Blackwing Spitzer Two-Step black

The Blackwing Two-Step Long Point Sharpener is a two-stage sharpener made from matte-black plastic with a rubberised surface. The principle: the first hole peels back the wood, while the second sharpens the graphite core separately – creating a long, precise point that a conventional single-hole sharpener cannot produce. The blade comes from Germany; the sharpener itself from the USA.

Features

• Two-stage sharpening process: Hole 1 removes the wood, Hole 2 hones the graphite core precisely – the result is an evenly long, finely tapered point that is difficult to achieve with a single sharpening stroke.
• German steel blade: The blade is extremely sharp and produces thin, clean shavings rather than crude breakage – the core remains stable and won't snap out.
• Rubberised matte finish: The matte black sits securely in your hand, even when wood shavings or graphite dust cling to your fingers.
• Integrated shavings container: Holds shavings from up to three fresh sharpenings before needing to be emptied – compact enough for desk or pencil case.
• Compact format: Approximately 54 × 30 × 23 mm – fits into any pencil case and complements the Blackwing range visually.

Use & Tips

• Follow the sequence: Use Hole 1 first until the wood is sufficiently peeled back, then sharpen the graphite core with Hole 2 – not the other way around, or the point will easily break.
• For soft cores (B to 6B): The long point is particularly recommended for sketches and drawings where you want to vary the stroke width – graphite on paper, tilt your fingers, line becomes wider.
• For hard cores (H to 2H): The finely tapered point lasts longer and allows precise writing or technical drawing without frequent resharpening.
• Standard diameter: Suitable for pencils in standard diameter (approximately 7 mm), including Blackwing pencils and most common wooden pencils.
• Empty the container before it's full: An overfilled container can cause shavings to press against the blade and reduce sharpening quality – empty after approximately three sharpenings.

For Drawing and Writing Instrument Enthusiasts

The two-stage process is not a marketing feature but solves a genuine mechanical problem: with long points, the graphite core must protrude significantly further from the wood than with standard points. If you grind both simultaneously at one angle, the core often snaps under blade pressure – particularly with soft, graphite-rich leads. Separating into two angles (wood shallower, graphite steeper) minimises exactly this breakage. German steel blades are essential for this sharpener: only a truly sharp blade produces the paper-thin shavings mentioned in the description – dull blades would work the core through pressure rather than cutting and destabilise the point.

Technical Specifications