The majority of us have used pencil sharpeners for as long as we can remember. However, sharpening your regular lead pencils is much different than sharpening oil-based colored pencils. If you are new to the art world, we have the best advice on how to sharpen oil-based colored pencils. We’ve also included a list of the 10 best sharpeners (both handheld and electric) to use for your oil-based colored pencils as well!
How to Sharpen Oil-Based Colored Pencils
If you use the same methods to sharpen your oil-based colored pencils as you use for your regular lead pencils, you may notice that the pencils continually break. This is because oil-based colored pencils are made out of a softer material than your regular lead pencils. This is why you can’t use the same methods to sharpen them.
You can use various tools to sharpen your oil-based colored pencils. You can use handheld sharpeners, electric sharpeners, knives, and even sandpaper! As you begin using oil-based colored pencils, you will find the type of sharpeners that you prefer the most. There is no perfect fit for everyone since our preferences are different.
The first step is sharpening an oil-based colored pencil is deciding on the type of point you want for your coloring project. You can use flat, dull, or sharp points. Each point can come in handy for specific projects. For example: If you are making small details like hair, you will have the best luck with using a sharp point.
To achieve a sharp point, we recommend using a handheld sharpener. It can be much more difficult to get with an electric sharpener. This is due to hand-held sharpeners giving you a lot more control when sharpening. Dull points can be achieved using multiple types of sharpeners and are easy to achieve. However, you do want to ensure that you use a higher-end sharpener. Using cheap pencil sharpeners can decrease the life of your pencils.
Flat points are hard to achieve with a sharpener since the purpose of a sharpener is to sharpen the point and not flatten it. However, you can easily achieve a flat point with a knife, if that’s the type of point that you need for your project. Flat points can come in handy for coloring in areas that need consistent color with light pressure, like skin tone.
No matter what type of sharpener you are using, there are a couple of tips you should use. Our first tip is to be gentle when sharpening your pencils! If you use a lot of force, it can cause your pencils to break more easily. You want to take your time when sharpening, even if you’re using an electric sharpener.
Our second tip is to keep your sharpeners in great condition. Once the blade on your sharpener has been worn down, you will have a much more difficult time achieving a sharp point with your oil-based colored pencils. It’s important to not put off replacing your sharpener when the blade has been worn down, or it can hurt the life of your pencils!
Another option when your blade has been worn down is replacing the blade in your pencil sharpener (instead of the entire sharpener). However, your sharpener must come with replaceable blades for you to be able to replace only the blade and not the entire sharpener. By replacing your blade or the sharpener when the blade is getting worn down, your colored pencils will work better and also last you much longer!
Another way for you to get your pencils to last longer is to look for pencil sharpeners that come with heavy-duty and high-end blades. If the blades are heavy-duty and good quality, they will cut your pencils much better while sharpening.
If you are new to shopping for pencil sharpeners, we recommend looking for pencils at a slighter higher price, like $7 or higher. These sharpeners will typically come with blades that have a higher quality. You should avoid buying extremely cheap pencil sharpeners that range around $1. Although these pencil sharpeners may be attractive with the low price and also easy to find, you will have a more difficult time sharpening your colored pencils with these.
For our last tip, we recommend twisting your sharpener and not your pencil if you’re using a handheld sharpener. This may feel different than what you’re used to, but it will help your pencils last longer. You want the blade to be the thing that’s moving and not the pencil. When the blade moves, it cuts clean into the pencil and makes for a better point.
10 Best Sharpeners for Oil-Based Colored Pencils
1. EX-20 Electric Pencil Sharpener
This EX-20 Electric Pencil Sharpener is both heavy-duty and quiet, which can come in handy in many situations! It works for many pencils, including oil-based colored pencils and other art pencils. This sharpener is also very durable.
One of our favorite parts about this sharpener is it comes with a lifetime warranty. If you purchase the EX-20 Electric Pencil Sharpener and you ever have issues with this sharpener, you can contact the manufacturer and they will help you with no hassle!
When you are using your EX-20 sharpener, an LED light will turn on when your pencil has been completely sharpened. The motor will also shut off, letting you know that your pencil has reached the perfect sharp point.
2. STAEDTLER Mars 501 180 Rotary Pencil Sharpener
This STAEDTLER pencil sharpener has characteristics that make it a perfect sharpener for colored pencils, including oil-based colored pencils. Our favorite part about this pencil sharpener is that you can set various adjustments with this pencil sharpener to achieve either long and sharp points or short and blunt points for your pencils.
We recommend using the long and sharp adjustment if you need clear and precise lines. The short and blunt adjustment works better for lines that have a softer look and are broad. If you are using a desk for your coloring projects, this pencil sharpener can be attached to your desk with the desk clamp. Attaching the sharpener can make it much more convenient to sharpen your colored pencils.
3. Koala Tools Double Pencil Sharpener
When it comes to handheld sharpeners, this Koala Sharpener is one of our favorites. We love that it comes in two different sizes. It’s a great option for all colored pencils. With the hand-held sharpener, you have a lot more control over the sharpening than you do when you use an electric sharpener.
