4 ms·

I can't quite explain why, but I was really into this until I saw it required glue. I don't like glue. It's messy, it takes time to dry, and it's not reusable.

I can't quite explain why, but I was really into this until I saw it required glue. I don't like glue. It's messy, it takes time to dry, and it's not reusable. This pencil sharpener is still a neat party trick, but the glue downgrades it from something I'd actually want to buy.

Wistar 5y ago
It'd be really cool if the sharpener tapped and threaded the stubs.
- 4gotunameagain 5y ago
  I am unsure if you can create a thread with such a small depth on pencil wood, but I don't understand why it couldn't be press fit? Just make the hole a bit smaller so the tip fits snugly inside. Maybe it wouldn't work on cheaper pencils due to cracking?
- Cthulhu_ 5y ago
  Given that it's wood, you could probably shape it into a wedge and clamp it in.
  - hnlmorg 5y ago
    The other issue you have is designing a pencil sharpener that could cut a wedge. The beauty of the current design is that its simple to make, simple to repair and guaranteed to work even when you're shaving past the joint. It's one of those situations where a "worse" solution actually covers all the edge cases better.
soperj 5y ago
I was the same. Too bad it doesn't do notches that fit together.
makeitdouble 5y ago
Japanese maker have a weird love for wood glue. For instance flat pack furnitures come with glue for extra strength, where Ikea just sizes the bits tight enough to not need any. To play the devil's advocate, their wood glue doesn't smell and is pretty easy to use. It's less messy to me than regular scotch paper glue for instance.
- _carbyau_ 5y ago
  I look at the Ikea furniture I buy and apply wood glue as and where I can. Some bits are really not ever meant to come apart ever again.
  - makeitdouble 5y ago
    I think they improved a ton in the last decade or so. Most parts using wood bits nowadays are either enclosed and there is no tension that would make the bits get out, or the bits are seconded by metal pieces that actually maintain it all together.
    - mvolfik 5y ago
      Yes, I think I don't even remember seeing a piece with wood bits not seconded by the metal thingies (I love the mechanism btw, it's weirdly satisfying)
beermonster 5y ago
I thought the same thing. If only there was a novel way the two could connect. I was expecting it to say something like ‘then twist the two pencils together until they click’ but nope. Glue. :(
NiceWayToDoIT 5y ago
I think wood glue is most harmless type [1], and you do not need as much as it shown in video for the presentation purposes. On the other hand, maybe friendly (non-glue) version would be with the contra-screw or clicking mechanism at the end. But it would be very hard to maintain lock while you cut the pencil/s pass the joint. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_glue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_glue "It is chemically similar to edible gelatin and is non-toxic if ingested." But on the other hand you have different types: https://impressionsofaholobiont.com/2018/09/03/non-toxic-water-based-wood-glues-are-indeed-toxic-off-gassing-formaldehyde/ https://impressionsofaholobiont.com/2018/09/03/non-toxic-wat...
dmos62 5y ago
Wood glue is fine. Even cutting boards use it. It's cheap too. And you can use it on your wooden chair when the joints weaken.
supermatt 5y ago
pencils are made with glue. Thats how they get the "lead" inside them. I appreciate if you dont want to handle it (but you wouldnt need anywhere near as much as is demonstrated, a couple of drops inside would do fine), but from a "reusable" perspective, its still better than throwing away a pencil stub (if you keep the glue well sealed!)
- Wowfunhappy 5y ago
  Ah, by "not reusable," I wasn't referring to environmental concerns. Rather, it's a "consumable" substance that will eventually get used up, and I'll have to remember to buy more! So are the pencils of course, but the glue adds another thing.
  - supermatt 5y ago
    I suppose you could stockpile stubs until you get the glue - although with my memory thats a sure-fire way to end up with a 12m pencil :p Drying up in the bottle is an issue too :(

Wistar 5y ago

It'd be really cool if the sharpener tapped and threaded the stubs.

4gotunameagain 5y ago
I am unsure if you can create a thread with such a small depth on pencil wood, but I don't understand why it couldn't be press fit? Just make the hole a bit smaller so the tip fits snugly inside. Maybe it wouldn't work on cheaper pencils due to cracking?
Cthulhu_ 5y ago
Given that it's wood, you could probably shape it into a wedge and clamp it in.
- hnlmorg 5y ago
  The other issue you have is designing a pencil sharpener that could cut a wedge. The beauty of the current design is that its simple to make, simple to repair and guaranteed to work even when you're shaving past the joint. It's one of those situations where a "worse" solution actually covers all the edge cases better.

soperj 5y ago

I was the same. Too bad it doesn't do notches that fit together.

makeitdouble 5y ago

Japanese maker have a weird love for wood glue. For instance flat pack furnitures come with glue for extra strength, where Ikea just sizes the bits tight enough to not need any. To play the devil's advocate, their wood glue doesn't smell and is pretty easy to use. It's less messy to me than regular scotch paper glue for instance.

_carbyau_ 5y ago
I look at the Ikea furniture I buy and apply wood glue as and where I can. Some bits are really not ever meant to come apart ever again.
- makeitdouble 5y ago
  I think they improved a ton in the last decade or so. Most parts using wood bits nowadays are either enclosed and there is no tension that would make the bits get out, or the bits are seconded by metal pieces that actually maintain it all together.
  - mvolfik 5y ago
    Yes, I think I don't even remember seeing a piece with wood bits not seconded by the metal thingies (I love the mechanism btw, it's weirdly satisfying)

beermonster 5y ago

I thought the same thing. If only there was a novel way the two could connect. I was expecting it to say something like ‘then twist the two pencils together until they click’ but nope. Glue. :(

NiceWayToDoIT 5y ago

I think wood glue is most harmless type [1], and you do not need as much as it shown in video for the presentation purposes. On the other hand, maybe friendly (non-glue) version would be with the contra-screw or clicking mechanism at the end. But it would be very hard to maintain lock while you cut the pencil/s pass the joint. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_glue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_glue "It is chemically similar to edible gelatin and is non-toxic if ingested." But on the other hand you have different types: https://impressionsofaholobiont.com/2018/09/03/non-toxic-water-based-wood-glues-are-indeed-toxic-off-gassing-formaldehyde/ https://impressionsofaholobiont.com/2018/09/03/non-toxic-wat...

dmos62 5y ago

Wood glue is fine. Even cutting boards use it. It's cheap too. And you can use it on your wooden chair when the joints weaken.

supermatt 5y ago

pencils are made with glue. Thats how they get the "lead" inside them. I appreciate if you dont want to handle it (but you wouldnt need anywhere near as much as is demonstrated, a couple of drops inside would do fine), but from a "reusable" perspective, its still better than throwing away a pencil stub (if you keep the glue well sealed!)

Wowfunhappy 5y ago
Ah, by "not reusable," I wasn't referring to environmental concerns. Rather, it's a "consumable" substance that will eventually get used up, and I'll have to remember to buy more! So are the pencils of course, but the glue adds another thing.
- supermatt 5y ago
  I suppose you could stockpile stubs until you get the glue - although with my memory thats a sure-fire way to end up with a 12m pencil :p Drying up in the bottle is an issue too :(