I've been using Stabilo pencils for over 20 years and only in the last couple of years notice this problem. Its a small problem as far as signmaking problems but very annoying. I don't know if I have a bad sharpener or a bad box of Stabilos. When I sharpen them the point forms right where the wood meets the wax instead of the center of the wax and I can't draw with them unless I fix it with a razor blade. I just sharpened about 5 different ones, all dark blue, and they all do it. My sharpener is clean, lead pencils sharpen OK, and the stabilos look OK as far as I can tell. Anybody else have this aggravating problem?
Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
I don't use stabilos, because in the heat down here, they melt. I have picked one up and found I was holding a hollow wooden stick with a puddle where it had been laying. Sounds like you have a bad batch, and I bet you could exchange them for some good ones
Posted by Ron Percell (Member # 399) on :
Sounds like they suffered from the elements, I've seen that happen from poor storage or as old supply, letting them heat up then cool down making them brittle.
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
I got a batch once that obviously had been dropped (repeatedly). The lead was cracked every inch or so. Talk about frustrating...sharpen it, use it & suddenly an inch of the lead falls out. Even with good ones, I have a horrible time keeping them sharp. Course, I hate wood pencils anyway.
I've been looking for either stabilo lead or something similar that I can use in my mechanical pencils. Been years since I used non-photo blue (remember the blue print machines, man do I miss that smell at times) wondering if that would work.
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Hi... I must have gotten the same damn batch of blues. Mine do the same damn thing. And they do melt in high summer. And faggedaboutit if you accidentally get them near thinners. Or window cleaner. Or Rapid Tac. I think I am going to start using charcoal sticks like Bill Berberich does. And yes,Kissy,I still have my non-photo blue pencil from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh's art/photo supply store, bought in 1980... love-JILL
Posted by Danny Busselle (Member # 3746) on :
I use Charcoal Sticks it seems for ever and chalk, and HB Brown pincels. Stabilos are nice too I keep mine in a cooler. Donot take on location unless i can keep them kool. I have taped them to Pop cans or a cold can it works for me. Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
Little trick for everyone Order the Stabilo 8008 Graphite.
Doesn't melt in the heat,Draws a very fine line..Works on everything and will sharpen to a point with a blade or sharpener. Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
I only use Stabilo whites on dark surfaces - On every thing else I use Pentel Sign Pens in grey (black in desperate situations) - also Buffalo Art pens in 2 other shades of grey == all water base/ clean up quick & easy. I also may use charcoal for the first lay in, clean up with the others. The red and black Stabilos will play hob getting the stuff off some surfaces, blue on some, too.
Posted by Curt Stenz (Member # 82) on :
Chuck, Could be the sharpener, I had one that sharpened off center. How does it sharpen other pencils? Some sharpeners have a larger hole than most pencils need. If the pencil does not fit squarely into this hole it may cause mis-alignment at the blades.
Try sharpening with a knife.
Curt Stenz
Posted by Chuck Peterson (Member # 70) on :
Somebody just e-mailed me a solution to this. Rotate the pencil in the sharpener. I tried it, it works. Thank you! I also use Pentel sign pens, they clean off easier, but sometimes too easy so I use blue, or white Stabilos when needed.
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
I had a pencil sharpener that was off center - rotating the pencil helped but one day I FINALLY took the thing apart and there was a tiny piece of grit jammed way up at the end of the blades, hard to see. Digging it out with an Exacto solved the whole problem.
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Stabillos require a much sharper blade than regular pencils. I like the Koh I Nor or M&R sharpeners from Germany. I buy them by the handful when I'm at the art strore. They are good for a few months then I toss them. I think it's got something to do with the type of wood they use.I think it's softer. A stabillo will sharpen like crap, chattering like crazy. A regular 2H will sharpen fine. If the stabillos have been dropped, they do like Kissy said and break every quarter of an inch. Hopeless case, toss it.
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