Another benefit of purchasing handheld pencil sharpeners is they can often be more durable than and last much longer than electric sharpeners. Hand-held sharpeners are also easy to take with you if you’re traveling!
4. X-ACTO KS Manual Vacuum Mount Pencil Sharpener
This manual X-ACTO Pencil Sharpener has an outstanding blade since it comes with X-ACTO dual-hardened helical cutters. Your pencils will be in great care with this sharpener and you’ll be able to reach a much sharper point! One of our favorite perks of this sharpener is it comes with a vacuum-style mount. That means it can easily be mounted on the surface of your choice. It’s easy to install and easy to remove from the surface as well.
Since this sharpener is made out of metal, it will also last longer than some other sharpeners. The metal material makes this sharpener tough. Metal can be less likely to break over time. On top of being tough, this sharpener is also low maintenance and doesn’t require much work to keep in great shape!
5. AFMAT Electric Pencil Sharpener
If you’re looking to get a long point for your pencils, then this AFMAT Electric Pencil Sharpener is an excellent option for you! This pencil is specifically designed with artists in mind. When you purchase this AFMAT sharpener, you know you’re getting a high-end pencil sharpener that will last you a long amount of time. With high-end sharpeners, you will have to purchase fewer sharpeners in the long run, which will save you money.
This electric pencil sharpener stops sharpening automatically when the pencil is done being sharpened. It’s also rechargeable, so it doesn’t need to be plugged in all the time. You can take the sharpener with you if you’re traveling.
Another benefit of this AFMAT sharpener is it comes with a 12-month warranty. If you have any problems with your product within the first year, you can reach out to the manufacturer. This takes away any anxiety you may have when purchasing a pencil sharpener that comes at a higher price point.
6. Alvin Brass Bullet Sharpener
When it comes to handheld sharpeners, this Alvin sharpener is another one of our favorites. We love that the strong blade is replaceable. This means when the blade has become dull, you don’t have to replace the entire sharpener. You can simply replace the blade!
As we mentioned before, we love the control a hand-held sharpener will give you. When sharpening oil-based colored pencils, you can still use the standard hand-held sharpeners that you would use for regular pencils. You just need to make sure that you use more gentle pressure when sharpening your oil-based colored pencils.
7. OfficeWorld Electric Pencil Sharpener
This OfficeWorld sharpener is one of our favorite pencil sharpeners when it comes to using heavy-duty blades! Similar to the X-ACTO KS Manual Vacuum Mount Pencil Sharpener, this OfficeWorld pencil sharpener also has a heavy-duty steel helical blade.
One thing we love about this pencil sharpener is it gives you multiple power options. You can use batteries, plug it in using a USB cord, or use an AC power adapter. It also has a large capacity, so it can hold a large amount of shavings from your pencils.
Similar to the AFMAT Electric Pencil Sharpener, this OfficeWorld Electric Pencil Sharpener also automatically stops when the pencil has been sharpened completely. This makes this sharpener even easier to use and less maintenance!
8. Tihoo Professional Art Pencil Sharpener
We love convenience when it comes to pencil sharpeners, which is a reason why we love this Tihoo Professional Pencil Sharpener. Like some of our other favorite sharpeners, this electric pencil sharpener also automatically stops when your pencil has been sharpened to the perfect point. You can also use three various ways to power this charger. You can use batteries, a USB cord, or an AC adapter.
This Tihoo pencil sharpener is also a very heavy-duty sharpener with blades that are made with high quality. This sharpener is dependable, so you don’t have to worry about it breaking on you constantly throughout your coloring projects. It also gives you some variety, since the length and sharpness are adjustable!
9. Wolverine SP5490 Compact Battery-Operated Pencil Sharpener
This Wolverine pencil sharpener is an excellent electric option that comes in a convenient, compact size. It’s also quiet and can easily be traveled with. To add to the convenience that this sharpener comes with, you can use AA batteries, or you can also use a USB to charge the sharpener.
Similar to the Alvin Brass Bullet Sharpener, we love that you can also replace the blades in this Wolverine sharpener. It will save you money over the long run because you will only have to replace the blades and won’t have to replace the entire sharpener. We recommend replacing the blades when your current blades have gotten dull.
Like many of our other favorite pencil sharpeners, this sharpener also comes with a one-year warranty. If you have any issues with your product becoming defective within the first year of purchasing it, you can reach out and get assistance. The manufacturer will issue a replacement or refund your money!
10. Koh-I-Noor Pencil Sharpener
This Koh-I-Noor pencil sharpener is an excellent option if you’re looking for a handheld sharpener. We love that you can reach 3 different lengths for your points with this sharpener. All three points are also tapered. This hand-held sharpener can work for a variety of pencils as well, including oil-based colored pencils.
If you’re looking for a pencil sharpener that has great quality and still has a great price attached to it, we recommend considering this Koh-I-Noor. It’s also a great option for those who may be just starting with coloring as a hobby. It gives you a chance to get used to using a hand-held sharpener for your oil-based colored pencils.
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