Clare Manion | Ticonderoga

If you’ve written with a pencil, you’ve certainly used an eraser. But have you ever wondered how it works or how it was developed? It’s a pretty interesting story. Read on to learn five fun facts about erasers!

Friction is Key

When you write with a pencil, a small amount of graphite rubs off the pencil and sticks to the paper. Erasers work by essentially reversing that process. When you rub an eraser against a piece of paper, the friction causes it to heat up slightly. This heat and friction cause the eraser to be ‘stickier’ than the paper; thus, graphite sticks to the eraser, leaving the paper clean.

It Began with Bread
No, really. Long before we had the highly efficient ultra-durable erasers of today we had… moist bread. Even before the pencil was invented, writers and artists who used graphite discovered they could erase mistakes by rubbing a bit of bread against the page. The bread itself would be slightly moistened and then rolled into a ball, more or less resembling the erasers we use today. It worked, technically, but it was a rather crumby experience (*ba-dum-tss*).

Write On with RubberThen one day, in the late 18th century, everything changed. A British engineer by the name of Edward Nairne went to erase something he had been working on when – quite accidently – he grabbed a bit of rubber instead of his trusty bread-wad. Lo and behold, the rubber worked far better than the bread! Business senses tingling, he began selling the new rubber erasers soon thereafter.

Losing the Latex
Nairne’s natural rubber erasers were made from latex, a material that comes from certain trees. Unfortunately, many people are allergic to latex. Plus, deriving the latex-based erasers were expensive to produce. Thus, there lay the motivation to develop a more perfect eraser – one that would be safe and inexpensive for all. And eventually, the latex-free synthetic rubber eraser we know today was born.

The Team-Up with Ticonderoga

It’s only fitting that The World’s Best Pencil would have a pretty awesome eraser — and it does! Ticonderoga erasers are soft, latex-free, and engineered to leave you with a clear, smudge-free page every time you use it. They’re even certified non-toxic by the Pencil Makers Association (PMA) for both immediate and long-term use. Plus, Ticonderoga goes the extra mile with the erasers attached directly to our pencils. Instead of just using the ferrule (the metal bit) to hold the eraser in place, we glue the erasers into our signature green ferrule, so they’ll stay put through rigorous…editing. That makes Ticonderoga pencils and their erasers a perfect match.

In addition to quality erasers ON our pencils, we have a complete line of erasers for you to choose from for extra removal if needed.


Classic Pink Erasers	Neon Erasers
The very best choice for home, school or office.	Same high quality with a little extra fun. Colors match our Neon pencils.
Learn More	Learn More

Pastel Erasers	Pencil-Shaped Erasers
Same high quality with a touch of style. Colors match our Pastel pencils.	Kids’ favorite! Smudge free erasers in a fun pencil shape.
Learn More	Learn More

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Sharpening a pencil. Sounds like the easiest thing in the world, right? Well, yes, but as with most things there, a little proper technique can make a big difference in the result. So, without any further ado, let’s go over some *tips* on pencil sharpening technique. (Pun very much intended.)

First, let’s start with the basics. When it comes to sharpening your pencil, you have three main tools at your disposal: a manual sharpener, an electric sharpener, and a utility knife.

Using Sharpeners

The average manual and electric sharpeners work much in the same way: small blades within the sharpener are situated in a cone shape and spun around the pencil. This removes thin shavings of wood and shapes the graphite beneath into a nice point. Manual sharpeners can be operated by either twisting the sharpener itself around the pencil or turning a crank. Electric sharpeners typically start on their own as soon as you slide the pencil in.

There’s not a lot of finesse needed here, but it’s important to note that you don’t need to jam the pencil in – that’s likely to break the graphite. Apply just enough pressure to engage the blades against the pencil, and you’ll be on your way. If you happen to notice the sharpener isn’t working properly, carefully check for wood shavings that may have gotten stuck in the blades (unplug the electric sharpener for this). It’s also possible for the blades to become dull over time, so it may be necessary to replace your sharpener every now and then.

Using a Utility Knife

Then, of course, you could sharpen your pencil with a utility knife. This requires some skill and practice, and is not suitable for children to try. This technique is mostly employed by artists who want to have precise control over the shape of the graphite, resulting in a specific sort of line when they draw.

To sharpen a pencil with a utility knife, first ensure that the knife is sharp. Working with a dull blade is more dangerous than a properly sharpened one because it can act unpredictably. Then, hold the pencil in your non-dominant hand, with the non-eraser end away from you. Hold the knife in your dominant hand, set the blade against the pencil at a slight angle, and gently apply pressure, slicing away from you. You want to remove the wood in thin shavings, not large chunks. With a little whittling, you’ll be able to shape the tip of the pencil as you wish.

Note: It is very important that you sharpen the pencil in a motion going away from you, this will help avoid injury if the knife slips.

Odd Shapes and Sizes

So how do you sharpen a pencil with a large diameter, like a My First? Or a triangular pencil? Do you have to use a knife? Nope! All you need is a sharpener with a wider opening. This is more common for manual sharpeners. Some, like our Duo Sharpener, have openings for both standard and wider pencils.

So, there you have it. With these little tips you’ll have a perfectly sharpened pencil that’s ready to write in no time.

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Author: Clare Manion

Eraser Facts

Pencil Sharpening 101