How To Sharpen An Underglaze Pencil And Fill In Letters

[Lindylou]

Hello,  I have a couple of questions that I hope with all your years of experience some of you can help me with.

 

I bought an amaco black underglaze pencil.  I have tried to sharpen it with a knife which it says is the best way but it's not working.  I can't get a point on the pencil and I need a point as fine as possible.  It says not to use a pencil sharpener.  How do you sharpen it to get a pointed or rounded point?

 

I make simple jewelry components, rustic and quirky.  I use a lot of rubber stamps with words.  What I've  been doing is painting the glaze into the letters and then wiping most off so the color goes into the letters.  Then I paint an underglaze color around the letters.  I want to either outline the letters with black glaze or use the pencil to just fill in the letter with glaze.  I have tried some of the bottles with pointed tops but the glaze comes out too fast and thick and smears the letters.  Has anyone tried the tattoo bottles with metal top for doing this?  I've ordered some and am waiting for them to come in.  I'm hoping that one of the metal tops will be super fine enough to just write the glaze into the letters.

 

Thank you for any help you can give me with your responses.

 

Linda

[Roberta12]

I always use the pencil sharpener.  Yikes!  I didn't know I wasn't suppose to.   So I am not much help to you.  For clean crisp lines, I have become enamored with Mayco Designer Liner.  Small bottle with a metal tip.  Works great low, mid, or high fire. 

 

Roberta

[Fred Sweet]

Try refining you knife cut point by using a piece of fine grit sandpaper (100-220). You should be able to get the point to a fairly sharp taper. Just remember that you are drawing in an abrasive surface and the point won't last very long.

[Pugaboo]

For drawing I always use a knife and then what looks like an Emory board but fatter to finetune the tip. An emory board for your nails would probably work just fine giving you a firm gritted surface to work the tip against into the point you want. The artist board is called a Lead Pointer if Iremember correctly. They last a very long time.

 

T

[Mark C.]

(For drawing I always use a knife and then what looks like an Emory board but fatter to finetune the tip. An emory board for your nails would probably work just fine giving you a firm gritted surface to work the tip against into the point you want. The artist board is called a Lead Pointer if Iremember correctly. They last a very long time.)

 

This is what I do as well. I learned it in art school 40 years ago_ I just use a sheet of sandpaper after a sharp knife .

[NancyAmores]

Not really sure what you're trying to do by the description (glaze inlay?), but for fine writing or detail work a syringe with a blunt tip needle works well. Works for slip trailing and cuerda seca fills, too.

[oldlady]

your description says you are using the UNDERglaze pencil after putting glaze on the letters.  that won't work.  can you update the description or clarify what it is you want to do?  pictures help and size of letters matters.