ALVIN High Rotary Lead Pointer, Sharpening Tool for Drawing, Planning, and Design, Great for Students and Professionals - 2 Inch.

This just did not do for me what I expected from it.

I'd never used one before, it didn't come with instructions, I just thought I'd figure it out myself and wasted a couple leads doing so. Finally I looked it up... and yes, it works great. How to use a lead pointer:• Prepare to sharpen: On the top are two small holes with little arrows next to them. One hole has a pointed arrow and the other a blunt arrow. These are used to set how much lead is exposed for sharpening based on how sharp a point you want. Place your lead holder over the appropriate hole with the lead hanging down into it. Push down on the top button of the lead holder to release the lead so it drops down to the bottom of the hole. Release the button to lock the lead in place.• Sharpen: Place the lead holder with the exposed lead into the large hole (there's a small hole at the bottom, inside the pointer, that the lead will extend through). Hold the base of the lead pointer still and turn the lead holder, which spins the lid of the lead pointer. You will hear/feel the lead rubbing against the abrasive metal inside. After sharpening use the white foam bit in the top to clean extra graphite off the point.

I have been using this type of lead pointer ever since I started drafting school thirty years ago.this is a good one. With it, I can get a needle sharp point on my lead, although I really don't need it quite that sharp since, when the lead is that sharp, the tip tends to be too fragile to write with. But, the real value of this pointer is when used as part of a system with a good drafter's lead holder and a set of 2mm pencil leads. so this is really a review of such a system. These leads come in the same range of hardness ranging from 6B to 6H as drawing pencils, but since they fit in a lead holder, you can use the entire length of the lead without being bothered dealing with an ever shortening pencil stub. and, since the lead is the same thickness as a drawing pencil, you can use your pencil to make a hairline thin or let it wear down and make heavy line for shading effects. When you are done with your drawing, you can push the lead back into the holder so there are no broken points or smudging graphite all over the inside and contents of your pencil box. I now use a lead holder everywhere I used to use a pencil, including in my woodworking shop. and a good pointer like this is necessary for the use of a lead holder.

Don't do what I did. Do not spin the pencil. I REPEAT. DO NOT SPIN THE PENCIL. It does not sharpen that way.For that - ROTATE THE TOP DISK while holding the pencil in place. If you are using off-brand lead holders, you might want to go a bit easy on it, as the holder won't fit in and you need to let the lead protrude out long enough to fit in the hole. You don't want to break the tip of the lead. So - easy does it. As long as you do that, it's going to be fine.