Imagine: you are taking a test and your pencil is broken or too blunt to draw a clear line, but your teacher gives clear instructions that no one is allowed to get up from their seat. Or maybe you're out and about sketching for art class and your pencil-your only drawing tool-suddenly breaks. What can you do? Do not be afraid! Your hope is not lost. Read our advice on how to save your pencils.
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Method 1 of 4: Use a Rough Surface to Sharpen Your Pencil
Step 1. Use sandpaper
You may be in a situation where it is not possible to have spare stationery and cannot borrow a pencil. If that's the case, you need to think creatively. If you can find a rough surface to rub the tip of your pencil on then you will be able to sharpen your pencil. Sandpaper can be used for this.
- If you're in a practice class, you shouldn't have any trouble finding sandpaper lying around. Of course, you probably won't find it on your desk or in your bag. However, if you break pencils frequently, and if your teacher is known for never letting students get up from their seats, then keep a piece of sandpaper on your desk.
- Just rub your pencil on the rough side of the sandpaper. Don't forget to rotate the pencil every few strokes, and you will see the tip of the pencil begin to taper.
Step 2. Use a nail file
It's easier for you to carry a nail file. It's a good idea to bring a file board or keep one on your desk. You can file your nails as well as sharpen a dull pencil tip!
- The rough surface of a file board can erode the wood on your pencil and sharpen the graphite. Just slide the tip of your pencil along the file board, and make sure you rotate the pencil regularly.
- If you bring a nail clipper, most have an extra nail file that slides out. It may also be rough enough to sharpen your pencil.
Step 3. Rub your pencil on a surface of the foundation structure
If your pencil is broken and you don't have a sharpener (or a nail file or sandpaper), look around you: Are you sitting near a brick wall? Are you on the pavement or the cement floor?
These rough surfaces can be used to help you solve problems. You'll be able to sharpen the tip of a pencil by rubbing it vigorously over the pavement, on a brick wall, or even on the cement between bricks
Method 2 of 4: Use Something Sharp
Step 1. Use a knife or scissors
If you have a penknife, x-acto knife, or scissors, you can sharpen your pencil with just a little effort. Just scrape the tip of your pencil with the sharp side of the object.
- If you are using scissors, open the scissors as wide as possible. Grasp the blade (either a pair of scissors or a knife) with your non-dominant hand, and hold the pencil in your dominant hand.
- The pencil should be at an angle of 45 degrees. Pull the pencil toward you, scraping the wood and graphite with a sharp edge at a 45-degree angle. Rotate the pencil and repeat this movement until you get a sufficient slope.
- DO NOT pull the knife towards you. Instead, hold on tight and move the pencil.
- DO NOT bring a knife or x-acto knife to school with the intention of keeping it for this. We only recommend that you use this knife in situations where knives are available and permitted by school rules (perhaps in an art class or practice class).
Step 2. Use another sharp edge
You may not be allowed to keep knives or x-acto knives at school, and you may not have scissors. If that's the case, look inside your stationery storage for items with sharp edges.
- For example, the edge of your ruler may be sharp enough to help you, especially if you have a metal ruler (perhaps even a plastic ruler will work too-no harm in trying).
- Grip the ruler firmly with your non-dominant hand and scrape the pencil along the edges carefully and slowly. Twist the pencil every few strokes, and you can sharpen it a bit.
Step 3. Spin your pencil through the hole in your ruler
Most rulers have holes for inserting into a three-hole binder. If you have one like this, you can use this hole to push the piece of wood back to reveal the graphite behind it.
Once you've pushed the piece of wood (or can even scrape it off), you can try sharpening the end by scraping it against the rough edge of the hole or use our little suggestion of just sharpening the graphite tip
Step 4. Use the edge of the key and/or the hole in the key
Most keys have sharp edges, and also have holes for hanging on a key ring. In a pinch, you may be able to use your keys as an artificial pencil sharpener.
- If the tip of the pencil has broken and you can't see the graphite at all then start by using the hole in the key to slide the piece of wood back.
- Once you've removed the graphite, you can scrape it off with the sharp edge of a key until you can use it again for writing.
- Your final result may not look pretty, but it should be enough to complete your writing or drawing.
Step 5. Use screws
So you don't have a nail file, scissors, ruler or wrench. What should you do? Look around your chairs and desks to see if you can find Philip's screw heads (you'll see a plus sign on the top of the screw instead of a minus sign).
