M+R Artex Brass Double-Hole Pencil Sharpener – Precision Sharpening for Artists and Professionals
Meet the M+R Artex — a finely crafted brass double-hole pencil sharpener built for artists, illustrators, and professionals who demand consistent, reliable results from their tools. Combining classic aesthetics with precision engineering, the Artex delivers clean, crisp points on both standard and broader pencil sizes, making it one of the most versatile and dependable manual sharpeners available. Whether you work in graphite, coloured pencil, or mixed media, the Artex is a compact, long-lasting tool that earns its place in any serious kit.
Dual-Hole Design for All Pencil Widths The Artex features two precision-machined holes to accommodate different pencil diameters — catering to both standard pencils and broader sizes in a single, palm-sized tool. Whether you are sharpening a slim graphite pencil for detailed line work or a chunkier coloured pencil, the Artex handles both with equal ease, removing the need to carry multiple sharpeners.
Solid Brass Construction Built to Last The body of the Artex is machined from solid brass — a material chosen for its exceptional durability, weight, and resistance to wear. Unlike plastic sharpeners that can crack, warp, or degrade over time, the brass housing of the Artex is built to last for years of regular use. The satisfying weight and solid feel in the hand is a hallmark of a tool made to a proper standard, and the classic brass finish gives it a timeless, professional appearance that sets it apart from ordinary sharpeners.
Precision Blades for Clean, Consistent Points The Artex is fitted with precision metal blades engineered to produce clean, even points without tearing or dragging the pencil core. Coloured pencil leads in particular benefit from a sharp, well-maintained blade — a blunt or imprecise sharpener can crumble or splinter the softer pigment cores found in quality coloured pencils, wasting expensive materials and producing ragged results. The Artex blades are designed to shave smoothly and consistently, protecting the pencil core while producing a reliably sharp point.
Adjustable Blade for a Customised Point One of the Artex's most useful features is its adjustable blade mechanism, which allows you to fine-tune the angle and sharpness of the point to suit your preferred working style. Whether you prefer a long, needle-sharp point for fine detail work or a slightly shorter, more robust tip for broader strokes and blending, the Artex gives you control over the result — something that fixed sharpeners simply cannot offer.
Compact and Portable Despite its solid brass construction, the Artex is palm-sized and compact enough to fit comfortably into a pencil case, studio kit, or field bag. It is an ideal companion for plein air drawing sessions, location sketching, workshops, and travel, as well as everyday studio use. The robust brass body means it travels well without risk of damage, and its small footprint takes up minimal space wherever it is stored.
Who Is the M+R Artex For? The Artex is designed for artists, illustrators, draughtspeople, and anyone who uses quality pencils regularly and expects their tools to perform accordingly. It is particularly well-suited to coloured pencil artists, where a clean, consistent point is essential for fine detail and precise layering, as well as graphite artists and mixed-media workers who move between different pencil types and sizes.
Dual-hole brass sharpener. Precision metal blades. Adjustable blade mechanism. Suitable for graphite, coloured pencils, and mixed media.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pencil sizes does the M+R Artex sharpen? The Artex features two holes to accommodate different pencil diameters. The smaller hole is sized for standard pencils, while the larger hole caters to broader pencil sizes. This dual-hole design makes it suitable for a wide range of pencil types including standard graphite pencils, coloured pencils of varying widths, and mixed-media pencils — covering the most common sizes used by artists and professionals.
Why is brass a good material for a pencil sharpener? Brass is an ideal material for a precision sharpener for several reasons. It is exceptionally durable and resistant to wear, meaning the body will not crack, warp, or degrade with regular use the way plastic can. It is also denser and more stable than plastic, which helps the sharpener hold its shape and maintain consistent blade alignment over time. The weight of a brass sharpener also makes it easier to control during sharpening, giving you a steadier, more accurate result. Brass develops a natural patina with age that many artists appreciate aesthetically.
What is the adjustable blade feature and how does it work? The adjustable blade mechanism on the Artex allows you to alter the angle at which the blade meets the pencil, which in turn changes the length and sharpness of the point produced. Tightening or loosening the blade adjustment gives you a longer, more tapered needle point at one end of the range, or a shorter, more conventional point at the other. This is a particularly valuable feature for artists whose sharpening preferences vary between different tasks — fine detail work generally benefits from a longer, sharper point, whilst broader work and blending may call for a shorter, more robust tip.
Is the Artex suitable for soft coloured pencil cores? Yes. The precision blades in the Artex are designed to produce clean, smooth cuts that minimise stress on the pencil core during sharpening. This makes the Artex well-suited to coloured pencils, which typically have softer, more brittle cores than graphite pencils and are therefore more susceptible to snapping or crumbling in sharpeners with poorly aligned or blunt blades. For best results with particularly soft or waxy coloured pencil cores, sharpen with slow, steady rotations rather than fast ones.
Can I replace the blades in the M+R Artex? M+R design many of their sharpeners with replaceable blades, which is one of the key advantages of investing in a quality brass sharpener over a disposable plastic one. It is worth checking with your supplier whether replacement blades are available for the Artex specifically, as blade availability can vary by model. Keeping the blade sharp is the most important factor in maintaining sharpening quality — a dull blade tears rather than cuts, which can damage pencil cores and produce ragged points.
How does the Artex compare to electric sharpeners for artist use? Manual sharpeners like the Artex offer artists a level of control that electric sharpeners generally cannot match. The adjustable blade allows you to customise the point to your exact preference, and the sharpening process is gentler on the pencil core — reducing the risk of snapping, particularly with soft or expensive pencils. Electric sharpeners tend to remove more pencil material per use, which can be wasteful with quality coloured pencils or specialist graphite. For studio use, location work, and anyone who values precision and longevity from their pencils, a quality manual sharpener like the Artex is the preferred choice.
Is the M+R Artex suitable for watercolour pencils? Yes. Watercolour pencils can be sharpened in the Artex in the same way as standard coloured pencils. The precision blades produce a clean, accurate point that is ideal for the detailed line work that watercolour pencils are often used for before wetting. As with all water-soluble pencils, avoid allowing the tip to become wet before sharpening, as this can soften the core and make it more likely to break.
How do I maintain the M+R Artex sharpener? The Artex requires minimal maintenance. Keep the blade clean and free of graphite or pigment residue by occasionally wiping it carefully with a dry cloth or soft brush. If the sharpener is used with very waxy coloured pencils, a small amount of waxy build-up may accumulate on the blade over time — this can be gently removed with a dry cloth. Store the Artex in a pencil case or kit to protect the blade from knocks. The brass body does not require any special treatment and will naturally develop a warm patina with use.
What makes M+R a reputable brand for sharpeners? M+R is a German manufacturer with a long-established reputation for producing high-quality precision sharpeners for artists and professionals. Their products are characterised by careful engineering, quality materials, and attention to the specific needs of artists working with a variety of pencil types. The brand is widely trusted among coloured pencil artists, illustrators, and draughtspeople, and is regularly recommended by art educators and professional pencil artists as a benchmark for what a quality manual sharpener should be.
Is the M+R Artex worth the investment over a cheaper sharpener? For anyone who works regularly with quality pencils — particularly coloured pencils, specialist graphite, or mixed-media pencils — the answer is yes. A poor-quality sharpener with a blunt or misaligned blade can snap pencil cores, produce uneven points, and waste expensive materials over time. The cost of replacing broken or poorly sharpened pencils quickly outweighs the initial investment in a precision sharpener. The Artex's brass construction also means it is a tool you buy once rather than repeatedly replacing, making it better value over time than disposable alternatives.