One of those deceptively simple products that earns its place immediately — the Derwent Pencil Extender Set solves two problems at once. The first is waste: a pencil becomes difficult to use long before it is fully used up, and the short stub that remains is invariably thrown away with a significant amount of usable drawing material still in it. The second is comfort: a short pencil is awkward to hold, unbalanced in the hand, and produces tired, imprecise marks. The extender addresses both by giving the pencil a new barrel to sit in, restoring its working length and balance instantly.
The set contains two extenders — one silver, one black — covering the two most common pencil diameters. The silver extender fits larger diameter pencils up to 8mm, including Derwent Pastel, Coloursoft, Artists, Inktense, and Lightfast pencils, as well as Faber-Castell Polychromos and Caran d'Ache Luminance. The black extender fits standard diameter pencils up to 7mm, including Derwent Graphic, Watercolour, Studio, and Chromaflow pencils, as well as most standard graphite and coloured pencils from other manufacturers.
Both extenders are made from metal with a soft-touch coating on the barrel that gives a firm, comfortable grip — notably better than the slippery surface of the pencil itself as it shortens. The pencil is secured with a robust screw fitting that holds it firmly in place during use without damaging the casing. Each extender adds the equivalent of a full pencil length to the working end, restoring proper balance and grip immediately.
For artists who use premium pencils — Derwent Lightfast, Coloursoft, or Inktense; Caran d'Ache Luminance; Faber-Castell Polychromos — a pencil extender is not an optional accessory. It is simply the sensible way to get full value from an expensive tool.
Which extender fits which pencils? The silver extender (8mm) fits larger diameter pencils including Derwent Pastel, Coloursoft, Artists, Inktense, Lightfast, Faber-Castell Polychromos, and Caran d'Ache Luminance. The black extender (7mm) fits standard diameter pencils including Derwent Graphic, Watercolour, Studio, Chromaflow, and most standard graphite and coloured pencils from other manufacturers.
How is the pencil secured? A robust screw fitting holds the pencil firmly in place without marking or damaging the pencil casing. The fitting adjusts to grip the pencil securely and releases just as easily when the pencil needs to be replaced or sharpened.
Does it work with pencils from other brands? Yes — while the size designations are based on Derwent's own range, the 7mm and 8mm fittings cover the most common pencil diameters across most major brands. The pack is a practical accessory for any artist using premium pencils regardless of brand.
Can the pencil still be sharpened when in the extender? The pencil needs to be removed from the extender for sharpening. This takes only a few seconds — unscrew the fitting, sharpen the pencil, and replace it in the extender.
