mm, it forms a
| round ballpoint pen like surface that can be sustained for a long
| time.
| causality0 wrote:
| Maybe this is a bit immature of me but I can't help but giggle at
| how his line drawings of breasts are lovingly crafted and shaded
| and his drawing of a penis is just a vague scribble.
| [deleted]
| [deleted]
| Cockbrand wrote:
| An immature mind can be a constant source of joy. At least for
| me it is.
| BugsJustFindMe wrote:
___________________________________________________________________
(page generated 2022-08-27 23:00 UTC)