STAEDTLER 502 Mars Lead Pointer Tub Sharpener for 2mm Pencil Leads (Pack of 1)

This is a top quality pencil sharpener for the 2mm lead collet pencils from Staedtler. It puts a lovely smooth tapered point on the pencil. The point angle is quite shallow, meaning it lasts a long time between sharpenings.As others have noted, it can be confusing to operate. You first use one of the two small holes on the top to extend the lead to the correct length for sharpening. The further you extend the lead, the sharper point you end up with when the sharpening is complete. You then insert the pencil into the larger hole on the top, and while holding the pencil and the blue part of the sharpener, move the pencil around in circles (note: you aren't rotating the pencil in the hole, you move the whole pencil around the centre of the sharpener). This causes the top portion of the sharpener to rotate. Inside the middle of the sharpener there is a milling cutter. The motion of the pencil moves this around the lead to cut a point on it. Once you get the knack, its very easy and quite satisfying to do.The downsides are:1) I could have done with a third depth gauge on the top. I find the "sharp" one to be too sharp and it wastes a lot of lead, and I find the "rounded" one to be too blunt for writing. I usually end up setting the lead to "rounded" and then manually extending it about 1mm to get a perfect point.2) There were no instructions with it. If it hadn't been for the Amazon reviews, I would have struggled to work out how to use it.3) The lead cleaner in the top (the white dot in the picture) is useless.

Excellent, gets your lead nice and sharp.

Does the job but needs instructions. Not convinced this is the better solution for mechanical pencils.

Doesn't fail, excellent at what it does, you don't HAVE to use Staedtler mechanical pencils withit it either.

This lead pointer works exceptionally well, but it’s pricey. It’s the second one I’ve bought - (the first one went ‘walkies’). It’s really simple to use for 2mm leads. You just expose a length of lead from the clutch pencil, using the appropriate hole depending on how sharp you want the point to be. Then put the pencil and the pre-measured lead into the spout the turn the entire top of the tub. This shaves off the lead against a fixed internal cylinder that has sharp flutes cut into its surface. When top turns freely, you can remove the pencil from the spout to reveal a perfectly sharp point, with all the graphite dust retained in the tub. It’s magic really if not pure genius. No more smudges caused by graphite dust on your paper. In fact you can use the dust on purpose if you want to shade a drawing by tapping a small amount onto the paper and the deliberately smudge it into the surface. The Faber-Castell product works fairly well but has no containment for the dust and is considerably cheaper but not nearly so well designed. I just love the Staedtler product.

Yup it's a classic - identical to the one I used in the early 70's as a student when 0.5mm 'injection pencils' were new tech and disproportionately expensive. Why the hiatus? Autocad, bro - then promotion. Now retirement and I like a sharp pencil for life drawing.

This sharpener is great. As per my picture it sharpens the lead to a great point if you use it correctly.Use the pointer slots at the front to measure how much lead you need and then put the pencil into the shapener and twist around.Make sure it fits in there fully otherwise you end up breaking the lead like i did.This sharpener is only suitable for steadtler pencil holders.. my other mechanical pencil holder did not fit.

No instructions provided, but found a useful video on YouTube! Even when you know how to use it, it can be a little 'challenging' but the result is worth it! Would certainly buy again!

This product sucks. If you are looking for a sharpener for your 2mm lead with a reservoir look elsewhere. This will break your leads, every single one without failing. I cannot undersell how this product is just plain crap for a reputable brand. Please do not buy it or you will be disappointed. You will. Hey, you! You, reading this! Don’t buy this! This is crap!

Best 2mm sharpener ever

Ich habe zwei Stück davon, einen für zu Hause und einen für die Werkstatt. Das Spitzen geht so schnell und einfach. Es gibt kein gefühlt stundenlanges Drehen an einem Anspitzer.Hier ist es so, dass man zwei Löcher hat, je nachdem, wie spitz der Stift werden soll. Danach steckt man den Stift in die obere große Öffnung, in der er gut gehalten wird, und muss nur noch drehen. Ich würde sagen, ein abgebrochener Stift ist in unter 30 Sekunden wieder spitz.

I use this with the Mars tech 2 mm it works great it’s a must if you’re gonna start using the Mar technico 2 mm seriously

I never expected to write such an enthusiastic review of a pencil sharpener, but here I am! If you're wondering, "Is it worth the price tag?" the answer is yes—especially if you use a 2mm pencil regularly. It’s genuinely worth it. I want to clarify that I’m not sponsored or affiliated in any way; this is my honest opinion.To understand how to use it, you'll definitely want to check out the YouTube video on the subject though, as it’s definitely not self-explanatory and there are no instructions included in the box.