How to Peel a Pencil

Pencil manufacturers make several styles of non-mechanical pencils. These pencils feature a core, known as the lead, made of graphite or other materials that can leave a mark on surfaces wrapped in a casing. The casing is usually made of solid or pressed wood or, in certain specialty pencils, a long strip of paper. Whichever type of pencil that you have, when the lead tips wears down, the method you use to peel the pencil depends on the tools that you have on hand and the type of pencil.

Things You'll Need

• Manual pencil sharpener
• Trashcan
• Electric pencil sharpener
• Knife
• Swivel vegetable peeler (optional)

Instructions

Wood-Casing Pencils

1. Peel the pencil with a manual sharpener. Place the manual sharpener on the end of the pencil over a trashcan, turn it two to five times to peel away the wood and then remove the sharpener. Knock the peelings into the trash.

2. Remove the wood with an electric sharpener. Plug the sharpener into an electric socket. Insert the pencil lead tip into the hole on the sharpener for 10 to 15 seconds and then remove it.

3. Scrape the wood away with a knife or swivel vegetable peeler. Pick up the pencil in one hand with the tip pointing away from you. Pick up the knife or peeler in the other. Hold both pieces about a foot away from your body over a trashcan, place the blade edge about a half-inch above the tip and then scrape towards the tip to peel the wood away and reveal the pencil lead. Repeat this process from all sides of the pencil.

Paper-Casing Pencils

1. Pick up the pencil in your non-dominant hand.

2. Grasp the string near the tip between the fingers of your other hand.

3. Pull the string toward you about a half a centimeter to tear through the paper. Grasp the corner of the torn strip and pull it toward the end of the pencil -- unraveling it as you pull -- to reveal more of the pencil lead. When finished, throw away the paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Use caution when handling a knife or vegetable peeler, as you can cut yourself if the blade slips.

References

• Pencils.com: Lead in Pencils