- If you can reach the screw easily, leave it in place and place the tip of your pencil in the screw head case. Rotate your pencil clockwise. This will crush the wood and reveal the graphite behind it.
- If you find a screw that comes off, you can use the side to continue sharpening the pencil. However, we do not recommend that you try to remove the screws: you don't want to run the risk of falling off your chair or table!
Step 6. Use a nail clipper
If you keep your nail clipper in a pocket or table, you can use it to help solve this problem. We've already covered how to use the nail file extension. Even if your nail clipper doesn't have a nail file, you can still use it.
It is enough to cut around the tip of your pencil into small pieces to remove the wood. This can be done if you hold the pencil horizontally with your non-dominant hand and hold the nail clipper perpendicular to your dominant hand. This will align the blade of the nail clipper with the wooden tip of the pencil
Step 7. Use your nails and teeth
If you're not hesitant about using your teeth and nails as tools, you can also use them to push (or gently nip) the wood of your pencil. Once you've exposed enough pieces of graphite to be reusable, sharpen it up with some of our other suggestions.
Be careful not to swallow the wood chips. You should also try to avoid ingesting the graphite-not because it's as toxic as the old pencils-but because it's disgusting! You don't want to stain your teeth either, do you?
Method 3 of 4: Using a Smooth Surface to Sharpen the Pencil Tip
Step 1. Sketch a thin line on a sheet of paper
If the pencil hasn't broken completely and you only need to sharpen the blunt end, you can do this by lightly scratching the pencil on a piece of paper.
Your pencil should be slightly parallel to the paper: hold it at a 30-degree angle and draw thin lines, rotating your pencil every few strokes
Step 2. Swipe your pencil on a folder or sheet of paper
A slight variation of the above technique is to hold the pencil at the same angle of inclination to a piece of paper or folder and move the tip of your pencil back and forth several times to create friction (imagine you are trying to evenly shade a section).
Position the pencil as flat as possible on the paper, and rotate your pencil frequently. This may slightly scrape off some of the graphite so you get a longer, more pointed end
Step 3. Rub the tip of the pencil against your shoe
If you don't want to scribble on your paper or if you don't have a spare folder, try rubbing the blunt edge of a pencil against the rubber sole of your shoe.
Again, make sure you twist your pencil and don't push too hard to prevent the tip from snapping or rubbing all the way through
Method 4 of 4: Preparing in Advance
Step 1. Have a spare pencil
If the tip of your pencil snaps all the way to the end, you may be out of luck and won't be able to sharpen it again. The best way to deal with a broken pencil, of course, is to provide a spare pencil.
The smartest strategy for dealing with a broken pencil is to not need to sharpen it again, and always carry at least a few more spare pencils than you need
Step 2. Ask to borrow someone's pencil
If you don't get a pencil sharpener, you may be able to make your classmates feel sorry for you. You can even get someone to offer you a pencil without having to speak: simply sigh and pick up the broken pencil. If you're lucky, someone near you will notice and be willing to give you a borrowed pencil.
Take care not to make your situation worse, by speaking up during an exam or while working on an important assignment. You don't want to make matters worse or cause trouble for your friend by forcing her to talk to you. You will risk failing your exams and assignments
Step 3. Use a small sharpener
If you have a tendency to break pencils or if you quickly dull the tip of a pencil because you press hard while writing or drawing, you can avoid the problem of having to ask to get up and use a sharpener if you have one in your pocket or desk.
You can buy a small sharpener at a stationery store or large stores like Target or Walmart. You can also use a makeup sharpener (usually used to sharpen lip pencils and eye liners)
Step 4. Replace with other stationery
As long as you're not taking a standard exam that requires you to use a pencil, you can substitute a pen or crayon to complete your work. If you're lucky, your supervisor will understand.
Warning
- Be careful when asking your classmates for help. While you might expect and hope that your examiner will understand why you're talking to your classmate to get a new pencil, understand that they may have no other choice but to stick to the no-talk rule, which means you're both in trouble.
- Your supervisor may not be able to prove that you're not cheating, and won't want to make the opinion of other students that speaking on exams is allowed. It's better for you to lose your exam results than to lose a class or lose a friend.
- Don't bring anything to school that could be considered a weapon or that your school rules don't allow, such as a pocket knife.
