The Pencil Sharpener

A pencil sharpener is a tool that makes a pencil point quickly and neatly. The pencil is inserted into a hole, and a blade inside shaves away wood and graphite to form a sharp point. Early sharpeners were often hand-cranked, while modern ones may be electric.

Before pencil sharpeners, people used a knife to whittle a point, which took more time and skill. Sharpeners made it much easier to keep pencils ready for writing and drawing.