The first question that probably you will ask yourself before and after buying colored pencils will be. Which is the best electric pencil sharpener for colored pencils? And that is a totally normal question, because if you invested in Prismacolor or Faber-Castell colored pencils, then for sure you don’t want to destroy them by bad sharpener. And another very important factor is the nicely sharp and clean lead of the pencil, I hope that you keep your pencils sharp and clean for best results you should.
Why is important to have a good electric pencil sharpener?
- The first reason is like I said nice and clean sharp lead tip, which is a very important part of every drawing project. With a sharp lead tip, you will have more control over your drawings, and you will be able to apply more details.
- The second reason why you should choose not solid but the best electric pencil sharpener for colored pencils is? It is how much you wish to extend life to your colored pencils.
Colored pencils are very soft and from the view of the artist that is great. Because adhesion to paper is great, and we can blend them easily. But when we take those soft pencils and we use some cheap sharpener you cut the durability of pencils for probably 50% if not more. So once again if you are serious about drawing with colored pencils choose the right sharpener, it is a smart investment.
What are the options for the sharpening of colored pencils?
I will go straight to the head with this one. You can use a knife for sharpening pencils, generic handheld sharpeners, manual hand crank sharpener and electric pencil sharpeners with latest technology integration. All of them have advantages and disadvantages. However, all of them will do the job! Some of them will be better for graphite some for charcoal pencils and colored pencils.
But we will stick today on electric beasts for sharpening, and for others, we will take time later.
Best Electric Pencil Sharpener for Artists
In this review, I will cover the two best electric pencil sharpeners for colored pencils. They are at the moment the top best available, those that can satisfy all needs of the artist.
Before we start with this review one thing you must take into consideration. Every sharpener needs maintenance! If you don’t maintain them, then even the best electric sharpener will not work for a long time. And you will be disappointed.
And the only reason is that you didn’t maintain good enough blades, and you didn’t clean from shavings inside of the sharpener. So for the best performance of every electric sharpener maintenance is something you must do. Especially if you will use your electric pencil sharpener for colored pencils.
Colored pencils like Prismacolor, Faber Castell, or Derwent colored pencils have a wax base.
And the wax is the worst enemy to blades in sharpener! Why is it like that? Because blades are rotating at a high speed inside of electric sharpener, this rotation and friction create a large heat. And of course, wax from pencils melts and sticks to the blades of the sharpener, which is.
If you don’t clean them from wax you will have soon overheate and also your blades will not cut as they need, and that will result probably in a broken lead tip.
Repeat that two or three times with a graphite pencil and you will remove all wax from the blades, and they will be ready for wax-based colored pencils again. Graphite is the natural lubricant and cleaner for blades, so it’s highly recommended to do this process.
In the reviews below, I have selected the two best pencil electric sharpeners for colored pencils, and I can say with confidence that those heavy-duty sharpeners will never fail you!
Best Electric Pencil Sharpener for Colored Pencils Review
School Smart Electric Vertical Pencil Sharpener
Electric Pencil Sharpener for Colored Pencils
| Product Dimensions | 8.5 x 8 x 5.7 inches |
| Product weight | 1 pounds |
| Blades | Helical steel blades |
| Product materials | Plastic/Steel |
| Warranty | 10 years |
X-Acto School Pro
Powerful but quiet motor
The motor is designed for heavy-duty work but works with a very low level of noise. It is perfect for classrooms or art classes, and in all places, that silence is needed.
Helical Cutter for Perfect Precision with autostop function
The helical cutter on X-Acto School Pro 1670 is made to aim for precision and durability, and it uses an autostop function.
It uses a patented fly-away cutter system, which prevents pencils from over-sharpening. And when you have that system, then you have also reduced the waste of your pencils.
But the best thing and reason you fell in love are exchangeable cutters, replacement is easy and fast. The cutter is great for all kinds of pencils, even colored pencils. But remember what I said maintenance!
6-Pencil Hole Sizes Dialer
With a variety of pencils on the market, with different thicknesses, you can face a problem if you have only a standard-size sharpener.
With X-Acto, you will not have any problems, you will have a 6-pencil hole dialer. Each hole is for different sizes of pencils, and you can sharpen any shape.
By simple rotation of the wheel with holes you choose to thicken, and you get a perfectly stable pencil during sharpening.
Large pencil shavings receptacle
The perfect receptacle for long runs of sharpening, it is designed for the classroom. I’m wondering when you will fill out this receptacle, you will probably forget that exists.
And that is great because we can spend more time on our artwork. And less on trash cans!
Technical Details
| Product Dimensions: | 8.5 x 8 x 5.7 inches |
| Product weight: | 1 pounds |
| Blades: | helical steel blades |
| Product materials: | Plastic/Steel |
And I wish to say in the end that both sharpeners are great, and very well known among users of pencils. And don’t be fooled by the basic look of the School Smart Electric Vertical Sharpener, maybe looks basic but it will do a great job with all of your standard-size pencils.
Prismacolor and Faber Castell are standard-size pencils, so you will have no problem. And if you choose the X-Acto electric pencil sharpener, well I must admit it is my favorite. It has everything that I would need, and 10 10-year warranty.
Advice to get the most out of your electric pencil sharpener
Read the manuals of your pencil sharpener; you can learn how is your sharpener works. What kind of approach do you need?
Test with some old pencils, so you learn more about the results of sharpening, and how to achieve the best possible results.
Try different kinds of sharpeners, and this sounds like crazy expensive advice but think about it. What is better to waste a little more to find the best sharpener for your pencils or to buy new sets of expensive artists’ colored pencils which are the price of the sharpener?
If your tip is dull use sandpaper to make it sharp again, this is to use your pencils longer. The only thing is to have in mind to sharpen them in wide-angle.
X-Acto Pencil Sharpener for Best Results
ProX Commercial Electric Pencil Sharpener
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