Color Pencils and sharpeners . . .

I sat down last night to sharpen my color pencils.  They had gotten in such sad shape that I hated fighting with them..  I sharpened everyone with a small hand held sharpener, you know like the grade  school kids have.  Well, I got a blister on my finger after all that.  I had to throw away about 8 pencils that the lead was broken all the way through, more than likely where they had fallen to the floor.  I managed to save four of the damaged pencils by sharpening the opposite end.  

I have found it difficult to sharpen the color pencils (prismacolor is the only color pencil I like) using an electric pencil sharpener.  I have had some success when sharpening in an electric sharpener by sharpening a graphite pencil after every second or third color pencil.  In the studio right now are three damaged electric pencil sharpeners, all from color pencils.   

I love working with color pencils and  I store them in a silverware utensil carrier, like for picnics.  One compartment houses warm colors, one for cool colors and one for neutrals.  Mine has  a forth, so I put a pencil sharpener, extenders, blenders, xacto, etc. I've also keep a sketchbook with high quality paper to draw on.  

If anyone has any suggestions for sharpening color  pencils, I would love to hear from you.  Thanks, jf

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