Staedtler Mars 501 180 Desk Pencil Sharpener, Crank, 7–11.6 mm

Staedtler Mars 501 180 crank pencil sharpener – adjustable point length, metal cutter and auto-stop

The Staedtler Mars 501 180 crank pencil sharpener sharpens round, triangular and hexagonal graphite and coloured pencils with a diameter of 7 to 11.6 mm. You clamp it to your desk and sharpen with the crank. It suits a drawing table, desk or studio where you regularly sharpen a lot of pencils.

A metal cutter removes the wood cleanly, and rubberised pencil clamps protect the surface of the pencil from marks. The clamp holds the sharpener in place while you turn the crank. The automatic stop ends sharpening as soon as the point is finished, so you lose less lead than if you leave the pencil in too long.

Which point length should you choose?

You set the point length before sharpening. A long, sharp point suits clean, precise lines and hatching. A short, blunt point gives rich, soft strokes and is less prone to breaking, for example with soft leads or when colouring large areas.

How to sharpen

Fix the clamp to the edge of the table and push the pencil into the sharpening hole until the clamps hold it. Then turn the crank steadily, without pressing. The auto-stop tells you when the point is finished. Thick pencils over 11.6 mm in diameter do not fit in the sharpening hole, for example jumbo pencils. The shavings container is transparent, so you can see how full it is and empty it in good time.

Staedtler Mars 501 180 crank pencil sharpener product details

• Manufacturer: Staedtler, Mars, art. no. 501 180
• For round, triangular and hexagonal graphite and coloured pencils, 7 to 11.6 mm in diameter
• Adjustable point length: long and sharp or short and blunt
• Metal cutter
• Rubberised pencil clamps
• Automatic stop
• Clamp for fixing to the desk
• Material: plastic, blue with transparent shavings container
• Included: 1 crank pencil sharpener with fixing clamp